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News Notes
F. Valdés, R. Nôtre, D. Purdy

 

Madrid

It was not by accident that Toledo, with its great ecumenical past, was chosen for a Jewish-Christian encounter on November 14, 1971, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the foundation of the Amistad Judeo-Cristiana in Spain. The significance of this day did not escape any of the participants. We were commemorating ten years of collaboration, with their achievements and their difficulties. One of the highlights was the unforgettable paraliturgy in Madrid's church of St. Rita on February 28, 1967 when, for the first time in centuries, Jews and Christians raised their voices together in prayer to the Father of all mankind. Another memorable ceremony, of more recent date, took place in the ancient Jewish quarter of the lovely town of Hervas, where a street was solemnly named « Amistad JudeoCristiana ». The event was unique of its kind in that Christians from the rest of Hervas came flocking to the ceremony to join in the first public act of friendship towards the Jews after many centuries of distrust.

We were also commemorating the difficulties of these years: distrust, antagonism, and misunderstandings. But it was in facing these very difficulties together that an even stronger link was forged between us, and, it must be remembered that difficulties are inherent in any attempt to overcome hatred. However, as Fr. C. A. Rijk, who is in charge of the Vatican office for Catholic-Jewish Relations, remarked: « ... we have always thought of the Jews as belonging to the past, or to the future, but never to the present. We must realize that Jews are just as concerned about man as Christians are, and, to create a new world, man must be delivered from menace and oppression. Relations between Jews and Christians often begin with discussions on theological questions, and ways and means to draw both sides closer to each other. But we cannot speak about God without genuine love for others. This is why the work you are doing is so profoundly human: you have begun by making direct contacts without preliminary discussions. How can your work be useful to the world? In the measure that your friendship is truly effective, through living, working, and sometimes eating together... ».

During this working session, which took place in Toledo's Academy of Fine Arts and History, different subjects were discussed by Fr. Vicente Serrano and Mr. Max Mazin, the two presidents of Amistad, by Mr. José Francisco Riazo Saco, the secretary general, Fr. C. A. Rijk, Mr. Gaspar Lopez Gil the mayor of Hervas, Mr. Z. Schuster, of the American Jewish Committee, Sr. Marie Speranza (Our Lady of Sion), and Mr. José de la Pena who represented the Amistad of Barcelona.

A joint religious ceremony then took place in Toledo's major synagogue in a spirit of deep, fraternal union. It consisted of prayer in common followed by a commentary of biblical texts by D. Benito Garzon, rabbi of Madrid, and Fr. Péral, professor of modern Hebrew at the Madrid University. Then, in token of our mutual understanding and union, Psalm 117 was recited together, followed by « Hevenu Shalom Aleichem », which we sang with all our hearts.

F. VALDÉS
F. Valdes is a student at the University of Madrid and is active in the Amistad Judao-Cristiana in that city.

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Brussels

The fifteenth meeting of the I.C.C. (International Consultative Committee of Organisations for Christian-Jewish co-operation) took place in Brussels from 17-19 November, 1971. Practically the whole of western Europe was represented, as well as Israel in the person of M. Benjamin Jaffe, and international organisations: the American Jewish Committee, the World Council of Churches and the World Jewish Congress.

During the reception held at the Alumni Lovianienses Club of Brussels, members of different denominations welcomed the group, and Cardinal Suenens ended his speech with these words: « Jerusalem is our common origin. As we move forward each day on the road to ecumenism, we should also work for a world encounter in Jerusalem ».

From the reports presented by the delegates from different countries, it was evident that while it is necessary to go on working to overcome age-old prejudices, it is also necessary to work in a more positive and constructive way.

The Commission on Oberammergau stated that any fresh proceedings from outside against the inaccurate presentations of the Gospel in the text of the play will only lead to negative results. On the other hand public opinion can only be influenced through the intermediary of national organisations. The youth of Oberammergau and the Bishop of Munich are more and more in favour of a new text so that historical truth may be respected.

The committee called for understanding of the position of Syrian Jews as well as Jews in the Soviet Union, who lose their profession or employment once ,they ask for a visa for Israel. It is still difficult to help them effectively, but public opinion must be constantly alerted to their condition, because interventions by the public do have their effect. The press has made quite a campaign from a statement made by the Rew. W. W. Simpson in the name of the Congress: « The participants have emphasized the fact that the Pope cannot speak about the internationalization of Jerusalem in the name of all Christians, or even in the name of all Catholics ».

Other questions were also discussed: international amnesty for political prisoners; the importance of information; the use of the Magen David Adom as the Red Cross symbol in recognition of the Israel organization as a member of the International Red Cross Committee, etc. Much importance was given to what has already been done to change attitudes through education at all levels.

In the summer of 1972, a conference will take place at Leicester University on pluralist education which is arousing great interest at present in Great Britain.

In England also, a survey of prejudice is in preparation. This work began by an examination of books being used in universities, syllabuses, religious teaching books, both Jewish and Christian, audio-visual material, prayer books in use in primary and secondary schools, colleges and theology schools. Research is being carried out on whatever is liable to influence Jewish-Christian relations.

A still greater project is envisaged, under the auspices of the Council of Europe at the European Textbook Institute, Braunschweig (Federal Republic, Germany) Colloquium of 1970. A group of professors is working on this at Louvain under the direction of Prof. L. Genicot and Prof. D'Haenens of the Catholic University. This research will be carried out on history books, by history sociology and anthropology experts. Twenty-two countries will each send two competent representatives. « We need to change our way of thinking », says Mgr. Cardinale, the Apostolic Nuncio.

Several proposals were discussed:

1) History, as the account of how men live, cannot be limited to the recent past, which cannot explain modern life. It must go much further back. Thus interest in the primitive Church is justified.

2) Man's life has a religious dimension. Therefore it is necessary for religious teaching to be given within the framework of history. From this arises the importance of a knowledge of the history of Christianity, quite apart from any denominational consideration.

3) A re-statement of the political, social and religious situation of the Jews at the time of Jesus. From this idea arose suggestion with regard to the teaching given about the Jewish community, in order to foster a better understanding of the community from which the Church sprang.
The critical periods in history which give rise to specific questions on profane-religious relations: Constantine, the Reformation, the nineteenth century, will be the subjects of special exposés. A colloquium on this subject will take place at The Catholic University of Louvain in September, 1972.

R. NÔTRE
R. Nôtre, a Sister of OU Lady of Sion, collaborated with Canon François Houtart and Jean Giblet in the writing of Les juifs dans la catéchèse, a systematic study of the manner in which Judaism and the Jews have been presented in French religion text books for the past twenty years. She now resides in Lille, France, where she is in charge of the Ecumenical Documentation Service.

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Paris

Implementing the recommendations of the Catholic-Jewish meeting, held in Rome in December 1970, a Liaison Committee was formed and met in Paris from December 14-16 in the premises of the Consistoire Central Israelite de France.

The objectives of this liaison committee were defined as the improvement of mutual understanding between the two religious communities, exchange of information and possible cooperation in areas of common concern and responsibility.

The Catholic delegation, appointed with the approval of Pope Paul VI by Cardinal Jan Willebrands, was composed of: His Exc. Msgr Roger Etchegaray, archbishop of Marseille, chairman of the Council of Episcopal Conferences of Europe; His Exc. Msgr Francis Mugavero, bishop of Brooklyn (USA), moderator of the Secretariate for Catholic-Jewish Relations, National Council of Catholic Bishops in the U.S.A.; Rev. Jerome Hamer, secretary general of the Secretariate for Promoting 'Christian Unity, Rome; Rev. Bernard Dupuy, secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the Relations with Judaism in France, Paris; Rev. Cornelius Rijk, in charge of the Office for Catholic-Jewish Relations, attached to the Secretariate for Unity, Rome.

The Jewish delegation, representing the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, consisted of the following representatives of major Jewish organizations which are its constituents: Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg, chairman of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, Englewood, N.J., C.S.A.; Dr. Gerhart Riegner, secretary general of the World Jewish Congress, Geneva; Rabbi Henry Siegman, executive vice-president of the Synagogue Council of America, New York; Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum, national director of interreligious affairs of the American Jewish Committee, New York; Prof. Zvi Werblowsky, chairman of the Jewish Council for Interreligious Contacts in Israel, Jerusalem. On behalf of B'nai B'rith—Anti-Defamation League, Dr. Joseph Lichten was present as observer.

The meetings were alternately presided over by the chairmen of the two delegations, respectively Rev. Jerome Hamer and Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg. After being welcomed by the chief rabbi of France, Jacob Kaplan, the Liaison Committee discussed the two main topics of the agenda: a) questions relating to relations between Jews and Catholics, b) problems of common concern and responsibility.

The Committee decided to appoint two small joint working groups to study the following questions: 1) the ways in which the relationship between religious community, people and land are conceived in the Jewish and Catholic traditions, respectively, 2) the promotion of human rights and religious freedom.

These commissions will submit the results of their study to the Liaison Committee which will then make its recommendations regarding the use of these studies for the furthering of its aims. The Liaison Committee further exchanged information on several current problems.

The deliberations, which for the first time in history brought together official representatives of the World Jewish Community and the Cathilic Church, in a continuing Liaison Committee, took place in an atmosphere of frankness and cordiality.

Rome

An international conference for the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion was held in Rome from 17th to 27th January in order to study the development of Jewish-Christian Relations.

The conference was organised in conjunction with the SIDIC Association of Rome (Service International de Documentation Judéo-Chrétienne, Via del Plebiscito 112, Rome), established in 1965 by a group of bishops in order to put into effect the directives of the Vatican Council in this regard.

Forty sisters from five continents representing twelve nationalities exchanged their experiences concerning their work in their respective countries, a work which is carried out in many instances either as part of ecumenical commissions or in collaboration with experts in the field. The countries in which the sisters are working are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Costa-Rica, England, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Spain and the United States.

Aware of the many problems created by the great changes taking place in the world and in the Church and urged on by new possibilities, they saw the necessity to meet and discuss what has been done in order to plan for the future.

Among the subjects discussed were:

1. A study of the way to further Jewish-Christian relations by a pooling of ideas of what has been achieved so far;

2. A better exchange of information between the documentation centres in each country and SIDIC in Rome;

3. Theological, biblical, historical and sociological questions.

Several questions either of a theological or a practical nature have been proposed as subjects of research by different groups. This is the first time since the Council that the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion, whose aim is the promotion of relations between Christians and Jews in the universal plan of salvation, has gathered together such a group engaged in this field. It is hoped that the next conference will be held in two or three years' time.

U.S.A.

Jesus Christ Superstar
The « rock opera » Jesus Christ Superstar has received much praise from certain quarters, both from the religious and musical point of view. It has also received much criticism, particularly from Christian groups who see it as a distortion of the Gospel message in regard to the identity of the person of Jesus. Some Jewish organizations, too, have reacted against it. The American Jewish Committee's chief criticism of it has been in the portrayal of the chief priests, saying that the play places the primary responsibility for Jesus' suffering and death on their shoulders. Such a portrayal, it is contended, could result in a backward step on the road toward improved Jewish-Christian understanding.

Other Jewish groups insist that such a fear is unwarranted, one reason cited being that « such relations hardly exist anywhere anymore among congregations of Christians and Jews, both groups having withdrawn into their respective isolated camps ». In the same paper, Rabbi Balfour Brickner, director of the Commission on Interfaith Activities of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, states that in his opinion, the play is a much more serious problem for Christians than for Jews.

Now that the play has been running for several months the criticism has died down, All. that can be said has already been said. Jewish-Christian relations seem neither to have been damaged nor improved by the play. Where good relationships have already existed, these remain. Where the dialogue has never begun or was called off in '67, the isolation continues. Meanwhile,the play still attracts large crowds. Although great care must always be taken in presenting the Passion story so that no false teaching regarding the Jewish people's part in it is taught or implied, it is doubtful, in the case of Jesus Christ Superstar, whether many of the viewers would naturally associate the priests with the Jewish people or Judaism, past or present. Sometimes drawing attention to such a problem only serves to create associations in the minds of those who otherwise would not have thought of them. Rather, this play, in its portrayal of the authorities, points to a very serious problem in modern society: the mis-use of power. This play strikes a highly contemporary note in the audience's ear which has nothing to do with the Jewish people, Judaism, or the Jewish authorities in the time of Jesus.

D. PURDY
D. Purdy, a Sister of Our Lady of Sion, taught English literature and music at the secondary level and spent two years studying in Jerusalem before joining Fr. Edward Flannery at the United States Catholic Conference Office for Jewish-Catholic Relations. She is currently completing her Master's degree in religious education at Fordham University, New York.
Editor's note:
The reader might refer to the article by Jack Richardson, « Jesus on Broadway », Commentary, Vol. LII, no. 6 (Dec., 1971), 36-40.