"A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People"

Enter a synagogue. It seems like a simple thing to do to ease religious tensions, but between the first century and the 20th, no Catholic pope did it. John Paul II not only entered a Jewish house of worship, he also visited and formally recognized Israel and paid frequent homage to Holocaust victims. A new exhibition at the Holocaust Museum Houston, "A Blessing to One Another: Pope John Paul II and the Jewish People,"explores the relationship between the late pontiff and the Jewish people, from his childhood in Poland to his time at the Vatican, using photos, videos and artifacts, like the skullcap the pope wore during his 2000 visit to Israel. Okay, maybe a skullcap won't inspire any major strides in easing remaining religious tensions, but the legacy of the man who wore it might.9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Runs through January 3. 5401 Caroline. For information, call 713-942-8000 or visit www.hmh.org. Free.
Thu., Aug. 27, 6-8 p.m.; Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays, 12-5 p.m. Starts: Aug. 27. Continues through Jan. 3, 2009