Concerning the invitation of the Chief Rabbi of Haifa, Mr Sievers pointed out that there had been other invitations in the past: "At the II Vatican Council the Pope had already invited some Jews as observers. They were precisely observers, but now, for the first time, a Rabbi is invited to take the floor in a bishops’ synod. It is therefore an important event. I think this is a sign whose aim is to stress the importance of both the Old Testament and the Jewish interpretation of the Bible for Christians". "By knowing the traditional Biblical interpretation of rabbis, we can gain a better understanding of how Jesus interpreted the Scriptures. In addition, the rabbis continual interpretation until the Middle Age and after can help us understand the meaning and the value of Jesus’ actions until the Last Supper." Moreover, the Jews "know the Bible very well," which can be an example for all Catholics. "The same rabbi who is going to attend the synod declared that at the age of eight he already knew much of Torah by heart," Mr Sievers said. ” “
