NEWSLETTER No. 59 – Sept/Oct 2004

Christian & Jewish
SCENE

A historic stepping stone in the work of the Australian Council of Christians and Jews was reported in the last issue of Scene ? the organisation?s first National Conference held in Melbourne over the Queen?s Birthday Long Weekend.

Hot on the heels of its successful conclusion comes the news that the International Council of Christians and Jews has allocated the location of its 2007 World conference and annual meeting to Australia. The event will take place in Sydney during the second week of July.

Marianne Dacy, the Australian Council?s delegate to the Conference writes:

This year?s meeting of the International Council of Christians and Jews was in Aachen, a border town in the northwest of West Germany. The former Aix La Chapelle, Aachen has been at the centre of cross-cultural contacts and interreligious Christian-Jewish-Muslim encounters in Western Europe for many centuries. The marble throne where kings have presided is still on display in the Aachen cathedral where Charlemagne was crowned in the ninth century.

The conference delegates were hosted by the local synagogue which counts among its members a large number of Russian Jews who have arrived within the last ten years. Some borders that once separated countries have become borders that connect peoples. Again, an apparent reverse development has also occurred, where traditional borders did not only not disappear, but have been replaced by new ones between countries, cultures, religious traditions.

Sometimes borders are needed. It was these issues that the four day consultative conference sought to address.

Sternberg award

The official opening was in the historic five hundred year old Coronation Hall of the Aachen Town Hall with the presentation of the 2004 ICCJ International Sir Sigmund Sternberg Award to Sarajevo?s Dr Mustafa Cerec, Grand Mufti of Bosnia. This award is given to individuals whose efforts at interfaith in society have reached beyond the borders of their own countries. Mufti Serec was optimistic in his approach, saying that although today had been the wost of times in some ways, it could be made the best of times if people cooperated together for peace and harmony. Later in the conference two Sir Sigmund Sternberg gold medallions were presented one to a Jew, Prof Jean Halperin and one to a Christian theologian, Dr Stephan Schreiner for their outstanding efforts in interfaith.

Marginalisation

The assembly was also addressed by a Palestinian, who spoke emotively of the pain of marginalisation to a mixed audience of Jews, Christians and Muslims. He defined seven types of borders that include survival, separation to retain identity, and marginalisation. Daniel Rossing, a well know figure from Israel, spoke of Israel?s dilemma in the current climate of suicide bombings and the problems facing interfaith today such as the misrepresenting of the eight hundredth anniversary of the death of Maimonides. About eighty people were present at the conference. Next year there will be the full conference in Chicago which will also include the Women?s Conference and the Youth Conference. The latter also took place, at another location, with several members attending the 2004 Aachen conference.

Higher profile

At the annual general meeting Fr John Pawlikowski was re-elected for another term as president. A new general secretary has yet to be appointed, but we should hear the announcement soon. The ICCJ committee expressed disappointment that only five organisations responded to its appeal for feedback on issues that should be addressed in the future [Australia was one of the five. Ed]. These questions will be addressed in the shaping of a new vision for the ICCJ, when more information has been received from member organisations. Other issues which made up the topic-filled agenda of the conference included the ICCJ?s presence at the UN, as well as the need to give the ICCJ a higher profile. The question of younger members and their better integration into the wider conference was also explored by the conference?s delegates.

New Zealand too

In all, the Aachen conference was of extreme interest and importance in advancing the work of the ICCJ and it is to be hoped that the topics raised and problems identified will be further developed at next year?s conference in Chicago, the one in 2006 which is scheduled to take place in Vienna and not least, the 2007 conference which the ICCJ has, for the first time in its history, allocated to Australia. It should undoubtedly be stressed that while all the references to the 2007 conference which will take place in Sydney refer to Australia, the New Zealand Council of Christians and Jews will also be invited to participate in the ground breaking antipodean event.

Bishop of San Jose, Patrick McGrath

Writing about the background to the four Gospels (in the context of Mel Gibson?s “”Passion””) the Roman Catholic bishop of San Jose, California, Patrick McGrath commented that these sacred books are not historical accounts of the historical events which they narrate. “”They are theological reflections upon the events that form the core of Christian faith and belief””? he said. He continued: “”The reader can easily misunderstand the gospels when they are viewed through the lens of contemporary conceptions, attitudes and prejudices, as well as those of intervening millennia. The attribution of anti-Semitism to the gospel narratives is one such misunderstanding.

Their own perceptions

“”It is a distortion by Christians who forget these facts: Jesus was a Jew, the apostles were Jews, the writers of the New Testament (as well as the Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Scriptures) were Jews, and the audience for which the Old and New Testaments were written was primarily Jewish.

“”It was not until several generations after the writing of the gospels before Jewish Christians (the first believers in Jesus) began to consider themselves not to be Jews. “”It is an inescapable fact that first-century Jewish writers would depict the drama of the passion of Jesus in light of their own perceptions. We, however, have a responsibility to history as well as to the present to bring a different understanding to our relations with one another. “”Unfortunately, this understanding has not always motivated Catholics in relations with their Jewish brothers and sisters. History relates periods of Christian persecution of Jews, and the direct effects of this persecution still touch us today.

I want to apologise for the Church?s actions Soon after I became bishop of San Jose, I went to Temple Emanu-El to apologise for the Catholic Church's actions that incited or in any way encouraged anti-Semitism. “”An elderly man approached me and related how, when he was a young boy some 70 or 80 years earlier, he had been attacked by other boys who called him ?Christ killer?. ”Even after all of the years, this man broke down in tears at recounting the story. All I could do was offer him a personal apology and to embrace him as a brother.

Humanity forms but one community

“”This most tragic part of our not-so-distant-past was addressed at the Second Vatican Council by the Roman Catholic bishops of the world in the 1965 document, Nostra Aetate.
The bishops wrote, `Humanity forms but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created. . . . The Jews should not be spoken of as rejected or accursed as if this follows from holy scripture. Indeed the Church reproves every form of persecution against whomsoever it may be directed. . . . it deplores all hatreds, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism leveled at any time or from any source against the Jews.'

“”In the nearly 40 years since Nostra Aetate, the relationships between Catholics and non-Christians ? including but not limited to Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists ? have grown. We see ourselves as sisters and brothers, co-workers and friends.

“”In solidarity with Pope John Paul II, who asked for forgiveness during his pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 2000, I apologise to all my brothers and sisters of any faith tradition which has felt prejudice. Let us not allow the mutual respect that has developed to be threatened by an unenlightened reflection on an artistic rendering of the events of 2,000 years ago.

Patrick McGrath, the Bishop of San Jose wrote this column earlier this year for the San Jose Mercury News.

Relations between the Catholic Church and the Jewish people have undergone far-reaching change since the Declaration of the Second Vatican Council, Nostra Aetate (1965). That Declaration highlighted Christianity?s Jewish roots and the rich spiritual patrimony shared by Jews and Christians.
Over the last quarter century, Pope John Paul II has used every opportunity to promote dialogue between our two faith communities which he sees as intimately related at the very heart of our respective identities.
This fraternal dialogue has engendered mutual understanding and respect. It is our hope that it will continue to resonate in ever-widening circles and touch the minds and hearts of Catholics and Jews ? and the wider community.

Tzedeq and Tzedaqah

The 18th International Catholic-Jewish Liaison Committee Meeting, held in Buenos Aires earlier this year was devoted to the subject of Tzedeq and Tzedaqah (Justice and Charity) in their theoretical aspects and practical applications.

“”Drawing from our different perspectives, we have renewed our joint commitment to defend and promote human dignity, as deriving from the biblical affirmation that every human being is created in the likeness and image of God (Gen. 1:26). We recall Pope John XXIII?s advocacy of human rights for all God?s children enunciated in his seminal encyclical Pacem in terris (1963) and we pay special tribute to him for initiating the fundamental change in the Catholic-Jewish relationship””, the meeting concluded.

“”Our joint commitment to justice is deeply rooted in both our faiths. We recall the tradition of helping the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger in our midst in accordance with God?s injunction (Ex. 22:20-22; Mt 25:31-46). The Sages of Israel developed a broad doctrine of justice and charity for all, based upon an elevated understanding of the concept of Tzedeq.

“”Building on the Church's tradition, Pope John Paul II, in his first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis (1979), reminded Christians that a true relationship with God requires a strong commitment to service of one's neighbour.

“”While God created human beings in their diversity, He endowed them with the same dignity. We share the conviction that every person has the right to be treated with justice and equality. This right includes an equitable sharing of God's bounty and graciousness (chesed)””.

Commitment to the poor

Given the global dimensions of poverty, injustice and discrimination, the meeting saw a clear religious obligation to show concern for the poor and those deprived of their political, social and cultural rights. Jesus, deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition of his day, it declared, made a commitment to the poor a priority of his ministry.

The Talmud affirms that the Holy One, Blessed be God, always cares for the needy. Today, this concern for the poor must embrace the vast numbers on all continents of the hungry, the homeless, the orphan, victims of AIDS, those without adequate medical care and all those who at present lack hope for a better future.

In Jewish tradition, the highest form of charity is removing the obstacles that prevent the poor from rising out of their poverty. In recent years, the Church has emphasized its preferential option for the poor. Jews and Christians have an equal obligation to work for justice with charity (Tzedaqah) which ultimately will lead to Shalom for all humanity. In fidelity to our distinct religious traditions, we see this common commitment to justice and charity as man's cooperation in the Divine plan to bring about a better world.

Immediate challenges

In the light of this common commitment, the meeting recognized the need to address the following immediate challenges:

• the growing economic disparity among people,
• the increasing ecological devastation,
• the negative aspects of globalisation, and the urgent need for international peace-making and reconciliation.

””We therefore, salute the joint initiatives of Catholic and Jewish international and national organisations which have already begun to address the needs of the indigent, the hungry, the sick, the young, the undereducated and the aged”the statement continued. “”Building upon these actions of social justice we pledge ourselves to redouble our efforts to address the pressing needs of all out of our common commitment to justice and charity.””

Positive changes

The meeting noted that as the world approaches the 40th anniversary of Nostra Aetate – the ground-breaking declaration of the Second Vatican Council which repudiated the deicide charge against Jews, reaffirmed the Jewish roots of Christianity and rejected anti-Semitism — it is imperative to take note of the many positive changes within the Catholic Church with respect to her relationship with the Jewish People. It pointed out that these past forty years of fraternal dialogue stand in stark contrast to almost two millennia of a 'teaching of contempt' and all its painful consequences. Encouragement can be drawn from the fruits of these collective strivings which include the recognition of the unique and unbroken covenantal relationship between God and the Jewish people and the total rejection of anti-Semitism in all its forms, including anti-Zionism as a more recent manifestation of anti-Semitism.

Elimination of prejudice

For its part, the Jewish community has evinced a growing willingness to engage in interreligious dialogue and joint action regarding religious, social and communal issues on the local, national and international levels, as exemplified in the new direct dialogue between the Chief Rabbinate in Israel and the Holy See, the meeting noted. The Jewish community has made strides in educational programming about Christianity; the elimination of prejudice and the importance of Jewish-Christian dialogue.

Additionally, the Jewish community has become aware of, and deplores, the phenomenon of anti-Catholicism in all its forms, manifesting itself in society at large.

A ground breaking addition to the conclusions reached at the meeting was the statement that: “”On the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps, we declare our determination to prevent the re emergence of anti-Semitism which led to genocide and the Shoah.””

Terrorism in Buenos Aires

“”We stand together at this moment in time, following major international conferences on this problem, most recently in Berlin and at the United Nations in New York.

“”We recall the words of Pope John Paul II that anti-Semitism is a sin against God and humanity and we commit ourselves to the struggle against terrorism.””

The delegates noted that the world today is experiencing a new millennium, already stained by the attacks of September 11, 2001 and subsequent terrorist outrages world-wide and that the meeting — the first in South America — took place on the 10th anniversary of two tragic experiences of terrorism in Buenos Aires.

Terror, in all its forms, and killing carried out “”in the name of God”can never be justified. Terror is a sin against man and God. We call on men and women of all faiths to support international efforts to eradicate this threat to life, so that all nations can live together in peace and security on the basis of tzedeq and tzedadah”the delegates concluded. We pledge that the promises we have made to each other in Buenos Aires will be implemented and disseminated throughout our communities so that the work of Justice and Charity shall, indeed, lead to God's greatest gift: peace.