**411.41fts.W.--ItiAttelfts41411t418-1‘041--***M- 4114**40- POPE JOHN PAUL 11 1 D ear friends, repre- sentatives of so many Jewish organizations assembled here from across the United States, my dear Jewish brothers and sisters . . It is fitting, at the begin- ning of our meeting to em- phasize our faith in the one God, who chose Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and made with them a covenant of eter- nal love, which was never revoked (cf. Genesis 27:13; Romans 11:29). It was rather confirmed by the gift of the Torah to Moses, opened by the porphets to the hope of eter- nal redemption and to the universal commitment for justice and peace. The Jewish people, the church and all believers in the merciful God — who is invoked in the Jewish prayers as Av Ha- Rakhamim — can find in this fundamental Covenant with the Patriarchs a very substan- tial starting point for our dialogue and our common witness -in the world .. . At the same time, our com- mon heritage, task and hope do not eliminate our distinc- tive identities. Because of her specific Christian witness, "The Chruch must preach Jesus Christ to the world" (1974 'Guidelines, I). Paul said: "All this is from God, who through Christ recon- ciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconcilia- tion" (II Corinthians 5:18). At the same time, we recognize and appreciate the spiritual treasures of the Jewish people and their religious witness to God. A fraternal theological dialogue will try to under- stand, in the light of the mystery of redemption, how differences in faith should not cause enmity but open up the way of "reconciliation," so that in the end "God may be all in all" (I Corinthians 15:28). In this regard I am pleased that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Synagogue Council of America are initiating a con- sultation between Jewish leaders and bishops which should carry forward a dialogue on issues of the greatest interest to the two faith communities. Suffering of the Jews Considering history in the light of the principles of faith in God, we must also reflect on the catastrophic event of the Shoah, that ruthless and inhuman attempt to exter- minate the Jewish people in Europe, an attempt that resulted in millions of victims judy duslander, i.d.s. ) interior designer complete design services space planning - color coordination furnishings & accessories Specializing in Personalized Interiors First Consultation FREE 356-4282 lAttutramefrittoonftsutzmaitrittsatmoufrottutemou. ( DESIGNS IN DECORATOR LAMINATES .) For High Qu'ality Formica Always At A Great Discount SPECIALIZING IN • desks • wall units • bedroom groupings • dining rooms • credenzas ALSO SPECIALIZING • woods • glass • metals • lucites IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE ONLY LOOK LIKE IT! CALL LOIS HARON 851-6989 PRESENTS J. MORGAN PUETT AND HER 1987 FALL COLLECTION FRIDAY SEPT. 18 10 AM•9 PM SATURDAY SEPT. 19 10AM-6 PM REFRESHMENTS CHAMPAGNE AND HORS D'OEUVRES LOCATED ONE BLOCK SOUTH OF MAPLE 237 PIERCE BIRMINGHAM 540-8338 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 13