Most Reverend Archbishops, revered clergy colleagues, honorable civic and public servants, devoted lay leaders of both the Jewish and Catholic communities, and dear friends;

At a remarkable occasion such as this, I especially sense the presence of my Orthodox Rabbi grandfather, Samuel Weiner, who came to these shores in 1905 to escape the Czar's anti-Semitism.  His early life was one scarred by life-threatening pogroms and bitter experiences of anti-Jewish bigotry.  In the New World, however, he found a brief period of years in which to enjoy and celebrate life. Scholarly and gentle, he died a young man of 36 in 1918, leaving behind a wife and seven children.

I engage in a mystical dialogue with this pious Grandfather whom, of course, I never met. In my mind, we "converse" on subjects of Jewish identity, observance, and human nature.  Just imagine what he would say about this historic Sabbath of unity.

Not like Russia! Not like the America I knew, either.  "How things have changed," he would say.  The three Archbishops in shul!  They, wearing Yamulkas.  My grandson the Rabbi wearing none!

You know, I also wish my former teachers at Catholic University could be here tonight.  How much extra credit would I get for three Archbishops.  "The Three Tenors" are conventional. "The Three Archbishops" are extraordinary!

What a magnificent tradition we have here in New Orleans, as tonight, the Crescent City's Jewish Community welcomes Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes, who will be introduced to us by his distinguished predecessor, Archbishop Francis Bible Schulte.

We remember so well, don't we, when this same cherished custom was enacted by our beloved friend, Archbishop Philip Hannan on the occasion of his retirement (theoretically anyway!) on Archbishop Schulte's arrival.

And in these intervening years, we have been honored to establish a most cordial and candid relationship with Archbishop Schulte. Under many and varied circumstances, we have constructively worked together.

He has always been there for us, when his reassuring presence would heighten our joy, and when it comforted us in times of community tension or sadness.  Francis Schulte has fearlessly and eloquently spoken out against neo-Nazism, racism, and anti-Zionism.  He is a proven friend of the State of Israel and has he spent a lifetime authoring and refining the national Catholic School curriculum, which both underscores the Jewish roots of Christianity and unambivalently condemns anti-Semitism as sinful.

Yes, in these several years, I have also marveled at Archbishop Schulte's abilities as a gifted preacher and teacher.  His tireless efforts have reaped accomplishments, which are far too many to enumerate this evening:

• He has labored to endow the future vitality of the inner city Parish School system of the Archdiocese.
• Under his visionary leadership, Archbishop Schulte has strengthened the retirement security of the clergy and religious.
• Surely, he has overseen the growth and enhanced the excellence of our city's Notre Dame Seminary, making it the third largest seminary student body in the entire nation.
• And he has not only continued, but has also significantly increased the effectiveness of that impressive gamut of Social Services which were pioneered by Archbishop Hannan-the Social Apostolate.

Archbishop Hughes-our New Orleans Jewish community is a venerable family within America's Jewish household.  Our origins go back many centuries, and our institutional beginnings would have been even older, had it not been for that "nasty" matter of the Spanish Inquisition!

Nevertheless, we are today a vital and dynamic Family, most often solidly united (though we have our moments!), representing a highly sophisticated and diverse educational synagogue, cultural, and organizational array far exceeding Jewish communities of comparable size.

Not only do we warmly welcome you this Sabbath, but we pledge this Sabbath to continue with you that harmonious and fruitful relationship-even partnership-which happily has obtained for so many generations.

Whenever appropriate and desired, we Jewish New Orleanians are ready and able to assist our Catholic neighbors in realizing wonderful dreams for the further welfare and enrichment of all of our fellow brothers and sisters.

Of course, there may be times when we see things differently, but then we ought not be afraid to candidly and lovingly acknowledge such instances.  Naturally, sometimes because of our respective traditions, we may simply agree to disagree.  But please God, may those few occasions never prevent us from joining hearts and hands to labor willingly and, if need be, sacrificially, to aid the poor, care for the sick, teach the uninformed, and extend a helping hand to those who have lost their way in the world.

I, for one, am firmly resolved that the painful past, with all of its historical uncertainties and lingering ambiguities, not be allowed to alienate us here and now from our rightful role to be a Blessed and Telling Presence in the life of this larger community.  I will never forget how touched and inspired I was when, no more than 48 hours after the Mayor's announcement of his intention to create a Holocaust Memorial for the City of New Orleans, Archbishop Shulte publically endorsed and embraced the concept. And he has monitored the progress of that project for the past four years.  We all look forward to his being there this coming spring at the dedication of the New Orleans Holocaust Memorial in Woldenberg Park.

My friends, in the Talmud we read this quotation attributed to Rabbi Tarphon:
 

Our day here on earth is short; our work is much, and our Master is urgent. . . . It is not incumbent upon us to complete the task, but neither are we free to ignore fulfilling our duty.

Grandfather! Reb Shmuel - Can you believe this!