Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey

What is the Catholic-Jewish Institute for Understanding?

The Catholic Jewish Institute was created by the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Diocese of Camden in 1999 as an outgrowth of an annual Catholic-Jewish Symposium jointly sponsored by the two institutions. It was a logical next step in the expanding relationship between these two faith communities of Southern New Jersey.

The Institute is an adult education program offering two semesters a year, consisting of four classes in the fall and four classes in the spring. Most years the spring semester is followed by a Kosher Passover Seder conducted by rabbis for Christians and Jews.

The Institute covers a broad range of issues of interest to Christians and Jews, ranging from religious calendars and life cycle events in the Christian and Jewish faiths, examination of scriptural text from each faith’s perspectives, history of the faiths and their relations over the millennia, etc.

Since 2004, the Institute has offered a certificate in Christian-Jewish Studies from LaSalle University for those participants attending 16 or more classes.

In selected semesters the curriculum also includes Muslim perspectives on the selected subjects, taught by a Muslim community leader.

The Catholic Jewish Commission

In 2000, the Institute sponsored a very successful Christian-Jewish trip to Israel. Following the trip, the Institute Planning Committee, with the strong support of Bishop DiMarzio and Jewish community leadership of the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey, began work on a formal agreement between the Catholic and Jewish communities. A gala signing ceremony was held on September 20, 2001. The agreement was signed by the leaders of the Diocese of Camden, the Jewish Federation, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Tri-County Board of Rabbis.

The Agreement drew inspiration from their respective religious traditions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel, the Declarations on Religious Freedom and on the Relations of the Church to Non-Christian Religions of the Second Vatican Council (Dignitatis Humanae and Nostra Aetate), and the Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel, affirmed the following:

“We affirm the continuing commitment of our two communities to uphold and observe the right of every human being to freedom of religion and conscience;

“We commit ourselves to appropriate cooperation in combating all forms of anti-Semitism, anti-Catholicism, racism and religious intolerance, and in promoting mutual understanding;

“We commit ourselves to fostering the maturing relationship and cooperation between our two communities, by promoting a deeper knowledge of and respect for each other's history, traditions, and sensitivities;

“We recognize a common interest to work together to create a society free of violence and prejudice;

“Where there are parallel services in our two communities, individuals associated with the Jewish Community of South Jersey and the Diocese of Camden are encouraged to discuss specific ways in which such ongoing contact might be beneficial to both communities….”

The Commission is composed of Catholics and Jews appointed by their respective sponsoring institutions.

In 2002 the Catholic-Jewish Commission became a co-sponsor of BookMates, the early childhood reading mentoring program for at-risk K-2^nd grade children in Title I, Abbott Schools. It also is supportive of increasing and improving Holocaust education in the diocesan schools.