Healing Process Still in Its Infancy Jewish Reaction to Reconciliation Complicated

Bryant-Friedland, Bruce, The Florida Times Union

Christians may be seeking reconciliation, but, after nearly 2000 years, that's a lot to absorb for Jews.

The memories endure as an indictment, a painful history, a stinging litany of discrimination, ghettos, crusades, expulsions, the Spanish Inquisition, blood libels, pogroms and the slaughter of the Holocaust.

In other words, the Jewish reaction is complicated.

And a completely new relationship -- free of suspicion -- can't be forged in just a couple of generations.

Still, Rabbi A. James Rudin, who oversees interreligious affairs for the American Jewish Committee in New York, found tears welling up in his eyes as he watched Pope John Paul II arrive in Israel in last month.

"Here the Jewish state is playing host and protecting the spiritual leader of …

Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information: Article title: Healing Process Still in Its Infancy Jewish Reaction to Reconciliation Complicated. Contributors: Bryant-Friedland, Bruce - Author. Newspaper title: The Florida Times Union. Publication date: April 23, 2000. Page number: Not available. © 2007 The Florida Times-Union. COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group.

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