Interfaith Symposium to Mark 60 Years of Landmark Catholic–Jewish Document
NAPLES, FL – November 15, 2022 – A two-day symposium beginning Saturday, December 6th, will explore the lasting impact of Nostra Aetate, a pivotal declaration issued by the Second Vatican Council in 1965 that dramatically reshaped Catholic-Jewish relations. The event, hosted by the Catholic-Jewish Dialog of Collier County (CJD) in partnership with Ave Maria University and the Jewish federation of Greater Naples, aims to examine the document’s historical meaning and its continuing relevance in a world still grappling with religious prejudice.
Sixty years after its adoption, Nostra Aetate remains a cornerstone of interfaith understanding, rejecting centuries-old accusations against the Jewish people and fostering a new era of dialogue and cooperation. The symposium will delve into the document’s origins, its immediate effects, and its ongoing influence on both Catholic and Jewish communities. It comes at a time of rising antisemitism and intergroup tensions, underscoring the urgent need to reaffirm the principles of mutual respect and understanding enshrined in Nostra Aetate.
The symposium will be held on consecutive days, first at Ave Maria University on December 6th and then at the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples on December 7th. Featured speakers include Rabbi James Rudin, author, scholar, and retired director of interfaith relations at the American Jewish Committee, who played a key role in building bridges following the declaration’s adoption.Rudin, currently the AJC’s Senior Interreligious Adviser, is a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Religion and Judaica at Saint Leo University.
Also participating is Marty Gauthier, Co-Chair of the CJD. The symposium will provide an opportunity to learn more about Nostra Aetate and its enduring legacy, and to register for the event at https://www.jewishnaples.org/calendar/cjd-program-nostra-aetate-60th-anniversary-symposium.
Notably, Rabbi Rudin was recently awarded the Papal Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, one of the highest honors conferred by the Catholic Church, in recognition of his decades of work promoting interfaith dialogue.
