Christian-Jewish reconciliation
Reconciliation between Christianity and
Judaism refers to the efforts that are being
made to improve understanding of the Jewish
people and of Judaism, to do away with Chris-
tian antisemitism and Jewish anti-Christian
sentiment. There has been significant pro-
gress in the reconciliation effort in recent
years, especially by the Catholic Church, but
also by other Christian groups.
Background
As a reaction to the Holocaust and many oth-
er inquisitions and crusades throughout the
course of human history, many theologians,
religious historians and educators dedicated
their efforts to seek reconciliation between
Christians and Jews.
Proselytism
There are a number of sensitive issues that
separate the two faiths. One of those issues is
the issue of proselytizing of Jews. A number
of Progressive Christian denominations have
publicly declared that they will no longer
proselytize Jews.[1][2][3] A number of main-
line Christian and conservative Christian con-
tinue to advocate the conversion of Jews and
argue that that practice is not anti-semitic.[4]
In contrast, groups such as the Anti-De-
famation League have stated that attempts to
convert Jews are anti-semitic and have dir-
ectly compared those efforts to the holo-
caust.[5] A recent survey of American Christi-
ans by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public
Life found that large- over 60%- majorities of
most denominations believe that Jews will re-
ceive eternal life after death alongside Chris-
tians.[6]
Arab Christians
The continuing Israeli–Palestinian conflict
has created tensions between the Catholic
Church and Israel.
The Catholic Church
The Second Vatican Council,
commonly
known as Vatican II, which closed in 1965,
was instrumental in producing the document
called Nostra Aetate, which read in part:
True, the Jewish authorities and those
who followed their lead pressed for the
death of Christ; still, what happened in
His passion cannot be charged against
all the Jews, without distinction, then
alive, nor against the Jews of today.