We begin our newsletter with an article about a letter from Pope Francis reaffirming the special relationship between Christians and Jews amid the Gaza war and the rise of antisemitism. This article references the November 12th letter sent to Pope Francis after the Pope’s initial response to the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The November 12th letter was written by five Jewish scholars, each deeply involved in Catholic/Jewish dialogue. The letter quickly gathered more than 400 signatures, emanating from various corners of the rabbinic and academic Jewish world.

In essence, this letter asked the church to act as a beacon of moral and conceptual clarity in times of confusion and deceit by distinguishing the Oct. 7 terrorist massacre from the civilian casualties, as tragic and heartbreaking as they are, of Israel’s war of self-defense. This does not imply that Israel’s way of waging war should not be criticized, even on ethical grounds. However, labeling Israel’s war as terrorism fundamentally subverts its right to exist.

Pope Francis on Feb. 3 reaffirmed Christians' special relationship with Jews amid rising antisemitism since the outbreak of the Gaza war in a letter to the Jews of Israel that he said was prompted by messages from Jewish organizations around the world.

The letter served as a belated fence-mending after Francis was criticized for his initial response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Francis said the Holy Land has been "cast into a spiral of unprecedented violence," part of what the pope referred to as "a sort of 'piecemeal world war,' with serious consequences on the lives of many populations.''

"My heart is torn at the sight of what is happening in the Holy Land, by the power of so much division and so much hatred,'' the pontiff wrote. "The whole world looks on at what is happening in that land with apprehension and pain."

In November, the pope set off a firestorm by using the word "terrorism" generically after meeting separately with relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinians living through the war.

Jewish leaders criticized his failure to explicitly condemn Hamas' attack, and bristled after the Palestinian visitors reported he had used the term "genocide" to describe Israel's actions in Gaza. The Vatican denied he had used the term in the private meeting, but since then Francis has been more balanced in his remarks and has explicitly condemned the Oct. 7 attack.

Without elaborating, Francis said in the letter to Israeli Jews that he was moved by communication from friends and Jewish organizations around the world to "assure you of my closeness and affection. I embrace each of you and especially those who are consumed by anguish, pain, fear and even anger."

He said that Catholics "are very concerned about the terrible increase in attacks against Jews around the world we had hoped that 'never again' would be a refrain heard by the new generations, yet now we see that the path ahead requires ever closer collaboration to eradicate these phenomena.''

"My heart is close to you, to the Holy Land, to all the peoples who inhabit it, Israelis and Palestinians, and I pray that the desire for peace may prevail in all,'' he said.

The reconciliation between Jews and Catholics provides "a horizon" to imagine a future "where light replaces darkness, in which friendship replaces hatred, in which cooperation replaces war."

"Together, Jews and Catholics, we must commit ourselves to this path of friendship, solidarity and cooperation in seeking ways to repair a destroyed world, working together in every part of the world, and especially in the Holy Land, to recover the ability to see in the face of every person the image of God, in which we were created,'' Francis wrote. 

-NPR & Associated Press

Link to the November 12, 2023 letter sent to Pope Francis by the over 400 Jewish rabbis and scholars.

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2023/11/28/catholic-jewish-israel-existential-threat-246593

Pope Francis’ letter 

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-02/pope-francis-letter-jews-holy-land-peace-karma-ben-johanan.html

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2024/02/03/pope-francis-letter-israeli-jewish-antisemitism-247107

On Sunday, January 21st, almost 200 participants gathered to hear Rabbi Mark Gross and Fr. George Ratzmann speak of “Jewish and Catholic perspectives on sin and forgiveness.” CJD wishes to thank Rabbi Gross and Fr. Ratzmann on a very thought provoking and insightful dialogue on this topic.

Our next program is scheduled for

Sunday, March 17, at 2:30 pm at

Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center.

The topic is:

INTERFAITH MARRIAGE

A LIFE IN DIALOGUE

The debate of interfaith unions has been around longer than Tevya and "Fiddler on the Roof". Please join us for an interesting and informative afternoon exploring the challenges and rewards of interfaith marriage. Clergy from both the Catholic and Jewish faiths will offer their insights. We are honored to have the Very Reverend Robert Kantor, Pastor of St. Agnes Church and Rabbi Frank Muller of Naples.

Following the presentation, a brief question and answer session will be open to all attendees. Refreshments will be served.

Please Register for this free program below.

Presented by the Catholic Jewish Dialogue of Collier County.

This month’s Healer and Helper is Reneé Bialek, Program Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. Reneé’s organizational and administrative skills have been the driving force and factor in all of CJD’s operations and programs. Reneé coordinates all of the programs affiliated with the Federation; yet when you interact with Reneé, her efficiency makes you feel that your program is the most important and the only one that she has on her agenda. 

Last month we asked about your view of the meaning of resolutions. We were interested in knowing how you can make your resolutions; your actions, your goals, attainable and integrate them into your live. We heard from a number of you who expressed what helps you remain focused in the direction of your changes, hope, decisions and aims.

“While we are here on this earth I think we are meant to try and enjoy our lives without doing harm to our fellow man. Even with the present chaos and anti- semitism throughout the world we must continue to make our plans to enjoy this life and not to lose HOPE”.

-Patricia C.

We invite you to share this newsletter with family, friends and any group or organization that will facilitate active listening and thoughtful

dialogue about this topic. 



Your constructive feedback is always welcomed.

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We invite you to share this newsletter with family, friends and any group or organization that will facilitate active listening and thoughtful dialogue about this topic. 

Your constructive feedback is always welcomed.