YAHAD-IN UNUM, a common initiative for human dignity, dialogue and solidarity
|
| Pope John-Paul II in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, in 2000. |
YAHAD-IN UNUM has been founded in january 2004 by the Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, who was archbishop of Paris at that time, with the Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, archbishop of Lyon and the Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeaux and the Rabbi Israël Singer, chairman of the World Jewish Congress, and Mr. Serge Cwajgenbaum, secretary-general of the World Jewish Congress, having the goal to increase knowledge and cooperation between Catholics and Jews. Symbolising the ambition of the project, the association takes name YAHAD-IN UNUM, " YAHAD " and " IN UNUM " both meaning " together " in hebrew and in latin.
YAHAD-IN UNUM makes the christian-jewish relations real after 50 years of great evolution
Thanks to the Concile of Vatican II, the words and the actions of Pope Johannes Paulus II, carried on by Benedict XVI, have definitely changed the situation and set up a loyal and mutual trust. The falling down of the sovietic regime, 50 years after the nazi regime opened new ways in Europe for christianism and judaism. In 2004 and 2005, some of the most remarkable leaders of the jewish orthodoxy started a mainly religious discussion with catholic bishops in a mutual respect to their differences. Jews and Christians live in societies which are marked by a strong secularization. Everybody who is conscient about the ethic and the responsibility received from the gift of the Law on Mount Sinai , must realize the necessity of a dialogue and a religious brotherhood for the good of the society.
|
| Cardinal
Jean-Marie Lustiger and Rabbi Israël Singer
friendly talking during a reception. © Guillaume Ribot. |
YAHAD-IN UNUM's two main goals
This organization has the vocation of :
- Supporting the initiatives of discussions between jewish and catholic
religious authorities,
- Replying to issues of the world with common projects founded on the
ethic inspired by the gift of the law on Mount Sinai.
Organization chart
- Father Patrick Desbois, President (he
is
also Director of the Episcopal Committee for Relations with
Jews),
- Dr. Richard Prasquier, vice-President and also President of the
CRIF (Conseil Représentatif des Institutions juives de
France),
- Mr. Marco Gonzalez, Assistant Secretary,
- Mr. Michel Roux, , Secretary,
- Mr. Henri Planet,
Treasurer.