The Theology Committee of the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) has composed a major educational resource to introduce the work of Christian-Jewish relations and dialogue.
Two years after the end of the Second World War, 65 Jews and Christians gathered at Seelisberg in Switzerland (30 July-5 August, 1947) to express grief over the Holocaust, combat antisemitism and to foster stronger relationships between Jews and Christians. Out of their conversation came a 10-point document that addressed Christian churches in their desire to renew their understandings of Judaism.
62 years later (on 5 July 2009) in Berlin, the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) issued a new call to reflect on how this relationship could be deepened. A 12-point document emerged from this gathering that addresses Jews and Christians separately and then Jewish and Christian communities together. That document, “A Time for Recommitment: Building the New Relationship between Jews and Christians”, offers a fresh invitation to deepen the understanding and cooperation between Christian and Jewish communities. At that time, the ICCJ also produced an educational guide to help deepen the understanding of these points.
The Theology Committee, a group of internationally recognized Jewish and Christian scholars of the ICCJ, reflected on the importance of “A Time for Recommitment”. It discerned the need for a revised educational guide that would assist Jewish and Christian interlocutors reflecting the events and developments since the publication of the first guide.
This educational resource begins by setting out the 12 points of “A Time for Recommitment” in summary. These are categorized into three sections. The first four points address Christians the second four, Jews the final points of the document address Jews and Christians together highlighting issues of mutual concern and collaboration.
This resource expands upon and explores each of the points in turn. It will suggest ways of deepening understanding and points of discussion. It is designed as a tool to enable grassroots communities to engage in interreligious reflection and discussion on the respective themes from “A Time for Recommitment.”
This guide provides background information on each of the twelve points. It also suggests relevant religious and secular resources for further study. Importantly, it offers sets of questions to stimulate deeper reflection so that faith communities can get meaningfully involved inter-religiously to address issues of common concern in today’s world.
Access the guide here: