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JTS & Union Commemorate 50th Anniv of Heschel’s Revolutionary Address on Interreligious Dialogue

Nov 9, 2015

The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) and Union Theological Seminary will host “No Religion Is an Island” featuring a conversation between Arnold M. Eisen, chancellor of JTS, and Serene Jones, president of the Faculty and Johnston Family Professor for Religion and Democracy at Union. John J. Thatamanil, associate professor of Theology and World Religions at Union, will moderate. Abraham Joshua Heschel spoke at Union 50 years ago, just as the Vatican was acting on Nostra Aetate, bringing Catholic, Jewish, and Protestant voices into accord. The action helped the groups move from centuries of enmity towards one other to tolerance and ultimately common cause. Today, particularly in the US, we enjoy an era of unprecedented interreligious dialogue, cooperation, and communal purpose in addressing together our nation’s—indeed our world’s—most pressing needs. Chancellor Eisen and President Jones will assess the promise of Heschel’s address, reflect on JTS and Union’s shared journey of interreligious engagement, and discuss the possibilities of future cooperation between the Jewish and Christian communities.