Rabbi Shmuley to speak about his Vatican visit

International television and radio personality and bestselling author Rabbi Shmuley Boteach will speak about his recent meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at a presentation to be held on May 6 at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan.

The free 7 p.m. lecture is part of the library system’s month-long lineup of events to commemorate Jewish American Heritage Month in May.

Rabbi Shmuley, who is a critic of Pope Pius XII’s proposed elevation to sainthood, has been invited by the Vatican to view documents relating to his beatification. Rabbi Shmuley will share his experiences about meeting Pope Benedict XVI, in preparation for his upcoming Pope Pius XII debate in New York City on May 26.

According to news reports, Pope Benedict XVI has moved to bring the controversial World War II pontiff, Pius XII, a step closer to sainthood, despite persistent allegations from historians and Jewish groups that he did not do enough to help prevent the murder of six million Jews at the hands of Nazi Germany.

While in the Vatican, Rabbi Shmuley also planned to ask the Pope for his support for Shumley’s “Turn Friday Night into Family Night” initiative, which encourages parents to spend Friday nights at home with their family to give children one uninterrupted night focused on them.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is the international best-selling author of 23 books and hosts “The Shmuley Show” on WABC-AM and the national TV show “Shalom in the Home” on Planet Green. He is the founder of This World: The Values Network.

For more information about Rabbi Shmuley’s visit to the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, or about other upcoming Jewish American Heritage Month events, call 732-431-7220, or click on www.monmouthcountylib.org.