His Holiness visits Synagogue in Washington, says has a lot to learn from JewsMonday, 12 October 2009, 2:25 p.m.
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‘My first time in a sukkah.’ His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Adas Israel (Photo: AP) |
Dharamshala: His
Holiness the Dalai Lama met with the Jewish community during his visit
to Adas Israel Synagogue in Washington on Saturday, and told them he
wants to learn from Jews how they survived in Diaspora. His Holiness
told amusing stories of Israeli tourists who flood into India, Ynetnews web site reported.The
relationship between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the congregants at
the largest Conservative synagogue in the American capital started a
few months ago when Rabbi Gil Steinlauf officiated at the wedding of
Tibet activist Leslie Friedel. Many senior Tibetans active in the US
attended the wedding, where they became friendly with the rabbi.Policy
strategist Steve Rabinowitz, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s press
advisor in Washington and an Adas Israel congregant, helped the His
Holiness book a hall at the synagogue for the leader to address 400
Tibetan exiles living in Washington.Rabinowitz said that the
date requested turned out to be the holiday of Shemini Atzeret, the end
of the Sukkot holiday. Arrangements were made for the Tibetans to enter
through a side entrance so as not to disturb the congregants who came
to worship for the holiday. Rabinowitz said that he took the
opportunity to ask His Holiness the Dalai Lama to come to the
synagogue’s sukkah to say hello to the Jewish worshippers.The
congregants were just in the middle of doing Kiddush – the ceremonial
benediction over wine in honour of the holiday – when His Holiness the
Dalai Lama entered the sukkah. His Holiness said that it was his first
time in a sukkah and that he likes the Jews very much.His
Holiness told the crowd he has “a lot to learn from the Jews” who were
in exile for generations. He said he would like to learn how the Jews
survived so long in exile as an example for his own Tibetan people, who
have been in exile for 50 years.His Holiness the Dalai Lama
amusedly told the worshippers that the largest group of tourists who
visit his exile residence in Dharamsala are Israelis.