The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is mourning the passing of Samuel (Shmuel) Hadas, the first Israeli ambassador to the Holy See in Rome, who died on Sunday aged 72.
NEW YORK/JERUSALEM – The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is mourning the passing of Samuel (Shmuel) Hadas, the first Israeli ambassador to the Holy See in Rome, who died on Sunday aged 72. WJC President Ronald S. Lauder called Hadas “a pioneer of Jewish-Catholic relations who not only was instrumental in establishing relations between Israel and the Vatican during the 1990s, but who also showed tremendous dedication to filling this relationship with life and to establishing mutual trust and cooperation.” Hadas also served as the first Israeli ambassador to Spain, following the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1986.
Born in Argentina, he grew up in Israel and later entered the Diplomatic Service of the Jewish state, with postings in Mexico, Colombia and Bolivia. In 1982, he was appointed as Israeli representative to the World Tourism Organization in Madrid. His posting as ambassador to the Holy See in Rome in 1993 marked the beginning of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel. In recent years, he was chairman of the Israel Jewish Council for Inter-Religious Relations.
WJC President Ronald Lauder stated: “Apart from being one of Israel’s finest diplomats, Shmuel Hadas was also an active participant in many endeavors of the World Jewish Congress, in particular in Jewish-Christian dialogue, and he educated many of our young leaders in the important art of diplomacy and inter-faith relations. He will be greatly missed, both in Israel and in the Diaspora. May his family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.”
The World Jewish Congress is the international organization representing the Jewish communities in 92 countries around the world. The WJC serves as the diplomatic arm of the Jewish people to governments and international organizations.
