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Christian theology of Judaism
The Editors

This issue of SIDIC is principally devoted to Christian theological reflection on Judaism. Obviously it is impossible to write a history of the theology of Israel or of Judaism. Such a theology is non-existant. Before the coming of Christ there was a history of Israel and of Judaism, but after his coming there was opposition rather than understanding. And it is precisely this that has made it difficult, if not impossible, to develop a true theology of Israel. For centuries, the Christian mentality was determined by the writings of the Fathers of the Church adversus judaeos, which, in general, expressed a defensive and negative attitude. However, many Christians, Popes, bishops and others were vaguely aware that in one way or another the Jewish people continue to have a role to play in the history of salvation, and that this role is indispensable to the full development and final accomplishment of the history of salvation. But a real theology on relations between the Church and Judaism in lthe plan of God, has never been developed. The fact that Christian theology in the last few centuries has become more abstract, and, in general, has lost any living contact with the Bible has certainly not helped to improve the present situation. Nowadays, and indeed, for several decades, a slow but on-going change has been taking place. A certain number of facts: the second world war with the extermination of six million Jews and many million non-Jews; the social commitment urgently desired and promoted by fervent Christians; the Christian consciousness of being increasingly a minority in the world, and other lesser facts have led a growing number of theologians to reflect anew on theology and to include in their reflections neglected aspects of the history of God with men.

Above all, wherever the new theological openness is confronted with Jewish reality, efforts are being made to reflect on the mystery of Israel, and all that this involves. Thus, in Israel, France, Western Germany, the United States, etc., serious thinking 'on this subject is taking place. In several places, small groups of theologians and exegetes meet regularly for study sessions, for instance at Klosterneuburg, Austria; Arnoldshain, Germany. At Seton Hall University U.S.A., a congress which took place in October 1970, had as its theme « Towards a Theology of Judaism ». The report of this congress shows how much progress has been made in this area. However, in theology as a whole these are but small indications of an immense task still to be accomplished. But we can rejoice to find an ever increasing number of chairs of Judaism in universities and institutes of higher education. It is undoubtedly through education that a mentality capable of overcoming the centuries old antagonism can be developed. We can only hope that the new openness, biblical studies and contact with reality will continue to inspire today's thinkers, in spite of the difficulties they encounter, to develop and deepen theological reflection on the mystery of Israel and relations between the Church and Judaism.