JCC 1996-97

FamilyArts

Magical Sundays with the Kids at the JPM Building!
15110 West Ten Mile Road, Oak Park

Sponsored by

Open Vatican Archives,
Jewish Officials Urge

ERIC J GREENBERG SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

PUPPETART

1611

Master puppeteers from
the former Soviet Union

- presents -

"Scenes and Stories from the Shtetl"

with Corinne Stavish, storyteller

Sunday, June 8 • 2 A.M.

Steeped in theatrical traditions ranging from pantomime to drama, these
artists provide enchanting entertainment for all ages. The gorgeous staging and
magical puppets will make this event one that you'll remember for a long time.
Accompanying PuppetArt will be Corinne Stavish, well known Detroit storyteller.
For more information and to order tickets, please call (810) 967-4030.

Note: There is no music involved in this performance.

JCC Adult member $6 / Non-member $7
JCC Child member $5 / Non-member $6

Additional support provided by Generations Together, a Max M. Fisher
Jewish Community Foundation Grant and The Jewish News.

810-544-4500

3071 W. 12 Mile • Berkley

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ewish leaders
are increasing
their pressure
on the Vatican
to open its secret
archives and library
collection to obtain
a full historical ac-
counting of two sim-
mering, unresolved
issues:
The Church's
clandestine rela-
tionship with Nazi
Germany and the
Vatican's Judaica
literary and art col-
lection, which some
believe may include
religious objects
from the Second
Temple 2,000 years
ago.
In the latest
Pope's officials want to keep archives closed.
twist, Seymour Re-
ich, a New York at-
torney and former
chairman of the Conference of al Jewish Committee on Inter-
Presidents of Major American religious Consultations between
Jewish Organizations, and Dr. Jewish officials and members of
Eugene Fisher of the National the Vatican Commission on Re-
Conference of Catholic Bishops, ligious Relations with the Jews.
"Dr. Fisher's contention that
are at odds over whether the Vat-
ican promised Jewish officials the the Vatican never committed it-
self to opening the archives un-
archives would soon be opened.
The running dispute reflects til the expiration of 75 years after
growing concern of some involved World War II represents a sharp
in Catholic-Jewish relations to departure from our general un-
obtain the full story of the Holo- derstanding," Reich wrote.
Fisher and Reich are also trad-
caust as this century ends.
"Let's finish with the charade ing words over the Vatican's al-
of self-righteous responses," de- leged collaboration with the Nazi
clared Rabbi Leon Klenicki, head regime. "A number of historians
of interfaith affairs at the Anti- have accused the wartime Pope,
Defamation League. "Either you Pius XII, of being a virtual Nazi
are opening the files or you are collaborator who allowed Vati-
hiding the documents that in- can priests to operate a so-called
criminate Pius XII," referring to `rat line' that helped smuggle
the Pope during World War II Nazi officials out of Europe after
who has been accused of collab- the defeat of Germany," wrote
Reich.
orating with Nazi Germany.
But Fisher, associate director
Some are equally concerned
about the ancient Jewish texts of the Secretariat for Ecumeni-
and religious items that are be- cal and Religious Affairs for the
lieved to be held in the Vatican. national bishops conference,
Jewish leaders are calling for an countered: "Mr. Reich has histo-
independent scholarly investi- ry wrong. There was never any
gation to document the materi- such thing as a Vatican 'rat line.' "
als and settle ownership Fisher claims the term "rat line"
was the name of an American in-
questions.
In a sharply worded letter dat- telligence operation to smuggle
ed May 13, Reich accused Fish- out of Europe ex-Nazis and only
er of being hostile, and said the "a couple" of Catholic priests were
Catholic scholar was "simply involved.
In the opinion column, Reich
wrong" to deny that the Vatican
promised in 1987, 1990 and 1992 pointed to the recent unprece-
to open the World War II dented actions by several so-
archives for inspection as soon as called neutral nations, including
possible, rather than stick to the Switzerland and Argentina, to
previously announced release open their own World War II
archives, and said the Vatican
date — the year 2020.
Reich said the promises came should do the same. But with the
at meetings of the Internation- Vatican, he said, "It is now 10

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