We are thanked for 'generous' space on Jewish affairs

From a Special Correspondent TREMENDOUSLY exciting and challenging tasks faced those who were prepared to undertake them in promoting increased Christian-Jewish oo-operation in the coming year, said Mr Leonard Goss, organising secretary of the Council of Christians and Jews, in a special Catholic Herald interview.
Mr Goss, an orthodox Jew, said he welcomed the "very generous" allocation of valuable space in this newspaper to matters of concern to his organisation, and he had been thrilled to read the front-page article on the American pastoral statement which called forcontinuing consideration and understanding in this field.
He • said: "My pleasure was in no way diluted by the critical comments of Car dinal John Kral. Of course there is misunderstanding on the Jewish side as well as the Christian side. If there were none, then there would be no need for a body like the CCJ.
"But only honesty can diminish this, and that honesty must come from both sides. It must include admissions of past failures to recognise the rights and indeed rightness of `the others' and an acknowledgement of history. ,
"This, perhaps, is one of the more important aspects. When a people has suffered persecution for centuries, it is surely understandable that there remains a suspicion .. . a feeling that 'if they are not of us' they may not either be really with us,' and so great care is required."
Mr Goss said that recently he spoke at a meeting of Jewish people about the work of the Council of Christians and Jews, and he had referred to the late Cardinal Heenan's declaration, when presiding over the CCJ annual meeting only weeks before his death, of the continuing need for the existence of that body.
There had been a response from one member of the audience who asked if Jews, after almost 2,000 years "in isolation" and many forms of suffering, were supposed to be grateful and he expected to be thrilled by admissions that Christians had possibly been wrong in some of their statements of the past? "We cannot. overnight, he expected to wipe out bitter memories of history, and, more especially among those who lived through the Nazi holocaust — even on its fringes but the feeling that we are, together, making efforts to create the new era mentioned in the article on Catholic-Jewish affairs is most stimulating," went on Mr Goss.
In some of the local Councils of Christians and Jews there had sometimes been a criticism that while Christians willingly went to synagogues and attended lectures on Judaism, there did not seem the same enthusiasm amongst Jews for a knowledge of Christianity.
Mr Goss said this was undoubtedly true, but the view held on this by the Jewish people concerned was: "We get Christianity thrust at us all the time; we cannot fail to have some superficial knowledge of Christianity, its holy days and the concerns of its leaders in this and other countries.
"But it seems that only now, after almost 20 centuries, are Christians once again beginning to acknowledge that their Faith came from ours and that, although there are very important differences, we have so very much which we share . ."
Mr Goss said that this theme continued on the lines of "Let the Christians learn something more of the source of their own Faith, and they may he better plac
ed to discuss Christian Christianity with us instead of telling us of what they believe to he Christianity, which is so often just a revis
ed version of Judaism." ; There was still much to learn on both sides, and it was a fact, said Mr Goss, that membership and participation in the activities of the Council of Christians and Jews gave people of both Faiths the opportunity to admit a lack of knowledge or understanding, without loss of face.
Referring to a letter which he sent to the Catholic Herald some time ago, Mr Goss regretted that the CCJ was still a very long way from forming its "200 Club" which he hoped might find that number of donors of substantial sums up to £500 each,
But he said: "If we had an
influx of, say, 5,0 0 0 members each contributing sums between £5 and £20, that would bring in the same sort of revenue but, more important, increase the numbers of those genuinely interested in our work and demonstrating that interest in practical fashion."
Christians undoubtedly believed that Jesus was the greatest Jew to have been born, and Mr Goss suggested: "Perhaps while they are celebrating his birthday very shortly, they will remember this, and decide to join in the work of bringing about the true peace on earth and goodwill towards men."
The address of the CCJ is 41 Cadogan Gardens, London, SW3, From which Mr Goss promises acknowledgements of all letters.