III theological symposium on "The Church, Jews and Judaism"

Waldemar Chrostowski

III theological symposium on "The

Church, Jews and Judaism"

Collectanea Theologica 62/2, 159-164

C o lle c ta n e a T h e o lo g ic a 62(1992) f a s e . II

III THEOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM „THE CHURCH, JEWS AND

JUDAISM”

O n 11 a n d 12 A p ril, 1991 th e T h e o lo g ic a l F a c u lt y o f th e A c a d e m y o f C a ­ th o lic T h e o lo g y in c o o p e r a tio n w ith th e C o m m issio n o f th e P o lis h E p is c o p a t e f o r th e D ia lo g u e w ith J u d a i s m o r g a n iz e d th e th ird C h r is t ia n - J e w is h sy m p o ­ s iu m e n title d A u s c h w i t z - R e a l i t y , S y m b o l i s m , T h e o lo g y . T h e s y m p o siu m b e ­ g a n on th e d a y o b s e r v e d b y th e J e w s a s Y o m h a - S h o a h . D a y o f E x t e r m in a ­ tio n , to c o m m e m o r a te th e m e m o r y o f th e s i x m illio n J e w i s h v ic tim s o f N a z i g e n o c id e . T h r e e r a b b is — B y r o n L . S h e r w i n o f C h ic a g o , c o o r g a n iz e r o f th e in te r r e lig io u s s e m in a r in S p e r t u s C o lle g e o f J u d a i c a fo r P o lis h p r o f e s s o r p r ie s t s , A w r a h a m S o e t e n d o r p o f T h e H a g u e , w h o a s a c h ild w a s s a v e d d u r in g th e o c c u p a tio n b y a C a th o lic f a m ily , a n d M e n a c h e m J o ś k o w i e z, C h ie f R a b b i o f P o la n d — le d p r a y e r f o r th e m u r d e r e d w h o se h ig h lig h t w a s th e p a r a b le o f J e w i s h f a it h f u ln e s s to th e L o r d a n d w o r d s fr o m P s a lm 22. T h e g u e s t s w e r e g r e e te d b y p r o f. R o m a n B a r t n i c k i , D e a n o f th e T h e ­ o lo g ic a l F a c u lt y o f A C T . T h e in tr o d u c tio n w a s d e liv e r e d b y th e R e c to r p ro f. J a n Ł a c h , w h o s ta te d t h a t A C T h a d b e e n th e f ir s t C a th o lic h ig h sc h o o l in P o la n d to t a k e u p a n o n -g o in g d ia lo g u e w ith th e J e w s a n d J u d a i s m a n d t h a t sc h o la r ly re fle c tio n o f r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f th e tw o c o m m u n itie s w a s m a k in g a n im p o r ta n t c o n tr ib u tio n to g r e a t e r r e lig io u s u n d e r sta n d in g . T h e I s r a e li M in iste r o f E d u c a tio n a n d C u ltu r e , Z e v u lu n H a m m e r , p a r t ic ip a te d in th e o p e n in g c e re m o n ie s. „ T o o o fte n d o w e s a y ” — h e s t a t e d — „ t h a t in A u sc h w itz G o d s u f f e r e d a d e fe a t. M e a n w h ile , w e fo r g e t a b o u t o u r ow n r e s p o n s ib ilit y f o r th e f a c t t h a t w e, C h r is t ia n s a n d J e w s , h a v e f a i le d to m a k e th e fo llo w e r s o f d if fe r e n t r e lig io n s se e in e v e r y p e r so n , r e g a r d le s s o f r a c e a n d r e lig io n , th e b r illia n t im a g e o f a lo v in g G o d .” T h e m in ist e r e m p h a siz e d t h a t t h is co m m o n f a i lu r e m a k e s n e c e s s a r y a d ia lo g u e a n d th e b u ild in g of a n e w f u tu r e , in w h ic h r e s p e c t f o r e v e r y p e r so n , e s p e c ia lly f o r a „ d if f e r e n t ” p e r so n , w ill d o m in a te . T h e A m b a s s a d o r o f I s r a e l, M iro n G o r d o n , p r a is e d th e c o n ta c ts w ith A C T , a n d p o in tin g to th e a u d ito r iu m fille d w ith s c h o la r s a n d y o u n g p e o p le h e a d d e d : „ I f t h is is n o t e c u m e n ism , I d o n o t k n o w w h a t e c u m e n ism is .” A sp e e c h o f g r e e tin g w a s a ls o d e liv e r e d b y M ic h a l F r i e d m a n , c h a ir m a n o f th e C o o r d in a tin g C o m m issio n o f J e w i s h O r g a n iz a tio n s in P o ­ la n d . H e a p p e a le d to P o le s a n d J e w s to c o r r e c t h is t o r ic a l e r r o r s a n d to sh o w m o re o fte n th e p a tr io tis m o f P o lish J e w s a n d th e ir c o n tr ib u tio n to P o la n d ’s c u ltu r e . H e r e c a lle d h e h e r o ism o f th e J e w M ic h a l L a n d a , w h o d u r in g th e m a n if e s ta tio n s in 1863 to o k u p a c r o s s fr o m th e h a n d s o f a f a lle n p r ie st. „W e h a v e a c o m m o n G o d , w e h a v e a co m m o n c o m m a n d m e n t to lo v e. M a y th e J e w is h a n d th e C h r is tia n M e ssia h c o m e to g e th e r in to t h e w o r ld ” — h e co n c lu d e d . R e v . P ie r F r a n c e s c o F u m a g a l l i , s e c r e t a r y o f th e C o m m issio n o f th e H o ly S e e f o r R e lig io u s R e la t io n s w ith J u d a is m , p a r t ic ip a t e d in th e o p e n in g a n d in th e e n tir e sy m p o siu m . T h e s u b je c t o f th e f i r s t p a p e r , w h ic h w a s r e a d b y p r o f. W a c la w D l u - g o b o r s k i ( S t a t e M u se u m O sw ie c im -B r z e z in k a ), w a s K L A u s c h w i t z - B i r ­ k e n a u 1940— 1945 — F a c t s , P r o b l e m s , P o le m ic s . A u sc h w itz h a s tw o h is to r ie s : th e h is to r y o f th e c a m p in th e s t r i c t se n se , a s a n e le m e n t o f th e N a z i s y ­ ste m o f t e r r o r a n d e x t e r m in a t io n , a n d a s a sy m b o l o f S h o a h , th e p e r so n if i­ c a tio n o f e v il. T h e le c tu r e r fo c u s e d on th e f i r s t a sp e c t, f o r th e se c o n d on e w a s th e s u b je c t o f o th e r p a p e r s . T h e „ r e a l ” h is to r y o f A u sc h w itz d o e s n ot

e n d in 1945, f o r it c o n tin u e s w ith th e p o s t w a r liv e s o f th e s u r v iv o r s a m o n g th e p r is o n e r s a n d th e ir r o le in so c ie ty on th e on e h a n d a n d w ith th e t r i a ls o f th e S S c re w o f th e c a m p on th e o th e r. T h e so u r c e s on th e h isto r y o f th e c a m p a r e c o n sta n tly in c r e a s in g : n e w r e s e a r c h q u e s t io n s r a is e d b y th e a c c o ­ u n ts o f f o r m e r p r is o n e r s, th e f ile s o f th e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f th e c a m p m a d e a v a ila b le to th e P o lish s id e b y th e S o v ie t s. T h o u g h th e e s ta b lis h m e n t o f th e c a m p in J u n e 1940 w a s c o n n e c te d w ith th e d e p o r ta tio n s o f P o lish p r iso n e r s, c h ie fly in te lle c tu a ls, i t s e x p a n sio n to m o n str o u s p r o p o r tio n s in 1941— 43 (h ig h p o in t r e a c h e d in A u g u s t 1944 w ith a p r is o n e r p o p u la t io n o f a b o u t 120 th o u sa n d ) w a s th e r e s u lt o f th e d e p o r ta tio n s o f h u n d r e d s o f t h o u sa n d s o f J e w s , o n ly a s m a ll n u m b e r o f w h o m w e r e r e g is te r e d . A s th e fu n c tio n o f th e c a m p e x p a n d e d th e y w e r e u s e d a s fo r c e d la b o r , a n d n e a r ly a m illio n d ie d d ir e c t ly in th e g a s c h a m b e r s. T h e m a n y fu n c tio n s o f th e c a m p (c a m p fo r p o lit ic a l p r is o n e r s, p la c e o f e x t e r m in a t io n o f J e w s a n d G y p s ie s, r e s e r v o ir o f s la v e la b o r ) h a v e a t t r a c t e d th e in te r e s t o f h is t o r ia n s o f m a n y c o u n trie s, e s p e c ia lly P o la n d , I s r a e l, a n d G e rm a n y . In s p ite o f th e r a t h e r a d v a n c e d sta te o f r e s e a r c h , m a n y m a t t e r s s t ill a r o u s e d is c u s sio n s a n d c o n tr o v e r s ie s : th e to ta l n u m b e r o f v ic tim s (fr o m 4 m illio n w e h a v e a r r iv e d a t th e n u m b e r o f a b o u t 1.2— 1.4 m illio n ), th e r o le o f A u sc h w it z - B ir k e n a u in th e E n d lö s u n g , th e o r g a ­ n iz a tio n o f g e n o c id e —■ in th e c a m p a n d in th e c o u n tr ie s fr o m w h ic h th e t r a n s p o r t s c a m e , th e in te r r e la t io n s b e tw e e n J e w i s h a n d P o lis h p r is o n e r s a n d th e a t tit u d e o f th e la t t e r t o w a r d th e e x te r m in a tio n o f th e J e w s o f w h ic h th e y w e r e e y e - w itn e s s e s . M ic h a l H o r o s z e w i c z (W a rsa w ) in h is p a p e r T h e S y m b o l i s m o f A u ­ s c h w it z f o r J e w s a n d C h r i s t i a n s a c c e n te d th e n e e d to s e p a r a t e „ A u s c h w itz — th e p la c e ” a s a sy m b o l o f S h o a h - H o lo c a u s t f o r a ll J e w s a n d a sy m b o l o f P o lish m a r ty r d o m , f r o m „ A u sc h w itz — th e c o n c e p t” , w h ic h in th e J e w i s h in te r p r e t a tio n is a s y m b o lic c o u n t e r p a r t (n ot a sy m b o l!) o f S h o a h - H o lo c a u st a n d a n a b s t r a c t d e te r m in a n t o f th e in c o m p r e h e n sib le m e a n in g o f th e e x t e r ­ m in a tio n o f s i x m illio n p e o p le . In th e o p in io n o f le a d in g I s r a e li a u th o r itie s, th e se n se o f th e H o lo c a u st a s a b u r n t - o ff e r in g (u se d b y P iu s X I I in sp e e c h e s o f 24 D e c e m b e r, 1942, a n d 15 N o v e m b e r , 1944 — in r e fe r e n c e to th e W a r sa w U p r is in g ) to s o m e e x t e n t h a s b e e n e f fa c e d a n d p r o p e r ly r e f e r s to th e m a s s e x t e r m in a t io n o f h u m a n b e in g s. P e o p le r e f e r to th e in c o m p r e h e n siv e n e ss o f A u sc h w itz , to th e o v e r w h e lm in g fe e lin g o f is o la tio n o f th e J e w s th a t w a s in te n s ifie d b y th e N a z i p la n to „ d e h u m a n iz e ” th e m , to im p la n t in g in th e J e w s th e v isio n o f a n d ’’e m p ty h e a v e n ” (w h ich m e a n t r a th e r d o u b t a n d a ’’q u a r r e l w h it th e C r e a t o r ” b u t n o t a r e je c tio n o f th e id e a o f G od ), t o th e g e n e r a l in d iffe r e n c e o f th e w o rld . T h e h e r e to fo r e m e n tio n e d sy m b o l o f th e sile n c e o f th e C h u rc h e s (C a th o lic a n d P r o t e s t a n t ) o u g h t to b e r e la tiv iz e d b y th e ir q u it e o fte n e x t e n s iv e — e s p e c ia lly in th e c a s e o f P iu s X I I — d e fe n siv e , s u p p o r t iv e , a n d in te r v e n t io n a r y a c tio n s. T h e u n iq u e n e ss o f A u sc h w itz r e q u ir e s u s to r e c a ll t h a t in th e f i r s t g e n o c id e o f th e 20th c e n tu r y — th e m u r d e r o f o n e a n d a h a lf m illio n A r m e n ia n s in 1915 — it w a s th e J e w M o rg e n th a u w h o so s e lf- s a c r if ic in g ly d e fe n d e d th e C h r is tia n s . In a s c h o la r ly p a p e r f ille d w ith f a c t s M . H o ro sz e w ic z n o te d s e v e r a l o f a w h o le s e r ie s o f ’’A u sc h w itz t e r m s ” t h a t h a v e b e co m e m a x im s o r m e ta p h o r s ; e.g., in th e t it le o f h is t r e ­ a t is e ’’H o w C a n W e S p e a k o f G o d s in c e th e T im e o f A y a c u c h o ? ” th e P e r u v ia n th e o lo g ia n G. G u t ie r r e z m a d e a r e m a r k a b le in c u ltu r a tio n b y in tr o d u c in g A u sc h w itz in to L a t in A m e r ic a u n d e r th e f o r m o f „ h o m e o f th e d e a d ” (th e m e ­ a n in g o f A y a c u c h o ). In c o n c lu sio n th e le c tu r e r c ite d f o u r ’’A u sc h w itz p r e ­ c e p t s,” s t a r t in g fr o m „ th in k a n d a c t so t h a t A u sc h w itz w ill n o t b e r e p e a t e d ” (T . A d o rn o ), n e x t th e ’’c o m m a n d in g v o ic e o f A u sc h w itz ” in th e fo r m ” do n ot g i v e H it le r p o sth u m o u s v ic t o r ie s ” (E . F a c k e n h e im ), th e n e x p a n sio n o f th e D e c a lo g u e w ith ” w e c a n n o t r e m a in s ile n t,” a n d f in a lly th e u r g e n t c r y o f J o h n P a u l I I M ia m i, 1987) ’’n e v e r a g a in .”

th e o lo g y o f A u sc h w itz is a n in te g r a l p a r t o f a ll d is c u s sio n s on S h o a h . T h e P r o t e s t a n t th e o lo g ia n p r o f. S t e f a n S c h r e i n e r f r o m H u m b o ld t U n iv e r s it y in B e r lin r e a d a p a p e r e n title d A u s c h w it z a s a Q u e s t io n in g o f t h e C h r i s t i a n T h e o l o g i c a l T r a d it io n . T h e m a tte r , so to s p e a k , d o e s n o t c o n c e rn a g e o g r a p h i­ c a l p la c e , t h a t is, a to w n w ith th e P o lis h n a m e O św ięc im , b u t a h is t o r ic a l p la c e , a p la c e t h a t p la y e d a s p e c ia l ro le in th e h is to r y o f o u r c e n tu r y , a p la c e o f e v e n ts w h o se d im e n sio n s t o d a y a r e e v e n h a r d to c o n c e iv e. A u sc h w itz is a ls o a p la c e - s y m b o l a n d e v e n a s e t o f sy m b o ls, a sy m b o l o f a ll th e N a z i c o n c e n tr a tio n c a m p s, o f a ll p la c e s o f e x t e r m in a t io n o f t h is ty p e , b u t a b o v e a ll a sy m b o l o f th e h o r r ib le e x t e r m in a t io n o f J e w s , th e sy m b o l o f S h o a h . T h e r e a r e n o t on e b u t m a n y C h r is tia n th e o lo g ic a l tr a d itio n s, in a c c o r d a n c e w ith th e n u m b e r o f C h u rc h e s a n d d if fe r e n c e s o f th e o lo g ic a l v ie w s a n d c o n ­ v ic tio n s h e ld b y th e fo llo w e r s o f C h rist. B u t th e se m a n y t r a d it io n s h a v e on e th in g in co m m o n , n a m e ly , th e o u tlo o k on J e w s a n d J u d a i s m . In t h is r e s p e c t o n e c a n s p e a k o f o n e C h r is tia n th e o lo g ic a l tr a d itio n , w h ic h w a s c o n sp ic u o u s f o r its n e a r ly u n c h a n g in g n e g a tiv e a t tit u d e to w a r d th e J e w s . W e m u s t h o ­ n e stly a s k o u r s e lv e s w h e th e r t h is t r a d it io n h a s a n y co n n e c tio n s w ith th e e x t e r m in a t io n o f th e J e w s , w h o se sy m b o l is A u sc h w itz . T h e s p e c tr u m of p r e v io u s a n s w e r s r a n g e s fr o m c a t e g o r ic a l d e n ia l o f a n y c o n n e c tio n s to th e e q u a lly c a t e g o r ic a l s ta te m e n t t h a t su c h co n n e c tio n s e x is t . S o m e c o n te n d th a t th e h a n g m e n in A u sc h w itz m o tiv a te d a n d ju s t if ie d t h e ir c r im e s w ith th e r a c is t id e o lo g y o f N a t io n a l S o c ia lis m , a fo r m o f in sa n e A r ia n n e o - p a g a n is m , w h ic h h a d n o th in g in c o m m o n w ith th e C h r is tia n t r a d it io n a n d w a s e v e n a n t i- C h r is t ia n a n d a n t ith e is t ic ; o th e r s b e lie v e t h a t f r o m th e a n t i- J e w is h a c c e n ts a lr e a d y c o n ta in e d in th e N e w T e s t a m e n t a n d th e a n t i- J e w is h p r o n o u n c e m e n ts r e p e a te d in th e lo n g t r a d it io n o f th e C h u rc h th e re is a s t r a ig h t p a th to th e g a s c h a m b e r s in A u sc h w it z - B ir k e n a u . P r o f e s s o r S . S c h r e in e r p e n e tr a t in g ly d is c u s se d th e se v ie w s, p o in tin g o u t th e n e e d fo r a n d d ir e c tio n s o f th e r e o r ie n ta tio n o f th e C h u rc h t o w a r d J e w s a n d J u d a i s m . A s r e g a r d s th e t e x t s o f th e N e w T e s t a m e n t, it is im p o r ta n t to in v e s tig a te n o t o n ly th e ir v e r b a l se n se , b u t a ls o to n o te h o w th e y w e r e in te r p r e te d , fo r h e re th e s h a r p s e p a r a t io n o f C h r is tia n s a n d th e fo llo w e r s o f J u d a i s m b e c o m e s m o st e v id e n t. A u sc h w itz c a lls in to q u e stio n th e C h r is tia n th e o lo g ic a l t r a d i ­ tio n , a t le a s t th e o n e w h ic h w a s a n d a t t im e s s t ill is c h a r a c te r iz e d b y th e ’’th e o lo g y o f c o n te m p t” t o w a r d J e w s . T h e t a s k o f th e o lo g ia n s is to o v e r c o ­ m e th is t r a d it io n a n d to r e p la c e it w ith a n e w th e o lo g y w ith th e m e s s a g e o f d e e p ’’t ie s ” ( N o s t r a a e t a t e) b e tw e e n C h r is tia n it y a n d J u d a i s m . R e v . d r. W a ld e m a r C h r o s t o w s k i (A C T ) to o k u p a r e la te d s u b je c t in h is p a p e r T h e M e a n in g o f S h o a h f o r t h e C h r i s t i a n U n d e r s t a n d i n g o f th e B i b l e . T h is u n d e r s t a n d in g t a k e s p la c e on s e v e r a l le v e ls : e x e g e s is , th e o lo g y , a n d h e r m e n e u tic s. E x e g e s is is n o t o n ly th e c a r r ie r o f th e m e a n in g s c o n ta in e d in th e t e x t, b u t it a ls o e x p r e s s e s th e d e te r m in a n ts, p o s s ib ilit ie s , a n d n e e d s o f th e e x e g e t e s , w h o in th e ir e x p la n a tio n s b r in g o u t p a r t o f th e ir ow n id e n ­ tity . In s p ite o f t h e r a n g e a n d d iv e r s it y o f sc h o o ls a n d tre n d s, C h r is tia n e x e g e s is h a s m a n y f u n d a m e n t a l c o m m o n f e a t u r e s . O n e o f th e m is th a t it f a it h f u lly r e f le c t s th e p o o r s ta te o f C h r is t ia n - J e w is h r e la tio n s . S in c e th e w o rd ’’J e w ” a n d ’’J e w i s h ” to o k o n a p e jo r a t iv e se n se , e v e r y b ib lic a l a llu sio n to th e J e w s g a v e r is e to a n t i - J e w is h a s s o c ia t io n s . T h e e x e g e t e o f t o d a y c a n n o t ig n o r e th e f a c t t h a t n o n r e lig io u s f a c t o r s so r e a d ily in flu e n c e d th e u n d e r ­ s ta n d in g a n d c o m m e n ta ry o f th e S c r ip t u r e s . W h en th e N a z is b e g a n to im ­ p le m e n t th e ir g e n o c id a l id e o lo g y , th e C h r is tia n e x e g e t e s w e r e u n p r e p a r e d to m e e t th e c h a lle n g e s o f th e ir tim e s. S in c e in th e e x p la n a tio n o f th e B ib le th e r e w e r e e x p r e s s io n s o f p r e ju d ic e ro o te d in th e c o n sc io u sn e ss a n d su b - c o n sc io u sn e ss o f C h r is tia n s , it is th e f i r s t o r d e r o f b u s in e s s to w o r k o u t a n e w im a g e o f J e w s a n d J u d a is m . T h e p o s t u la t e o f a n e w e x e g e s is c o m e s n o t fr o m th e w is h to m a k e a n y c h a n g e s in th e h o ly t e x t b u t fr o m th e n e w s e n sit iv it y o f C h r is tia n s t h a t h a s co m e a b o u t a s a r e s u lt o f S h o a h . O n e m u st 11 — C o l l e c t a n e a T h e o lo g ic a

a t th e s a m e tim e in v e s tig a te w h e th e r a n d to w h a t e x t e n t th e e n tir e C h r i­ s t ia n th e o lo g y r e fle c te d a n d a t th e s a m e tim e m o u ld e d th e p o o r s t a t e of r e la tio n s w ith J e w s a n d J u d a is m . A ll th e o lo g ic a l a n t i - J u d a is m c u ltiv a te d a f t e r S h o a h tu r n s in to a s e r io u s in d ic tm e n t o f th e o lo g y a n d in tr o d u c e s a d i­ le m m a in to it. F o r c o u n tle s s th o u s a n d s o f J e w s th e H e b re w B ib le w a s th e l a s t c o m r a d e o n th e w a y to a h o rr ib le d e a th . In th e e y e s o f th e C h r is tia n th e r e is a n id e n tity o f th e f a t e o f m illio n s o f J e w s a n d th e f a t e o f J e s u s , w h ic h e n a b le s h im to f u lly a p p r e c ia t e th e J e w is h m a r ty r d o m a n d h a s n o ­ th in g in co m m o n w ith th e ’’C h r is tia n iz a tio n ” o r ’’a p p r o p r ia tio n ” o f S h o a h . T h e t r a d it io n o f a n t i - J u d a is m in C h r is tia n th e o lo g y a n d p r a c t ic e o f life h a s g r e a t h e r m e n e u tic v a lu e . I t is o b v io u s t h a t H it le r ’s a r g u m e n t a t io n ju s t if y in g th e e x te r m in a tio n o f th e J e w s w a s r a c is t a n d a n t i-C h r is t ia n . B u t th e N a z is e a g e r ly m a d e u se o f th e a n t i - J e w i s h te n d e n c ie s ro o te d in th e C h r is tia n t r a ­ d itio n a n d e x p la n a tio n o f th e B ib le , a n d C h r is tia n th e o lo g y in th e p a s t h a d lo s t too m u c h on a c c o u n t o f its p e r sis t e n t d e p r e c a tio n o f J u d a i s m . In lo o k in g fo r w a y s to d e fin e its o w n a t tit u d e t o w a r d J u d a i s m , th e o lo g y to d a y d o es t h is th r o u g h th e p o w e r o f th e in te r n a l d y n a m ism o f th e G o sp e l a n d n o t b y t r e a t in g S h o a h a s a n e w t h e o lo g ic a l p r in c ip le .

T h e f ir s t d a y o f th e d e lib e r a t io n s e n d e d w ith a d isc u ssio n o f th e p a r t i ­ c ip a n t s a n d E w a J o z w i a k ’s c o m m u n iq u e S h o a h in th e T e a c h i n g o f J o h n P a u l I I . T h e p o p e fr o m P o la n d h a s m a d e a g r e a t c o n tr ib u tio n to th e d e v e ­ lo p m e n t o f th e C h r is t ia n - J e w is h d ia lo g u e a n d to o v e r c o m in g th e p a in f u l p a s t in r e la tio n s b e tw e e n th e C h u rc h a n d th e S y n a g o g u e . T h e a u th o r e s s r e ­ c a lle d th e p a p a l p r o n o u n c e m e n ts m e n tio n in g th e e x t e r m in a t io n o f th e J e w s a s a h is t o r ic a l fa c t, a n a ly z in g th e c a u s e s o f th e e x t e r m in a t io n (r a c ism a n d a n t i-S e m it ism ), e x p r e s s in g s o lid a r it y w ith J e w s a n d p o in tin g o u t th e m e s s a g e a n d s e n se o f C h r is t ia n r e fle c tio n on S h o a h . T o r e c a ll S h o a h , a c c o r d in g to J o h n P a u l I I , m e a n s ” to h a v e h o p e t h a t it w ill n e v e r b e r e p e a te d a n d to do e v e r y th in g p o s s ib le to p r e v e n t it f r o m b e in g r e p e a te d .” T h e d e lib e r a tio n s o f th e se c o n d d a y w e r e le a d b y B p . p r o f. H e n ry k M u - s z y n s к i, c h a ir m a n o f th e C o m m issio n o f th e P o lish E p is c o p a t e f o r th e D ia lo g u e w ith J u d a is m . T h e a u th o r o f th e f ir s t p a p e r , e n title d H a g g a d a H o l o c a u s t : T e l l i n g a b o u t t h e H o l o c a u s t, w a s R a b b i d r. B y r o n L . S h e r w i n , v ic e - c h a ir m a n o f S p e r t u s C o lle g e o f J u d a i c a in C h ic a g o . In t h e ir r e fle c tio n s on A u sc h w itz s c h o la r s h a v e su p p lie d u s w ith m u c h in fo r m a tio n a n d m a n y th e o r ie s. O ften , w h en w e h e a r so m e o n e s p e a k a b o u t th e H o lo c a u st, w e c a n f in d o u t m o re a b o u t w h o is s p e a k in g th a n a b o u t th e f ig u r e s a n d e v e n ts of th e s to r y to ld . W h en w e o b se r v e h o w J e w s to d a y , e s p e c ia lly A m e r ic a n a n d I s r a e l i J e w s , r e la te th e h is to r y o f th e H o lo c a u st, w e se e h o w th e y u n d e r ­ s ta n d t h is s to r y a n d h o w th e y u n d e r s t a n d th e m se lv e s. T h e b a s ic f e a t u r e a n d n e c e s s ity o f th e J e w i s h e x is t e n c e a f t e r th e H o lo c a u st b e c a m e th e s tr iv in g o f th e J e w s to s u r v iv e c o u p le d w ith r e lia n c e on th e m se lv e s f o r t h e ir ow n s e c u r ity a n d s u r v iv a l. T h e A m e r ic a n J e w s p e r c e iv e th e m s e lv e s a s J e w s of a n e w k in d , w h o h a v e le f t b e h in d E u ro p e a n d th e m e m o r y o f p e r se c u tio n s, m a s s a c r e s , a n d o p p re ssio n . I s r a e li J e w s a lso p e r c e iv e th e m s e lv e s a s J e w s o f a n e w k in d , p r o f e s s in g th a t it is b e tt e r to d ie f ig h t in g t h a n to a llo w th e m s e lv e s to b e p u sh e d in to g a s c h a m b e r s a n d to a c c e p t d e a th p a s siv e ly . F o r o n e a n d th e o th e r th e sto r y o f th e H o lo c a u st b e c o m e s a p r o b le m th a t le a d s to a lo g ic a lly c o n tr a d ic t o r y b u t p sy c h o lo g ic a lly c o n siste n t r e a c tio n : on th e o n e h a n d th e y a c c e p t w h a t h a p p e n e d , th o u g h th e y d o n o t id e n tify w ith it, b u t on th e o th e r h a n d th e y r e je c t w h a t h a p p e n e d b y id e n ty fy in g w ith it. T h e m a in J e w i s h r e s p o n s e to th e H o lo c a u st i s e x p r e s s e d b y th e m o tto : ’’N e v e r a g a i n !” I n s t e a d o f t a lk in g a b o u t m a r ty r d o m , a s w a s d o n e d u r in g th e tim e o f p r e v io u s p e r se c u tio n s, J e w s t o d a y e m p h a siz e a n o th e r s id e o f th e s to r y — r e s is t a n c e a n d h e r o ism . T h e v ie w t h a t s u r v iv a l c a n b e a s s u r e d o n ly b y r e ­ ly in g c o m p le te ly on t h e m s e lv e s p r o m p te d th e J e w s to t r a n s f o r m th e sto r y o f th e H o lo c a u st in to a s to r y o f J e w s b e tr a y e d b y n o n Je w s . I t b e c a m e n e

-c e s s a r y to p r o v e th a t th e h isto r y o f a n t i- S e m it is m in E u r o p e in e x o r a b ly le d to th e H o lo c a u st a n d t h a t th e b e t r a y a l o f th e J e w s b y th e ir n o n - Je w ish n e ig h b o r s in th e c o u n tr ie s w h e r e th e y r e s id e d m a d e p o ssib le w h a t th e N a z is d id . B o th th e I s r a e li a n d th e A m e r ic a n J e w s a c c e p te d th e s a m e p r e m ise , i.e., th e la c k o f p o s s ib ilit y f o r th e life o f J e w s in E u ro p e . N o t o n ly th e v isio n o f th e p a s t c h a n g e d , b u t a ls o th e p r o g r a m f o r th e p r e se n t a n d th e f u tu r e . T h e le c tu r e r q u e stio n e d th e co n v ic tio n in th e r ig h t n e s s o f th e s u r v iv a l o f th e J e w s f o r t h e s a k e o f s u r v iv a l a lo n e a s th e d o m in a n t id e o lo g y a n d b a s i s f o r a c tio n a n d p o lic y in th e c o n te m p o r a r y w o rld . F o r t h is in e x o r a b ly le a d s to s e c u la r iz a tio n . T h e ’’n e w ” J e w is a s e c u la r iz e d J e w w h o is m o r e in t e r e ­ s te d in p a s s i n g on h is eth n ic, n a tio n a l, a n d c u ltu r a l v a lu e s th a n h is s p i r i ­ t u a l a n d r e lig io u s o n es. A g a in s t th is b a c k g r o u n d R a b b i S h e r w in to o k sto c k o f th e p o s t- H o lo c a u s t J e w is h th e o lo g y a n d m a d e c o m m e n ts on P o lis h - Je w is h r e la tio n s . H e e m p h a siz e d th a t th e h isto r y o f th e P o lish J e w is h c o m m u n ity is p a r t o f th e co m m o n h e r ita g e o f J e w s o f P o lish o r ig in a n d P o lish C a th o lic s.

D r. S t a n i s la w K r a j e w s k i (W a rsa w ) r e a d a p a p e r A u s c h w it z a s a C h a l le n g e , In h is o p in io n , t h e is s u e o f th e c o n v e n t in O św ię c im is n o t th e m o st im p o r ta n t th in g in its e lf, b u t th e c o n tr o v e r sy r e v e a le d d e e p e r p r o b le m s. T h e f ir s t o n e is m in im iz in g th e J e w i s h d im e n sio n o f th e c a m p . F o r tu n a te ly , m u c h a lr e a d y h a s b e e n d o n e to sh o w v is it o r s t h a t th e v a s t m a jo r it y o f the v ic tim s w e r e Je w s . T h e se co n d , m o re d if fic u lt p r o b le m to o v e r c o m e is th e b a n a liz a t io n o f th is p la c e . T h e t h ir d on e is th e a n o n y m ity o f th e v ic tim s, a n d th e fo u r t h on e th e e v il t h a t se e m s to e m a n a te fr o m it. C a th o lic a tte m p ts to o v e r c o m e th e se p r o b le m s a r e f u lly ju s t if ie d , b u t e v e n w ith o u t a n y b a d in te n tio n s th e y c a n t h r e a te n J e w s . T h is h a p p e n s w h e n th e o n ly r e p r e s e n t a ­ t iv e s o f th e v ic tim s b e c o m e F r . M a x im ilia n K o lb e a n d S r . E d ith S t e in a n d w h e n th e m u r d e r in th e g a s c h a m b e r s is g iv e n a r e d e m p tiv e se n se b y se e in g th e m u r d e r e d a s s a c r if ic e s m a d e to G od . T h e d e e p e st le v e l o f d isc u ssio n on A u sc h w itz is th e o lo g ic a l. T h e r e is n o e s c a p e fr o m th e o lo g y e v e n in su c h a s m a tt e r a s th e in sc r ip tio n on th e m o n u m e n t in B r z e z in k a ; th e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f th e o r g a n iz a tio n o f f o r m e r p r is o n e r s in it ia lly o p p o se d p la c in g a n q u o ta tio n f r o m th e B ib le t h e r e b y s t a t in g th a t ” G o d w a s n o t th e re th e n ” . K r a je w s k i a ls o s u g g e st e d a m o d e l o f r e la tio n s in o c c u p ie d P o la n d a m o n g G e r m a n s, J e w s , a n d P o le s (so - c a lle d ’’A r ia n ” P o les). T h e se a r e th r e e s e p a r a t e r e la tio n s : b e ­ tw e e n G e r m a n s a n d J e w s (m u r d e rin g ), b e tw e e n G e r m a n s a n d P o le s ( s u b ju ­ g a tio n a n d te r ro r ), a n d b e tw e e n P o le s a n d J e w s (to b e a w itn e ss). A n y r e ­ d u c tio n o f th is t r ia d to tw o o f its e le m e n ts le a d s to g r e a t f a ls if ic a t io n s ; e ith e r to p u t tin g J e w s a n d P o le s in to on e s a c k a s th e e q u a l v ic tim s o f th e N a z is, o r to p e r c e iv in g th e G e r m a n s a n d P o le s a s e q u a l p e r se c u t o r s o f th e J e w s , o r to p a ir in g th e G e r m a n s a n d J e w s , id e n tifie d w ith B o ls h e v ik s , a s e q u a l e n e m ie s o f th e P o les.

N e x t R e v . p r o f. M ic h a ł C z a j k o w s k i (A C T ) v iv id ly a n d w ith in v o lv e ­ m e n t d is c u s se d T h e M e a n in g o f S h o a h f o r th e P o l i s h P a s t o r a t e , H e s t a r t e d b y e x p la in in g th a t th e r e fle c tio n o f P o lish C h r is tia n s on A u sc h w itz r e v e a ls n o t d o lo r ism b u t a n e w s e n sit iv it y t o w a r d th e J e w s a n d t o w a r d e v e r y p e r ­ so n . In th e c o n te x t o f v a r io u s m a n if e s ta tio n s o f a n t i- S e m it is m th e C h u rc h is o b lig a te d to s p e a k u p on th is m a tte r , fo r b o th e th ic a l a n d f o r th e o lo g ic a l r e a s o n s. E v e r y th in g m u s t b e d o n e to ro o t o u t o n ce a n d f o r a ll e le m e n ts o f c o n te m p t fo u n d in te a c h in g , c a te c h e sis, p r e a c h in g a n d e v e n th e litu r g y . T h e le c tu r e r n o te d t h a t a lo t s t ill r e m a in s to b e d o n e a n d a r g u e d t h a t th e o f f ic ia l r e p r e s e n t a t iv e s o f th e C h u rc h o u g h t to b e c o m e e v e n m o re a c t iv e m jo in in g th e in te r r e lig io u s d ia lo g u e . H e m e n tio n e d th e p o s it iv e a n d th e n e g a tiv e v o ic e s th a t a p p e a r e d a f t e r th e p u b lic a tio n o f th e L e t t e r o f t h e E p i s c o p a t e o n t h e o c c a s io n o f th e 2 5 th a n n i v e r s a r y o f « N o s t r a a e t a t e» a n d g a v e so m e s u g g e st io n s f o r th e a p p r o a c h in g I I P le n a r y S y n o d .

T h e p a p e r s w e r e fo llo w e d b y in te r e s t in g d is c u s sio n s t h a t sh o w e d t h a t th e n e w a t tit u d e h a d g a in e d c o n sid e r a b le s u p p o r t a m o n g P o lish C a t h o lic s .

T h e p a r t ic ip a n t s w e r e in fo r m e d a b o u t th e c r e a tio n o f th e P o lis h C o u n c il o f C h r is t ia n s a n d J e w s a f f i li a t e d w ith th e In te r n a tio n a l C o u n c il o f C h r is tia n s a n d J e w s ( I C C J ). R e v . M . C z a jk o w s k i re n e w e d th e s u g g e s t io n t h a t h a d b e e n m a d e d u r in g l a s t y e a r ’s sy m p o s iu m o n c r e a tin g a d a y o f b ro th e r h o o d of C h r is t ia n s a n d J e w s , s u g g e st in g t h a t t h is c o u ld b e on e o f th e d a y s ju s t b e fo r e t h e E c u m e n ic a l D a y c e le b r a t e d in J a n u a r y o r th e D a y o f E x te r m in a tio n c e le b r a t e d b y th e J e w s in A p r il. T h e s y m p o siu m w a s c lo se d w ith th e w o rd s o f t h e g u e s t f r o m th e V a tic a n , R e v . P . F . F u m a g a 11 i, w h o s t r e s s e d th e d e e p c o m m itm e n t o f J o h n P a u l I I to th e d ia lo g u e a n d e m p h a s iz e d th e n e e d o f a n e w th e o lo g ic a l o u tlo o k on J u d a i s m a n d se tt in g u p m u t u a l r e la tio n s o n a n e w b a s is . T h e s y m p o siu m g a th e r e d a b o u t 200 p e r so n s, in c lu d in g m a n y p r o m in e n t in d iv id u a ls a n d p r o m o to r s o f d ia lo g u e . In a d d itio n to th e p e r so n s m e n tio n e d , th e p a r t ic ip a n t s in c lu d e d m o r e th a n a d o z e n in d iv id u a ls w h o h a d a tte n d e d th e c o n fe r e n c e t h a t h a d e n d e d th e d a y b e fo r e e n title d T h e T h e o lo g y o f A u s c h w i t z o r g a n iz e d b y th e I C C J , T h e C o m m issio n of th e P o lish E p is c o ­ p a t e f o r th e D ia lo g u e w ith J u d a is m , a n d th e C lu b o f t h e C a th o lic I n t e lli­ g e n t s ia in C ra c o w .