You are invited to a special afternoon to mark in two ways the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's landmark declaration, Nostra Aetate:

In Our Time

The unveiling of a new painting by noted religious artist Michael O'Neill McGrath, OSFS that was commissioned by the Center and the Archdiocese of Boston. The painting depicts the new understanding of the relationship between Christianity and Judaism initiated by Nostra Aetate. The artist will offer remarks on his work and his experience in creating it.

and also join members of the Christian Scholars Group to celebrate the publication of its new book:

Seeing Judaism Anew: Christianity's Sacred Obligation

		In September 2002, twenty-one prominent Catholic and Protestant scholars released the groundbreaking document "A Sacred Obligation," which includes ten statements about Jewish-Christian dialogue focused around a guiding claim: "Revising Christian teaching about Judaism and the Jewish people is a central and indispensable obligation of theology in our time." Following the worldwide reception of their document, the authors have expanded their themes into Seeing Judaism Anew. The essays in this volume offer a conceptual framework by which Christians can rethink their understanding of the church's relationship to Judaism forty years after the issuance of Nostra Aetate. They show how essential it is that Christians represent Judaism accurately, not only as a matter of justice for the Jewish people, but also for the integrity of Christian faith.

Sunday, October 9, 2006 • 2 -5 p.m.

Welcome: Philip A. Cunningham, Center Executive Director

Introduction: Mary C. Boys, editor of Seeing Judaism Anew and new chair of the CSG.

Looking Backward – Looking Forward

Interview of Three Christian Veterans of the Dialogue by Michael Paulson, religion reporter for The Boston Globe.

• Alice Eckardt, Professor Emerita of Religion Studies, Lehigh University
• Eva Fleischner, Professor Emerita of Religion, Montclair State Univeristy
• Walter Harrelson, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Vanderbilt University

 

What Difference Does the Effort to See Judaism Anew Make?

Three Christians and three Jews will offer brief reflections on what dfference it makes to them as a Christian to see Judaism anew or what difference it makes to them as a Jew to see Christians trying to see Judaism anew:

• Ruth Langer, Associate Professor of Jewish Studies, Boston College
• Reuven Kimelman, Professor of Classical Rabbinic Literature, Brandeis University
• John Merkle, Professor of Theology, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, MN
• Gilbert Rosenthal, Executive Director, National Council of Synagogues
• Jean-Pierre Ruiz, Assoc Prof of NT and Hispanic/Latino Theology, St. John's University, NY
• Karla Suomala, Assistant Professor of Religion, Luther College

 

Unveiling of IN OUR TIME, a new painting in honor of Nostra Aetate's 40th anniversary, commissioned by the Center and the Archdiocese of Boston.

• Introduction of the Artist: Susan Kay, Assistant Director for Catechetical Leadership, Office of Religious Education, Archdiocese of Boston

• Artist's Remarks and Unveiling: Michael O'Neill McGrath, OSFS

 

Conclusion and Reception

The work of the Christian Scholars Group is sponsored by

Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College