CCJ at Work Locally, Nationally & Internationally

Tributes
Sr. Margaret commenced by saying that it is important to remain totally focussed on the Word of God in our complex world as we go forward in our work of Jewish/Christian relations, and paid tribute to the wonderful work in this field of Rabbi Dr. Albert Friedlander, one of the Presidents of CCJ, who died recently. She also paid tribute to the late Heinz Shire of Manchester. These two men, by their very lives, stood for something very precious to us in CCJ. Their loss is particularly poignant because the work of CCJ is needed desperately in our world today. In our country, for whatever reason, 800,000 people chose to vote for the National Front and what it stands for. This is part of what we, the CCJ, are up against. In the June Newsletter Bishop Christopher and Sr. Margaret made an appeal to us before the elections to be careful how we voted, as there were people standing for election whose values are completely opposed to the ethos of CCJ.

Sr. Margaret then paid tribute to our Chairman, Sidney Moss, and the wonderful work that he does. This sentiment was endorsed by spontaneous applause from the audience. Work in sponsoring the aims of CCJ takes place locally, nationally and internationally, and Sr. Margaret made reference to the excellent work undertaken by one of our branch members, RUTH WEYL, at the international level.

In the Media
Press coverage plays an important part in promoting the objectives of CCJ. It shows that people are aware of our existence and that we are doing good work. Sr. Margaret had just spent a month in Costa Rica on business associated with her Religious Order, which is the Sisters of Sion. On her return she was presented with a large number of Press cuttings on matters relating to CCJ and its work which had been published during her absence, and saved for her perusal. She quoted extracts from a representative sample which covered matters ranging from Synagogue security, desecration of cemeteries and personal attacks, to the educational work of CCJ in schools and with young people all over the country. In particular Sr. Margaret drew attention to an article in The Tablet of 24 August, a Catholic weekly publication, by Rabbi Jonathan Romain, a CCJ Board member, in which he discusses reconciliation between Jews and Christians, and the progress which has been made in this post-Shoah period. It speaks about the work of ordinary people coming together in friendship to get to know one another, and to work together to further reconciliation.

Sr. Margaret mentioned a report in the Jewish Chronicle of 16 July regarding Church of England plans to produce an alternative liturgy for Good Friday which acknowledges Christian Responsibility for anti-Semitism. CCJ has also been able to act as “honest broker” between Christian Aid and the Board of Deputies by facilitating dialogue between the two, as both have taken quite radical stands on the relation between Israel and Palestine. CCJ’s work goes on across the community divide in Northern Ireland, and specific mention was made of the work undertaken by Jane Clements (Deputy Director and Education Officer) in connection with Holocaust education.

Common Ground
The CCJ journal Common Ground is the only publication written specifically for Jews and Christians. It is particularly important because it addresses issues that are relevant to the whole country, and often it carries articles which have international significance. What we do in this country can affect other parts of the world, and events in other parts of the world can impact directly on us. Material published in Common Ground and the educational resources of CCJ have been widely used in schools and churches all over the country, and planning assistance is given with the annual Holocaust Memorial Day, which is now a national event.

Sr. Margaret mentioned that when the Queen attended CCJ’s 60th birthday celebration at St. James’s Palace she was hearing about the work of CCJ from so many people. The Queen turned to Sr. Margaret and said “Sister, your work has never been more needed, has it?” The Queen is right!

The Presidents of CCJ have been so concerned at the increase in anti-Semitism that they issued a Joint Statement. It was published in Common Ground and received a lot of publicity in the national press. It is a very direct and hard-hitting statement showing the support of the whole Christian community as it stands in solidarity with the Jewish community, when there is so much fear and insecurity in the Jewish community at this new situation.

However we must be positive. This is vital because it is so easy to be bleak, easy to be pessimistic, easy to get utterly depressed and think that the picture is completely black. It isn’t! There is always a glimmer of hope, always a candle in the darkness, always people like us who will stand up for what is right. There are always groups, like our own CCJ groups, who are working for all that stands for the opposite of that dark side of our world. Although the situation is bad it isn’t the anti-Semitism of the 1930s. It is, nevertheless, a very violent and extremist world.

Post-9/11
The 9/11 effect has had ramifications on the whole of the Jewish community. It is now having effects on the Christian community in Iraq, and it has already had effects on the Muslim community. They too have been targeted. We are all being targeted for whatever reasons. It is a very complicated issue, and the whole business of Israel is in the “weft and the weave” of all that.

Holocaust Memorial Day
In 2005 Holocaust Memorial Day is going to be in London and Jane Clements is working in conjunction with the Home Office to produce liturgical and educational materials, and advising the Home Office on what CCJ branches are doing all over the country to mark the event. She is also working with the BBC.

In the Jewish Chronicle of 6 July 2004 there was a report on the Olive Tree Project. This sponsors both Israeli and Palestinian students to study a 3 year degree course at City University. They will also take part in a social and cultural programmes designed to forge dialogue which, of course, is a principal aim of CCJ. This project will foster Israel/Palestine peacemaking.

Dialogue, not Mission
Regarding proselytising, Sr. Margaret drew attention to a pamphlet CCJ has produced as part of its work to counter/warn against the activities, particularly in Manchester, of organisations such as “Jews for Jesus”, “Messianic Jews” and “Christian Ministry Among Jews” who are targeting the Jewish community seeking to convert them, and thus making the Jewish community feel very vulnerable. CCJ stands for Dialogue – not Mission.

Further Tributes
Sr. Margaret outlined aspects of the valuable work being done by Jonathan Gorsky (Education Advisor) in conjunction with Quakers, and also with the organising of pilgrimages. She paid tribute to the wonderful work that has been done with young people by Debbie. Debbie is leaving her post with National CCJ to train as a Rabbi, but remains chairman of the International CCJ Young People’s Leadership Committee. Debbie has been particularly effective in the Universities. A warm welcome is extended to Louise Mitchell who is taking over from Debbie.

International CCJ
On the International CCJ scene Sr. Margaret highlighted the work of Ruth Weyl who was the main architect of the ICCJ conference’s theme “Changing Borders”. It is very important that we all keep going beyond our own boundaries, whether local, parochial, national or whatever. And that is what dialogue is all about; going beyond boundaries of our own faith to speak to those who don’t think like us. For dialogue we need to reach out and hear what is important to them. This is hard to achieve at National level, and even harder at International level, and Ruth is to be congratulated on a great programme.

Various contributors to the ICCJ conference from across the world were mentioned by name. They represented small diverse religious communities. One example is a Melkyte Archbishop. The Melkyte tradition has become a minority group within Christianity and is a minority group within Israel. The Archbishop and others reiterated the need for dialogue across community divides and all borders.

Sr. Margaret ended her talk by mentioning the importance of contact with Muslims at the local level. She overviewed matters relating to Muslims in this country and referred to matters that have arisen in areas such as Bradford. She said that the serious anti-Semitism that has recently manifested itself in France stems in part from unemployed, disaffected young Muslims, principally of North African origin. They blame their plight on the Israeli/Palestine situation. Their anti-Semitism is in some places being matched with Islam phobia.

Islamic Relations
While it is not appropriate for us to change from being the “Council of Christians and Jews” to the “Council of Christians, Jews and Muslims”, we can show Muslims what our 60 years experience of dialogue has achieved, and reach out to them in friendship. Christian and Jewish dialogue with Islam is absolutely vital. In this connection it may be appropriate, on occasions, for the local CCJ to invite a Muslim speaker to their meetings. They are our neighbours and it is very important for us to know what is important to them, and what is hurting them. Also it is important for them to know what is hurting us.

Jonathan Gorsky, Jane Clements and Sr. Margaret are also involved in furthering the aims of CCJ with dialogue at the academic level by producing papers, and ICCJ has one section that is dedicated solely to Muslim dialogue.

Important and Urgent Work
Our chairman, Sidney Moss, in summing up referred to the considerable broadness and depth of CCJ’s work that had been so ably reviewed by Sr. Margaret. He said that Sr. Margaret’s talk can leave no one in any doubt of the importance and urgency of the work of CCJ.

- Bernard Tiley