Learn About Jewish Treasures in the Vatican During August Presentation

The Jewish Community Center of Metropolitan Detroit’s SAJE (Seminars for Adult Jewish Enrichment) will present Rabbi Benjamin Blech in two presentations Aug. 28, 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 29 at noon. 

The Wednesday presentation is titled, “The ‘Jewish’ Sistine Chapel: The Hidden Jewish Messages of Michelangelo”, and on Thursday, Blech will speak on the topic, “The Holy Jewish Treasures in the Vatican: A Miracle on a Mission to Rome”.

The Vatican library is home to more than 800 ancient and valuable Jewish manuscripts. How did these come to be part of the Vatican collection, who uses of them and what is their fate? Rabbi Blech is one of the few rabbis in history to have established a close relationship with the head of the Catholic Church and one of only three rabbis ever to be invited to the Vatican to confer a blessing on the Pope.

Rabbi Blech will discuss his intriguing private meeting with Vatican leaders to consider the future of those Jewish treasures.  The rabbi also will reveal a modern miracle that he witnessed, in reference to a famous Jewish text, while in Rome.

Rabbi Benjamin Blech is a professor of Talmud at Yeshiva University and the author of 12 best-selling books, including three of the popular Idiot’s Guide series and Understanding Judaism: The Basics of Deed and Creed, which the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations called “the single best book on Judaism in our generation.” A frequent lecturer in Jewish communities throughout the world, Rabbi Blech has written for Newsweek, The New York Times and Newsday.

Advance registration for the noon event is required by Aug. 23. To purchase tickets, visit theberman.org or call 248-661-1900.