In an unparalleled historical development, a major Orthodox Jewish institution has announced its decision to begin theological dialogue and fellowship with Christians.
Shlomo Riskin, Chief Rabbi of Efrat, Israel, and founding member of The Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding & Cooperation, said that the center would help bridge gaps between Jews and Christians while emphasizing their common heritage and shared Judeo-Christian values that emphasize harmony, the sanctity of human life and dignity, and world peace.
"Both Judaism and Christianity have profound messages for the world and each must speak to humanity and to each other,” he explained.
The center will be hosting joint seminars for Jewish and Christian scholars and theologians on topics as diverse as salvation, messianism, and Jewish-Christian relations.
Riskin emphasized that the religious affiliations among scholars, although different, would not compromise the otherwise valuable research that the teams would pursue. Mutual respect for the faith of others would be the norm, and while the seminars will point out the areas where Jews and Christians disagree, they will also point out the areas where they share similarities, Riskin explained.
"Their research will break new ground to realize the Center's goal of making religion an instrument of peace for Israel and all countries of the world," he said. “We are certain that through these dialogues we will find more that unites us than divides us.”
Riskin credited the historical dialogue between Orthodox Jews and Christians as unique to this era.
"A sea change has occurred since the Shoah (Holocaust),” he said. “Most churches now teach that G-d remains faithful to His covenant with the Jewish people, and that the Biblical promise is continually being reaffirmed by the Jewish return to its homeland in Zion.
Riskin emphasized his hope that dialogue would help promote a new understanding between Jews and Christians that would “spread the message of a God of love and peace to the world.”
"While faith requires that we wait for the divine answers, we dare not leave all to God,” he said.
The center, which will begin hosting conferences in the beginning of June, will have a facility for 36 lodging rooms, classrooms, and a large conference center for 350 people.
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“We are certain that through these dialogues we will find more that unites us than divides us.”
What divides us is.... Jesus Christ! Jesus said to go into the world and preach the gospel. He did not say go into the world and unite with those who hate Me!
I agree with Crunch, this is soooo good. I pray that God bless these efforts and both groups exercise respectfulness, and a willingness to listen given this we can learn alot from each other. I highly respect the Jewish schollars intelect and and thankful for this out come.
what be absolutely super was that if the kind of christians who were to visit and debate were well versed in the siddurim, mishnah, talmud, etc and could readily explain how things like the aramaic targums have a direct bearing on a christian understanding of how God could manifest himself in a human body.
Regardless though, I am looking forward to the deay when Isra'el permits non-jewish christian believers to take up permanent residency in jerusalem.
So... may Hashem bless the Nation of Isra'el, and may they find their feet and return to the True Torah without the trappings.
Magnified and set apart be His Gret Name in the world which He created according to His will. May He establish His kingdom in their lives, during their days and during the days of the whole house of Israel. Let His name be blessed forever and to all eternity.....May He who makes peace in the high places make peace upon us and all of Israel.... and we say Amein
What (who) do you suppose they'll talk about?
Your not the only one doing the back flip. May God Bless this union of jews and christians and may it be a light that never dies to the world of unsaved people everywhere
This is SOOOOO fantastic and so needed in our world today.....I am very thankful that we (Christians & Jews) can really come together as one voice, to speak powerfully on the important shared values that are so lacking in our world today. I'm excited about the whole concept of what the Rabbi has stated in the article....I feel like doing a backflip.....but I won't, lol !