Ever wondered what was in the Vatican Secret Archives, or the Pope’s Treasury Collection? Now everyone can find out. Harry Moskoff’s new book, The Vatican and Me – Unlocking the Divine Treasures Inside, is about an exciting project of enormous cultural significance. Author, Harry Hirschel Moskoff from Ramat Bet Shemesh, Israel, is a man of many parts – investigative journalist, archeology enthusiast, lecturer, TV show host, and member of the White House Press Pool. He is also an internationally acclaimed expert on sacred Jewish antiquities, especially of the Late Roman and Byzantine periods.
It was a secretive meeting in Jerusalem’s King David Hotel that gave birth to the project that is the subject of Moskoff’s new book, the enterprise now named, The Museum Heritage Project. He operates from Israel and Rome, and this project has successfully tracked down significant treasures in the Vatican Museums, like the ones from the first Latin emperor, Baldwin I, including goblets and chalices in jade, ivory and enamel, and candlestick lamps of gold, glass and foil. Most being of Sephardic origin from present-day Syria and Turkey. Moskoff has also traced the presence of incense holders and silver trumpets, used in ancient religious rites and ceremony.
This project represents an important diplomatic and cultural endeavor that bridges Jewish and Catholic interests, and could eventually lead to a bilateral agreement between Israel and the Vatican.
“The Lubavitcher Rebbe indicated to me over 30 years ago to go ahead with these discovery endeavors until I can be 100% sure of exactly what ancient Jewish items the Vatican actually has in its possession. I am proud to have founded this particular project for that very purpose,” said Rabbi Moskoff to Living Jewish.
What followed was month after month of delicate diplomatic negotiations. Moskoff traveled to Rome on many occasions to meet the directors in charge of the SCAVI excavations underneath the basilica and the museums. He also met with the Israeli ambassadors and officials involved with Jewish-Catholic relations.
Moskoff has lectured in many Chabad and other institutions around the world on this subject, emphasizing his goal of restoring and filming these precious treasures, our own Divine heritage, which has never been seen in modern history at the Vatican.
More information on this project is available in his new book, now on sale here: www.harryhmoskoff.net
