Concert Wednesday in Memory of Holocaust Victims

The following news release was submitted by the Jewish Center of Teaneck: 

The “Suffering of the Innocents”, a symphonic homage and prayer composed by Kiko Argüello and in memory of innocent victims of the Holocaust. Organized by a group within the Catholic Church called “The Neocatechumenal Way”, a performance will take place Wednesday in the Synagogue of the Jewish Center of Teaneck at 8 p.m. Admission to the performance is free.

A vehicle to strengthen the relationship between the Christian and Jewish worlds, the concert will be performed by the orchestra and choir of the Neocatechumenal Way and conducted by Pau Jorquera. The symphony of harmonies features 60 musicians and 40 chorus singers from Spain and Italy. Performed for the first time in January of last year in the Vatican before Benedict XVI, the group has traveled throughout the year to Galilee, before a group of 200 Bishops, and then Paris, Madrid, Düsseldorf and finally Jerusalem in December, where the group held a special concert for Hanukkah. The concert arrives in the United States May 6^th for a performance at Boston Symphony Hall, followed by the May 8^th performance at Lincoln Center, and concludes May 14^th at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall.

“This concert represents a revolution in the relationship between those of the Christian Faith and the people of Israel; an acknowledgement that there are essential differences which separate us in faith – and yet all considered, there are very important elements which unite us,” Rabbi David Rosen remarked after hearing the symphony in Jerusalem. “Kiko Argüello and the Way are committed to preserving the identity of the people of Israel, and I’m grateful to have taken part in this historical movement to foster the relationship between Christians and Jews.”

The composer of the symphony, Kiko Argüello, is a painter and multi-disciplinary artist and the initiator of “The Neocatechumenal Way” which he founded together with the Spanish chemist and theologian Carmen Hernandez. The members of The Neocatechumenal Way work to strengthen the relationship between the Christian and the Jewish worlds. In Kiko’s words, “We act according to the last wishes for Pope John Paul II. We remember that the roots of Christianity are in Judaism and that since the beginning, God made Israel the chosen people”. 

The theme of the symphony reflects Argüello’s experience in the shanty towns of Madrid, Spain, in the 1960’s where he lived for several years after a religious conversion experience from atheism. In the midst of all the destitute people living in shacks, Argüello contemplated the suffering of many due to the sins of others, “I have seen homeless people lying in the streets. I have seen abandoned children in orphanages. I have met sick people abandoned because of their illness. In approaching this subject, I have realized the magnitude of the disaster that the Jewish people experienced in the Holocaust”. 

In creating this musical work, Argüello aims to convey the message that “in spite of the horrors that we have witnessed throughout history, I want to remind everyone that inside the human heart, hope is always preserved".

The tour is endorsed by prominent leaders of the Catholic and Jewish communities including: representatives of Pope Benedict XVI, Most Rev. Arch. Carlo Maria Vigano, Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S. and Most Rev. Arch. Francis Assisi Chullikatt, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the U.N., H.E.; Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York; Rabbi David Rosen, AJC International Director of Interreligious Relations, Chief Rabbinate of Israel Honorary Advisor on Interfaith Relations, Papal Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great; Rabbi Eric Greenberg, Director of Interfaith Affairs, ADL, NY; Rabbi Arthur Schneier, host of Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, Park East Synagogue, NY, President, Appeal of Conscience Foundation; Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, President Emeritus of the Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt Foundation, NY; Rabbi Bob Kaplan, Director of CAUSE-NY, Jewish Community Relations Council, NY; Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President (and former President) of the New York Board of Rabbis; Rabbi Lawrence S. Zierler, Jewish Center of Teaneck; Mr. Abraham H. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).