Spotlight on CLAL

 

Is there a moral imperative to engage in interfaith dialogue?  “Yes,” argues Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard, Ph.D., CLAL’s Director of Organizational Development, who was the keynote speaker at a prestigious three-day symposium in late March sponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding (CCJU) entitled, “What Do We Want the Other to Teach About Our Ethical Traditions?”  The symposium, which was held at Sacred Heart University, concluded a five-part series with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim intellectual and religious leaders focusing on the topic: “What Do We Want the Other to Teach About Us?” 

In his keynote speech, Rabbi Blanchard talked about the importance of interfaith dialogue, based on several sets of values, and the increased good will generated through greater mutual understanding. A further benefit, he pointed out, was the ability to gain new insights about our own traditions from those of other backgrounds. 

“The possibility of joint action within society allows for shared spiritual concerns without promoting any one particularity or compromising the separation of church and state” said Rabbi Blanchard.  “Moreover, there is a philosophical argument to be made for joint dialogue.  If religion seeks to offer an ethical or universal truth, all viewpoints should be included.”    

The last symposium, held two years ago in Rome, brought together key figures from the Catholic, Jewish and Muslim traditions to consider the question: What does each community want the other to know about its prayer and liturgy?  (Other conferences looked at the theological and historical perspectives.) The keynote speaker was Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, Archbishop of Milan.   

“In an increasingly global world, there is a moral imperative for people of all backgrounds to speak with each other,” said Rabbi Blanchard.  “At CLAL, we talk about Judaism as one way of being human.  Interreligious dialogue fosters the many ways we share being human.” 

CCJU works to promote dialogue and understanding amongst the world’s religious traditions.  Proceedings from the five conferences will be published in a series of books for educators from the different movements.  For more information on the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding, visit their Web site at www.ccju.org.