The Church, Jews and Judaism

Waldemar Chrostowski

The Church, Jews and Judaism

Collectanea Theologica 60/3, 107-111

1990

C o llecta n ea T h eologica 60(1990) fa se. III

THE CHURCH, JEWS AND JUDAISM

T hrough th e e ffo r ts of th e T h eo lo g ica l F a c u lty of A cad em y of C atholic T h eology, and w it h th e h elp of m em b ers o f th e P o lish E p isco p a te’s C om ­ m issio n fo r D ia lo g w ith Ju d aism , an th e 5th and 6th o f June, 1989, a s y m ­ p osiu m w a s held in W arsaw on th e to p ic o f Th e C hurch, J e w s a n d Ju d a is m . A lth ou gh resea rch a n d th e op en e x ch a n g e o f v ie w s b y P o lish and J e w ish h istorian s h as a lrea d y a c h ie v e d a certa in tra d itio n , w ith a g reat d ea l o f pro­ gress b e in g m a d e in th is area, th e th e o lo g ic a l d ialogue — u rg en tly reco m ­ m en d ed b y th e S eco n d V atican C ouncil a n d p a p a l tea ch in g s — is s t ill dn its in fa n c y in P olan d . R ecen tly , h o w ev er, th e situ a tio n has im p roved s o m e ­ w h at. In 1985 K IK (C atholic In te lle c tu a l’s C lub) in C racow b egan a series of A u s c h w i t z W e e k s i in 1986 th e r e w a s a sessio n on J e w i s h R eligio n a n d

C u ltu re in th e to w n of P ien iezn o in n o rth ern P olan d ; in A pril, 1988, an

in tern a tio n a l co llo q u iu m J e w s a n d C h r is ti a n s in D ia lo gue w a s h eld in T yniec. T h e S y m p o siu m a t A ca d em y o f C atholic T h eology in W arsaw brought to ­ g eth er m a n y th e o lo g ia n s fro m a ll o ver th e cou n try, e sp e c ia lly you n ger ones, and r e p resen ts th e fu r th e r step in th e p rocess o f d eep en in g and e n liv en in g th e con tacts b e tw e e n th e tw o relig io u s co m m u n ities.

T he S y m p o siu m w a s o p en ed b y th e D ea n o f th e T h eo lo g ica l F a cu lty , P rof. Jan Ł ach. In h is p resen ta tio n , w h ic h w a s p reced ed b y a com m on p rayer from P sa lm 123, he p oin ted to th e n eed fo r coop eration am on g C hristians an d J ew s in th e fa c e o f th e th rea t fr o m th o se w h o w o u ld b u ild a w o rld w i ­ th o u t God. T h e o en tu ries-lo n g tra d itio n o f m istr u s t and e n m ity b e tw e e n th e ad h eren ts of th e tw o relig io n s serv ed to obscure th e cla rity of th e w itn e s s to th e O ne God. T h e fru its o f th is d ialogue sh o u ld th u s b e th e overcom in g o f m u tu a l a n im o sities, and barriers o n th e p ath to reco n cilia tio n , a s w e ll as testim o n y to an a u th e n tic relig io u s fa ith .

T h e fir s t paper w as g iv e n b y Dr. R yszard R u b in k iew icz from th e C a­ th o lic U n iv e r sity of L ublin, and weis e n title d J e w s a n d J u d a is m in th e T e a ­

c hin g of J o h n P a u l II. D j. R u b in k iew icz is th e p erso n co -resp o n sib le fo r p r e ­

p arin g a ll th e m o st im p o r ta n t C hurch d o cu m en ts on J e w s and Judaism for p u b lica tio n u n d er th e a u sp ices o f the E p isco p a l C om m ision. H e d iscu ssed th e th e o lo g ic a l b a ses fo r th e dialog a s set fo r th b y th e S econ d V atican C ouncil, p a rticu la rly in P o in t 4 of th e D ecla ra tio n N o s tr a A e ta t e . A com m on d im e n ­ sio n fo r r e la tio n s b e tw e e n C h ristian ity and Ju d aism is fou n d ab ove a ll in th e b e lie f in God, and in th e particu lar tie s b e tw e e n th e C hurch and th e J ew s, b ased on G od’s p lan fo r sa lv a tio n . The fr a te r n a l th eo lo g ica l dialogue, w h ich Joh n P a u l II h as ca lled th e dialog „ b e tw e e n th e fir s t and the second p arts o f th e B ib le ”, rep r e se n ts a fu ll a p p recia tio n o f th e liv e h eritage o f fa ith . T he go a l o f th is d ialogu e is to h a v e each sid e get to k n o w th e o th er b etter w h ile h on orin g th e r e lig io u s id e n tity of b o th sid es, fa r from sy n c r e ­ tism or p ro sely tism . T h e sp eak er h ig h lig h ted tw o im p o rta n t h istorical co n d i­ tion s fo r th e cu rren t sh ifts in attitu d e o f th e C hurch tow ard J u d aism — th e dram a o f th e S h oah and th e r e a lity o f th e S ta te of Israel. T he m ass g e n o ­ cid e of th e G erm an N a zis’ rep resen ts a seriou s d a n g er sig n to th e w orld , a „salu tary w a r n in g ” (in th e w o r d s o f J oh n P a u l II in A u sch w itz) a g a in st th e dan gers o f e v il stru ctu res an d crim in a l d isregard for th e la w . T h e r e ­ b irth o f a J e w ish sta te in tu rn req u ires th e r e v is io n o f th e tra d itio n a l C h ri­ stia n th e s is th at th e lon g J e w ish diaspora w a s a sig n th a t th e y had b een rejected b y God. A t th e sa m e tim e th is reb irth b rin gs n e w ch a lla n g es and

n e w r e sp o n s ib ilitie s to th e J e w is h p eop le. T h e d esire b y both sid es to com e closer sh o u ld be ex p r e sse d in p ra ctice in life and in clo se cooperation.

In th e seco n d p ap er Dr. W ald em ar C h ro sto w sk i (A cad em y of C atholic T h eology in W arsaw ) d iscu ssed th e F u n d a m e n t a l A s p e c t s of th e C h u r c h ’s

R e o r ie n t a ti o n t o w a r d s J e w s a n d J u d a is m . T h e a ttitu d e tow ard s th e J ew s in

C h ristian th eo lo g y h a s to th is d a y b e e n a d e r iv a tiv e of th e g en era l sta te of m u tu a l rela tio n s, lo a d ed d o w n w ith stereo ty p es, p reju d ices and aversion . W hat i s m ore, th e th eo lo g y w a s o fte n su b ord in ated to assu m p tio n s w h ic h ten d ed to rein fo rce th e m ech a n ism s o f en m ity . It has becom e in crea sin g ly clear in th is cen tu ry m ark ed b y th e stig m a o f g en o cid e and to ta lita ria n ism th a t C h ristian s and J ew s can n ot g iv e cred ib le testim o n y about G od w h ile m a in ta in in g p reju d ices and liv in g in m u tu a l en m ity . It h as a lso b ecom e a p p aren t th a t it is n o t p o ssib le to do th e o lo g y w ith o u t en g a g in g in an e c u ­ m en ica l d ia lo g — a dialog am ong th e d iv id ed C h ristian s and a dialog b e t­ w e e n C h ristia n s an d those of other r e lig io n s — ju st a s th ere can be no a u th en tic d ia lo g w ith o u t reo rien ta tio n in th e o lo g y . In asm u ch a s th eo lo g y le ­ gitim ized a n a ttitu d e o f m istru st or e v e n e n m ity to w a rd th e J ew s, th e n it m u st u n d ergo change. T h eo lo g ia n s m u st b ecom e conscious of th eir p rop h etic role, a ro le b ased o n th e ir d u ty to c a ll bad h a b its and w a y s of doing th in g s in to q u estion . T h eo lo g ica l r e fle c tio n a fter V a tica n II w o u ld lik e to p rovid e a m o d e l o f a n e w w a y o f a ctin g for th e C hurch tod ay. !n the a rea o f r e la ­ tio n s w ith th e J ew s th eo lo g y has s e t it s e lf a n u m b er o f goals, b u t tw o o f th e se com e to th e fore: d eep er p en etra tio n in to th e co n scio u sn ess o f th e Church, and th e ch an ce to change im p rop er a ttitu d e s tow ard s a d h eren ts of Judaism . T he sp ea k er d iscu ssed b o th o f th e s e k ey a sp ects of th e re o r ie n ­ ta tio n o n th e b asis o f th e sta tem en ts o f th e M a g isteriu m o f th e C hurch and o f J o h n P a u l II — sta te m e n ts th a t sim u lta n eo u sly r e fle c t and rein fo rce tr a n ­ sform ation s w h ich have a lrea d y ta k e n p lace, a s w e ll as m ark out n e w ho­ rizo n s for th e th e o r y and practise o f C h ristian s. T h eir m o tto w a s ta k en from th e p ap al sp eech in M ainz (on N ovem b er, 17, 1980): „he w h o en co u n ters J e ­ sus C hrist, en co u n ters J u d aism ”, and „th e h o ly o b lig a tio n of b roth erh ood ”. T h eological r e fle c tio n u n d erta k en in th e sp ir it o f im p ro v in g rela tio n s sh ou ld h asten th e p rocess o f r e c o n cilia tio n o f th e se relig io u s co m m u n ities w'hich h a v e b e e n a t odds for cen turies. T he fu n d a m en ta l ro le in th is ard ou s p rocess is p la y ed n ot b y rea so n a b le prem ises, h o w ev er, b u t b y th e h ig h e st la w of conscien ce. T he fru it of th is dialogu e sh ou ld b e to bring th e p articip an ts closer to th e fu lln e ss o f G od’s m y stery , and e ff e c tiv e cooperation in a w o rld in n eed o f d iv in e change.

T he a ftern o o n sessio n o f th e fir st d ay b e g a n w ith a ta lk b y Dr. M ichał C zajk ow sk i (A ca d em y o f C atholic T h eology) e n title d W h a t D oes I t Mean To

S a y T h a t Je su s Is a J e w ? W hen w e look b ack at th e J e w ish roots o f C h ri­

stia n ity w e con n ot p ass o v er th e fa c t of J e su s’ J ew ish n ess. H e h im se lf had a g reat ap p reciation for h is J e w ish id e n tity a n d h eritage, m ark ed b y fa ith - fu lln e ss to th e la w s o f th e O ld T esta m en t and to th e cu stom s o f his p eople. T he p arad ox o f c o n tin u ity and fu n d a m en ta l n e w n e s s is brou gh t ou t in th e p erson o f J e su s an d in his m ission ; he r e v e a le d h im se lf an a lm o st cerem o n ia l fa sh io n in th e w ords: „Do n o t th in k th a t I h a v e com e to ab olish th e L a w or th e P rop h ets. I h a v e n o t com e to ab o lish th em , bu t to fu lfill th e m ” (M att. 5 :17). A t th e sam e tim e th a t greater k n o w led g e of th eir ea rth ly S aviou r is sp read in g am on g C hristians, a g rea ter in te r e st is e v id e n t am on g J e w ish th in ­ k ers in Jesu s o f N azareth. M any of th e m w r ite about H im w ith sy m p a th y . A t th e cen ter o f C h ristian th eo lo g y is th e C h risto lo g ica l truth: Jesu s C hrist is tru e G od an d tru e m an. T he true h u m a n ity a ssu m es th e J e w ish n e ss o f J e ­ sus. W h oever ign ores it is o n ly a step a w a y fro m D ocetism , th e v ie w th a t God o n ly a p p a ren tly took on a h u m an bod y, o n ly seem ed to liv e , teach and su ffer. T he sp e a k e r d iscu ssed a t le n g h t th e fo r m u la tio n fou n d in th e V a ti­ can’s In stru ctio n on „Jew s and Ju d a ism in th e P roclam ation of G od’s W ord

and in th e C a th ech esis o f th e C atholic C h u rch ” (1985) th a t „Jesu s is a Jew , and w ill a lw a y s b e a J e w ”. If o n e k eep s th e O ld T esta m en t h istory of s a l­ v a tio n in m in d , on e m u s t s ta te that: Jesu s th e M essiah had to b e a Jew , b ecau se th is rep resen ted th e fu lfillm e n t o f th e G od ’s p ro m ises g iv e n to C ho­ se n P eo p le. J e s u s -J e w r e p resen ts th e n o rm a tiv e b eg in n in g o f C hristian id e n ­ tity .

T he top ic fo r th e n e x t lectu re, g iv e n b y D r. S ta n isła w K ra jew sk i (W arsaw ) w a s T h e L a n d of Is r a e l in J e w i s h Con scio usness. W h en w e sp ea k o f „ Isra el” w e th in k o f Jacob, o f a ll o f th e g en era tio n s o f J ew s, b u t w e a ls o th in k of th e land, a con crete land — e v e n o f th e S ta te o f Israel, w h ic h g o e s to g eth er w ith th in k in g ab ou t th e lan d , a s it is d iffic u lt to d iffe r e n tia te th e J e w ish rela tio n sh ip to th e ir o w n land fro m th eir a ttitu d e tow ard th eir o w n sta te. J e w s are lin k ed to th e Land o f Israel th ro u g h m em ory, and hen ce through th e past. T h is la n d w a s also, h o w ev er, th e ir fu tu re, an d co n tin u es to be so. The r ela tio n sh ip o f th e J e w s to th e Land o f Isra el has to b e u n d erstood in term s o f a ll d im en sio n s _ of tim e, in clu d in g e v e n o n e m ore — e te r n ity . In a lm o st e v e r y g en era tio n 'th ere h a v e b e e n J e w s w h o 'm a d e th e ir w a y to th e H o ly L and in order to liv e a n d die th ere, to stu d y T orah and to se r v e God. T h ose w h o liv e d in th e L and o f Isra el — c a lle d Y ish u v — w e r e supported m a in ly b y o ffe r in g s c o llected in J e w ish co m m u n ities sca ttered o v e r th e w h o le w orld . T h e H oly L and a lso rep resen ted th e im a g e and a n ticip a tio n o f th e esc h a to lo g ica l fu tu re. A g a in st th e background o f th is d eep a tta ch m en t o f J ew s to th e H o ly L and a sp ecific ro le fa lls to th e d iaspora, a r o le w h ich h as b een a ccep ted b y Ju d aism 'in v a ry in g d egrees. T he v is io n of th e c e n tra lity o f Zion d om in ated , d e sp ite th e fa c tu a l -dispersion. S o m etim es th e v is io n b e­ cam e so m e ta p h y sic a l th a t it d id n o t e v e n h a v e to lead to p ra ctica l a ttem p ts to go to th e Land o f Isra el. T his situ a tio n n o tw ith sta n d in g , th e S ta te o f Israel cam e in to b ein g in 1948, an d from th a t tim e o n i t h a s se r v e d as a rem in d er to th e w orld o f th e J e w ish r ig h t to th e lan d o f th e ir an cestors, and a t the sam e tim e it h as b ro u g h t ab ou t op p o sitio n to a ck n o w le d g m e n t th is righ t. In Isra el lo v e for o n e ’s o w n lan d is e x p e r ie n c e d in a v e r y con crete m an n er. T h e n e w h isto rica l circ u m sta n ces also b rou gh t a b o u t a p a rticu la r ten sio n b e tw e e n th e situ a tio n o f th e J e w ish p o p u la tio n liv in g in th e reb orn sta te and th at o f th e diaspora. T he m a jo r ity erf J e w s fe e ls a d eep co n n ectio n w ith th e S tate of Israel, e v e n th ou gh th eir a ctu a l r ela tio n sh ip to it and to its m ean in g is q u ite varied.

On th e fir st d a y o f th e sessio n s A n d rzej K o siń sk i (W arsaw ) read a c o m ­ m u n iq u e o n T h e C h u r c h e s in W e s t G e r m a n y a n d S h o a h (1945— 1985). A num ber o f im p ortan t d o cu m en ts w ere is su e d b y th e C atholic C hurch and th e P r o te ­ stant C hurches in th is 40-year period co n cern in g J e w s an d Ju d aism . A ll of th e m w ere aim ed a t com in g to term s w ith th e d r a m a tic p a st, and to the issu e of G erm an r e sp o n sib ility fo r th e e x te r m in a tio n o f th e J ew s. T he C hur­ ch e s’ sta te m e n ts g e n e r a lly w e r e issu ed on th e o b serv a n ce of th e a n n iv e r sa ­ r ie s o f e v e n ts w h ic h had rep r e se n te d tragic tu rn in g p o in ts in th e h istory o f G erm a n -J ew ish rela tio n . E x a m p les a re th e ob serv a n ces each year o f „K ri­ sta lln a ch t” (T h e N ig h t o f th e B rok en G lass) and th e end o f th e War. A co n ­ stan t ele m e n t in a ll o f th e s e o ffic ia l p ron ou n cem en ts is th e d esire to str e n ­ g th en coop eration , in sp ite o f th e b u rd en fo r su ch coo p era tio n rep resen ted by Shoah.

On th e secon d d ay of th e S y m p o siu m th ere w e r e tw o papers and tw o com m u n iq u es. K o n sta n ty G eb ert’s (W arsaw ) p resen ta tio n , e n title d J e w i s h R e ­

ligious L if e of th e T i m e of t h e Sh oah, w a s w e ll r e c e iv e d a s a testim o n y to

th e J e w ish heroes o f th e fa ith during th e tim e of m arty ro lo g y . It is only p o ssib le to g iv e a p ictu re o f r elig io u s life during th is tim e m ark ed b y the stigm a of in co m p reh en sib le v io la n c e and ille g a lity on th e b asis o f docu m en ts and acco u n ts w h ic h h a v e b een p reserv ed , an d w h ic h to g e th e r form a v e r y fra g m en ta ry and o fte n in te m a lly -c o n tr a d ic to r y p ictu re. W hen w e read th ese

acco u n ts o u r co n scio u sn ess is w e ig h te d d o w n b y th e fa c t th a t th e e ss e n tia l r e a lity o f S h oah elu d e s our com p reh en sion . W e o n ly k n o w on e th in g for certain — fa ith w a s p o ssib le and it en d u red . T h e sp eak er ,g a v e m o v in g e x a m p le s of th e d eep relig io u sn ess o f th e J e w s, p eo p le to rm en ted and h u ­ m ilia te d b eyon d h u m a n m easu re. H itle r ’s attack on P o la n d a ltered th e fa te of th e a d h eren ts o f Ju d aism liv in g th ere in a fu n d a m en ta l w a y . J e w ish r e li­ giou s life w a s m a d e im p ossib le e v e n b efo re th e N azi ex te r m in a tio n program began b ecu a se o f th e g en era l d ifficu lties b rou gh t o n b y th e w ar an d b y the d elib arate p o lic ie s of r ep ressio n of th e o ccu p y in g fo rce. In sp ite of th ese d i­ ffic u ltie s th e m a jo r ity of J ew s rem a in ed fa ith fu l to th e req u irem en ts of r e ­ ligiou s la w . J e w ish r elig io u s o b serv a n ces w e n t underground, and continued. F a ith fu ln e ss to th e r elig io u s p r in c ip le s re le a se d th e h ig h est fo rm o f h eroism , paid for o ften w ith o n e’s life . A n a n o n y m o u s p erso n a c tiv e i n th e W arsaw G hetto rem ark ed on th e r elig io u sn ess in th e G h etto that: „T he tru ly p iou s b ecam e e v e n m ore piou s, b eca u se in th eir u n d ersta n d in g th e y see th e hand of G od in e v e r y th in g . T h ose w h o w e r e u n b e lie v e r s, on th e o th er hand, b e ­ cam e e v e n m ore fir m in th eir u n b elief. T h ose w h o w e r e w a v e r in g , h o w ev er, b egan to reb el a g a in st G od, to w a g e w a r a g a ist H im , to sp it a t th e H a e v e n s”. T he sp eak er d e a lt w ith th e sh a m efu l ste r e o ty p e o f J e w s „led to th eir d eath s lik e c a ttle ”. C itin g th e w ord s of M arek E d elm an , th e lea d er o f th e G hetto u p risin g, h e said th a t a „ q u iet” d ea th is m u ch m ore d iffic u lt th a n shooting. R eligiou s im p u lses p la y ed an im p ortan t ro le in th e fo rm a tio n o f p osition s w h ich rejected arm ed b attle. J ew s w ere ra ised in a sp irit th a t k n e w v io - la n ce from th e s id e of th e v ictim , n o t from th a t o f th e oppresors. V io len ce for th e m w a s a lw a y s so m eth in g w ron g, im p rop riate, and e v e n abhorrent.

M ich ał K lin g er from th e C h ristian T h eo lo g ica l A cad em y (O rthodox and P ro testa n t in stitu tio n ) p resen ted a com m u n iq u e e n title d T h e C h u rch in E cu ­

m e n i c a l D ia lo g a n d t h e D ia lo g w i t h t h e J e w s . F rom th e p o in t of v ie w of

a d h eren ts o f th e O rthodox Church, dialog w ith th e J e w s should b e p receed ed b y a dialog am on g a ll C hristians. T h e C hurch can o n ly b e a cred ib le partn er in co n ta cts w ith Ju d aism w h e n it has r e b u ilt its o w n un ity. T h is sh o w s th e n e e d fo r r e v iv in g and in te sify in g ecu m en ica l effo rts w h ic h w o u ld help to u n ite th e s p lit in th e C hristian com m u n ities.

S ta n isła w M u siał, S. J. (C racow) read th e com m u n iq u e O n t h e Is su e of

th e C a r m e l i t e S i s te r s a t A u s c h w i t z , in w h ich h e d iscussed th e con troversy

o f th e co n v en t situ a ted in th e im m ed ia te v ic in ity o f the ex te r m in a tio n cam p at A u sch w itz. T h is issu e h as b een o f en orm ou s in terest to both th e P o lish so ­ c ie ty and to J e w ish com m u n ities around th e w orld. H e talk ed a b ou t th e cir­ cu m sta n ces surrou n d in g th e d ecisio n to m o v e th e S isters to th e n ew C enter for In form ation , In stru ction , M eetin g s an d P ra y er p la n n ed th ere. T he p r e ­ se n ta tio n ap p eared in th e „ P ism o O k óln e” („C ircular L e tte r ”) o f th e P ress A g en cy o f th e P o lish E p iscop ate on M ay, 29 —i Ju n e, 4.1989, and it is a lso g iv e n in th is is su e o f „C ollectanea T h eo lo g ica ”.

T h e S y m p o siu m w a s clo sed b y a sp eech g iv e n b y th e C hairm an o f th e P o lish E p isco p a te’s C om m ision fo r D ialog w ith Judaism B ish op H en ry k M u­ sz y ń sk i (W łocław ek ). T h e sp eech w a s en titled D ialog w i t h J e w s a n d J u d a is m —

A n A t t e m p t of B ala nce a n d P e r s p e c t i v e s fo r t h e F utu re. D ia lo g h as a lrea d y

b e e n esta b lish ed . S om e lo ca l churches, e sp e c ia lly in W estern E urope and th e U SA , h a v e a lrea d y m ad e su b sta n tia l progress tin th is area. In P o la n d su ch con tacts got o ff to a slo w start b u t a re n o w d ev elo p in g fa ir ly in te n siv e ly . T h ey are n o t w ith o u t th e ir d iffic u ltie s and set-b a ck s, m a in ly co n sistin g of th e b a lla st o f th e past. D ialog is e req u irem en t fo r a ll w h o b e lie v e in Christ', w h o in th is w a y b ecom e m ore a w a re o f an d e x p e r ie n c e m ore d eep ly th e ir ow n id en tity .

S e v era l o u tsta n d in g g u e sts took p art i n th e th eo lo g ica l m eetin g o f C h ri­ stin a s an d J ew s, and i t g iv e s m e a g rea t d ea l of sa tisfa ctio n to n ote th eir p resen ce. O n th e fir st d ay w e had a s ou r g u e st A m bassad or M ordechai P a

l-zur, C h ief o f the Is r a e li In terest S ectio n in P olan d . I n his rem a rk s he s t r e ­ ssed th a t th e d iffic u lt p a st in P o lish -J e w ish r e la tio n s sh ou ld n o t b e allo w ed to paralyze r e la tio n s n o w . It is n e cessa ry to w o rk u n tired ly tow ard b ringing Ju d aism an d th e C hurch clo ser togeth er. T his is th e o n ly credible rep ly to th e o u td a ted b u rd en s and m u tu a l a n im o siteis. W h ile a lw a y s b e in g aw a re o f th e past, it is n o w n e c e ss a r y to tu rn to th e fu tu re, a n d n ot co n tin u a lly go b a ck to op en in g old w ou n d s. T h e A m b assad or fe lt th a t th e Sym p osiu m w as a v a lu a b le co n trib u tio n to m ark th e end o f a 20-y ea r period in w h ich Israel w a s n ot rep resen ted in P olan d (from 1968), a fte r 1000 y ea rs of a J e w ish p re­ sen ce in th is cou n try.

On th e secon d d a y tw o g u ests from P aris w e r e presen t: Fr. Jean D u fa r- din, S ecreta ry of th e F ren ch E p iscop ate’s C o m m issio n fo r D ia lo g w ith J u ­ daism , and Fr. P ierre d ’O rnellas, S ecreta ry to C ardinal J. M. L ustiger. Fr. J. D u fa rd in p a y ed trib u te to th e fa c t th a t dialog b e tw e e n C h ristia n s and J ew s had com m en ced in P olan d , and fe lt th a t h is p a rticip a tio n rep resen ted a v a lu a b le e x p e r ie n c e fo r h im p erso n a lly . A lso a m o n g th e g u ests from other cou n tries w a s P rof. J. H. S a tte r w h ite fro m B lu ffto n C ollege (Ohio, U SA ), cu rren tly in P olan d d o in g resea rch in P o lish in te lle c tu a l history.

C lose to 60 p eo p le a tten d ed th e tw o -d a y e x c h a n g e o f ideas. A m on g them w ere p rofessors of th e o lo g y from a ll o f th e im p o rta n t a ca d em ic in stitu tio n s in P oland, S em in a ry lectu rers and Superiors, P hD can d id ates and th e s tu ­ dents, jo u rn a lists fro m th e C ath olic press, a h istorian , a w riter, an d a m ed ica l doctor. T h e papers an d com m u n iq u es p rovok ed a liv e ly discu ssion , in w h ich over 20 p eop le p articip ated . T h e d om in an t th em e in a ll of th e id eas p u t fo rth w a s th e d esire to see th e con ten ts o f th e d iscu ssio n s am on g sp ecia lists d issem in a ted a s w id e ly a s p o ssib le . T h ese id eas h a v e to h a v e an in flu en ce on the p ra ctica l life o f C hristians and p en etra te th e co n scio u sn ess of b e ­ liev ers. E v ery o n e p r e se n t w a s in a g reem en t in em p h asizyn g th e im p ortan ce o f o rg a n izin g such th e o lo g ic a l m eetin g s, w h ich co n trib u te to th e a d h eren ts o f both o f th ese b ro th er relig io n s com ing closer to geth er.