ABSTRACT
Rabbi Lau is one of the best-known contemporary Israeli rabbis in terms of media coverage of his activities, both in Israel and other countries. Lau is famous not so much for his theological knowledge or rabbinical commentaries, but mainly thanks to his public appearances in the positions he has attained during his life. The one activity that especially rendered him famous was his work as the Chief Israeli Ashkenazi Rabbi during the years 1993–2003. In this high post, he advocated inter-religious dialogue and established friendly relations with his elder fellow countryman, John Paul II (1920–2005), being the first Chief Israeli Rabbi ever to visit the pope. It perhaps goes without saying that, historically, relations between Jews and Christians (mainly the Catholic Church) were complicated and not seldom very tragic. 1
