By Bill Tammeus, National Catholic Reporter.
Presbyterians and Jews in the U.S. once were long-time partners — in matters ranging from the Civil Rights Movement to various interfaith and social justice issues. And they evidenced mutual respect.
That began to fall apart when we Presbyterians started considering — and eventually approved –disinvestment from companies the church said have been benefitting financially from the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Some of us Presbyterians in the heartland — without imagining that we can solve all of our differences — plan to begin a grassroots effort to try to recreate respectful and warm associations with some of our Jewish neighbors. We will aim to “mend a broken relationship,” as former Presbyterian General Assembly Moderator Heath Rada has described the task.
Perhaps there are lessons in this for Catholics and Protestants, too, in their sometimes-testy relations.
We’ll begin with help from the great author and New Testament scholar from Vanderbilt University, Amy-Jill Levine, who attends an Orthodox Jewish congregation. She’ll be in Kansas City for several days in October for some lectures, and will spend at least part of her time helping Presbyterians and Jews understand how they can create opportunities to sit down with each other and share their hearts. Levine has discussed this process in some of her writing, including her book The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus.
That book — and her latest one, Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi — should be required reading for anyone preaching from any Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox pulpit. For as Levine says, you can’t understand Jesus without understanding Judaism.
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In my own church, post the GA decision, I reached out to 5 former-retired Jewish military chaplains I supervised while on active duty, all in congregations in the greater Philly area, Conservative to Reconstructionalist, to speak to the church at various forums on the matter of Christian- Jewish relationships. Followed up this past year with a mission trip to Israel and projects in support of the IDF. Excellent fellowship for all.
Human relationships is just that, relationships. As I stated in the letter to the Presbytery post GA. The actions of said GA do not speak for the church or its people, nor should the PCUSA be confused with the Body of Christ. In other matters the church entered into business contracts for IT support with HP as well as CAT. in our investments. I like to call that our version of social justice. Paid off quite well.
The untold damage the last GA brought about is still rolling out, and it’s not over yet. I just hope (I’m not holding my breath) that the louisville sluggers understand that everything from disinvestment to the illegal AI vote were just the start of the fall out, and that they can look themselves in the mirror and say it was worth it with a strait face.
@ Peter Gregory #WINNING — Whatever PCUSA does I do the opposite = #WINNING #EXCELLENT #OHYEAH #REMINDSMEOFKINDERGARTEN
When over in Israel this past February we had a chance to go to Masada and have a closing service with our staff, where we presented comfort and care boxes to members of the IDF serving on the front lines in defense against Palestinian terrorists. Each box has a letter of thanks for their service on the church letterhead that of course had the PCUSA symbol. Indeed, the tent is very big and we are all loving family in it.
Said boxes were produced with funds we have withheld from the PCUSA due to its anti-Semitic conduct and other factors. In that sense we took a bad, a negative and made it a positive, playing it forward. Providing aid and comfort to those in defense of freedom, rather than wasting down the void of programs like the PMA, lawyers, and associated malfeasances. I think to think of those moments as #PRICELESS.
Better that money went to Israel than louisville!
It is textbook Trotsky. Gain as many chairs on the Foundation Investment committee as possible, using expedient political methods. At the same time, create groups inside of the academic circles ready and willing to make noise. The front office will create the opportunities. Investment in South Africa in the 60’s to 80’s is a perfect example. The intelligent members of the board recognize the ploy. They read and understand that the anti-Apartheid was a world communist movement, had nothing to do with race. The noisy board members will harass and drive off the older board members. Viola! They have succeeded in co-opting the Foundation. Seminarians give standing ovation.