VATICAN TO LOAN JEWS OWN PROPERTY

HERE'S AN INTERESTING POST FROM ISRAELPUNDIT:

"The Vatican will loan the work of Moses Maimonides, one of Judaism's most celebrated rabbis and sages, to Israel this year in a gesture meant to improve relations between Catholics and Jews. Jewish community leaders said they are ecstatic to have the opportunity to study the Maimonides document, and at least three other medieval manuscripts. Rabbi Benjamin Blech, a professor at Yeshiva University in New York, said the gesture by the Vatican "strengthens the bonds between Jews and Christians." A delegation of about 160 rabbis and cantors worldwide, including Blech, and American laypeople will meet with Pope John Paul II this month to thank him for years of goodwill, including working out an agreement to display the priceless Jewish artifacts for the first time in Israel. Delegation members announced the plan to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel this week."

NOW IT SEEMS TO ME THAT JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERS SHOULD BE "INDIGNENT," NOT "ECSTATIC" AND THAT THIS "LOAN" OF STOLEN ITEMS SHOULD BE A "RETURN WITH COMPENSATION."