"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Jewish community at this time, and especially with those who were closest to Dr Alexandre Safran in life", said WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, in a 28 July letter of condolence addressed to the Geneva Jewish community on the death of its Chief Rabbi. Expressing gratitude to God "for the great gift of his life, faith, intellect and service to humanity", Kobia recalled Safran's struggles "to warn the international community of the terrible menace posed to vulnerable minorities by Nazi domination in Europe", and described him as "an accomplished advocate for the state of Israel" whose contributions to inter-religious co-operation were "well ahead of his time".
31 July 2006
![Rev. Cao Shengjie, president of the China Christian Council, presents WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia with a commemorative plate. Applauding [at left] is Presbyter Ji Jianhong , chairperson of the National Committee of Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China (15 November). The congregation and pastor of Qian Deng Church, in rural Kunshan, greet the WCC general secretary and other members of the ecumenical delegation (16 November).](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/newsItem/laOLNoJ9.jpeg?itok=mamzTGuC "Rev. Cao Shengjie, president of the China Christian Council, presents WCC general secretary Samuel Kobia with a commemorative plate. Applauding [at left] is Presbyter Ji Jianhong , chairperson of the National Committee of Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Churches in China (15 November). The congregation and pastor of Qian Deng Church, in rural Kunshan, greet the WCC general secretary and other members of the ecumenical delegation (16 November).")
