POPE JOHN AND THE JEWS

ROTH before and during 'I-. his pontificate, Pope John XXIII played an inspiring tole in the Church's efforts to curb anti-Semitism. He was praised by Jewish leaders on many occasions for his efforts on their behalf.
During World War H. for example, Archbishop Roncalli. while serving an Apostolic Delegate to Greece and Turkey. acted to prevent the sacrifice of innocent victims of war and persecution. From his post in Istanbul he intervened to divert a shipload of Jewish children from what would have been a tragic destination.
Immediately following his election as Pope. Cardinal Roncalli received congratulations from Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog of Israel who remembered the diplomat's assistance to Jewish Rescue Missions. To Archbishop Roncalli, thousands of Jews owed their opportunity to escape pet-mention and to find refuge in Palestine and elsewhere.
It is related that he was instrumental in saving many Jews who were persecuted by Slovak, Bulgarian and Hungarian Nazis.
These incidents were recalled in October, 1960,
when Pope John received a delegation of 130 U.S. members of the United Jewish Appeal and the Jewish Studs Mission, led by Rabbi Friedman.
"I am Joseph, your brother." he greeted them. The quotation, given in the context of the Old Testament story of Joseph of Egypt, had a double meaning. The Pope, baptized Angelo Giuseppe, has St. Joseph as his patron.
Israel's ambassador in Rome attended the funeral of Pius XII. and the coronation of Pope John. President Ben Zvi of Israel was among the heads of state to whom papal letters of accession were dispatched by the Pope. It was said that this was the first time in modern history that a Vicar of Christ had written to a successor of King David. Written in Latin, the letter was answered in Biblical /Hebrew.
When Pope John in 1959, ordered the words "unbelieving" and "perfidious" in reference to Jews and Moslems to be deleted from the Liturgy of Good Friday, he received letters of praise from many Jewish organisations hailing his move as "another significant step towards improving interreligious understanding,"