This library provides access to resources and documents on past and present concerns in Christian-Jewish relations.
Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations
Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations is the journal of the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations and is published by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College. The Journal publishes peer-reviewed scholarship on the history, theology, and contemporary realities of Jewish-Christian relations and reviews new materials in the field. The Journal also provides a vehicle for exchange of information, cooperation, and mutual enrichment in the field of Christian-Jewish studies and relations. SCJR provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
Dialogika
Dialogika is an online library that provides a comprehensive cyber-archive of official statements, historical documents, educational resources, and current information on Christian-Jewish relations.
Through a collaboration with the Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations (CCJR) maintains Dialogika.
Jewish-Christian Relations
This site is highly recommended because of its size and international scope. Begun by Fritz Voll, it is now maintained by the International Council of Christians and Jews. It contains current news, useful articles, and many Christian documents on Jews and Judaism.Ìý
Academic Resources
The Center is pleased to make available the following noteworthy essays concerning Christian-Jewish Relations. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center. Articles are arranged in the categories that follow. Some articles may be listed in more than one category.
Categories
- A Sacred Obligation: Rethinking Christian Faith in Relation to Judaism and the Jewish People
- Christian-Jewish Dialogue
- Christian Theology
- Christian efforts to convert Jews to Christianity
- Dabru Emet: A Jewish Statement on Christians and Christianity
- Dominus Iesus
- History, history of relations
- The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible
- Jewish Theology
- Middle East
- Reflections on Covenant and Mission
- Religious Education
- Scriptural Interpretation
- Shoah (Holocaust)
Ìý
Christian-Jewish DialogueÌý(Arranged chronologically)
Norbert J. Hofmann, "Salvation from the Jewish Jesus of Nazareth"
The secretary for the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, prepared this article to mark the annual observance of the "Day of Judaism" in several European countries. Published in the March 21, 2007 issue ofÌýL'Osservatore Romano, the article discusses the importance of Catholic dialogue with Judaism, observing that this has internal and external dimensions. Internally, it notes the work of academic centers and the Commission on unresolved theological issues, while externally it considers the Commission's dialogues with IJCIC and the Israeli Rabbinate.
Michael C. Kotzin, "The Catholic-Jewish Scholars Dialogue of Chicago: A Model of Interreligious Dialogue"
Michael C. Kotzin, the Executive Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, presented this history of the experiences of a noteworthy Chicago dialogue group on September 26, 2005 at the conference "Nostra AetateÌýToday" held at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. His account shows how events in Catholic-Jewish relations for the past few decades impacted a particularly significant ongoing gathering of Jews and Catholics.
Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, "Peace in the World: The Contribution of Interreligious Relations"
The president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue delivered this essay on February 28, 2005 at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The archbishop links the principles and practices of interreligious dialogue to four principles of peace outlined in Pope John XXIII's 1963ÌýPacem in Terris.
William Cardinal Keeler, "Catholic-Jewish Dialogue: A Developing Agenda"
Cardinal Keeler is the Archbishop of Baltimore and the Episcopal Moderator for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This address was delivered on June 7, 2004 at a Jewish-Catholic dialogue sponsored by the Brazilian Conference of Catholic Bishop in Salvador, Brazil.
Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik on Interreligious Dialogue - Forty Years Later
A panel discussion of Rabbi Soloveitchik's influential 1964 article "Confrontation" in which he argued that Orthodox Jews should eschew dialogue with Christians on theological matters but ought to engage in social justice and civil rights dialogues. The panelists, three Orthodox rabbis and a Catholic observer, considered the application of Rabbi Soloveitchik's insights in the present.
- Eugene Korn, Seton Hall University
- David Berger, Brooklyn College - CUNY
- Aryeh Klapper, Harvard University Hillel
- Philip A. Cunningham, Boston College
Ìý
Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, "Evangelization and Interreligious Dialogue"
This address was delivered by the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on October 25, 2003 at Trinity College in Washington. He distinguishes between "evangelization" and "evangelism," seeing the former as reflection the Catholic understanding of the church's evangelizing mission in a broad sense and the latter as used by some Christian communities to mean the direct preaching of Jesus Christ. He goes on to describe the multi-faceted purposes of interreligious dialogue and how the doctrine of the Trinity impels Christians to engage in dialogue.
William Cardinal Keeler, "The Catholic Church and the Jewish People"
This address was delivered by the archbishop of Baltimore and the U.S. bishops' moderator for Catholic-Jewish relations on July 2, 2003 at the annual meeting of the International Conference of Christians and Jews. Cardinal Keeler recounts developments since Nostra Aetate, praises the personal contributions of Pope John Paul II to Catholic-Jewish rapprochement, and discusses the question of Christian missions to convert Jews.
Philip A. Cunningham, "Recognizing Each Other's Religious Legitimacy: How Far Can We Go?"
This panel discussion, co-sponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston on March 13, 2003, explored the topic of how Jews and Christians can construct affirming theologies of each other. Rabbi Dr Eugene Korn suggested that if "the Jewish covenantal commitment is a paradigm for humanity, then it would seem that other peoples are also entitled to their own particular theological commitment (i.e. religion) without denying divergent religious conceptions." After outlining the great reform occurring in Catholic teaching about Jews, Dr. Cunningham argued "that simply affirming that Jews remain in covenant with God is insufficient because Christians can understand 'covenant' in ways that still deny Jewish religious integrity." Rev. Stendahl responded from a Lutheran perspective and warns against certain dangers as Jews and Christians pursue a new relationship.
Eugene Korn, "One God: Many Faiths - A Jewish Theology of Covenantal Pluralism."
Luke Timothy Johnson, "Christians and Jews: Starting Over - Why the Real Dialogue Has Just Begun"
Posted here with the kind permission ofÌýCommonwealÌýmagazine, the Robert W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Emory University, argues that the proper Christian response to the recognition of the corrosion of supersessionism is neither thinking that "nothing has changed," nor "throwing itself on the same sword it wielded against Jews." He urges Christians instead to adopt three unaccustomed attitudes: theological modesty or humility, patient attentiveness to the gospel, and a willingness to learn from Judaism. (See alsoÌý"To the Editors" Correspondence between Avery Cardinal Dulles and Luke Timothy Johnson).
Walter Cardinal Kasper, "Address on the 37th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate."
Remarks delivered in Rome on October 28, 2002, which states that "Judaism is as a sacrament of every otherness that as such the Church must learn to discern, recognize and celebrate."
Walter Cardinal Kasper, "Achievements and Further Challenges in the Jewish-Christian Dialogue."
An address delivered at the inauguration of the SIDIC Library Collection and Documentation Centre at the Pontifical Gregorian University, October 17, 2002.
Eugene J. Fisher, "The New Agenda in Catholic-Jewish Relations: A Response to Edward Kessler"
In this article from the summer of 2001, posted with the kind permission ofÌýThe Tablet, Dr. Fisher, the associate director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the USCCB, surveys the "state-of-the-question" of Catholic-Jewish relations. He touches especially on education, liturgy, and Jewish conversion to Christianity.
Walter Cardinal Kasper, "Spiritual and Ethical Commitment in Jewish-Christian Dialogue"
Cardinal Kasper's address at the annual meeting of the International Council of Christians and Jews, Montevideo, Uruguay, 12 July 2001.
Leon Klenicki, "Overview of the Past Ten Years"
This pair of essays was presented at the 17th meeting of the International Catholic - Jewish Liaison Committee, held in New York in May, 2001. They offer helpful retrospectives of the previous decade of Catholic-Jewish relations. Cardinal Cassidy is the retiring president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and Rabbi Leon Klenicki, retired ADL director for interreligious affairs, is a veteran of the dialogue.
Edward Idris Cardinal Cassidy, "Jewish - Catholic Relations: 1990-2001"
Edward Idris Cardinal Cassidy, The Future of Jewish-Christian Relations in the Light of the Visit of Pope John Paul II to the Holy Land
Cardinal Cassidy, retiring president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, surveys the pontificate of John Paul II and offers a vision for future Christian-Jewish relations. This address was delivered in Jerusalem on March 13, 2001 at the tenth annual meeting of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel.
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, "The Heritage of Abraham: The Gift of Christmas"
This article by the president of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is a Christmas message encouraging Christians to be grateful to the Jewish people and tradition.
Michael Signer, "On ChristianÌýTeshuvah: The Open Heart of the Jewish People"
This High Holydays sermon by Rabbi Dr. Michael Signer of the University of Notre Dame focuses particularly on Catholic statements calling for ChristianÌýteshuvahÌýin response to theÌýShoah.
Remi Hoeckman, "The Jewish-Christian Encounter: A Matter of Faith?"
Rev. Dr. Remi Hoeckman, O.P., then the Secretary of the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, presented this paper in April 1998 at a conference entitled, "Humanity at the Limit: The Impact of the Holocaust on Jews and Christians" held at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA.
Joseph B. Soloveitchik, "Confrontation"
In this influential 1964 essay, the leading rabbi of Orthodox Judaism in the United States, discusses whether it is appropriate for Jews to engage in interreligious dialogue with Christians. He concludes his reflections, published one year before the Second Vatican Council promulgatedÌýNostra Aetate, that so long as Christianity considers itself to have superseded Judaism that Jews should not discuss matters of faith, doctrine, or theology with Christians. They should, however, converse about civil rights, social justice, and religious liberty issues.
Christian TheologyÌý(Arranged chronologically)
Walter Cardinal Kasper, "The Relationship of the Old and the New Covenant as One of the Central Issues in Jewish-Christian Dialogue"
A lecture delivered at the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations in Cambridge, United Kingdom in which the president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews discusses various aspects of covenantal theology.
Cardinal William Keeler, "Reflections on Anti-Semitism and the Church"
Cardinal Keeler is the Archbishop of Baltimore and the Episcopal Moderator for Catholic-Jewish Relations of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This address was delivered on June 6, 2004 at a Jewish-Catholic dialogue sponsored by the Brazilian Conference of Catholic Bishop in Salvador, Brazil.
Walter Cardinal Kasper, "Antisemitism: A Wound to be Healed."
The article was written in observance of the fourth European Day of Jewish Culture, September 5, 2003. Cardinal Kasper recounts the history of Christian antisemitism, partially based on erroneous uses of the New Testament in both East and West, and urges that concrete efforts for penitence, reconciliation, and reform occur among all Christians. He concludes that true brotherhood between Christians and Jews would mean that "a new springtime for the Church and for the world can bloom once more."
Walter Cardinal Kasper, "The Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews: A Crucial Endeavor of the Catholic Church".
An address delivered at Boston College on Nov. 6, 2002 in which the president of this Vatican Commission recounts its history and mission. He also makes significant comments about the question of the Christian witness to Jews.
Bishop Walter Kasper, "The Unicity and Universality of Jesus Christ."
An important discussion of religious pluralism delivered on Oct. 17, 2000, one month after the issuance ofÌýDominus IesusÌý(see below).
Anthony J. Saldarini, "Christian Anti- Judaism: The First Century Speaks to the Twenty-First Century"
This Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture was delivered by the late Boston College professor on April 14, 1999 in Chicago. It well represents his extraordinary scholarship and commitment to Christian-Jewish amity.
Converting Jews to ChristianityÌý(Arranged chronologically)
Eugene J. Fisher, "The New Agenda in Catholic-Jewish Relations: A Response to Edward Kessler"
In this article from the summer of 2001, posted with the kind permission ofÌýThe Tablet, Dr. Fisher, the associate director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the USCCB, surveys the "state-of-the-question" of Catholic-Jewish relations. He touches especially on education, liturgy, and Jewish conversion to Christianity.
Eugene J. Fisher, "Some Thoughts on 'Messianic Judaism'"
These brief reflections on so-called "Messianic Judaism" or "Jews for Jesus" were in response to a question on the Catholic Church's position on the subject.
Michael McGarry, "Can Catholics Make an Exception? - Jews and 'The New Evangelization'"
Fr. McGarry, presently the rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies near Jerusalem, presented this paper during the second REMEMBERING FOR THE FUTURE conference in Berlin, Germany, March 13-17, 1994. It addresses the same back to topic as the preceding Federici essay.
Tommaso Federici, "Study Outline on the Mission and Witness of the Church."
This paper was presented by Prof. Federici at the 1977 meeting in Venice of the International Catholic Jewish Liaison Committee. In it he explores from a Catholic perspective whether efforts to proselytize Jews are appropriate Christian undertakings. His paper remains one of the fullest Catholic treatments of the subject to date.
Dabru EmetÌý(Arranged chronologically)
These two papers were presented as part of a conversation between the authors at the first annual meeting of the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations in Baltimore, October 28, 2002. Prof. David Berger of Brooklyn College is a respected Orthodox Jewish scholar who expresses some concerns aboutÌýDabru Emet. Prof. Michael Signer of the University of Notre Dame is a renowned Reform rabbi and medievalist, and one of the four authors ofÌýDabru Emet. He provides an overview of agreements and disagreements with the document that have been expressed since its publication.
Rabbi David Rosen, the International Interreligious Affairs Director of the American Jewish Committee and President of the International Council of Christians and Jews, offered these remarks at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Dutch Council of Christians and Jews (OJEC) at Tilburg, The Netherlands, Nov. 6, 2001.
This address was given by Rabbi Signer, one of the four authors ofÌýDabru Emet, at the Institut Kirche und Judentum in Berlin on July 26, 2001. It provides useful background information about the document's origins, purview, and future.
Dominus IesusÌý(Arranged chronologically)
Dr. David Berger: "On Dominus Iesus and the Jews"
This is pair of essays was delivered at the 17th meeting of the International Catholic - Jewish Liaison Committee, held in New York in May, 2001. Cardinal Kasper is the newly appointed president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews. Orthodox Rabbi Berger is Professor of History at Brooklyn College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Cardinal Kasper explains Catholic magisterial thinking about other religions, while Rabbi Berger discerns perils for Christian - Jewish theological dialogue inÌýDominus Iesus.
Walter Cardinal Kasper, "Dominus Iesus".
See also his earlier essay in "Christian Theology" above.
History, history of relationsÌý(Arranged chronologically by subject)
Walter Cardinal Kasper, "Disarming Terror: A Role for Believers"
This is a translation of an address delivered by Cardinal Kasper on September 7, 2004 in Milan as part of a conference co-sponsored by the Community of Sant' Egidio and the Archdiocese of Milan, entitled "Religions and Cultures: The Courage to Forge a New Spiritual Humanism." The president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity calls upon all religions to critically re-examine their history and to "wake up and galvanize their own spiritual resources of resistance to terrorist violence."
Frederick James Murphy, "Ancient Judaism, the Humanity of Jesus, and Catholic Biblical Scholarship"
The annual Joseph Lecture delivered at Boston College on November 15, 2004. Professor Murphy discusses how Christians have distorted essential aspects of Judaism in the time of Jesus, the importance of historical Jesus research, and the contributions of biblical criticism to theology and the church.
Franz Cardinal Konig, "It Must Be the Holy Spirit"
Cardinal Konig is the emeritus Archbishop of Vienna and was one of the leading figures at the Second Vatican Council. His article describes some key moments of the Council, most notably the composition ofÌýNostra Aetate. The article is reprinted with the kind permission ofÌýThe Tablet, published in London, from the December 21, 2002 issue.
Jenny Goldstein, "Transcending Boundaries: Boston's Catholics and Jews, 1929-1965"
The Center is pleased to make available this outstanding senior thesis, completed in the History Department of Brandeis University by a 2001 graduate. Ms. Goldstein provides an excellent description of the history of Catholic - Jewish relations in Boston. Our congratulations to her and our thanks to her director Prof. Jonathan Sarna.
James Bernauer, "The Holocaust and the Catholic Church's Search for Forgiveness"
This overview of the Catholic Church's engagement with the horrors of the Shoah offers a number of interesting considerations, including the changing response of German bishops after the Second World War and the efforts of the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, to deal with the antisemitic aspects of their own history.
Martin Rhonheimer, "The Holocaust: What Was Not Said"
In this article fromÌýFirst Things, a Swiss priest and professor of ethics and political philosophy steers a middle course in the controversy about the role of the Catholic Church during the Second World War. He criticizes both those who simply attack or simplistically defend Catholic leaders and argues that a distinction must be made between the Church's relationship with National Socialism and its relationship with Jews. He concludes that "in view of all that Christians have done to Jews in history, it is Christians who should take the lead in the purification of memory and conscience."
Daniel J. Lasker, "Competing Claims for Truth: Medieval Judaism and Christianity in Conflict"
In this lecture delivered at Boston College on February 6, 2003, Prof. Lasker from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev describes the polemical interactions between Jews and Christians in the Middle Ages. He concludes that polemicizing medieval Christians and Jews could only talk past one another because they had different theological premises and because they had no common methodology with which to conduct their debate.
Michael J. Cook, "References to Jesus in Early Rabbinic Literature (200-500 c.e.)"
An article in the October 3, 2003 issue ofÌýThe Jewish WeekÌýraises the question of whether the Talmud and other rabbinic literature provides historical information about the role played by Jewish individuals or institutions in the death of Jesus. Prof. Michael Cook here explains that these materials were shaped by the circumstances of Jews and Christians centuries after the crucifixion and so provide no historical data about that event itself.
Mark Weitzman, "The Inverted Image: Antisemitism and Anti-Catholicism on the Internet"
This article was originally presented at the Fifth Biennial Conference On Christianity and the Holocaust on October 18-19, 1998. The author, on the staff of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, reviews the growth of hate sites on the Internet, paying special attention to antisemitic and anti-Catholic themes. The essay provides an overview of the state of affairs in the late 1990s.
The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scripture in the Christian BibleÌý(Arranged chronologically)
Joan E. Cook, "The New Pòòò½Ö±²¥ Document: Continuity, Discontinuity, and Progression Revisited"
Joan E. Cook, S.C., from the Washington Theological Union, presented this paper on August 5, 2003 at the annual meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association. In its she analyzes thirteen studies on the Pòòò½Ö±²¥ document that have appeared since April 2002. She spotlights three significant contributions that the document makes according to the thirteen commentators, and also surveys those parts of the document that have received the most attention.
John R. Donahue, "Joined by Word and Covenant: Reflections on a Recent Vatican Document on Jewish Christian Relations"
John R. Donahue, the Raymond E. Brown Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies at St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, in address given on March 16, 2003, offers a trenchant analysis ofÌýThe Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible.
Donald Senior, "Rome Has Spoken: A New Catholic Approach to Judaism"
Donald Senior, C.P., is president of the Catholic Theological Union at Chicago and was recently appointed by Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Biblical Commission. This article on the Pontifical Biblical Commission study is based on a presentation to the Catholic Biblical Association of America at its annual meeting in August 2002. Posted with the kind permission of ofÌýCommonwealÌýMagazine.
Philip A. Cunningham, "The Pontifical Biblical Commission's 2001 Study onÌýThe Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible: Selected Important Quotations with Comments."
A summary and analysis of the important 2001 study of the Pontifical Biblical Commission.
Jewish TheologyÌý(Arranged chronologically)
Meir Y. Soloveitchik, "The Virtue of Hate"
In this article fromÌýFirst Things, Rabbi Meir Y. Soloveichik, Resident Scholar at the Jewish Center in Manhattan and a Beren Fellow at Yeshiva University, compares and contrasts Jewish and Christian understandings of forgiveness. He argues that a core distinction between the two religions is Judaism's acceptance of the occasional and limited necessity to hate the enemy, while Christianity urges the constant possibility of divine forgiveness.
Gilbert S. Rosenthal, "Some Are Chosen, All Are Loved"
Rabbi Gilbert Rosenthal, executive director of the National Council of Synagogues, offers a helpful overview of how the concepts of "chosenness" and mission have developed in the Jewish tradition over the centuries.
Shira Lander, "Martyrdom in Jewish Traditions."
This paper was delivered by Rabbi Dr. Shira Lander at the December 2003 meeting of the Catholic-Jewish Consultation Committee, composed of delegates from the National Council of Synagogues and the bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs.
Eugene Korn, "One God: Many Faiths - A Jewish Theology of Covenantal Pluralism."
At an event co-sponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston on March 13, 2003, Rabbi Dr Eugene Korn suggested that if "the Jewish covenantal commitment is a paradigm for humanity, then it would seem that other peoples are also entitled to their own particular theological commitment (i.e. religion) without denying divergent religious conceptions."
Alan Brill, "Judaism and Other Religions: An Orthodox perspective."
Rabbi Dr. Alan Brill teaches at Yeshiva University and Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and is also the Founder and Director of Kavvanah: Center for Jewish Thought. A summary and sample of a forthcoming book on the topic, this paper was commissioned by the World Jewish Congress for the "World Symposium of Catholic Cardinals and Jewish Leaders," January 19-20, 2004 in New York City. It surveys a wide range of Jewish theological approaches to non-Jews, categorizing them "as exclusivist, inclusivist, or universalist / pluralistic."
Middle EastÌý(Arranged chronologically)
Philip A. Cunningham, "Reflections from a Roman Catholic on 'Understanding Christian Support for Israel"
These comments from the director of the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning were delivered during a March 14, 2007 panel discussion,Ìý"Understanding Christian Support for Israel," which compared Evangelical and Roman Catholic perspectives. The remarks set forth the Holy See's approach, which includes affirming the human rights of all the relevant parties, advocating a "two-state solution," and distinguishing among the interlocking realities of the People of Israel, the Land of Israel, and the State of Israel. They conclude with cautions against antisemitism and Islamophobia.
F. Michael Perko, SJ, "'Jerusalem in Slavery:' Christians, the Bible, and Contemporary Israeli/Palestinian Polticis"
Prof. Perko is Director of the Center for the Advanced Study of Christianity and Culture at Loyola University of Chicago. This paper, posted with the author's kind permission, was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Israel Studies, April, 2003.
Francesco Rossi de Gasperis, SJ, "The Interreligious Dialogue in Jerusalem"
This essay offers interesting discussions of the different ways in which eastern and western Christianity have responded to the Shoah, as well as a discussion about the relative influence of supersessionist in Christianity and Islam. Fr. de Gasperis teaches at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Jerusalem.
Reflections on Covenant and MissionÌý(Arranged chronologically.)Ìý
Edward Idris Cardinal Cassidy, "Reflections on Covenant and Mission."
The president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews from 1989-2000 discusses the statement in his 2005 book,ÌýEcumenism and Interreligious Dialogue.
Three essays from a Boston College Panel held on February 9, 2005: Should Catholics Seek to Convert Jews (If Jews Are in True Covenant with God)?
Philip A. Cunningham,Ìý"Reflecting on the Reflections"
Michael J. Himes,Ìý"Evangelization and Interreligious Dialogue"
Fred Lawrence,Ìý"On Conversion"
Ìý
Walter Cardinal Kasper, "The Relationship of the Old and the New Covenant as One of the Central Issues in Jewish-Christian Dialogue"
A lecture delivered at the Centre for the Study of Jewish-Christian Relations in Cambridge, United Kingdom in which the president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews discusses various aspects of covenantal theology.
Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, "Evangelization and Interreligious Dialogue"
This address was delivered by the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on October 25, 2003 at Trinity College in Washington. He distinguishes between "evangelization" and "evangelism," seeing the former as reflection the Catholic understanding of the church's evangelizing mission in a broad sense and the latter as used by some Christian communities to mean the direct preaching of Jesus Christ. He goes on to describe the multi-faceted purposes of interreligious dialogue and how the doctrine of the Trinity impels Christians to engage in dialogue.
William Cardinal Keeler, "The Catholic Church and the Jewish People"
This address was delivered by the archbishop of Baltimore and the U.S. bishops' moderator for Catholic-Jewish relations on July 2, 2003 at the annual meeting of the International Conference of Christians and Jews. Cardinal Keeler recounts developments since Nostra Aetate, praises the personal contributions of Pope John Paul II to Catholic-Jewish rapprochement, and discusses the question of Christian missions to convert Jews.
Pope John Paul II,ÌýEcclesia in EuropaÌýon Interreligious Dialogue - June 28, 2003
In this excerpt, John Paul II links the "new evangelization" with "a profound a perceptive interreligious dialogue, particularly with Judaism and Islam." Earlier in the text, the pope had stated that "that the new evangelization is in no way to be confused with proselytism, without prejudice to the duty of respect for truth, for freedom and for the dignity of every person" [32]. Throughout the text, "new evangelization" encompasses all aspects of Christian life.
"To the Editors" Correspondence between Avery Cardinal Dulles and Luke Timothy Johnson
In this exchange of letters to the editors of the magazineÌýCommonwealÌý(see Johnson's article above under "Christian-Jewish Dialogue"), the authors disagree on the interpretation of the Letter to the Hebrews and what it means for Christian-Jewish relations today.
Philip A. Cunningham, "Recognizing Each Other's Religious Legitimacy: How Far Can We Go?"
At an event co-sponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston on March 13, 2003, Dr. Cunningham outlined the great reform occurring in Catholic teaching about Jews, but argued " that simply affirming that Jews remain in covenant with God is insufficient because Christians can understand 'covenant' in ways that still deny Jewish religious integrity."
Walter Cardinal Kasper, "The Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews: A Crucial Endeavor of the Catholic Church".
An address delivered at Boston College on Nov. 6, 2002 in which the president of this Vatican Commission recounts its history and mission. He also makes significant comments about the question of the Christian witness to Jews.
The following pair of essays from the October 21, 2002 issue ofÌýAmericaÌýmagazine present contrasting views of the 2002 òòò½Ö±²¥EIA/NCS joint statementÌýReflections on Covenant and Mission. Cardinal Dulles takes exception to its conclusion that Christians should not target Jews for conversionary campaigns and its broad use of the term "evangelization". The three respondents assert that theÌýReflectionsÌýare in direct continuity with the post-Nostra AetateÌýmagisterial tradition.
Francis Martin, "All Israel Will Be Saved,"ÌýNational Catholic Register, Oct. 6-12, 2002
A brief essay that suggests that Judaism's relationship to Christianity be understood using Bernard Lonergan's concept of "sublation."
Religious Education
This article analyzes contemporary American evangelical children's fiction with respect to the portrayal of Jews and Judaism. The author argues that these books, many of which contain conversion narratives, reflect the ambivalence of modern Protestant evangelical Christianity concerning Jews and Judaism. Evangelicals respect Jews and condemn all forms of anti-Semitism, but also promote and encourage the conversion of Jews to Christianity, which seems to imply a lack of respect or even a subtle contempt for Jewish faith and practice.
Scriptural InterpretationÌý
Gregory Mobley, "Protestant and Jewish Approaches to the Scriptures (Or What I Learned ... from Inter-faith Bible Study)
The following is a revised form of a presentation given at the May 19, 2004 meeting of the Jewish-Christian Dialogue sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and the Massachusetts Council or Churches at Temple Mishkan Tefila in Newton, MA. The author is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Andover Newton Theological School and an ordained American Baptist minister.
The Shoah (Holocaust)
His Beatitude Christodoulos, "The Church Embraces All People"
The Archbishop of Athens and all Greece delivered this tribute to the late Archbishop Damaskinos of Athens at a commemorationÌýorganized by the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece onÌýJanuary 28, 2007. Damaskinos had taken heroic steps to save Greek Jews during the Nazi Occupation. His Beatitude declares thatÌýChristians must standÌý"against terrorism, racism, xenophobia, the disappearance of differences, [and] the homogenization of everything into a syncretistic view of life."
Dietrich Bonhoeffer for Our Times
The following essays were deliveredÌýin panel discussions during the centenary conference,ÌýDietrich Bonhoeffer for Our Times: Jewish and Christian Perspectives, cosponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Hebrew College, and Andover-Newton Theological School, September 17-18, 2006.
Donald Dietrich, "The Catholic Context: The Churches' Response to Nazism"
David P. Gushee, "Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Evangelical Moment in American Public Life"
Stephen J. Pope, "Moral Formation as Transformation: The Contribution of Dietrich Bonhoeffer"
The Shoah has prompted most Christian churches to re-evaluate their teachings on Judaism.Ìý Their ensuing declarations testify to a major reform of previous Christian understandings. Recently, some Jewish voices have discussed Jewish theological outlooks on Christianity.
This online library provides many texts on Christian-Jewish relations, focusing for now on the United States and the Vatican. One can see in them trajectories of thought that will continue to develop. The library arranges the documents denominationally. Documents are being linked gradually as needed copyright permissions are obtained. Please contact us about other documents to include here.
Roman Catholic Documents
Alexandria Interreligious Conference
Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and the National Council of Synagogues
- "Joint Reflections on Covenant and Mission" (2002)
- "Filled with Sadness, Charged with Hope: A Joint Reflection on the Events of Sept 11" (2001)
- "A Joint Condemnation of Acts of Religious Hatred" (2000)
- "Children and the Environment: A Joint Reflection" (2000)
- "A Joint Report: To End the Death Penalty" (1999)
- "Reflections on the Millennium" (1998)
- "A Joint Statement on Dealing with Holocaust Revisionism" (1994)
- "A Joint Statement on Pornography" (1993)
- "A Joint Statement on Moral Education" (1990)
Confraternidad Argentina Judeo Cristiana
Discussion Group: "Jews and Christians," Central Committee of German Catholics
International Catholic-Jewish Liaison CommitteeÌýÌý[history of ILC meetings]
- Joint Communiqué on the 19th Meeting (2006)
- Joint Communiqué on the 18th Meeting (2004)
- "Recommendation on Education in Catholic and Jewish Seminaries and Theological Schools" (2001)
- "A Declaration on Protecting Religious Freedom and Holy Sites" (2001)
- Joint Communiqué on the 17th Meeting (2001)
- Joint Communiqué on the 16th Meeting (1998)Ìý
- "A Common Declaration on the Environment" (1998)Ìý
- "A Common Declaration on the Family" (1994)Ìý
- "A Common Declaration on Anti-Semitism" (1990)
- "A Memorandum of Understanding" (1970)
International Conference of Christians and Jews
International Council of Christians and Jews []Ìý
Orthodox Christianity and Judaism
Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and the the Chief Rabbinate of Israel's Commission for the Jewish-Catholic Dialogue
- Joint Statement (Dec 2003)Ìý
- Joint Statement (Feb 2003)Ìý
- Joint Statement (Oct 2004)
- Joint Statement (June 2005)
- Joint Statement (Feb 2006)
- Joint Statement (Mar 2007)
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Secretariat for Catholic-Jewish Relations;ÌýU.S. Catholic Conference, Adult Education Section; and the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, Interfaith Affairs Department
New York Bishops of the Episcopalian, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic communities
John Paul II
- Address to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith - January 28, 2000
- General Audience Teachings on Interreligious Dialogue andÌýNostra AetateÌýin Preparation for the Great Jubilee of 2000
- Good Friday - April 10, 1998
- To the Pontifical Biblical Commission - April 11, 1997
- To the Central Council of Jews in Germany - June 23, 1996
- On the 50th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - April 6, 1993
- To Jewish Leaders in Warsaw - June 14, 1987
- At the Great Synagogue of Rome - April 13, 1986
- To Experts Gathered by the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews - March 6, 1982
- To Jewish representatives in Mainz, West Germany - Nov. 17, 1980
- To Representatives of Jewish Organizations, March 12, 1979
Jubilee 2000 Observances
- Western Wall Prayer - March 26, 2000
- Homily on the Mount of the Beatitudes - March 24, 2000
- Address at Jerusalem Interreligious Meeting - March 23, 2000
- Address at Yad Vashem - March 23, 2000
- Meeting with Israel's Two Chief Rabbis - March 23, 2000
- Meeting with President Weisman - March 23, 2000
- Address at the Dheisheh Refugee Camp - March 22, 2000
- Arrival in Bethlehem - March 22, 2000
- Arrival in Tel Aviv - March 21, 2000
- Day of Pardon Mass - March 12, 2000
- At Mount Sinai - February 26, 2000
- Interreligious Assembly - October 28, 1999
- Message on the Occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Concentration Camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau - January 27, 2005
- Address to Representatives of the World of Culture, Kazakhstan - September 24, 2001
- Address to the All-Ukranian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations - June 24, 2001
- General Audience Comments on Interreligious Dialogue - November 29, 2000
- Comments by Pope John Paul II onÌýDominus IesusÌý- October 1, 2000
- Message to Lisbon Interreligious Conference - September 21, 2000.
- Address to the New Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Holy See - Sept. 18, 2000
- Address to the New Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the Holy See - September 7, 2000
- Homily at the Beatifications ofÌýPius IX, John XXIII, Tommaso Reggio, William Chaminade and Columba Marmion - Sept. 3, 2000
- Comments on the Camp David Summit - July 23, 2000
Benedict XVI - Letters And Addresses
- April 20, 2005: Benedict telegrams Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo di Segni, an invitation to his papal inauguration.
"May the Lord have mercy and bless us; may his light shine upon us. On April 19, 2005, the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church elected me Bishop of Rome and Pastor of the universal Catholic Church. In announcing my election and the solemn inauguration of my pontificate, on Sunday, April 24, at 10 o'clock, I trust in the help of the Almighty to continue with the dialogue and to reinforce collaboration with the sons and daughters of the Jewish people.
"Vatican, April 20, 2005, Benedictus XVI." - May 8, 2005: Ninetieth Birthday greetings to Rabbi Elio Toaff, Rome's chief rabbi emeritusÌý(extracts).
"With a grateful spirit to God, I thank you for the good relations that have been interwoven with the Holy See, particularly during the pontificate of my deceased predecessor. Your birthday becomes an occasion to renew the commitment to continue the dialogue between us, looking with confidence to the future. I bless the eternal Father for the gift of the long and fruitful life he has granted you, during which the goodness of God has been manifested many times." - June 9, 2005: Address to Delegates of the International Committee on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC)
- August 19, 2005: Address at the Synagogue of Cologne
- October 26, 2005: Message on the Occasion of the Fortieth Anniversary ofÌýNostra Aetate
- November 30, 2005: General Audience
- December 22, 2005: Address to the Roman Curia
- January 16, 2006: Address to the Chief Rabbi of Rome
- March 15, 2006: General Audience
- March 16, 2006: Audience with Delegates of the American Jewish Committee
- May 28, 2006: Address at the Concentration Camp at Auschwitz
- May 31, 2006: General Audience
- April 5, 2007: Holy Thursday Homily - "Jesus Is the New and True Lamb"
Interreligious Documents
Alexandria Interreligious Conference
Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and the National Council of Synagogues
- "Joint Reflections on Covenant and Mission" (2002)
- "Filled with Sadness, Charged with Hope: A Joint Reflection on the Events of Sept 11" (2001)
- "A Joint Condemnation of Acts of Religious Hatred" (2000)
- "Children and the Environment: A Joint Reflection" (2000)
- "A Joint Report: To End the Death Penalty" (1999)
- "Reflections on the Millennium" (1998)
- "A Joint Statement on Dealing with Holocaust Revisionism" (1994)
- "A Joint Statement on Pornography" (1993)
- "A Joint Statement on Moral Education" (1990)
Confraternidad Argentina Judeo Cristiana
Discussion Group: "Jews and Christians," Central Committee of German Catholics
International Catholic-Jewish Liaison CommitteeÌýÌý[history of ILC meetings]
- Joint Communiqué on the 19th Meeting (2006)
- Joint Communiqué on the 18th Meeting (2004)
- "Recommendation on Education in Catholic and Jewish Seminaries and Theological Schools" (2001)
- "A Declaration on Protecting Religious Freedom and Holy Sites" (2001)
- Joint Communiqué on the 17th Meeting (2001)
- Joint Communiqué on the 16th Meeting (1998)Ìý
- "A Common Declaration on the Environment" (1998)Ìý
- "A Common Declaration on the Family" (1994)Ìý
- "A Common Declaration on Anti-Semitism" (1990)
- "A Memorandum of Understanding" (1970)
International Conference of Christians and Jews
International Council of Christians and Jews []Ìý
Orthodox Christianity and Judaism
Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and the the Chief Rabbinate of Israel's Commission for the Jewish-Catholic Dialogue
- Joint Statement (Dec 2003)Ìý
- Joint Statement (Feb 2003)Ìý
- Joint Statement (Oct 2004)
- Joint Statement (June 2005)
- Joint Statement (Feb 2006)
- Joint Statement (Mar 2007)
National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Secretariat for Catholic-Jewish Relations;ÌýU.S. Catholic Conference, Adult Education Section; and the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, Interfaith Affairs Department
New York Bishops of the Episcopalian, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic communities
Protestant Documents
World Council of Churches
The Executive Committee, "Ecumenical Considerations on Jewish-Christian Dialogue" (1982)
The Commission on Faith and Order , "The Church and the Jewish People" (1967)
United States
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, "Guidelines for Lutheran-Jewish Relations (1998)
General Assembly of the United Methodist Church (USA), "Building New Bridges in Hope (1996)
Alliance of Baptists, "Statement on Baptist-Jewish Relations" (1995)
"Declaration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to the Jewish Community" (1994)
UCC Theological Panel on Jewish-Christian Relations, "A Message to the Churches" (1990)Ìý
General Convention of the Episcopal Church (USA), "Guidelines for Christian-Jewish Relations" (1988)
Texas Conference of Churches, "Dialogue: A Contemporary Alternative to Proselytization" (1982)
General Assembly of the Episcopal Church (USA), "A Resolution of the 1979 General Convention" (1979)
General Assembly of the Episcopal Church (USA), "Deicide and the Jews" (1964)
Europe
Joint Declaration of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Chief Rabbis of Israel (Sept. 5, 2006)
Church of Sweden, "The Ways of God - Judaism and Christianity" (Sept. 19, 2001)
Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, "Christians and Jews" (1975)
Background Information
- Some Principles for Interreligious Dialogue
- A History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
- Criteria for Assessing the Presentation of Jews and Judaism in Christian Teaching and Homiletic Materials
- Do's and Don't When Teaching or Preaching About Jesus' Ministry
- Ten New Christian Convictions About Jews and Judaism
- "The Christian Teaching of Contempt for Jews and Judaism: A Primary Source Sampler"
Advent Resources
- The Birth of Jesus: Two Gospel NarrativesÌý(an online mini-course)
- Suggested Revised Lyrics for "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" andÌýCommentary
- Advent Preaching GuidelinesÌýfrom U.S. Bishops' Committee on the Liturgy
Lenten and Holy Week Resources
- Lenten Resources
- The Death of Jesus: Four Gospel AccountsÌý(an online mini-course)
- Suggested Passion Narrative Readings for Liturgical Use during Holy Week
- Criteria for the Evaluation of Dramatizations of the Passion
- Resources on the Mel Gibson movie production,ÌýThe Passion of Christ
Multimedia
- Ìý(a six session multimedia dialogue curriculum)
- The Theological Contributions of Pope John Paul II to Catholic-Jewish Relations (a slide show)
- Ìý(a seven-part curriculum for Christian-Jewish dialogue prepared by the Union for Reform Judaism)
Contemporary Topics
Obituaries of other individuals who have made notable contributions to the field of Jewish-Christian relations can be found at the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations' .
Rabbi Michael Signer (1946-2009)
Rabbi Leon Klenicki (1930-2009)
Rev. Krister Stendahl (1921-2008)Ìý
Accusation of Anti-Semitism on Polish Radio
Methodist Developments Regarding Israel-Palestine
Papal Visit to Vienna Holocaust Memorial
Pope Meets with Israeli President
Rabbi Leon Klenicki Receives Papal Honor
The Wider Use of the Latin 1962 Catholic Missal
The Conflict between the State of Israel and Hezbollah
The Fortieth Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council DeclarationÌýNostra Aetate
The Catholic Church & the Jewish People from Vatican II to Today
Beatification of Anne Catherine Emmerich
Mainline Protestant Churches on Israeli/Palestinian Conflict and Israel Divestment
The Mel Gibson movie,ÌýThe Passion of the Christ
Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik & Interreligious Dialogue: 40 Years Later
Below are reviews of books relevant to Christian-Jewish relations. Those that have previously been published in printed periodicals are posted here with permission. Since 2005, reviews of books in the field are published in the journal .
Mary C. Boys
Has God Only One Blessing? Judaism as a Source of Christian Self-Understanding
reviewed by Ruth Langer
James Carroll
Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews - A History
reviewed by Ruth Langer and Philip A. Cunningham
Philip A. Cunningham
A Story of Shalom: The Calling of Christians and Jews by a Covenanting God
reviewed by John C. Merkle
Philip A. Cunningham, editor
Pondering the Passion: What's at Stake for Christians and Jews?
reviewed by Gilbert S. Rosenthal
Tikva Frymer-Kensy, David Novak, Peter Ochs, David Fox Sandmel, and Michael A. Signer, eds.
Christianity in Jewish Terms
reviewed by Philip A. Cunningham
Daniel Jonah Goldhagen
A Moral Reckoning: The Role of the Catholic Church in the Holocaust and Its Unfulfilled Duty of Repair
reviewed by Donald Dietrich
William Horbury
Jews and Christians in Contact and Controversy
reviewed by David P. Efroymson
John C. Merkle, editor
Faith Transformed: Christian Encounters with Jews and Judaism
reviewed by John J. Clabeaux
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Many Religions - One Covenant: Israel, the Church, and the World
reviewed by Teresa O'Keefe
Seth Schwartz
Imperialism and Jewish Society, 200 òòò½Ö±²¥E-600 CE
reviewed by Ruth Langer
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