STATEMENT OF CHANGE

from page 12

resentment that 'we are doing so muc
and taking such heat' coming from
people really wrestling with [their]
past. It is nice to know this matters o
the other side."
Some of the issues addressed in the
statement will be discussed in an
upcoming collection of essays written
by Jewish and Christian scholars.
Westview Press is the publisher for
Christianity in Jewish Terms. ICJS is
The Document's Significance
publishing a learning resour1
"Dabru Emet" is the
this fall, to engage clergy, sti_
work of independent
dents, congregations, inter-
scholars speaking for
faith families and the public
themselves, say its back-
in study and discussion of ti
ers.
topics raised in its "Dabru
"It's a Jewish statement.
Emet" statement.
It's not called the Jewish
"If Jews are to thrive in
statement," says Rabbi
contemporary society, we
David Fox Sandmel, a
need to know how we can
scholar at the Baltimore-
think differently about
based Institute for
Christians and Christianity
Christian and Jewish
than we have in the past,"
Studies. "It's the begin-
stresses Rabbi Sandmel of
ning of a conversation,
Baltimore. "We can better
not the end of one."
understand Christian faith
Rabbi Groner says,
and acknowledge our differ-
"The importance of this
ences without losing or jeop
document is to be seen
ardizing our own Jewish
against the background of
Rabbi
Irwin
Groner,
David
Blewett,
executive
direc-
identity."
Rabbi Daniel Nevins, Adat
the anti-Jewish tradition
Congregation
Shaarey
Zedek
tor
of
the
Ecumenical
Institute
The statement is a major
Shalom Synagogue
that stamped its mark in
for Jewish-Christian Studies
commitment, Rabbi Groner
various ways on Christian
says. "We commend the spii
doctrine and teaching.
itual leaders of the Christiar
Anti-Judaism has been
community
that have responded to
Christians
fought
against
the
Nazis.
For
Rudin,
a
section
on
Nazism
was
entwined in church teaching for nearly
this Jewish call of understanding and
Christians
were
not
united
in
wiping
problematic
—
a
sentiment
shared
off
2,000 years.
mutual respect."
out the Jews. You can't judge a whole
the record by some signers who felt
"In recent years," he says, "thought-
based on the actions of some."
nonetheless that the project should
ful Christian scholars have demanded
— Baltimore Jewish Times Senior Edit
"Overall, it is a strong statement of
not be stalled.
changes in Christian doctrine that
Neil Rubin contributed to this stoo l
difference
as
well
as
common
ground,"
In one section, "Dabru Emet"
have infected the understanding and
Blewett
says.
"It
didn't
try
to
gloss
over
declares: "Nazism was not a Christian
practice of Christianity.
the differences between Christians and
phenomenon."
"Modern Christian thought replaces
Jews."
He sees the motivation of the
It
goes
on
to
say,
"Too
many
Supersessionism [teaching that
declaration
as building relations
Christians
participated
in,
or
were
Christianity supersedes or supplants
between
the
two communities.
sympathetic
to
Nazi
atrocities
against
Judaism] with more adequate ways of
The number of countries where
"I think Christians will say 'thank
Jews. But Nazism itself was not an
preaching and teaching," Rabbi
B'nai B'rith International is active is
you'
and
be
so
delighted
to
see
this,"
inevitable outcome of Christianity."
Groner says.
58 ("Empty Nest," Sept. 1, p. 30).
Blewett
says.
"For
many
people
on
the
Rabbi Rudin says such wording is a
Although the statement contained
Christian
side,
there
is
a
real
growing
problem. "There's a direct correlation
signatures of Jewish leaders from the

matters to Jews and is the Jewish
homeland," he says.
Rabbi Signer, a Reform rabbi, says,
with the unprecedented changes in
Christianity in recent years, "a Jewish
response is called for." He adds, "We
respond to significant threats, why not
positive developments?"

Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and
Reconstructionist movements, includ-
ing heads of theological schools, there
are noticeable absences. It was not
signed by Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, chan-
cellor of the Conservative movement's
Jewish Theological Seminary of
America, and veteran interfaith activist
Rabbi A. James Rudin, recently retired
as head of the American Jewish
Committee's interfaith office.

between modern antisemitism and
what I call the seedbed that created
the poisonous weeds of antisemitism,"
he says.
But he added of the statement in
general: "It's a pioneering effort and I
•give praise to it."
"Christianity may have laid a foun-
dation for it, but we can't say the Nazi
phenomenon is a Christian phenome-
non," says Rabbi Nevins. "Plenty of

❑

Correction

,

the only question is,

where to start?

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