- LIMINAIRE
[INTRODUCTION] - Le dialogue théologique a-t-il un avenir ?
[Is there a future for a theological dialogue?]
Jean DUHAIME et Alain GIGNAC
- 50 ANS DE RELATIONS ENTRE CHRÉTIENS ET JUIFS
[50 YEARS OF CHRISTIAN JEWISH RELATIONS]
[Fifty years of relations between Christian and Jews. Historical overview ] - Jean DUJARDIN
Le dialogue judéo-chrétien : théologie et politique
[Jewish Christian dialogue: theology and politics]
Julien BAUER
- PENSER L"AUTRE - PARTIR DE SA PROPRE TRADITION ?
[IMAGINING THE "OTHER" - FROM ONE"S OWN TRADITION?]
- La démonisation de l"AUTRE. Que faire avec l"antisémitisme du Second Testament ?
[Demonizing the OTHER.
What can be done with the antisemitism of the Second Testament?]
Gérald CARON
Jewish Sages and Loving-Kindness Towards Gentiles
Joan POULIN
Jews and the Nations. The Clash of Civilizations
Howard S. JOSEPH
- À PROPOS DE DEUX DOCUMENTS RÉCENTS
[CONCERNING TWO RECENT DOCUMENTS]
- Le peuple juif et ses Saintes Écritures dans la Bible chrétienne.
[The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible] - Genèse, critique et prospective
[Origin, assessment, and future]
Marc GIRARD
Point de vue d"un rabbin
[A rabbi"s view]
Jacquot GRUNEWALD
- Dabru Emet
- Une appréciation personnelle
[A reckoning of the heart]
Leon KLENICKI
A Contextual Analysis
Michael A. SIGNER
- LA QUESTION DU PROCHE-ORIENT
[THE MIDDLE EAST PROBLEM]
- Jewish-Christian Dialogue Under the Shadow of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Gregory BAUM
Politique et religion au Proche-Orient
[Politics and religion in the Middle East]
Éli BARNAVI
L"impact des événements du Proche-Orient sur le dialogue judéo-chrétien. Relecture d"une expérience
[The crisis in the Middle East and its impact on Jewish-Christian dialogue. Looking back at a personal experience]
Odile FLICHY
- QUEL ORDRE DU JOUR POUR LE DIALOGUE THÉOLOGIQUE ?
[WHAT IS ON THE AGENDA FOR THEOLOGICAL DIALOGUE?]
- Un regard juif sur le christianisme aujourd"hui
[A Jewish look at contemporary Christianity]
Armand ABÉCASSIS
Questions à la théologie chrétienne après la Shoah
[Questions addressed to Christian theology in the aftermath of the Shoah]
Dominique CERBELAUD
Chrétiens et Juifs : pour aller plus loin
[Christians and Jews: to go farther]
Menahem MACINA
Le dialogue théologique entre Juifs et chrétiens. Questions d"avenir
[Theological dialogue between Jews and Christians. Questions for the future]
Geneviève COMEAU
Abstracts
Liminaire
[Introduction]
Le dialogue théologique a-t-il un avenir ?
[Is there a future for a theological dialogue?]
Jean Duhaime et Alain Gignac
Faculté de théologie et de sciences des religions
Université de Montréal
For the last fifty years, under the shadow of the Shoah, Christians and Jews have learned much about one another. Is it now possible for them to engage in a true theological dialogue around religious beliefs which they share (one God, concern for justice, hope for the world to come), as well as those which are sources of division (the election of Israel, the Land, the Messiah)? There are many obstacles along the road. It has been argued that theologians have done more harm than good to Christian-Jewish relations; but our conviction is that there can be no real progress without them. The current crisis in the Middle East also makes Christians and Jews uncomfortable and has sometimes resulted in the breakdown of long established dialogue groups; we believe that this problem has a deep theological dimension that should be addressed rather than avoided. Finally, the older generations of people involved in theological dialogue are now replaced by younger ones who did not experience the tragedy which gave rise to it half a century ago; how can the transition be made in order to grasp the new opportunities which stand ahead of us without losing the achievements of the past?
50 ans de relations entre Chrétiens et Juifs
[50 years of Christian Jewish Relations]
 
Les relations entre chrétiens et Juifs depuis 50 ans. Aperçu historique
[Fifty years of relations between Christian and Jews. Historical overview ]
Jean Dujardin
How can we evaluate the scope of the theological shift in the Catholic Church in its relationship with the Jews and Judaism? Firstly, we must clearly remember that this incredible change is recent and fragile. We still cannot foresee its long term impact while we already have a hard time to acknowledge all that has been done since the precursors in the dialogue; the denunciation of anti-Semitism, before the war, although still tinged with an anti-Jewish stance; the Shoah and its shock; and Vatican II.
Le dialogue judéo-chrétien : théologie et politique
[Jewish Christian dialogue: theology and politics]
Julien BAUER
The Jewish-Christian dialogue not only has a religious but also a political dimension. The latter aspect which is often underestimated or even denied resurfaces unexpectedly. This explains the asymmetrical functioning of the dialogue and causes mishaps. An analysis of the Christian positions (Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical) and the Jewish positions (liberals, conservatives and orthodox) confirms this hypothesis. For some, theological ambiguities manifest what is not said concerning the political dimension (for instance in Nostra Aetate or the Agreement between the Holy See and Israel). And, for others, the political dimension may paradoxically put completely aside a theological reflection (United Church and Anglican Church).
Penser l"autre - partir de sa propre tradition ?
La démonisation de l"AUTRE. Que faire avec l"antisémitisme du Second Testament ?
[Demonizing the OTHER. What can be done with the antisemitism of the Second Testament?]
Gérald Caron
Is the Second Testament anti-Jewish ? The debate is still on and, however important the question, there is little indication of any consensus soon to be reached among scholars. This fact leads the author to locate the real question, which Christian churches are facing today after the Shoah, at the hermeneutical and ethical levels rather than at the historical or literary ones. On this level, all are agreed that, when read or proclaimed today, the Christian Testament is potentially anti-Semitic. What to do ? Practical suggestions are offered with a view to undermining the "teaching of contempt" towards the Jewish people, which all mainline Churches have already condemned and rejected.
Jewish Sages and Loving-Kindness Towards Gentiles
Joan Poulin
The Hebrew Scriptures" command to love one"s neighbour was interpreted by the early Sages of Israel in light of the historical context in which they lived. During the first six centuries of the Common Era, a radically new reality confronted the Jewish people. Faced both with the destruction of the Temple, the basis of religious life, and increased contact with Gentiles, a consolidation of traditional norms was undertaken. Precepts concerning love of the Jewish and non-Jewish neighbour, were codified in the Mishna, Tosephta and the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmudim. This article explores some of the details of the precept of love of neighbour towards non-Jews in early Jewish tradition. It may provide a springboard for further discussion about an aspect of Judaism with which many non-Jews might not be familiar.
Jews and the Nations: The Clash of Civilizations
Howard S. Joseph
The current discussion on the Clash of Civilizations that has followed the events of September 11, 2001 is reminiscent of various statements in the classic texts of Rabbinic Judaism. While these texts are mostly focused on how to implement the Torah and its commandments in everyday matters of life, from time to time we also find imaginative speculations on the meaning of history and the passage of civilizations in which Jews lived and with whom they often clashed. The survival of the Jews has been a history of passage through and clash with a whole series of civilizations.
À propos de deux documents récents
[Concerning two recent documents]
Le peuple juif et ses Saintes Écritures dans la Bible chrétienne
[The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible]
Genèse, critique et prospective
[Origin, assessment, and future]
Marc Girard
Marc Girard has been a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission since 1996. He is therefore in a good position to give some useful information about the redaction of the document The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible, issued in November 2001. He surveys several critiques and analyses presented either in public lectures or periodicals, to emphasize both the merits and the deficiencies of the document: on the one hand, several courageous statements that leave the door wide open to a better dialogue between Jews and Christians; on the other hand, a few shortcomings that might require further scholarly research.
Point de vue d"un rabbin
[A rabbi"s view]
Jacquot Grunewald
From a Jewish point of view, the document The Jewish People and Their Sacred Scriptures in the Christian Bible contains very positive aspects, such as the idea of "retrospective perception" instead of the traditional typology. Some aspects of the treatment of the relationship between Old and New Testaments call for some reservations, especially concerning the methodology used and some exegetical orientations. The link between the Shoah and the new orientations of the Church also seems unfortunate. The meaning that the Church gives to the promise of a land since the reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty over the land must also be questioned.
Dabru Emet
Une appréciation personnelle
[A reckoning of the heart]
Leon Klenicki
This commentary on Dabru Emet follows the Jewish hermeneutical tradition exploring the text projecting new dimensions of meaning. It is also an attempt to bring healing to the Christian Jewish encounter after centuries of confrontation and theological triumphalism. It is a search into the meaning of God"s special Calls beyond syncretism and sporadic sympathies.
A Contextual Analysis
Michael A. Signer
One of the four redactors of Dabru Emet explains the process which led a group of Jews from the United States to answer the question: "For us, who are the Christians?" He describes its scope, objectives and motivations. He looks at some controversies around this document, especially those concerning the way the document articulates the link between anti-Judaism and the Shoah. According to him, the affirmative statements of Dabru Emet must also be read as questions to foster future discussions.
La question du Proche-Orient
[The Middle East problem]
 
Jewish-Christian Dialogue Under the Shadow of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Gregory Baum
How to integrate the State of Israel into theology? On the Jewish side, an important contrast exists between Fackenheim and Greenberg, the latter having the sympathy of the author. On the Christian side, the author observes a development in three steps, confirmed by his own critical reflection: uncritical support of Israel (prior to the first Intifada), solidarity with the people of Israel and the Palestinians (the first Intifada), increasing discomfort over the oppression of the Palestinians (second Intifada). Even if the major Jewish institutions in North America tend to suspect of anti-Semitism voices that denounce the occupation and the colonisation of Palestine, there are many Jewish organisations, especially in Israel, that oppose the occupation and severely criticise the policies of the Israeli government.
Politique et religion au Proche-Orient
[Politics and religion in the Middle East]
Éli Barnavi
The three monotheistic religions do not articulate politics and religion in the same way. Actually, the Near East seems to be a particular case. How can one explain the growing ultra-conservatism which can be observed in Muslim countries as well as in Israel, if not that the political policies fail to mobilize people? A two-way reading of the confrontation between modernity and ultra-conservatism seems possible: a pessimistic view would see here a tragic conflict between two representations of the human being; an optimistic view would conclude that ultra-conservatism is running out of steam.
L"impact des événements du Proche-Orient sur le dialogue judéo-chrétien. Relecture d"une expérience
[The crisis in the Middle East and its impact on Jewish-Christian dialogue. Looking back at a personal experience]
Odile Flichy
After a trip to Jerusalem, the author evaluates the impact of the Israelite/Palestinian conflict on the Jewish-Christian dialogue. Within the bounds of Israel and the Palestinian Territories, the dialogue is now fostered by the political context. It is essentially based on a common quest for peace and religious tolerance in order to be able to live together while respecting the diversity. The present circumstances force us to articulate the theological dialogue according to the present day events and to ask the question concerning a just relationship between Biblical Israel and the people of the modern nation of Israel.
Quel ordre du jour pour le dialogue théologique ?
[What is on the agenda for theological dialogue?]
 
Un regard juif sur le christianisme aujourd"hui
[A Jewish look at contemporary Christianity]
Armand Abécassis
Sharing the same God, Jews and Christians are willing to establish a true dialog. How can this be really achieved ? A first condition is that they get a better knowledge of one another : Christians have to get rid of all current prejudice against Judaism and must start to study it and to ask serious questions about it ; Jews, setting aside any bias and mistrust, must also learn to discover the authentic face of Christianity. Second, Jews and Christians should share the conviction that God needs each of their covenants to bring his plan for the world and for mankind to completion. None of these covenants can be reduced to the other ; on the contrary, they supplement each other and are both necessary in their dialectic relations of peace and love.
Questions la théologie chrétienne après la Shoah
[Questions addressed to Christian theology in the aftermath of the Shoah]
Dominique Cerbelaud
Because of the Shoah, the need to re-evaluate the meaning of Israel"s existence pushes theologians to rethink some of the most fundamental questions of their own tradition: the meaning of the New Testament (P. Tomson), Christology (R.R. Ruether), soteriology (M. de Goedt), ecumenism (F. Lovdsky), the covenant (N. Lohfink), Jesus Christ as the only mediator (D. Cerbelaud), the theology of non-Christian religions (C. Geffré).
Chrétiens et Juifs : pour aller plus loin
[Christians and Jews: to go farther]
Menahem Macina
Controversial topics which are a source of sharp divisions between Jews and Christians could be addressed in the contexts of debates similar to the old disputationes, although conducted in a spirit of communion and mutual respect. To exemplify his point, the author explores four questions: (1) How can the statement " the kingdom of God will be taken away from you" (Mt. 21:43) be compatible with the admission by the Church, of the irrevocable character of the covenant between God and the Jewish people ? (2) Will the messianic kingdom be established on earth or in the heavens ? (3) Can Jesus be considered as the Messiah promised to the Jews, since so many prophecies have not been fulfilled and the expected return of Elijah (Mal. 4:5) has not taken place yet ? (4) Is the State of Israel a mere political reality, without any connection with the history of salvation, or the "first fruits of the opening of Israel"s redemption"?
Le dialogue théologique entre Juifs et chrétiens. Questions d"avenir
[Theological dialogue between Jews and Christians. Questions for the future]
Geneviève Comeau
To propose a theological dialogue between Jews and Christians is a sign of hope: such a dialogue is a spiritual adventure where one seeks to better understand the other, while questioning the basis of differentiation. This will not bring about a formal agreement, but will help manage the dissension, in friendship and in confidence. The questions I suggest we should address during these discussions are the following : (1) How can Jewish and Christian partners relate to one another today ? (2) With respect to the Law: how is it lived out by one and the other, and why ? (3) The Christological question : how can we understand the novelty of Jesus without minimizing his Jewish identity ? (4) How do Jews and Christians comprehend the relationship between mankind and the Creator? A theology based on merit or on grace ?
