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Editorial
The Editors
Christians must therefore strive to acquire a better knowledge of the basic components of the religious tradition of Judaism; they must strive to learn by what essential traits the Jews define themselves in the light of their own religious experience:" This very important statement of the recently published official Catholic Guidelines and Suggestions for Implementing the Conciliar Declaration "Nostra Aetate" (No. 4) is basic to any serious dialogue between Jews and Christians. At the same time it indicates a whole programme of listening and learning. It presupposes a great openness and a readiness to change familiar ideas and traditional attitudes.
In this issue of SIDIC we present the text of two lectures delivered at a recently held study session in Rome (see report in this issue). A Jewish and a lectures scholar reflect upon the link between Jewish and Christian people and the Promised Land, the Land of Israel. With strictly scientific method they analyze the data offered by history and Sacred Scripture and propose their findings for further reflection. Clearly, "the link between People, Land and Religion'' is a delicate question with many implications, religious as well as political and social. On the other hand, experience in Jewish-Christian relations, especially in recent years, has shown that this question touches the very identity of Judaism. Long centuries of separation and antagonism between Jews and Christians, the preaching of Christian universalism and the existence of Jewish diaspora explain or at least make understandable the difficulty many people have with this problem. The attitude of many Christians remains reserved, hesitant or ambiguous, as is proved by a number of recent documents, articles and reactions to publications. It is not an indifferent question. It not only touches Jewish identity but seems to have a deep impact on the interpretation of Scripture, the authority of tradition and even on the very notion of religion in human history.
In such a situation serious dialogue and serene study are necessary, not only to recognize this link but to grasp its real meaning in the light of Scripture and faith. We hope the publication of these studies will contribute to better knowledge of and deeper reflection on this essential aspect of Judaism, its importance for Jewish-Christian relations and perhaps its impact on Christian self-understanding. In the near future SIDIC will be publishing (in English and in French) a volume containing the studies presented at the above-mentioned session, plus the reflections flowing from discussion on these presentations.
The Editors
Two close collaborators of SIDIC have returned to God. Sr. Elsa Pariente, a member of the SIDIC staff and editorial board since 1968, died in Rome March 2, 1975. Sr. Alice Genthial, from whom we have received numerous book reviews, died at Issy-les-Mouhneaux February 27, 1975. We warmly invite our readers to unite with us in prayer on the occasion of this double loss, and in thanking God for the contribution of these two women to better understanding between children of the same Father.
