Institute for Jewish-Catholic Relations
"Synagoga and Ecclesia in Our Time" by Joshua Koffman depicts the Institute's mission as Church and Synagogue enjoying the study of their sacred texts together. Pope Francis visited the SJU campus in 2015 to bless the sculpture and that mission. [Learn More]
The Story of the Institute
Deepening understanding between Jews and Catholics through shared study since 1967
In 1965, the Second Vatican Council in its declaration Nostra Aetate ("In Our Time") called—for the first time in history—upon Catholics and Jews to join in “biblical and theological inquiry … and friendly discussions.” Believing that rapprochement between Jews and Catholics was integral to the Catholic and Jesuit identity of Saint Joseph's, the Jesuit community founded the Institute, the first such American response to the Council. They defined the Institute's mission as increasing knowledge and deepening understanding between the two communities. The Institute today is directed by a Jewish professor and a Catholic professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. They regularly team-teach and partner nationally and globally to research Jewish and Christian reconciliation and reform. They promote opportunities for Christians and Jews to be study partners, teaching and learning about themselves and each other by studying and experiencing together texts, rituals, events, and places.
INSTITUTE NEWS
IJCR NEWS
IJCR hosts international research on Christ Jesus the Jew
IJCR hosts international research on Christ Jesus the Jew
The IJCR recently hosted scholars from 10 nations to begin a multiyear research project, "Christ Jesus the Jew: The Importance of His Jewish Identity for Christians and for Jews Today."
Rabbi Abraham Skorka receives honorary doctorate from SJU
Rabbi Abraham Skorka receives honorary doctorate from SJU
Saint Joseph’s University has bestowed the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa on Rabbi Abraham Skorka, Ph.D. for his dedication to interreligious relations.
Podcast: Building Bridges between Jews and Catholics
Podcast: Building Bridges between Jews and Catholics
For AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast, IJCR Directors Philip Cunningham and Adam Gregerman describe the mission and plans of the Institute in the context of the history of Christian-Jewish relations.
LATEST VIDEOS
Videos
A Call to U.S. Churches to Confront Antisemitism and Stress Jesus' Jewishness
A Call to U.S. Churches to Confront Antisemitism and Stress Jesus' Jewishness
The Directors present a statement from the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations to "Shine a Light" on Antisemitism, endorsed by the Institute.
The Current State of Jewish Interreligious Relations: A Global Perspective
The Current State of Jewish Interreligious Relations: A Global Perspective
Rabbi Dr. David Sandmel, chair of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, describes its mission and current concerns.
Pope Pius XII: The Portrait Emerging from the Vatican (and Other) Archives
Pope Pius XII: The Portrait Emerging from the Vatican (and Other) Archives
Pulitzer Prize winning author David Kertzer describes his new book, The Pope at War.
International Collaborations
Encyclopedia of Jewish-Christian Relations
Dr. Cunningham is an advisory board member for this project of the Berlin-based publisher DeGruyter. He and Dr. Gregerman have also authored articles in it. View an introductory video to the project, which includes an interview with the Institute directors about co-writing one of the entries.
Enabling Dialogue about the Land
The Institute was a university sponsor of a research project of the International Council of Christians and Jews, which led to the publication of a resource book for Jews and Christians on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by Paulist Press. Watch a video interview with the volume’s editors on ICCJ's YouTube channel.
Collaborative Resources
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The Institute is a founding member of the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations (CCJR), a network of centers and institutes in the United States and Canada. The Council publishes the peer-reviewed, open-access online journal Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations.
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The Institute cosponsors with the CCJR a library of resources in Catholic-Jewish relations called Dialogika ("things of dialogue"). The library provides documents from Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and interfaith bodies, educational resources and texts from the history of Catholic-Jewish relations.