Conference to mark 40th anniversary of ‘Nostra Aetate’
Document paved way for Catholic-Jewish relations

By Sam Lucero, Catholic Herald Staff

ST. FRANCIS — It has been 40 years since the Vatican II Council fathers promulgated “Nostra Aetate,” an important document that paved the way for Catholic-Jewish relations. On the 40th anniversary of this landmark document, the Catholic-Jewish Conference of Milwaukee is planning special activities throughout 2005.

The first event will take place Sunday, Jan. 30, 3-5 p.m., at Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue, 2909 W. Mequon Road in Mequon. The highlight of this inaugural event will be a presentation by Bishop Richard J. Sklba and Amy-Jill Levine, professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, Nashville, Tenn.

Bishop Sklba and Levine will examine the history of the relationship between Catholics and Jews prior to Vatican II and discuss the significance and impact of Nostra Aetate on Catholic-Jewish relations.

“It’s very important to celebrate a 40th anniversary of Nostra Aetate because the event signals and celebrates decades of close cooperation in the metropolitan Milwaukee area, and draws people’s attention to the importance of that bond, particularly in this moment of history,” said Bishop Sklba.

The program is free and open to the public. Space is limited, however, and reservations are required.

The year-long celebration, titled “Covenantal Partners: 40 Years of Catholic-Jewish Encounter,” will feature a series of group study/film sessions beginning in February, architectural tours of local Catholic and Jewish congregations, lectures, a fall musical celebration, and a major closing celebration.

According to Judi Longdin, ecumenical and interfaith officer for the archdiocese, plans for this year-long celebration have been in the works for two years. Longdin co-chairs the Catholic-Jewish Conference of Milwaukee, along with Kathy Heilbronner, assistant director of the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations.

“There has been an enormous amount of excitement from the planning committee,” said Longdin. “It’s an opportune time to hold up the advances in Catholic-Jewish relationships.” This year’s observance also coincides with the 30th year of Catholic-Jewish relations in Milwaukee, added Longdin.

Much has been accomplished in the last 30 years to bring the two faith traditions together to build common ground, explained Longdin.

“It’s a good moment for us to help people see and celebrate what we’ve done and also explore what we can do for the future,” she said. “Because of all the attention that was paid to ‘The Passion of the Christ,’ people are more attuned to this whole area of Catholic-Jewish relations. A lot of people went to events related to ‘The Passion’ and asked for more information to share and to dialogue and to learn about each other.”

Longdin said that the list of national presenters for the year-long series is impressive. The series is also an opportunity to showcase local leaders in the Catholic-Jewish dialogue, she added.

Events scheduled for 2005 include:

• A series of four film/study sessions in which portions of films will be viewed and discussed. The sessions, running from February through May, will be offered twice: on Sundays from 3-6 p.m. at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners and Wednesdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun in River Hills.

  The session themes and films include:

  Feb. 13 and 16: Jewish and Christian reality in the United States prior to Nostra Aetate. “Gentleman’s Agreement.”

  March 13 and 16: The tumultuous 1960s, which were a turning point for Catholics and Jews. “The Faithful Revolution: Vatican II” and “Israel: A Nation is Born.”

  April 13 and 17: Examining relationships that have come about since Nostra Aetate. “Stolen Summer.”

  May 22 and 25: A look at how Catholics and Jews can find common ground in contemporary society. “Keeping the Faith.”

• Three summer architectural tours to Jewish and Catholic congregations: June 26, the Helene Zelazo Center for Performing Arts at the University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee, the oldest reformed Jewish congregation in Wisconsin, and the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist; July 10, Beth El Ner Tamid in Mequon and St. Matthias Church, Milwaukee; July 24: Congregation Shalom, Fox Point, and the Basilica of St. Josaphat, Milwaukee.
• A presentation by Eva Fleischer, a Holocaust scholar and one-time Marquette University professor, about the role U.S. Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel had on Christian-Jewish relations. Herzl Spiro, Ph.D., will serve as a respondent. This event takes place Sunday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., at St. Matthias Church.
• A culminating event at the Pfister Hotel on Sunday, Nov. 6, 5 p.m., with opening remarks by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan and keynote addresses by Rabbi David Sandmel, K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Congregation, Chicago, and Mary Boys, theology professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

The events are funded through grants from the Helen Bader Foundation of Milwaukee, Inc., and the Jewish Community Foundation of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. For more information, contact Jeri Danz at (414) 390-5781.

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