9

That Judaism and Christian-
ity can make valuable contri-
butions to each other's exist-
eiice is the contention of the
distinguished Jewish scholar,
Dr. Hans Joachim Schoeps, in
"The Jewish Christian Argu-
ment—A History of Theologies
in Conflict," published by Holt,
Rinehart and Winston (383
Madison, NY17).
Dr. Schoeps, who has been
called Europe's most important
scholar in the field of Jewish-
Christian relations, first wrote
his book in 1937 and he was
able to sell it only to Jews and
in Jewish bookstores in Ger-
many. He lived in exile as a
refugee from Hitlerism, in Swe-
den, from 1938 to 1946. His
father died in the Theresien-
stadt concentration camp, Dec.
27, 1942. His mother was gassed
in. Auschwitz in June, 1944.
"In view of this experi-
ence," he stated in the preface
to his second edition in 1949,
"I ask myself today whether
the period- of religious dia-
logue may not perhaps be
past; whether, with these
senseless exterminations,
something quite different has
begun. However the case may
be, the questions discussed
in this book will continue to
exist and to be relevant until
the end of the world."
In the foreword to the third
edition, he makes the claim that
it is clear that Judaism "is in
no better position today than in
earlier epochs in its history to
assume any unique event to be
the ultimate revelation of God."
He adds that both Judaism and
Christianity "are united in shar-

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS -- Friday, May 31, 1963

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For Rese rva tions

ing a common perspective di-
rected toward the future, see-
ing that the full truth is yet to
come."
He sees Jews and Christians
today in the same situation:
"that of unbelief." Discussing
the "absolute in religious his-
tory," reviewing the first cen-
turies of conflict, the continu-
ation of the debate in the Mid-
dle Ages, he introduces the
views of Saadyah Gaon, Judah
ha-Levi, Isaac Troki. He devotes
considerable space to the de-
bate on an anticipated future
in which Philipp van Limborch
and Isaac Orobio de Castro were
involved, as well as the modern
discussants — Moses Mendels-
sohn, Saloman Formstecher and
Salomon Ludwig Steinheim;
and the existential religious di-
alogues by Martin Buber, Franz
Rosenzweig and others. Then he
turns to the Jewish and Chris-
tian realities, asserting that:
"This age is no longer an
age of the Judaeo-Christian
faith; by objective criteria, it
is already something differ-
ent . . . The dialogue which
Christian and Jew have con-
ducted with each other and
continue to conduct will re-
main in the future. But the
dialogue has lost its effect
upon the world, and will con-
tinue to lose its effect, for
today Israel and Christianity
live upon islands and must
carry on their dialogue from
one island to the other. Be-
tween them both, and around
them, swirls the flood of his-
tory, seeking to overwhelm
even these islands."
Because today "quite differ-
ent sides of biblical reality are
entering into the realm of his-
1,000 Delegates Will
tory," Dr. Schoeps believes that
Attend Zionist Parley
"today an insight is possible
which was no longer available
in Israel July 11-17
More than 1,000 delegates to the orthodoxy of yesterday,"
will leave for Israel in 21 planes an insight that "according to
most of them of the El Al Air- the nature of its formation the
line, and by ship, beginning to covenant is eschatalogical and
attend the 66th annual conven- the law futuristic."
He believes that both faiths
tion of the Zionist Organization.
of America which will be held "yet stand it need of fulfill-
there July 11 through July 17, ment, especially today, when
according to an announcement the majority of Jews in Western
by Harold W. Carmely, execu- Europe have fallen away from
tive chairman of the Conven- the traditional way of life, and,
at best, live according to the
tion.
Preceding the opening of the law only by intention."
Dr. Schoeps arrives at this
seven-day convention, delegates
will participate, on July 10, in conclusion in his evaluation of
a pilgrimage to the Herzl grave the historical developments in
and Herzl Museum on Mt. Herzl the Jewish-Christian argument:
"The messianism of Israel is
at which Dr. Abba Hillel Silver
will deliver the main address directed toward that which is to
of eulogy on the occasion of come; the eschatology of the
Herzl's 59th yahrzeit. A tree universal Gentile Church to-
planting ceremony in the Amer- ward the return of Him who
ican Freedom Forest under the has come. Both are united by
auspices of the JNF will follow one common expectation, that
the truth, which we do not
the pilgrimage.
The convention will open in know, which we can only guess,
the presence of Premier David is yet to come, in that hour
Ben-Gurion in the Binyaney when the beginning is swallow-
Ha'ume (Building of the Na- ed up in the end. At this point
tions) in Jerusalem. This ses- all Judaeo - Christian dialogue
sion will highlight addresses of ends in the ancient petition of
greetings by the newly-elected the Pater Noster: 'Thy kingdom
President of Israel, Mayor of come to us,' just as the New
Jerusalem Mordechai Ish-Sha- Testament, conscious of its own
loin, U.S. Ambassador Walworth unfulfillment, with its conclud-
Barbour, Moshe S'harett, chair- ing words, utters the prayer,
man of the Jewish Agency Ex- `Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!' And
ecutive; and Dr. Emanuel Neu- the Kaddish prayer of the Jew
mann, president of the World concludes with the same peti-
Confederation of General Zion- tion for fulfillment, of which
ists. Dr. Silver, chairman of the no one knows whether it may
convention, will deliver the come tomorrow, for the messi-
opening. Dr. Max Nussbaum, anic kingdom which, in spite of
president of the ZOA, will ren- all deceptions and disappoint-
der the presidential address. ments, always is awaited in the
day to come with the same fer-
vor — morning, afternoon and
Canada Received 318
evening of every day of this
Jewish Immigrants
aeon: "May he bring his king-
OTTAWA, (JTA) — A total dom to dominion within your
of 318 Jewish immigrants came lifetime and within your days
to Canada in the first three and within the lifetime of the
months of 1963, compared with whole house of Israel—shortly,
346 in the same period a year within a brief time."
ago, data released here by the
Thus, he links both religions
Dominion Department of Citizen- to the ancient Pater Noster pe-
ship and Immigration showed. tition of "thy kingdom come."
The aggregate number of im- His thesis is certain to serve
migrants into Canada during the as the basis for prolonged theo-
first quarter of 1963 was 13,410, logical debate and, as he states
as compared with 11,762 in the in his book, the dialogue goes
corresponding months of 1962. on.

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Schoeps' 'Jewish-Christian Debate'
Stresses Eschatological Formula

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