October 28, 2005 will mark the 40th anniversary of the promulgation of the Second Vatican Council's Nostra Aetate. This was a watershed document that inaugurated a new era for Christian-Jewish relations. The past four decades have witnessed both reconciliatory and conflictual moments, but the impact of the declaration continues to unfold.

In the months leading up to October, the Center would like to offer people concerned about Christian-Jewish relations the opportunity to reflect on the anniversary's significance. Periodically we will post "opinion essays" concerning Nostra Aetate. We invite readers to respond by e-mail to a moderated online discussion.

If an opinion essay causes you to reflect further about Nostra Aetate and subsequent moments in the Jewish and Christian relationship, please submit a short response of no more than few paragraphs to cjlearning@bc.edu with a header title of "Online Forum." Please include identifying and contact information. Center staff members will review contributions before posting them in the forum. Contributions will be edited for online publication.

It is our hope that these online exchanges will advance the Center's mission to develop and implement new relationships between Christians and Jews that are based not merely on toleration but on full respect and mutual enrichment. 

Neither the views expressed in the "opinion essays" nor in any responses to them necessarily represent the views of the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning or Boston College.