The conference explored the theme of holiness, with reference to the Torah/Bible text from Vayikra/Leviticus 19:2: “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.”
The relevance of context repeatedly surfaced throughout the proceedings. As if to echo this, a local quartet opened each day with music by Mozart, who was born and raised in Salzburg.
After this meditative moment, panels and workshops delved into different aspects of holiness, including the ethical dimensions, the sacralisation of practices, places, times and objects, and the concept of holiness in (post-)secular societies.
Some sessions looked at how holiness can be manipulated for secondary purposes, leading to intercommunal strife and instability.
Seventeen members of the Family of Sion attended. They included sisters, associates and people working with Notre Dame de Sion. Four of them were involved in conducting workshops.
The Family of Sion at the ICCJ, from left to right, back row first: Sr Ania Bodzinska, Sr Kasia Kowalska, Sr Rita Kammermayer, Sr Celia Deutsch, Sr Margaret Shepherd, Sr Marianne Dacy, Mark Walsh, Sr Lucy Thorson, Alisha Pomazon, Sr Oonah O’Shea, David Castillo, Sr Iuliana Neculai, Héctor Acero Ferrer, Sr Maria Malau, Sr Cristiane dos Santos, Rose Rocha Lima Silva, Sr Mary Reaburn.
Sr Lucy Thorson, Sr Celia Deutsch and Sion Friend Héctor Acero Ferrer led a workshop that modelled how to use story-sharing as a tool to facilitate successful dialogue, particularly in polarising contexts. They adopted the methodologies and early findings of a project currently underway in North America.
First, they shared some of their own experiences of interfaith dialogue – both successful and less successful ones – and the valuable insights these experiences gave them. Then they invited participants to talk about their personal encounters and, through group discussion, to draw wisdom for future dialogue scenarios.
Sr Lucy felt the workshop ignited meaningful conversations among the participants. “I was very struck by the interest and enthusiasm shown,” she said.
Sr Katarzyna (Kasia) Kowalska was one of four presenters of a campaign called “Jewish and Christian: closer than you think?!”, which encourages people to perceive the close ties between Christianity and Judaism, while preserving the dignity of their differences. Each month a theme or festival is treated, such as: Ecology, Shavuot and Pentecost, Return to God.
The project began in Germany, and is now expanding to other European countries. In each country, the programme is adapted to ensure its relevance in the local context.
As a member of the ICCJ Theological Commission, Sr Celia Deutsch co-led a second workshop, entitled “Holiness: gift and task for today’s troubled world?” Those on the panel reflected on the conference theme, using the resources of their respective traditions: Jewish, Protestant, Anglican, Roman Catholic.
They spoke of God as the Holy One, and the holiness of people, places and objects. They spoke of the call to holiness as embodied in relationships and in engagement with the world. They spoke about the ways in which the category can be abused, and acknowledged the reality of being called to holiness in the midst of the ambiguity of human struggle.
The new ICCJ Board, from left to right: Katarzyna (Kasia) Kowalska (1st Vice-President, Poland), Anette Adelmann (General Secretary, Germany), Abi Pitum (Treasurer, Germany), David F. Sandmel (President, USA), Samuel J. Szteinhendler (Board member, Argentina), Ophir Yarden (Board member, Israel), Benjamin Kamine (2nd Vice-President, USA), Pavol Bargár (Board member, Czech Republic), Liliane Apotheker (Immediate Past President, France).
The conference concluded with the General Assembly of representatives of the local Christian and Jewish Councils, during which a new board was elected with a three-year tenure. Rabbi David F. Sandmel was elected as President and Chairman of the Board, and the new Board Members include NDS Sr Katarzyna (Kasia) Kowalska as 1st Vice-President.
Sr Kasia was delighted about her new role. “It’s a privilege to be on this Board,” she said, “With the greats of dialogue!”
Each ICCJ has characteristics that set it apart from those gone by. It was noted that many of the plenary sessions and workshops this year offered inspiration for subsequent sharing and action in the world at large. What really marked the 2024 conference for regular ICCJ-goers was the growing diversity of voices, making for an interreligious debate that better reflects society.
The ICCJ was born in the aftermath of World War II as a reaction to atrocities carried out during the Shoah. In recent years, the Council has become more and more involved in the broader Abrahamic dialogue between Jews, Christians and Muslims.
This conference saw a significant increase in Muslim panelists and attendees. There was also a higher affluence of young scholars and activists than in previous years.
Sr Kasia was encouraged by these changes, which countered her fear of a disenchantment towards dialogue in our fragile world and a social media-driven simplification of what interfaith dialogue is. “There are three levels of interfaith dialogue,” she explained. “The theological level of study, the spiritual level of prayer, and the active level of engagement towards the wider society. They’re all important, but I was worried that interfaith practitioners were no longer interested in the theological aspect.”
Sr Lucy was struck by the intergenerational participation and the diversity of ICCJ attendees. “I personally feel that the ICCJ was a rich experience for all to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse beliefs,” she said.
Sr Celia had anticipated that the ongoing Israel/Hamas war would create a grim, sometimes tense atmosphere to the conference. “That was not the case,” she said. “The tone of exchange, whether formally in plenary sessions and workshops, or informally, was warm, relaxed. People seemed glad to be with one another, in an atmosphere where the shared commitment to interfaith relationships was deeper, more urgent than ever.”
Sr Rita Kammermayer described the conference as “an inspiring and challenging gathering of dedicated people from Judaism, Islam and Christianity.” She was impressed by the level of the speakers and found the way they partnered with each other “exemplifying”.
After the conference the Sion delegation strove to draw the threads of the conference together. In a day spent processing what they’d learnt, Sion Friend Mark Walsh invited them to reflect through the head, the heart, the hands and the feet on how they might respond to the call to be holy.
They focused their attention on questions of inclusion and diversity, and pledged to take their collective learning away and share it within the communities where they live, in Australia, Asia, Europe and North, Central and South America.
“We resolved to reach out to others,” said Sr Marianne Dacy, “to be in solidarity and to bring this into our daily lives.”
The next ICCJ conference is expected to be in Stuttgart, Germany, in 2026. In the meantime, organisations under the ICCJ umbrella will continue to hold regional and theme-based forums. Meetings are already planned for 2025 in Melbourne, Australia and Warsaw, Poland.