According to the Ministry of Tourism in Israel, over two million Christians visit the Holy Land each year, just under 35% of whom hail from the United States. “The significant increase in pilgrims from other countries motivated us to expand,” says CJCUC’s Director of Operations, Limor Riskin. “We now have an international, multi-lingual staff with experience in Jewish-Christian relations who can answer the needs of all groups.”

The CJCUC is part of Ohr Torah Stone, the largest private Jewish educational institution in Israel with over 3,000 students. Founded over 20 years ago by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Ohr Torah Stone’s rabbinical seminary has placed hundreds of spiritual leaders as emissaries in communities across the globe. “Naturally, we looked toward Ohr Torah Stone alumni in expanding our staff,” remarks Nekrutman. “They are fully bilingual or even trilingual, have had practical Jewish-Christian relational experience in the Diaspora, and most importantly, they studied under Rabbi Riskin and are thus infused with his vision of reaching out to the Christian world in friendship.”

Since 2008, CJCUC has hosted over 20,000 Christians at its headquarters in Efrat, as well as in other locations in Israel. “Many Christians visit the Holy Land and never interact with Jews,” observes Nekrutman. “The CJCUC is an ideal place to enhance your visit by imbuing it with a deeper understanding of God’s Word, the Land and its people,” he adds.

To book the CJCUC for your next trip to Israel, call Limor Riskin at 972-50-634-0250 or email: limor@ots.org.il.

Now in its second month, Israel365 has partnered with the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation to feature the writings of its founder and chancellor, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. “Tens of thousands of people visit our center in Efrat, this app is way for people to stay connected with us as well the land of Israel, remarked David Nekrutman, CJCUC’s Executive Director. He added that “what is unique about this app is that its gives a daily lesson using the language of Scripture – Hebrew.” CJCUC is the first Orthodox Jewish center to religiously dialogue with the Christian world.

According to Rabbi Weisz, “I’m excited to partner with the CJCUC who are doing so much to promote the significance of the Land of Israel around the world. Israel365 is changing the way people see the Holy Land, not as a conflict-ridden landscape, but as a stunningly beautiful Promised Land. We hope that our partnership with CJCUC makes even more Jews and Christians aware of the physical beauty and religious significance of the Land of Israel.”

Sign up for daily Israel scenes and inspiration at www.israel365.co.il or search Apple’s App Store for “Israel365” to download the free iPhone app to connect with Israel each day of 2012. Rabbi Tuly Weisz, the creator of the Israel365 app, can be reached for more information at rabbituly@israel365.co.il.

Link to App Store: http://itunes.apple.com/ro/app/israel-365/id486366452?mt=8

Four years ago, Ohr Torah Stone opened the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation (CJCUC) to begin unprecedented dialogue between the Orthodox Jewish world and Christian communities worldwide. “I thank you, Rabbi Riskin, for your courage for building the foundations for Jewish-Christian understanding – for if there was any time that the State of Israel needed to hear from its [Christian] friends clearly, loudly and with a unified voice, it’s right now,” Pastor John Hagee remarked.

In commenting about the significance of a religious Jewish institution honoring Pastor Hagee, Jewish philanthropist and Ohr Torah Stone honoree Michael Epstein said “this gives us an opportunity to learn more from Pastor Hagee and the Evangelical world about their desire to reach out to the Jewish community in friendship without ulterior motive.” He added “Our skepticism about this friendship is understandable based upon past history of the pogroms, the Inquisition and the Holocaust, but we have seen many in the Christian world stand with us today based upon a biblical commitment of Genesis 12:3 – I will bless those who bless you.”

“More than our concern for the well-being of the State of Israel, what binds both faith communities together is our common belief in our shared scripture,” said Roger Hertog, CJCUC supporter and Master Ceremonies of the event. Rabbi Riskin echoed the same sentiment and said “the twin message of democracy and freedom emanates from our Bible is being muted by the world that is already forgotten about the Holocaust. For the first time in history, Christians are extending a hand of friendship and standing with Israel, there is no more important Jewish task then to nurture our partnership with them to bring back to the world that there is a God of love and peace.”

While in Israel the delegation discovered commonalities between their faiths, studied their joint histories, and established important groundwork including practical models to advance Jewish-Catholic relations back in their respective communities.

Participants joined from Brazil, Argentina and Colombia thanks to three partnering organizations who worked in tandem to make this opportunity a reality – the World Jewish Diplomatic Corps (WJDC), the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation (CJCUC) and the Latin American Jewish Congress (LAJC). Priests were selected in cooperation with the Archbishops of São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Bogota.

“Since the Second Vatican Council, many Catholic and Jewish theologians have paved the way for our moment together in Israel,” said CJCUC’s Founder and Chancellor Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. He added “Unfortunately, both the Jewish and Christian communities are still unaware of these advancements. The purpose of this mission was to equip and empower these young priests to bring knowledge and understanding to their communities.”

Rabbis and Jewish educators also participated to aid and facilitate future, follow-up programming at the local levels. “There is no question an experience in Israel can transform a person; however, once that individual goes home, it is easy to return back to the responsibilities of everyday life,” said Claudio Epelman, Executive Director of the LAJC. “It is important we provide a network of local support and resources to help these leaders build upon what they learned in the Holy Land.”

Half of the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world live in the Americas. “Pockets of cooperation exist between the Jewish and Catholic communities in Latin America, but a deeper acquaintance and cooperation is needed in this important continent” remarked Adam Koffler, Chairman of the WJDC. Koffler added, “We are living in a new era in Jewish-Catholic relations where both faith communities can play a significant role in solving global issues together.”

In addition to high-profile meetings with Bishop William Shomali, Auxiliary Bishop and Patriarchal vicar for Jerusalem at the Latin Patriarchate, and Israeli Ambassador (ret.) Oded Eran the delegation visited both Jewish and Christian holy sites throughout the country and had opportunities to learn from experienced theologians working to advance Jewish-Catholic relations for decades.

Commenting on the importance to visit Israel and learn about the advancements of Jewish-Catholic relations, Father Pedro Pereira of Brazil said, “here [in Brazil] we see the Jewish nation as a living covenantal faith community and not a relic in the past.” He added, “It also gave us insight in understanding Jewish identity and how that it is intertwined in a collective responsibility for all communities around the world.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION, please call Peleg Reshef or David Nekrutman at 516-882-3220 or by email peleg.reshef@wjdc.org, info@cjcuc.com

For Israel is to remain a strong Jewish and democratic country, these attacks born only out of bigotry and extremism must be stopped. We call on Jews everywhere—both religious and non-religious—to fight extremism and hatred, which desecrate God’s Holy Name.

The God of Israel is the God of life and love, not a God of violence and hatred.

Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin, Chancellor CJCUC
David Nekrutman, Executive Director, CJCUC
Rabbi Dr. Eugene Korn, North American Director, CJCUC

The Bible says “anshei kodesh tih’yun li - You (all of you) shall be holy people to Me” (Exodus 22:30). Translated literally, the Hebrew means, “Humans of holiness shall you be to Me.” A person must be human before they try to be holy. A saint without humanity is no saint.

How does a person become holy? According to the end of the biblical verse we have quoted, “holiness” is attained through the observance of dietary laws. These laws stand for respect for animals, but even more for respect for oneself. Deciding what to eat and what not to eat is an act of free-will. It says, “I have the capacity to make decisions.
I have the courage to say yes and the nerve to say no.” Moral courage
leads to holiness.

This post was written by Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple, a CJCUC lecturer and former rabbi of the Great Synagogue in Sydney, Australia

In time, the word “apple” may have come to be the general term for any fruit, and when Biblical and post-Biblical writers said (e.g. Song of Songs 2:5) that apples were good for one’s health, they may have been thinking of fruit in general. It was early Christian writers (e.g. Jerome) who identified Adam’s sin with an actual apple.

This post was written by Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple, a CJCUC lecturer and former rabbi of the Great Synagogue in Sydney, Australia

Growing up in the shadows of the Holocaust, I, a young British Jew, learned about Kristallnacht, the night in 1938 when dozens of German synagogues were attacked. In youth groups we discussed how the demonization of people and the destruction of their religious buildings were a first step to genocide. We proudly proclaimed, “never again” — never again should this happen to Jews; never again should it happen to any other people.

We understood the Biblical requirement for a sovereign Jewish state to care for everyone, including those who do not share our heritage.

Exploring our relationship to other faiths, we discovered that from medieval times, great rabbis taught their followers that Islam is a monotheistic religion whose adherents must be treated with respect. When the great Jewish philosopher, Maimonides, pondered why God had created so many people whose faith differed from his own, he concluded that although God’s will is unfathomable, Islam and Christianity seemed to be part of the divine plan to spread ethical monotheism throughout the world.

This liberal approach to other religious traditions was put to the test when the modern state of Israel was declared in 1948. How would the Jewish state treat other faith communities? The first Chief Rabbis of Israel considered the question and ruled unequivocally that according to Jewish law, Muslims and Christians were entitled to full citizenship in the new state. This ruling was affirmed in the Declaration of the State of Israel, which proclaimed that the new country would “uphold the full social and political equality of all its citizens, without distinction of race, creed or sex; will guarantee full freedom of conscience, worship, education and culture; will safeguard the sanctity and inviolability of the shrines and Holy Places of all religions”.

Ironically, it was Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, the first Chief Rabbi of the Holy Land and an icon of the religious Zionist movement, who warned that Jewish nationalism, like any other, contains the inherent dangers of xenophobia. He viewed the embryonic Jewish state as the fulfillment of ancient Biblical prophecies and he was convinced that it would be wondrous, creative and ethical. Still, he warned that unless the new country fulfilled its responsibilities to all its citizens, “it [would] eventually burst the bounds of morality when it oversteps its boundaries”.

His warning was apt. A xenophobic philosophy is breeding here which disregards the legitimate rights of Palestinians whose families have lived here for generations. It remains the preserve of a very small sector of Israeli society, but it is dangerous and must be stopped. Beginning with vile, triumphalist rhetoric, which led to attacks on Palestinian olive groves, it has grown into violence against people and mosques. Ironically, the violence is now turning inwards, morphing into attacks on Israeli soldiers whose job it is to maintain law and order, protect settlers and fulfill Israel’s commitment to remove illegal settlements.

Perhaps these developments are just part of a world phenomenon of increasing religious intolerance. Or perhaps they result from frustration at the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza which has not stopped the frequent rocket attacks over the border. Or perhaps it is Israeli fear that Iran has nuclear ambitions and wants to destroy Israel. These are the existential threats which frighten many Israeli Jews and destroy their faith in the possibility of peace. In the light of these, settlers resent the possibility that they will be removed from their homes in return for a chimera of peace.

Regardless of these fears, vigilante actions against innocent civilians, their property and places of worship are immoral, un-Jewish and unacceptable. They stain the name of religious believers and they stain the name of God.

We must denounce religious intolerance and work harder for dialogue and peace. We must urge our leaders to reach a fair settlement with the Palestinians, hastening the time when every inhabitant of this land can live with peace, justice and dignity. This is the vision of our prophets: “They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2: 4).

This article was written by Rabbi Gideon D. Sylvester – a CJCUC Lecturer, the British United Synagogue’s Rabbi in Israel and directs the Rabbis for Human Rights Beit Midrash program, which studies Jewish perspectives on human rights, at the Hillel House of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service and appeared in The Daily News Egypt website.

The popular landmark M. Pomeranz Bookseller is conveniently located near the Old City, just across from the renowned Hillel Street. “This new location gives the prospect for tour groups on a tight schedule to engage in fruitful dialogue with Jews in the midst of a biblical haven of holy Jewish books,” remarked Nekrutman. He added that CJCUC is the first Orthodox Jewish organization to promote religious dialogue with the Christian world and is an oasis where both Christian laity and scholars can feel comfortable expressing their own beliefs while discussing the commonalities between both faith communities.

CJCUC opened its facility in Efrat in 2008 under the leadership of Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. Since then, it has completed a retreat center with 23 rooms for lodging, conference area and classrooms. Thousands of Christians each year come to Efrat to learn the Hebrew bible with rabbis and orthodox Jewish scholars. In addition, staff members and lecturers of CJCUC have been hosted by visiting Christian groups at their local hotels in the Galilee and Jerusalem to learn scriptural topics such as the Biblical History of Jerusalem, Prayer, 10 Commandments, Prophecy, the Sacred Calendar, and other subjects.

Groups wishing to schedule sessions with CJCUC should contact Limor Riskin at limor@ots.org.il or call 516-882-3220 (U.S.); 972-50-634-0250 (Israel).

Since Rabbi Riskin’s appearances on Glenn Beck TV during the Restoring Courage events in Israel, the number of Christian clergy and leaders wishing to bring the Rabbi’s message of a Religion of Peace to their congregants has risen dramatically. “I am honored to serve Rabbi Riskin’s vision and help in a small way to facilitate a new dawn in relations between Christians and Jews,” Cohen said. “At a time when Israel appears to be isolated on the international stage, we have learned that Christians worldwide have come to be our stalwart supporters. It is imperative for both ancient biblical faith communities to join hands and bring a prayer of peace and friendship to the world.”

With over two decades of experience in the development of relationships between Christian and Jews, as a political and security strategist, and a veteran officer in Israel’s elite counter-terrorism forces, Dr. Cohen “brings a unique perspective about what the Restoration of Zion means in biblical, theological and modern day terms,” Rabbi Riskin remarked. During Israel’s Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, Dr. Cohen was assigned as an IDF reserve officer to the National Emergency Response & Negotiation Team in Bethlehem tasked with handling the multifaceted and potentially explosive crisis surrounding the Church of the Nativity’s seizure by terrorists.

“Dr. Cohen and I are friends from our days at the Israeli Consulate in New York, where we both served in different ministries fostering relationships between Israel and the North American Christian communities,” CJCUC’s Executive Director David Nekrutman said. He added, “This appointment gives CJCUC a huge opportunity to expand our network into Asia and Europe, while Dr. Cohen continues to advance the relations in North America that I have developed over the last four years.”

Cohen is the editor of Ordinary People Extraordinary Spirit and he is now working on a project that will highlight the non-Jewish contributions to the rebirth of the Jewish State. To book Dr. Cohen at your place of worship, please contact CJCUC at 516-882-3220.