Event Reports
ICCJ is the umbrella organization for a network of 38 Jewish-Christian dialogue organizations world-wide, a German member is the “German Coordinating Council of Associations for Christian-Jewish Cooperation” (DKR).
On the significance of the “Berlin Theses” from 2009
The twelve Berlin Theses are a “re-commitment”, aiming to express a new phase in the Christian-Jewish dialogue. This document was adopted in 2009 at a meeting in Berlin that the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Israel had also organized. Since the “Seelisberg Theses” of 1947, the Christian-Jewish dialogue has experienced an impressive change. While dealing with their own guilty past, the churches began to consider a new Christian perception of Judaism. This path finally led to a “dialogue on an equal footing”. In that respect, Jews and Christians seek to recognize each other with regard to their particular traditions. That includes the question what both sides can learn from each other and what they have in common.
In the history of the Christian-Jewish dialogue, the Berlin Theses is the first international document that Christian and Jews have fully developed together, addressing both communities in a common appeal. Moreover, the text is available in Hebrew by now and published as a booklet. That publication was the major reason for the conference in Jerusalem and became the focal point for the discussion.
All speakers stressed that the Berlin Theses were written from a distinctively Western perspective. Whereas in the east, the Christian-Jewish dialogue is placed in a different context: on the one hand, it is consistently overshadowed by the Arab-Israeli conflict; on the other hand, the unique situation in Israel is due to the fact that Jews are the majority while Christians represent only a minority. Furthermore, the Holocaust did not develop a similar impact on the discourses within the Eastern Churches (Orthodox) as it did in the Western Churches (Catholic, Protestant).
The content of the Berlin Theses can be divided in the following main topics:
- Appeal to the churches (theses 1 to 4)
- Appeal to the Jewish communities (theses 5 to 8)
- Christian-Jewish Dialogue and the Middle East Conflict
- The Christian-Jewish dialogue is not an island - (Theses 9 to 12)
The objectives of the Berlin Theses are clearly defined:
- Respect for the various religious communities and their values,
- Religious freedom and mutual recognition,
- Equality of all people.
Outcomes of the Jerusalem Conference
The conference in Jerusalem consisted of two units:
1) An internal meeting and discussion on the current situation in the Middle East and the Christian-Jewish relations in Israel and the Middle East.
2) A public lecture with more than 100 participants.
Michael Mertes, Director of KAS Israel, opened the public event with the promise to continue supporting the dialogue between the religions in the region. The speakers Rabbi Yuval Sherli, Director of the Talmud Torah school in Petach Tikva, and Reverend Canon Hosam Naoum, Dean of St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem, bore moving witness to the Christian-Jewish dialogue in Israel and the Middle East. Both conference units were directed by Dr. Debbie Weissman, President of the ICCJ. A panel discussion involving the audience concluded the evening.
Not only for those who are deeply involved in interfaith dialogue and actively work for it, but for most people in Israel, it goes without saying that a peaceful coexistence of religions and religious denominations is a priority in daily life and society.
With this event, KAS Israel together with its partners ICCI, JCJCR and ICCJ were successful in raising the awareness of this important issue. Thus, they paid a contribution to the work of reconciliation and mutual respect that is of special importance to Israel and the people of Jewish, Christian and Muslim faith living here.
Translated by Magdalena Hermes