ICCJ supports Budapest rally
This week an ICCJ delegation visited the Hungarian capital Budapest. As many others world wide, we became aware of the political situation that might be difficult for some groups in Hungarian society. The week of our visit there was another antisemitic incident in the Hungarian Parliament.
Arkush-Weissman exchange of letters
The exchange of letters between ICCJ President Dr. Deborah Weissman and Mr. Jonathan Arkush, Vice-President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, is for the time being coming to a conclusion. Dr. Weissman and Mr. Arkush have discussed the role of the EAPPI program of the World Council of Churches.
Violence in Gaza and Israel
During the last five days, Israel and Gaza have experienced a frightening round of violence. The ICCJ's member organization in Israel, the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel, or ICCI, has sent out the following statement. ICCJ President Dr. Deborah Weissman and the Co-Chair of ICCJ’s International Abrahamic Forum Rabbi Ehud Bandel, both Israelis, fully endorse the ICCI statement. We have many people we are worried about, and we mourn the loss of human life on both sides.
UK Board of Deputies questions ICCJ comments on EAPPI
A few weeks ago ICCJ published a Rosh haShana letter written by ICCJ President Dr. Deborah Weissman. In this letter she referred to the debate going on in the United Kingdom about the EAPPI program of the World Council of Churches. The Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel enables Christians to live for a few months on the West Bank experiencing live under occupation. “When they return home, Ecumenical Accompaniers campaign for a just and peaceful resolution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through an end to the occupation, respect for international law and implementation of UN resolutions.” (Quote from EAPPI-website)
ICCJ visit Budapest
On Wednesday and Thursday, November 28–29, a delegation of the International Council of Christians and Jews will visit the Hungarian capital Budapest. For quite some time troublesome news is coming from Hungary. As a result of a more nationalist turn Hungarian politics have taken, reports on xenophobic and anti-Semitic incidents have reached us.
Letter from Prague
Members of the Board of the Czech CCJ, wrote a letter to the Human Rights Commissioner of the Government of the Czech Republic recently. The letter asks for her support for immigrants coming to the Czech Republic from countries where they are persecuted also because of their faith, among other things. Read the letter ....
French CCJ awards Sisters of Sion
PARIS - Two Sisters of Sion, Sr. Louise-Marie Niesz and Sr. Dominique de la Maisonneuve, received this evening the annual award of the French ICCJ member organization, the Amitié Judéo-Chrétienne de France. The ceremony was held in the beautiful “Collège des Bernardins” in Paris.
Jewish-Christian dialogue in Hungary
The International Council of Christians and Jews noted with growing concern the reports about growing anti-Semitism in Hungary. It was therefore decided to visit our two Hungarian member organizations: the Christian-Jewish Society and the Hungarian Council of Christians and Jews. Dr. József Szécsi, General Secretary of the Society and Board Member of the Council, is very helpful in preparing the visit, which will take place most probably end of November. He wrote a report on the situation in Hungary, the history of both ICCJ members in the country and what they do trying to turn the tide. Excerpts from this report may be found below.
Growing intolerance
Several European cities recently have seen attacks on individuals and buildings, clearly anti-Semitic in character. The General Secretary of the Jewish Central Council in Germany was attacked verbally on Yom Kippur in Berlin. And last week stones were thrown at the Jewish community center in Malmö. Muslim and Christian sites in Israel are very often under attack. The walls of the Latrun Monastery, the Dormitio Abbey and other Christian places were defaced with very offensive “price tag” graffiti.
Tools for constructive dialogue
The ICCJ has long been involved in the discussions that arise when in Jewish-Christian dialogue the problems of the Middle East are discussed. In the "Twelve Points of Berlin" the ICCJ has outlined its starting position: Working together for a just solution.
Shana Tova
Shalom from Jerusalem. I am writing this message on the eve of the Jewish High Holydays and specifically want to wish our Jewish members a happy, healthy, peaceful and sweet New Year.
ICCI denounces attack on the Latrun monastery
In the early hours of the morning on Tuesday, Sept. 4th, 2012, the Trappist monastery in Latrun was vandalized and anti-Christian graffiti were sprayed on the walls. This appears to be again the work of the extremist Jews who call their actions "the price tag."Our Israeli member orgainization has issued the folloiwng press release:
International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ) |
