News in Christian-Jewish Relations:  March, 2002

This month:

 

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Pope's Easter Message Pleads for Peace in the Middle-east
During his annual Easter message, Pope John Paul II concluded with remarks about the present escalating violence in the Middle-east:
Pilgrims in Saint Peter's Square  

"No one can remain silent and inactive, no political or religious leader. 

"[There must be and end to the] dramatic spiral of abuse of power and killings that bloody the Holy Land, plunged again in these very days into horror and despair.

"It seems that war has been declared on peace. But nothing is resolved by war. It only brings greater suffering and death. Neither do retaliation and reprisals resolve anything. The tragedy is truly great."

"With trepidation and hope I ask you to proclaim that Jesus is truly risen, and to work so that his peace may end the tragic sequence of attacks and killings that bloody the Holy Land, plunged again in these very days into horror and despair. Denunciations of violence are not enough. Practical acts of solidarity are needed to help everyone rediscover mutual respect, and to return to frank negotiations." 

Click here for a newly posted timeline of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

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Center co-sponsors first New Hampshire Jewish-Catholic Seder

The Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College recently co-sponsored with the Jewish Federation of Greater Manchester and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester the first statewide New Hampshire Jewish-Catholic seder.  The event, held on Tuesday, March 5, 2002 at the Jewish Federation Building, was part of a long-term effort to promote mutual understanding between New Hampshire's Catholic and Jewish communities. 

The Center assisted in the development of the special haggadah that was used. This haggadah sought to provide as close an experience as possible of a traditional Jewish Passover meal. Even though the seder is a religious observance that occurs most naturally among the family in Jewish homes, a setting that cannot be properly transposed to a large dining hall, it was hoped that both Jews and Catholics would be enriched by this joint celebration of God's liberating love. 

In welcoming remarks, the Most Rev. John McCormack, bishop of Manchester, observed that, "sharing in your festival in this way helps us Catholics appreciate not only our Jewish roots, but also the spiritual richness of rabbinic Judaism that shapes this seder order." He went on to urge that the statewide Catholic community and the statewide Jewish community be highly visible partners in promoting their common values in New Hampshire.

Rabbi Louis Reiser presided at the seder. Anna-Rae Fishman was the song leader and Margy Friedman the musician. The planning committee consisted of Judith Wolff, chair of the Community Relations Committee and Adam Solender, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Manchester, Dr. Philip Cunningham of the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College, Rev. Robert Biron, chair of the Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs Commission of the Diocese of Manchester, and Rabbi Louis Reiser. 

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Christian Scholars Group on Jewish-Christian Relations Partners with Boston College

The Christian Scholars Group, an organization of twenty-two U.S. scholars whose work deals with biblical, theological, historical, and contemporary aspects of Christian-Jewish relations, is affiliating with the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College. The new relationship was announced by Prof. John Merkle, Professor of Theology at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University in Minnesota, current chair of the group.

The Christian Scholars Group was founded in 1969 by the National Council of Churches and the National Conference of Catholic Bishops to study the topic "Israel: People, Land, State." Subsequently it broadened its concerns and was sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews. In recent years the group has been affiliated with the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies in Baltimore. The group meets twice yearly for the presentation of scholarly papers by members or guests.

Further information on the Christian Scholars Group can be found on their web pages now hosted on the Center's website.  CLICK HERE. 


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