wfn.org | Jews and Christians Meet in Oct. 20-21 Dialogue

["Carol Fouke" <cfouke@ncccusa.org>]

Jews and Christians Meet in Oct. 20-21 Dialogue

October 22, 2004, WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Jewish Committee and the
National Council of Churches convened a high-level Christian-Jewish summit
that met in Washington, D.C., for a day and half October 20-21.  Twenty-one
participants took part in this scheduled second meeting of a dialogue process
begun earlier this year. The first meeting of the group was on May 4, 2004. 

On the main agenda was a discussion on the Jewish and Christian
understandings on the "Theology of Land."  

"This was a continuation of the dialogue begun in May with a focus on
understanding each other and building trust," said the Rev. Shanta
Premawardhana, NCC Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations, New
York City.

The meeting addressed perceptions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how
the Christian and Jewish communities in the U.S. can work together to advance
peace. At the core of the discussions was a vigorous exploration of ways that
key concerns of each of the communities can be presented and understood by
each other, the Rev. Premawardhana said.

Among the concerns on the table was the question of divestment, which came to
the forefront after the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly, meeting
in Richmond, Va., passed a resolution calling for a process that could lead
to selective divestment in companies doing business in Israel. All
participants agreed to continued consultations with each other on this matter
of critical concern.

"The Christian and Jewish representatives spoke positively of their
longstanding cooperation on a range of domestic policy issues and ways to
strengthen their common social justice agenda," the Rev. Premawardhana
reported.  "As a next step, participants will explore the possibility of a
trip to the Holy Land to witness and listen to, the suffering of Palestinians
and Israelis alike."

He concluded that, "at the end of the meeting, participants expressed to each
other a sense of accomplishment that despite the difficult issues we face, we
can still come to the same table, share our differences, vigorously debate
each other and still build trust and collegiality."

Participants in the Oct. 20-21 Meeting: Dr. Said Ailabouni, Evangelical
Lutheran Church of America; Mr. David Bernstein, American Jewish Committee;
Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, Anti Defamation League; Dr. David Elcott,
American Jewish Committee; Rev. C. Christopher Epting, Episcopal Church; Mr.
Ethan Felson, Jewish Council for Public Affairs; Mr. Richard Foltin, American
Jewish Committee; Ms. Catherine Gordon, Presbyterian Church (USA); Rev. Brian
Grieves, Episcopal Church; Mr. Jess Hordes, Anti Defamation League; Dr.
Darrell Jodock, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; Dr. Peter Makari,
United Church of Christ/ Disciples of Christ; Mr. Mark Pelavin, Religious
Action Center of Reform Judaism; Rev. Larry Pickens, United Methodist Church;
Rev. Shanta Premawardhana, National Council of Churches; Rev. Jay Rock,
Presbyterian Church (USA); Rabbi David Saperstein, Religious Action Center of
Reform Judaism; Ms. Emily Soloff, American Jewish Committee; Mr. Jacob
Solomon, Greater M
 i!
ami Jewish Federation; Mr. Mark Waldman, United Synagogue of Conservative
Judaism; Mr. Jim Winkler, United Methodist Church.

-end-

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Media Contact: Carol Fouke, 212-870-2252; cfouke@ncccusa.org
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