AJC, Tel Aviv University Co-Sponsor Nostra Aetate 50 Symposium

The 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the document that revolutionized Catholic teaching regarding Jews and Judaism, was celebrated at a two-day symposium co-hosted by AJC and Tel Aviv University.

“The enormous significance of Nostra Aetate, of this transformation in Catholic-Jewish relations, is not adequately known in Israel,” said Rabbi David Rosen, AJC International Director of Interreligious Affairs. For example, Rosen continued, “Without Nostra Aetate, the establishment of full bilateral relations between the State of Israel and the Holy See would not have been feasible.”

The AJC-TAU conference aimed to enhance the awareness in Israel about Nostra Aetate and its lasting impact.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president, and Father Norbert Hoffman, secretary, of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, traveled from the Vatican to Israel especially to participate in the symposium.

Elyakim Rubinstein, deputy chief justice of Israel; Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal; TAU President Joseph Klafter; Jerry Biederman, past chairman, AJC Interreligious Affairs Commission; and Rabbi Rosen addressed the opening session of the symposium.

The following day Jewish and Catholic experts from Israel and the Vatican discussed teaching about Christianity in Israeli schools, education in the Catholic world about Jews and Judaism, and current challenges for Catholic-Jewish relations.

The symposium also marked the publication of the new TAU book, “In Our Time: Documents and Articles on the Catholic Church and the Jewish People in the wake of the Shoah.”