From Tazpit News Agency
Pope Francis I, who hails from Argentina, helped launch People of the World Inscribe the Bible in Argentina by writing the first verse at the International Book Fair in Buenos Aires in 2006. At the time he was known as Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He was joined at the launch by former Israeli Ambassador Rafi Eldad. His verse of choice was the first verse in Genesis.
The project, run by the Israeli “Bible Valley” nonprofit organization and led by Amos Rolnik, has been launched in 45 countries under the auspices of the Israeli embassy in each country. In November 2012, the Bible Valley helped pass Government Resolution 3813 on the establishment of an international Bible hall in Jerusalem. Based on this resolution, a planned Heichal Hatanach (The Hall of the Bible) is to be built at the City of David in Jerusalem, which will house the bound versions of the inscribed Bibles, including the Argentinean version.
“It’s no secret that in most of the countries participating in People of the World Inscribe the Bible, the Christian communities are the main source of writers” said Rolnik. “We are very proud that Archbishop Bergoglio wrote the first verse of the Bible, and I hope that Pope Francis will pen the last verse in the Bible – ‘… All the kingdoms of the earth has the Lord G-d of the heavens delivered to me, and He commanded me to build Him a House in Jerusalem, which is in Judea. Who among you is of all His people, may the Lord his G-d be with him, and he may ascend.’” (II Chronicles 36:23)
Recently, an internet edition of the project was launched – Tanach b’Mirshetet (Bible on the Net). Under the auspices of the Prime Minister and Communications Minister of Israel, this edition invites Israelis and Hebrew-speakers to select a verse on its website, and offers the option to personalize and dedicate the selected verse. Approximately 8,000 people have already chosen their verse, and within a few months, every verse of the first grassroots internet Bible is expected to be completed.
Upon the completion of the Hebrew edition, four other versions are slated to be launched – in English, French, Spanish, and Russian. The launch of the Hebrew website is part of a global project run by ‘The Bible Valley’ in which hundreds of thousands of people from around the world, of all faiths, are copying the Bible in their own handwriting, in 100 languages. This project was preceded by the Bible Valley’s inaugural project “Children of the World Illustrated the Bible”, in which over 800,000 paintings were submitted from 91 countries.