Page 2-THE NEWS-August, 1987
Guest Editorial
A Time for Frank
Catholic'Jewish Dialogue
By Rabbi William Berkowitz
Across the centuries, the relationship between the
Jewish people and the Pope has always been strained and
difficult. As the titular head of the Roman Catholic
Church, the Pope has set and implemented many of the
Church’s policies toward the Jews.
We saw him visit last fall 1986 a synagogue in Rome,
for which he was hailed. We have seen him receive
numerous Jewish delegations and express positive notions
about Jews and Judaism. We have seen him go to
Auschwitz, and likewise speak of Jewish suffering.
However, at the same time, we have seen him welcome
arch-terrorist Yasir Arafat to the Vatican gates. We have
heard him mute Jewish suffering during a recent visit to
the Maidanek concentration camp. And we heard him
highlight Edith Stein’s death as owing to her Catholicism,
when her Jewishness was what most provoked the ire of
the Nazis. To this record has now been added the Pope’s
recent welcoming of Kurt Waldheim, a man charged with
being part of the Nazi death machine and who is banned
from the United States. Even more painful is that while
the Pontiff may have made reference to Waldheim’s Nazi
past in private, in public he spoke of Waldheim only as
a “man of peace.”
It is said that when someone mentioned the then-Pope
Pius XII to Joseph Stalin, he replied: “How many divi
sions does he have?” Clearly, Stalin saw the Vatican and
the role of the Pope only in temporal, political and
pragmatic terms. While the Vatican acts as a state and
the Pope acts as its head, the Pope also functions as a
moral and religious leader. Hence, for the Pope more than
any other political leader, to welcome a man of Waldheim’s
caliber is more than just paradoxial: It is deeply
disappointing.
Within the Jewish tradition, much is written about the
separation of that which is kosher—clean—from that
which is treife — unclean. Entire talmudic tomes are
devoted to the topic of what happens when the treife gets
mixed up with the kosher. Thus, it is particularly painful
for us Jews to witness a situation in which a religious
leader gets mixed up with a Nazi, and brings such pain
even to so many of his Catholic followers!
How, then, shall we proceed? There are extremist voices
within the Jewish community who call for a rupture of rela
tions between Catholic and Jews. One New York Jewish
newspaper’s editorial engaged in anti-Catholicism which
was not only unbecoming, but if it appeared in a Catholic
paper about Jews, would be viewed as deeply anti-Semitic.
It is clear that the dialogue and advancement of relations
between Catholics and Jews must go on, and must con
tinue, despite the actions of any Pope. We have too much
to lose to allow this incident to destroy that dialogue.
At the same time, we must continue to make clear to
our Catholic friends that while we will not tolerate a
backlash from our community, they cannot tolerate a
backlash from theirs. Moreover, we must continue to talk
so that they understand why the visit caused the Jewish
community such anguish and rage. We must explore with
them the uniqueness of the Holocaust as a Jewish event
and consider how it relates to the State of Israel, with
which the Vatican does not maintain relations.
And we must continue to talk, and at times (for only
if we are honest can dialogue be authentic) even shout,
when we are pained. To do otherwise is to allow the ex
tremists to gain the upper hand and to destroy the great
advances which we have made in Catholic-Jewish relations
in the last two decades, since Pope John XXIII and
Vatican II.
Rabbi William Berkowitz is national president of the
American Jewish Heritage Committee.
Inside the Charlotte Jewish Federation
By Ron Katz, Pres. CJF
As a new year approaches
again, beginning for all Jews
on Sept. 24 this year, our
thoughts reflect over the past
year and the challenges of the
future.
When the 1987 Federation
Campaign ended, our
Charlotte Jewish community
rose to new heights by
meeting the needed financial
demands, raising 1.25 million
dollars. That achievement
represented nearly a twenty-
five percent increase over the
previous year’s campaign.
The warm response by our
donors was extremely gratify
ing and stimulated the cam
paign solicitors in their untir
ing efforts to accomplish their
assignments. All of you
to«:ether made this success
happen. There is no way to
show how much appreciation
we feel to those who gave and
those who worked.
Perhaps a traditional Todah
Rabah, many thanks, for a
start, will do. Anyway, thank
you all from the bottom of our
hearts.
During the past months,
much time was spent on
searching for a new Executive
Director. We spent countless
hours and liter^y scoured the
country. Candidates were con
sidered from Hawaii to the
eastern shores of New
England and southern shores
of Florida
We feel very excited and tru
ly fortunate to have Mr.
Michael Minkin from Los
Angeles, coming to us on
August 1, as Executive Direc
tor. Mr. Minkin, or Mike as he
is known by his associates,
brings the mixture of en
thusiasm and experience. His
background training as a pro
fessional will enable us to con
tinue the momentum already
started in our Federation.
Speaking for the entire
Board, these past months
have provided many experi
ences which are rewarding
and stimulating. Our contact
with both the National UJA
and Council of Federation
Leadership has been extreme
ly supportive and inspiration
al.
The Federation will make
every effort, as the 1988
season draws near, to in
vigorate its activities with the
kind of dynamic programming
to move ahead. The Campaign
Committee is already working
diligently on the 1988 goal.
Chairpersons are in place and
we fuUy expect to be on target
for our “September Kickoff.”
This column will be used
regularly to keep the flow of
communications going. As
new information and pertinent
details arise, we want, as part
of the Federation, to be ap
prised of what’s happening on
the inside. The column may
change to “What’s
Happening”.
In conclusion, I must tell
you that we are all very ex
cited and upbeat in our hopes
and aspirations for the new
year. Let’s all do what we can
to keep the flow going.
wTTA©'
On The Issues ... By Ira CIsMn, Va/NC Director ADL
" ' ■ — - -
“God does not hear the
prayer of a Jew.” That nox
ious defamation was uttered in
1980 and it was repeated
again, just a few weeks ago.
The Reverend Bailey Smith
first uttered that insult in
1980, speaking as president of
the Southern Baptist
Convention.
Smith, a Del City, Oklahoma
evangelist, reaffirmed his ca
nard in June 1987 before a
Southern Baptist evangelists
conference. And, in response
to his insult, he received a
standing ovation from 2,000
people.
When questioned about his
reiteration of the defamation,
he offered the following expla
nation: “A lot of friends came
to me saying that what I had
said was true, but telling me I
shouldn’t have said it.” He
went on: “If the Bible says it,
JEWISH CALENDAR
CANDLELIGHTING
Aug. 4 — Tisha B’Av
Aug. 7 — 8:03 p.m.
Aug. 14 — 7:55 p.m.
Aug. 21 — 7:47 p.m.
Auk. 28 — 7:38 p.m.
Sept. 4 — 7:28 p.m.
Sept. 4 — 7:20 p.m.
—Shame!—
it is true and you should tell
it.”
What was more shocking
than the reiteration of his
bigoted remark, was the fact
that it was applauded by 2,000
people. No doubt, his view is
shared by many.
There is also no doubt that
a great many Southern Bap
tists reject his prejudice. As
one gentleman wrote in a let
ter to the editor published in
The Charlotte Observer:
“There is no hole large enough
to harbor the multitude of
Baptists who hang their heads
in shame at the statement by
Bailey Smith that ‘God does
not listen to the prayers of the
Jew.’ Mr. Smith by no means
represents Baptist doctrine,
policy, creed or any other of
ficial position of our denomina
tion. The statement was his
opinion only.
“Those of us who do not
stand in ovation (and I believe
this to be the greatest majori
ty of Baptists) are bewildered
by the highly organized con
servation element of our deno
mination. Please be reminded
that each Baptist church is
autonomous and we are ob
viously a most diverse group.
“I plead with the Jewish
community and fellow Chris
tians not to confuse all Bap
tists with the likes of Bailey
Smith.”
The challenge that faces
the Anti-Defamation League
and, indeed, faces all of us is
not to permit ourselves to be
so deeply offended by Bailey
Smith’s remarks, as to discon
tinue our efforts in building in
terfaith understanding and
harmony. While the Bailey
Smiths in this world may
make headlines, they are vast
ly outnumbered by the
countless people of goodwill
who continue to reach toward
one another through words
and works of mutual
understanding.
THE CHARLOTTE JEWISH NEWS
Published monthly by:
Charlotte Jewish Federation Michael L. Minkin, Director
Foundation of Charlotte Jewish Community &
Jewish Community Center Barry Hantman, Director
N.C. Hebrew Academy Berta Straz, Administrator
Lubavitch of N.C Rabbi Yossi Groner, Director
Editor Rita Mend
Advertising Blanche Yarus
Copy deadline the 10th of each month
P.O. Box 13369, Charlotte, N.C. 28211
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