WHEREAS we are bidden שלום דרכי מפני (for ways of peace) and הבריות שלום מפני (for peace among all creatures) and איבה מפני (to avoid hatred) and ה׳ חילול מפני (to avoid disgrace) and העולם תקון מפני (for improving the world) to be concerned that relations with our neighbors be on the highest possible level;
WHEREAS in many areas, relations between Jewish and Christian faith groups have never been better, partly due to the impact of Nostra Aetate forty years ago and the efforts of Pope John Paul II in Jewish-Catholic dialogue;
WHEREAS in some areas, concerns remain, such as the recently disclosed documents regarding the return of Jewish children who were baptized and hidden during the Holocaust to their families;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that members of the Rabbinical Assembly continue to promote positive relations between our synagogues and the churches among whom we live, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly praise Pope John Paul II for his initiatives in promoting Jewish-Catholic dialogue to the benefit of both of our communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly call on its members to join with the Roman Catholic Church in celebrating the 40th anniversary of Nostra Aetate; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Rabbinical Assembly call on its members to spearhead a campaign to call upon the Vatican to open all Holocaust era baptismal files and other related records until all records from that era are completely and publicly examined.
Passed by the Rabbinical Assembly Plenum, March, 2005