American Jewish Committee Convenes Jewish Groups To Reaffirm Support For Jerusaelm In Interfaith Dialogue

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 16 April 1999

Leading American Jewish organizations involved in interfaith relations resolved yesterday to intensify their collective efforts in support of a united Jerusalem as Israel's eternal capital. Concerned about calls from the Vatican and other Christian bodies for international supervision of the holy places in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the Jewish groups identified Jerusalem as the most pressing issue in the Christian-Jewish dialogue today.

The meeting, convened at the American Jewish Committee by Rabbi A. James Rudin, AJC's director of interreligious affairs, reaffirmed support for Israel's assurances that access to Christian and Muslim holy places would continue to be guaranteed by the Israeli government.

"As Israel and the Palestinians prepare for final-status talks, the battle for Jerusalem has already begun involving the world's major faith communities," said Rabbi Rudin. "American Jews must convey to our interreligious partners our strong and continuing support for an undivided Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty."

More than 10 major Jewish organizations participated in the meeting, which was held at AJC headquarters.

The meeting was convened in response to recent Vatican criticism, asserting what it perceived to be the lack of a unified partner in Catholic-Jewish dialogue.

Participants emphasized the need for Jewish groups involved in Christian-Jewish relations to maintain ongoing discussions with one another to develop unified positions and strategies to better inform the Jewish community on developments concerning interreligious relations.

The organizations participating in yesterday's meeting agreed to meet regularly in the future as a consultative group, which would act as an "early warning system" for any potential crises in interreligious dialogue. The next meeting will address the conflict over Jerusalem in greater detail.

Participants in the meeting included: Rabbi A. James Rudin, Dr. Amy Rosenbaum and Robert Guffey of the American Jewish Committee; Rabbi Leon Klenicki of the Anti-Defamation League; Rabbi Leon Feldman of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations; Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor and Rabbi Philip Hiatt of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Sarrae Crane of the United Synagogue of America; Betty Ehrenberg of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations; Rabbi Moses Birnbaum, former associate director of the New York Board of Rabbis; Jacob Blumenthal of the Rabbinical Assembly; Dr. Lawrence Rubin and Karen Senter of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs; Rabbi Arthur Schneier of the Appeal to Conscience Foundation; Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld of the Rabbinical Council of America, George Spectre of B'nai B'rith International; and, Judith Banki of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding;

Sir Sigmund Sternberg and Lady Hazel Sternberg of the The Sternberg Center in London also participated.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org