World Youth Day: a Jewish Reaction

David Hatchwell Altaras

It seems that last month's World Youth Day celebration in Madrid was well received by more than the world's Catholic youth. David Hatchwell, vice president and spokesman for the 10,000-member Jewish Community of Madrid, was enthusiastic in calling it an "absolute success."

Hatchwell was interviewed by ZENIT, an international news agency based in Rome that provides news on the Catholic Church. In the course of the interview, he said some interesting things; for example:

"Those of us who think the same things must be together. Catholics, as other groups, have the right to express themselves, even if there are protests against this. They have the right to believe what they believe, and for this reason we have this closeness, because we Jews know very well what it is to be vilified. We understand what it is to be de-legitimatized, and I live it constantly in my flesh.

"I am very sensitive, and not only am I concerned but I am annoyed by the tendencies to de-legitimize people. One can be in disagreement with someone, but attacks do not have to happen on groups in an unjustified manner and out of context. In this connection our support of an event such as WYD is clear. I rejoice that this WYD was held and hence the proximity with the event."

When asked why he was so pleased with World Youth Day, Hatchwell stated:

"Without a doubt this trip of the Pope was an absolute success. It is the greatest event of the last decades: I don't remember something like it. To see Madrid with all kinds of young people on the streets -- people that you can tell are very healthy, with positive energy -- has been incredible, and a delight to see it. The evaluation can only be positive.

"In the multitude of events that succeeded one another, it was demonstrated every day that what was wanted was a very powerful spiritual moment, and this happened."

Hatchwell was also enthusiastic about the message delivered by Pope Benedict XVI to the hundreds of thousands of young people from throughout the world:

"Without a doubt the message was very important, especially the reconnection with a series of values. This appeal transcends a specific creed; they are not just Christian messages, but universal.

"The Pope asked young people to be very courageous in their convictions. We are before a very profound ethical relativism, with a tendency to rob value of the things many people have as basic principles of their education. In this we are totally in agreement with the Pope: Values are necessary in a modern society to confront relativism and to continue believing in the moral convictions that people desire.

"Another striking aspect of the message was that we not live in the tyranny of the individual, there is no absolute I, but that collective common spiritual values and service are necessary today...Jews and Christians share core common values. Jesus was a Jew, and so were the first Christians; hence the shared values that without a doubt continue to be the same."  

To read the complete interview with David Hatchwell, click here: A Jewish Reaction to WYD

Hatchwell has been instrumental in fighting the ongoing campaign in Europe that not only attacks Israel and denies its very right to exist, but has also encouraged attacks on Jews in general. It's a campaign of pure hatred and is backed, encouraged and bankrolled by Iran and its two puppet terrorist organizations in the Middle East, Hizbullah and Hamas. Like all campaigns founded on hatred, it has spawned a growing number of physical attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions throughout Europe. Even Europe's mainstream media and, unfortunately, too many of its political leaders, are either indifferent to what has been happening or passively support the campaign.

Interesting, isn't it? Believing Christians are coming to understand that attacks on and hatred of Jews are also attacks on Christianity. The Jews not only preserved God's revealed Word and kept it intact over the centuries so it could be received by the Church, but they also kept themselves, God's Chosen People, intact. And from them would come the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, who was born, lived and died a Jew. To hate the Jews is to hate Jesus, the Word of God Himself, and His bride, the Church.

As the world becomes increasingly hostile to revealed truth and to those who believe in the one, true God, faithful Jews and Christians are realizing that they must come together and support and defend each other and their shared Judeo-Christian values. And while persecution is certainly not welcome, it's important for the faithful to understand that God always brings good from evil to those who love HIm. Persecution brings strength to the weak, and puts the spotlight on the truth, pushing the lies into the surrounding darkness. The truth will always triumph, and it was fitting that Pope Benedict made this point on several occasions during his time in Madrid.

I was particularly moved by Pope Benedict's comments during the welcoming ceremony when he stated:

"World Youth Day brings us a message of hope like a pure and youthful breeze, with rejuvenating scents which fill us with confidence before the future of the Church and the world. Of course, there is no lack of difficulties. There are tensions and ongoing conflicts all over the world, even to the shedding of blood. But, with all my heart, I say again to you young people: let nothing and no one take away your peace; do not be ashamed of the Lord. He did not spare himself in becoming one like us and in experiencing our anguish so as to lift it up to God, and in this way he saved us."

For full coverage of Pope Benedict's homilies and addresses during World Youth Day, go directly to the Vatican's website: Apostolic Journey to Madrid