Jewish-Catholic Relations

About Jewish-Catholic Relations and the Archdiocese of Chicago

Right to left: Noam Marans, Director of Interfaith and Intergroup Relations, AJC; Cardinal Cupich; David Inlander, Chair of Interreligious Affairs Commission, AJC; Barbara Kantrow Assistant Director, AJC Chicago.

At the Second Vatican Council in 1965, the Declaration Nostra Aetate (“In Our Time”) called for Catholics and Jews to collaborate in “biblical and theological inquiry … and friendly discussions.” The Archdiocese of Chicago takes this declaration seriously and is committed to continuing to understand and work with the vibrant Jewish culture in the Chicagoland area through a variety of initiatives. A few of our engagements and programs include:

Annual Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture
The Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture continues and enriches the relationship between Jews and Catholics with an annual lecture on the theological issues affecting their communities. Each year’s lecture alternates between a Jewish/Catholic speaker and location. The Archdiocese of Chicago co-sponsors the event with AJC Chicago, Anti-Defamation League, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago Board of Rabbis, DePaul University, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership.

The Bernardin-Jerusalem Lecture series commemorates Joseph Cardinal Bernardin’s voyage to Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by local Catholic and Jewish leaders. On March 23, 1995, Cardinal Bernardin delivered a lecture entitled “Anti-Semitism: The Historical Legacy and the Continuing Challenge for Christians,” in the Senate Hall at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The lecture was the centerpiece of his visit to Israel. Upon returning to the United States, Cardinal Bernardin established an annual lecture to continue the high level of conversation between Chicago’s Jewish and Catholic communities around the theological issues affecting their relationship.

2024 Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture

The 27th Annual Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture: “Recovering a Jewish Jesus: An Imperative for the Church” will be in live-streamed at 7:00 p.m. (CDT) on March 4, 2024, and will also be in person at North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 Sheridan Road, Glencoe, IL 60022. Please register below to attend in person or to receive the online link to the event.

Speaker: Prof. Mary C. Boys, SNJM, Union Theological Seminary, New York 

Description: This lecture will explore how and why early followers of Jesus lost sight of his Jewish identity and analyze the historical consequences of this loss for both Christians and Jews. In continuity with Cardinal Bernardin’s 1995 Jerusalem Lecture on antisemitism, it will then examine the necessity in our time of recovering a Jewish Jesus, including the obligation of Christians to learn anew about Judaism from Jews.

To register, please click here.

Click here to access the lecture flyer.

Program

Welcome and Introduction of Speakers: Rabbi Wendi Geffen, North Shore Congregation Israel

Opening Remarks: Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago

2024 Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture: Prof. Mary C. Boys, SNJM, Union Theological Seminary, New York

Sponsors: Archdiocese of Chicago, AJC–Chicago, Anti-Defamation League, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago Board of Rabbis, DePaul University, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership