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Editorial
The Editors

This edition of the SIDIC bulletin is lovingly dedicated to the memory of
CORNELIS ADRIAAN RIIK.

Fr. Rijk died on August 29, 1979, after having devoted the preceding thirteen years exclusively to the work of Jewish-Christian relations, firstly as responsible for Catholic-Jewish relations in the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity from 1966 to 1972, and then as Director of SIDIC from 1973 until his death. His deep interest in the question, however, goes back much further to his days as a young priest in Holland, when he was Professor of Sacred Scripture at the Philosophicum at Warmond.
In these pages we offer our readers a synthesis of his thought and teaching on the subject of Jewish-Christian Relations. In his writings, but above all in his person, it was clearly seen that, although this work can only be accomplished after much intellectual preparation, it is in fact done much more with the heart than with the head. His many friends, both Jewish and Christian, have appreciated both his keen mind and the warmth and sincerity of his friendship. We have asked some of them to share with us their memori es, their impressions, the work they did together, the dialogues they lived.
Going back to the time in Holland when Father Rijk first became interested in Jewish-Christian relations, we turned to his friend of many years' standing: Mgr. A.C. Rarnselaar, himself in the forefront of this dialogue. From him we learn how Kees (as he was known) became involved in this all-important work which soon developed into
his own special calling. Of the utmost significance is the fact that the beginnings of this special vocation were in the Word of God - the Bible. All who knew him, whether in Holland or Rome or wherever he went on his frequent journeys, knew how deeply he lived this Word - how it was the life-spring of his prayer, his homilies, his lectures and writings, and how it was the basis of his whole approach to dialogue.
It was on account of this biblical approach, which he had carried to its logical conclusion in according the Jewish people the place that is rightfully theirs in the plan of God, that he was asked to come to Rome to assume responsibility for the Office for Catholic-Jewish Relations which was created in order to begin to past into effect the
principles enunciated in the Declaration o f the Second Vatican Council, "Nostra Aetate". Mgr. Jorge Mejia, who is now the Secretary of the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism, has written about this important period, and pays tribute to his pioneering work and to the foundations which he laid.
At the end of 1972 Father Rijk left the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity and became the Director of SIDIC at the beginning of the following year. No-one is better qualified than Sister Edward, of the Sisters of Sion, who had founded SIDIC immediately after the Council, to describe this phase for us. Father Rijk and she worked together for the cause they both had so much at heart until her retirement in September, 1975, just before Father Rijk himself became so seriously ill. In conjunction with Sr. Edward's testimony we present that of Dr. Renzo Fabris, President of the SIDIC Association from its beginnings in 1971 until his resignation in February, 1979.
SIDIC having been founded by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, we asked their Superior General, Sr. Katherine MacDonald, to share with us Father Rijk's involvement, not only with SIDIC as such, but with the whole Congregation - the part he played in helping to deepen in each Sister of Sion (over the course of the years he had met almost each one personally) her `responsibility to be a constant reminder in the Church "that Israel and the Nations are mysteriously bound together in God's loving plan for the world".
One of those who knew Father Rijk best in Rome was Professor Augusto Segre. His testimony shows how intimately he knew him and how much he appreciated him, not only for his intellectual qualities, but for the richness o f his personality.
Rome being an international city and SIDIC being an international center, it is only to be expected that Fr. Rijk's influence would spread far and wide. First of all we think of Israel where he went on innumerable occasions as a pilgrimage leader and where he made many deep and lasting friendships. Among these is Professor Uriel Tal, who holds the Schreiber Chair of Contemporary Jewish History at Tel Aviv University. His reminiscences help us to see how Kees was able to integrate his love for the Israel of biblical tradition with his love for Israel, the land and the state.
One friend from overseas who collaborated with Kees both in Italy and in the United States is Professor Manfred Vogel of the Department of History and Literature of Religions at Northwestern University, Evanston. He was deeply involved with him in a very sincere Jewish-Christian dialogue, typified by a conference held at Nemi in 1968 and whose spirit is so well portrayed for us in the testimony he has written.
Still along the same lines of international dialogue was Fr. Rijk's connection with the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ). William W. Simpson, who served this Council as its General Secretary from its beginnings over thirty years ago until his recent retirement, shares with us the very active participation that Kees took in the Council through his role as observer.
A different type of international involvement is seen in his work as a lecturer in Rome. Included in this work was his contact with two programs for religious women - the ARC (Apostolic Religious Communities) Program and Regina Mundi. Fr. Paul Molinari and Sr. Mary Elaine Tarpy give us glimpses of his work among sisters from all over the world, particularly through his long-term preparation for the sisters' pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Sr. Irene Mary Breslin outlines for us his work which, in addition to being along the same lines as that of the ARC Program, included as well other courses and the supervision of theses.
One of the persons responsible for his call to Rome was Cardinal Willebrands of Holland. He was the rector of the seminary at Warmond when Father Rijk first began his teaching as Scripture professor. He knew both his ability in biblical studies and the way in which this study naturally developed for him into a true understanding of the relations that should exist between Christians and Jews, and he appreciated these qualities. Two months after Fr. Rijk's death, when SIDIC arranged for a liturgy to be celebrated for him in Rome, Cardinal Willebrands asked to be the celebrant. His tribute to Fr. Rijk's memory is the summary of the text of his homily on that occasion.
A very moving moment came at the end of this liturgy when, just before the final blessing, Rabbi Elio Toaf, Chief Rabbi of Rome, paid a tribute to the memor'y of his friend, applying to him those words of the psalmist:

TO YOU SILENCE IS PRAISE
Eulogy of the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Elio Toaff

The Jewish Community of Italy has felt the death of Cornelis Rijk with deep emotion because for several years it has known him well and has appreciated his rare gifts of mind and heart.
Through the spirit of dedication which he brought to his noble task of overcoming prejudice against the Jews, the honesty with which he pursued his goal of creating a climate of understanding, of friendship, of collaboration with Jews in matters of faith, study and education, he became a just man - one of the just through whose merits all men are saved and towards whom our debt of gratitude is infinite.
He was a noble figure and a bright light which dispels the darkness of this world of ours which is suffocating in selfishness and violence.
I do not wish to continue enumerating his merits because, knowing him well, he would not be pleased by this praise, but on the other hand I am convinced that the words of the psalmist apply well to him: "To you silence is praise:"
Lord of all men, we ask you to receive into your presence the chosen soul of Cornelis Rijk and to grant him the eternal rest of the just man.
May he rest in peace until the day of the resurrection when the dead will rise and rejoice in eternal life in a world where peace and brotherhood will reign at last and which will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord "as the waters cover the sea." On that day "the Lord will be one and his Name will be one."
Amen.