JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS

Being here for so long in the Holy Land one cannot deny the various tensions that exist between the different groups of people.  Today we had a unique opportunity to meet a representative from the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations.  During this time we were shown the ways in which this group is helping to bring light to an otherwise grim situation.  This group offers hope.  Hope for a better future between Jews and Christians in the Holy Land.  By working with the youth and the schools this organization tries to instill an attitude of tolerance and understanding for those who have differing world views.

The encounter is complicated by the fact that the national identity of the majority of local Christians is locked in conflict with the national identity of the majority of Israeli Jews. Palestinian Arab Christians and Israeli Jews are both engaged in a search for a meaningful communal identity that takes into account a mixture of historical, political, social, cultural, and religious factors that are difficult to disentangle.