Sister Rose's Battle Against Antisemitism” Panel: Contemporary History

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Presenter: Alan Silberstein, Tel Aviv University Title: “Sister Rose's Battle against Antisemitism” Panel: Contemporary History Sister Rose Thering, O.P., Ph.D., of blessed memory (1920-2006), is credited with a major contribution to the elimination of anti-Semitic language from Roman Catholic liturgy and teaching worldwide, as well as in the United States. In this talk, I attempt to explain what motivated Sister Rose to take on her quest in the first place; and how her research of Catholic textbooks provided the nucleus of the winning arguments in the battle of ideas which resulted in Nostra Aetate, the Declaration of the Second Vatican Council on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions, promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1965. I then describe her lifetime of activism to seek out and eradicate examples of teaching and preaching when she found that they continued to offer a contemptuous view of Judaism, now in violation of official Church teaching. She actively engaged in interfaith alliances to build mutual understanding and respect among religious leaders. As a teacher, she believed in the transformative power of training teachers and changing the content of Catholic textbooks. She believed that the Holocaust was the result of a culture of religious prejudice; and that the lessons of the Holocaust needed to be taught. Sister Rose worked with the Governor and members of the State Legislature of New Jersey to pass a law in 1994 mandating that lessons of the Holocaust and genocide be taught to every public school pupil in grades K through 12; and then labored to insure compliance. Similar laws have been passed by seven other states, and are being proposed in 20 more. While she remained a fully observant Catholic, she developed deep friendships with Jews and never missed an opportunity to advocate on their behalf. Fully cognizant of her symbolic impact as a religious sister advocating for Jewish causes, Sister Rose took a highly visible role writing, speaking and marching on behalf of Jews, and led 54 missions of Jews and Christians to Israel. All of these efforts have had a lasting benefit to Christian-Jewish dialogue and mutual understanding; and provide us with a model for continuing the battle against antisemitism. 1 .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Examining Nostra Aetate After 40 Years: Catholic-Jewish Relations in Our Time / Edited by Anthony J
EXAMINING NOSTRA AETATE AFTER 40 YEARS EXAMINING NOSTRA AETATE AFTER 40 YEARS Catholic-Jewish Relations in Our Time Edited by Anthony J. Cernera SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY PRESS FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT 2007 Copyright 2007 by the Sacred Heart University Press All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, contact the Sacred Heart University Press, 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, Connecticut 06825 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Examining Nostra Aetate after 40 Years: Catholic-Jewish Relations in our time / edited by Anthony J. Cernera. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-888112-15-3 1. Judaism–Relations–Catholic Church. 2. Catholic Church– Relations–Judaism. 3. Vatican Council (2nd: 1962-1965). Declaratio de ecclesiae habitudine ad religiones non-Christianas. I. Cernera, Anthony J., 1950- BM535. E936 2007 261.2’6–dc22 2007026523 Contents Preface vii Nostra Aetate Revisited Edward Idris Cardinal Cassidy 1 The Teaching of the Second Vatican Council on Jews and Judaism Lawrence E. Frizzell 35 A Bridge to New Christian-Jewish Understanding: Nostra Aetate at 40 John T. Pawlikowski 57 Progress in Jewish-Christian Dialogue Mordecai Waxman 78 Landmarks and Landmines in Jewish-Christian Relations Judith Hershcopf Banki 95 Catholics and Jews: Twenty Centuries and Counting Eugene Fisher 106 The Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding of Sacred Heart University:
[Show full text]
The Jewish-Christian Studies Graduate Program
The Jewish-Christian Studies Graduate Program SPRING 2014 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 16 / NUMBER 2 NEWLY UPDATED WEBSITE We Have a New Look Inside this Issue It’s here! We are excited to announce the Jewish-Christian Studies Graduate Program has a new, updated website at www.shu.edu/go/ jcst. Letter from the Director 2 The Jewish-Christian Studies’ (JCST) staff and the Web Develop- Recent Graduates 3 ment team at Seton Hall University have redesigned and rewritten a more informative, aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly and stream- Faculty News 4 lined website. The needs of JCST students, prospective students and Annual Teachers Study Day: 5 Visit us online today at alumni remained at the heart of the redesign, and we believe they, in Poles and Jews during WWII www.shu.edu/go/jcst particular, will find the following new features and highlights helpful: Educational & Scholarship 5 Overview page - at a glance, prospective students can learn how our graduate program can Opportunities: The Sister prepare them for success through its Academic Programs, Distinguished Faculty, Special Ar- Rose Thering Fund chives and various Career Opportunities Pope John XXII & the Jews 6 Admissions page - prospective and current JCST students can easily learn about and directly apply to several scholarship and discount programs offered at Seton Hall as well as 15 external Vegetarian Ideals & Jewish 6 scholarship programs Dietary Laws Career page - JCST students and alumni can instantly access the Career Center regarding a Evening of Roses Gala 7 broad spectrum of professions, vocations and specialties in our field and apply to 25 nationally competitive doctoral scholarships and fellowships Students Making a Differ- 7 ence: Sarah Davis We hope you will start exploring the Jewish-Christian Studies’ website today, spread the word to others and check back regularly as we continue to expand our online content and announce new Fall 2014 Fall Course 8 events and updates to our program.
[Show full text]
Comprehending Antisemitism in Antiquity and Late Antiquity
TableofContents Preface and Acknowledgements IX Kerstin Mayerhofer and Armin Lange Comprehending Antisemitism through the Ages: Introduction 1 Comprehending Antisemitism in Antiquity and LateAntiquity LeonardRutgers Early Christian Anti-Judaism 31 Armin Lange Jew-Hatred in Antiquity: Cultural, Legal, and PhysicalForms of Antisemitic Persecution 41 Erich S. Gruen The Blood Libeland the Leper Libel: Ancient Antisemitism? 79 Paula Fredriksen Divinity,Ethnicity,Identity: “Religion” as aPolitical Categoryin Christian Antiquity 101 Comprehending Antisemitism in the Middle Ages Robert Chazan The Evolution of Anti-Jewish ImageryinMedieval Christian Europe 123 Kerstin Mayerhofer Inferiority Embodied: The ‘Men-struating’ Jew andPre-Modern Notions of Identityand Difference 135 Sara Offenberg “All the World’saStage”:Imagined Jewish Rituals in Medieval Christian Artand Drama 161 VI TableofContents Birgit Wiedl Anti-Jewish Legislation in the Middle Ages 183 Comprehending Antisemitism in Modern Times Michael Wladika Georg Ritter von SchönerersRadikalisierung zumRassenantisemiten vom Linzer Programm 1882 bis zurGründung des „Verbandes der Deutschnationalen“ 1885 219 RichardS.Levy The Defense against Antisemitism:Minor Victories, Major Defeats, 1890–1939 233 Doron Rabinovici The Jewish Response to Antisemitism in Austria Prior to the Anschluss 245 Matthias Küntzel Nazi Propaganda in the Middle East and its Repercussions in the Postwar Period 257 Comprehending Shoah and Post-Shoah Antisemitism Dina Porat Is the Holocaust aUnique Historical Event? ADebate
[Show full text]
Sister Rose Thering's Battle Against Antisemitism
Alan Silberstein Sister Rose Thering’sBattle against Antisemitism Who WasSisterRose? Who was this woman often called a “feistynun?”¹ Sister Rose Thering (1920– 2006) was amemberofthe order of Dominican Sisters,who devoted the majority of her long life to the fight against injusticeand discrimination, and in particu- lar,antisemitism in the Roman Catholic Church. Her graduateschool research on the treatment of minorities, especiallythe Jews, in Catholic textbooks directly impacted NostraAetate. This document was the Declaration of the Second Vati- can Council on the Relation of the Church with Non-ChristianReligions,promulgat- ed by Pope Paul VI in 1965, which removed the pariahlabel from the Jewishre- ligion in RomanCatholic teaching. Forthe next forty years, she worked hard, and effectively,toensure that church teachingmatched the new framework. Working from her base at Seton Hall University, aRoman Catholic school in New Jersey,she brought Jews and Christians to studytogether.She became achief proponent of Holocaust educa- tion, abattler for Jewish causes, and aproponent for Israel. Perhaps her most lasting contribution was to promoteastate education mandate requiringthat the lessons of the Holocaust be taught at every grade level in her home state; arequirement which has since been emulatedinseveral of the most populous Americanstates. Sister Rose was raised in the earlytwentieth century,inalarge,religiously observant German-American Roman Catholic familyinPlain, Wisconsin, asmall rural town in the Midwest.Atayoungage,she decided to become anun, like three of her aunts; and also, ateacher.She selectedthe Dominicans rather than her aunts’ Franciscan order,because this would assure her the opportunity to become ateacher.² Rose Thering entered religious life at ageeighteen, in 1938, and took her vows two years later.For the next seventeen years, she worked as ateacher and administrator in Catholic schools in the Midwest.She also earned her mas- Morecorrectly, she was a “religious sister,” as her order was non-cloistered.
[Show full text]
Acting As God's Partner
Acting as God’s Partner by Rabbi Van Lanckton Temple B’nai Shalom November 12, 2011 – 15 Cheshvan 5772 A Newton church has a large sign on its lawn. That sign, just like our sign here, announces service times and clergy names. But that church sign also says, “If you are looking for a sign from God – this is it.” How do we recognize a sign from God? This week I thought about that as I considered again a subject that has intrigued me for many years. How does God work in the world? Some believe that God observes us, makes decisions about us and then directly causes changes in the world. While I honor that view, I do not share it. I see God as a divine and underlying force in the world, a creative energy that lies behind the world we observe. I do believe that God works in this world, but I believe that we are the ones who do that work. God has no eyes and no hands. We have those. We need to use our eyes to see what needs doing. We need to use our hands to carry out that work. For me, that is the way God works in the world. These thoughts came to me as I considered three people I learned about this week. Three people who saw what needed to be done and responded by doing it. These three are excellent examples of God’s partners. Alan Lightman is a physicist. He’s a professor at MIT. He’s also a successful writer.
[Show full text]
Seton Hall Film Fest Marks Era of Dialogue
State&Local Seton Hall film fest marks era of dialogue SUSAN BLOOM the festival will feature subject matter Sister Rose Thering Fund executive director NJJN Contributing Writer from locales as diverse as Rwanda, the David Bossman said the films being shown Philippines, Shanghai, and Israel. All are part of “our commitment to continuing Sister Rose’s work.” eton Hall University will mark present proactive solutions to inter- the 60th anniversary of its his- faith challenges. toric Jewish-Christian dialogue “I wanted to share films about peo- S ple helping those who were persecuted the way a group of Rwandan women with a festival of films dedicated to helped a devastated community recon- building interfaith bridges and com- — not just those involved in the Holo- caust, but in many contexts where this struct itself. “It’s a story of transforma- bating prejudice. tion and what we as humans share in The six-week festival, part of the is happening around the world,” said festival chair/curator Luna Kaufman, common, not what divides us,” said Catholic university’s year-long “Build- Ruranga, a New Jersey-based licensed ing Bridges” celebration, will begin on 86. Kaufman, a Holocaust survivor, is clinical counselor and member of Wednesday, Oct. 2. the Sister Rose Thering Fund board The festival helps honor the pio- an author, educator, and chair emerita of the university’s Sister Rose Thering of trustees. “We are all ‘our brother’s neering work of the late Monsignor keeper’ and it’s an awakening to all of John M. Oesterreicher, who estab- Fund for Jewish-Christian and Holo- active way, helps open this dialogue to caust Studies, which is sponsoring the us that no matter what human tragedy people of all backgrounds and that’s lished the Institute of Judaeo-Chris- we go through, we can overcome it if tian Studies at the South Orange uni- event.
[Show full text]
Anti-Semitism: Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present by Marvin Perry and Frederick Schweitzer Tells a Story That Must Be Confronted and Overcome
PRAISE FOR ANTISEMITISM: “This book is timely, useful, and admirably readable. Its voice needs to be heard.” —Michael R. Marrus, Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Professor of Holocaust Studies and Dean of the Graduate School, University of Toronto “A lucidly written work that reminds us that Man’s myth-making propensity lives side by side with his rationality.” —Henry L. Feingold, Board of Directors of the Center for Jewish History “[A] tour de force [that] follows upon the late Edward H. Flannery’s ground- breaking classic, The Anguish of the Jews.” —John Pawlikowski, O. S. M., President, International Council of Christians and Jews, Journal of Ecumenical Studies “[W]ell-written and insightful... well researched and quite worthwhile.” —Leonard Dinnerstein, Church History “A substantial, comprehensive, and updated historical survey of the main anti- semitic myths.” —Leon Volovici, Antisemitism International “Anti-Semitism: Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present by Marvin Perry and Frederick Schweitzer tells a story that must be confronted and overcome. Times such as these put the Perry-Schweitzer book on the required reading list.” —Editorial, Richmond Times-Dispatch “Perry and Schweitzer navigate the history of anti-Semitism with a ﬁrm hand, utilizing the latest scholarship and confronting controversial issues without fear.” —Library Journal “An extensive and informative survey and analysis of anti-Semitic myths... Antisemitism should be found upon the Judaic Studies shelves of every college and community library in the country.” —Midwest Book Review “[The authors] have rendered an invaluable service... explor[ing] and expos[ing]... anti-Semitism, a perennial plague of Western civilization.” —Rabbi Israel Zoberman, The Virginian Pilot “A wonderful read on a poignant topic.
[Show full text]
Congressional Record—Senate S4691
May 17, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4691 There being no objection, the mate- moval of certain AU board members—par- board members of a tax-exempt university. rial was ordered to be printed in the ticularly focusing on members serving on the Do you believe this is the appropriate mes- RECORD, as follows: ad hoc committee that took actions regard- sage AU should send to students—it is all ing former AU president Dr. Ladner without right to violate the law if the penalty is de U.S. SENATE, the knowledge of key board members. minimis? Please provide a complete expla- COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, In reviewing the material, I understand the nation of these events and your views of Washington, DC, May 17,2006. views of those who believe the members of them, as well as all related material. GARY M. ABRAMSON, the ad hoc committee should be removed. In The issue of whistleblower protection at Chair of the Board, American University. the course of our review, I have also focused non-profit institutions has also been of great THOMAS GOTTSCHALK, on several key votes by some AU board mem- concern to me in the course of the Commit- Vice Chair of the Board, American University, bers. In particular, given all related informa- tee’s work. Whistleblowers in certain situa- Washington, DC. tion reviewed by the Finance Committee, I tions are protected from retaliation under DEAR MR. ABRAMSON AND MR. GOTTSCHALK: am seriously troubled by votes cast in Octo- state and federal law. A series of aggressive I am writing to you regarding the Finance ber 2005: 1) to amend the audit committee’s emails to other AU board members by one Committee’s review of governance issues at recommendation and secondly to reject the AU board member appear to attack whistle- American University (‘‘AU’’).
[Show full text]
TE the Sister Rose Thering Endowment for Jewish/Christian
The Sister Rose Thering Endowment for Jewish/Christian Studies Celebrating seventeen years of fostering understanding through education and inter-religious cooperation. UPDATE Seventeenth Annual Evening of Roses Every spring for the past seventeen years the Sister Rose Thering Endowment gathers its members, friends, donors and guests to honor distinguished individuals and to proclaim the life and mission of Sr. Rose Thering. This year on Sunday, April 18, it was a privilege and thrill to celebrate our annual Evening of Roses as “An Evening of Music” when world renowned violinist Joshua Bell performed at the South Orange Perform- mmer/Fall mmer/Fall 2010 U ing Arts Center (SOPAC) to benefit the SRTE scholar- ship fund. He was the recipient of the 2010 Seton Hall University Humanitarian of the Year award in recog- nition of his special relationship with Israel and the Jewish world. A Sony Classical artist who has won many awards and performs with orchestras all over the world, Bell took part in two extraordinary concerts in Poland in October, 2009 which were significant to the world- wide Jewish community. Acclaimed Metropolitan Opera bass soloist Kevin Maynor also entertained as part of the gala festivities. Following a pre-concert dinner for donors and guests in the SOPAC loft, the formal program began with welcoming remarks by Marilyn Rosenbaum, vice chairman of the SRTE board and chair of the Program CELEBRATING THE ANNUAL EVENING OF ROSES … Committee. Dr. David Bossman, the Evening’s master me xvi • Spring/S Monsignor Robert Sheeran (right), President of Seton Hall of ceremonies and SRTE executive director, noted that U University, is joined by violinist Joshua Bell and Dr.
[Show full text]
Nostra Aetate 1965 – 2015
50th Anniversary Nostra Aetate 1965 – 2015 Anti-Defamation League 50th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Nostra Aetate, Chapter 4 .............................................................................................................................. 2 Nostra Aetate FAQ ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Resources ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Other Useful Websites .................................................................................................................................. 7 Media ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 Curriculum ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 Dabru Emet: A Jewish Statement on Christians and Christianity ................................................................. 8 Select Bibliography on Nostra Aetate and Jewish-Christian Relations ....................................................... 11 “Nostra Aetate was released shortly after I began to work at the ADL. This remarkable
[Show full text]
JCST Graduate Program
JCST Graduate Program 40 2015 Annual Newsletter JOHN OESTERREICHER (L), THOMAS FAHY, H. SUZANNE JOBERT & EDWARD FLANNERY, C. 1976 IN THIS ISSUE Celebrating 40 Years by Lawrence E. Frizzell The decades have slipped by since the Second Vatican Council and the promulgation of the “Declaration of the Church’s Relation to Non-Christian Religions” (Nostra Aetate) on October 28, 1965. The other fifteen documents of this Council provide the essential back- ground for understanding fully the implications of section 4 of Nostra Aetate on Judaism New JCST Ecology Course and the Jewish people. My predecessor, Msgr. John M. Oesterreicher, called this section Learn about our new Spring 2016 course, Collabora- “The Church’s Bond with the Jewish People.” Appreciating this text was only the begin- tive Models for Integral Ecology. ning of a new relationship, he initiated plans for a Master’s program so that the younger Page #5 generation would be prepared for the work ahead. He hoped that every major city in North America would have an active dialogue between Christians and Jews, as well as similar exchanges among the Christian churches. Christian ecumenism, the search for deeper understanding of God’s will for unity among Christians, gains much from going back to the Jewish matrix out of which Christianity emerged. Preparation for respectful dialogue with the Jewish people, who also have a wide diversity for expressing their faith, liturgy and culture, was the reason for Seton Hall’s Master’s program. The long history of Catholic-Jewish relations must be reviewed extensively, with the hope that Protestant and Orthodox Christians will develop their own exchanges with the Jewish communities.
[Show full text]
Temple Beth El and UW Hillel Is Not Tax Deductible
October 2015 Tishrei - Cheshvan, 5776 Inside This Issue Jewish Federation Upcoming Events ......................5 Jewish Education ..........................................18-19 Lechayim Lights ............................................23-25 Simchas & Condolences ........................................6 Jewish Social Services....................................20-21 Israel & The World ........................................26-27 Congregation News ..........................................8-9 Business, Professional & Service Directory ............21 Be A Superhero! ................................................28 Madison Federation Celebrates 75 Years “We took a pretty big leap of faith,” duction to Madison. volunteers become “buddies” with new- Seeks to engage new she said, in moving from their longtime Goff said she follows up with new- comers, Goff said, introducing them to community members home in Charlotte, N.C., to Madison, an comers after that initial meeting, provid- other members of the community, and unfamiliar city in an unfamiliar region. ing them her personal contact often accompanying them to community BY LYNNE KLEINMAN “But people here are warm and welcom- information and urging them to stay in events. ing, and I could see being happy living touch. Goff oversees a Shalom Baby pro- Freelance writer Lynne Kleinman, here not just short-term, but for years.” She also asks if she can match new- gram as well. The birth of 10 Jewish Ph.D., is a retired teacher and journalist. Tiz Goff is a major part of the reason comers with outreach volunteers. These (Continued on page 7) This article originally appeared in the for Goldberg’s positive initial experience. September 2015 Wisconsin Jewish Goff is JFM’s first community outreach Chronicle and is reprinted with permis- coordinator, a position created in 2013 sion. with funds provided by an anonymous Please Answer Your donation.
[Show full text]