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Social Action and Jewish -Christian Relations
The Editors
On January 6, 1969, during an audience with the president of the World Jewish Congress and some of its members, Paul VI expressed the hope that cooperation between the Church and the Jewish people would develop. In August 1968, when the Pope spoke with representatives of the Jewish community of Bogotā, he expressed the same desire in these words: "God created man in his image and we share a common faith that we are called to fulfill the will of God and to serve one another".
While it is true that relations between Jews and Christians are deeply affected by certain theological conceptions which must constantly be studied and restudied, we must not underestimate the value of social action. It is within the daily reality of social relationships that men, Jews and Christians, meet each other. It is here that convictions and the practical results of interior attitudes are manifested. It is here that false ideas can be rectified and a better social atmosphere created. Creating together, working together helps us to discover each other anew. Today when many opportunities of collaboration abound, we can try to establish a more realistic and existential relationship and discover broader possibilities to create a climate of understanding and
respect. This is in keeping with biblical perspectives where man, the image of God, is not only an individual, but also a person, a social being with a task and responsibilities towards others. With and in Abraham this people must be a channel of blessing far all the nations of the earth. The sign of the fulfillment of messianic times will be mutual respect and universal peace. The relationship of man, of a people, with God cannot be separated from relationship with others. Or rather - it is within human relationships, in social contacts, that religious convictions are put into practice. Thus, desire for the good of man, for his freedom, for his redemption, for his complete well-being, should characterize the activity of a biblical people.
We know only too well, however, that history teaches another lesson, especially in regard to relations between Christians and Jews. Our era, which is more open to pluralism and to respect for "the person" and his free will, seems to offer new possibilities of sincere collaboration.
The present issue of Sidic tries to give a bird's-eye-view of recent thinking and current endeavors in this area.
