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SAINT JAMES VICARIATE FOR HEBREW SPEAKING CATHOLICS IN ISRAEL

Sixty Years - A Pastoral Letter

Father David Neuhaus, Latin Patriarchal Vicar, responsible for the Saint James Vicariate for Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel, has published a pastoral letter on the occasion of the 60th anniversary since the founding of the Work of Saint James. The letter was published on the Feast of Edith Stein, August 9, 2015.

Read here

NEW BOOK !

by Rabbi Dr. Mark Kinzer
"Searching Her Own Mystery"

with foreword of Card. Christoph Schonborn - Archibishop of Vienna, Austria

Read an excerpt: "On April 27, 2014 the Catholic Church officially recognized Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II as saints. Media reports focused on the appeal these two figures held for rival segments of the Church; John XXIII inspired progressives, while John Paul II earned the devotion of traditionalists. Little attention was given to the revolution in Catholic teaching and sensibility that these two Popes jointly accomplished;John XXIII as initiator, John Paul II as interpreter, emblematic personality, and implementer." Read more (entire first chapter)

This book is available at Wipf and Stock, Amazon (also Kindle edition)

INTERVIEW - JUNE 9th, 2015

The Jewish People and the Identity of the Church  

BOOK REVIEW

From Saint James Vicariate For Hebrew Speaking Catholics in Israel
by Fr. David Neuhaus

Rabbi Mark Kinzer, a foremost Messianic Jewish theologian has published a new book on Nostra Aetate and its implications for Christian theology and dialogue with the Jews. Father David reports:

Rabbi Mark Kinzer, Messianic leader of the Zera Avraham Congregation in Ann Arbor, Michigan (b. 1952), has recently published a book on Nostra Aetate and its significance for Jews and Christians, Searching Her Own Mystery: Nostra Aetate, the Jewish People and the Identity of the Church (Eugene, Cascade Books, 2015). The book is an important contribution to the interpretation of Nostra Aetate and to the ongoing dialogue between Jews and Catholics, particularly those Jews who do believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

This year is the fiftieth anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the document that redefines the Catholic Church’s teaching on the relationship with members of other religions. The document was formulated during the Second Vatican Council, a council that brought together the leaders of the Catholic Church from all over the world. They deliberated for three years, from 1962 until 1965, redefining the Church’s relationship with the modern world and formulating the Church teaching within the context of the twentieth century. Nostra Aetate, translated “in our times”, redefined the attitude of the Catholic Church towards non-Christian religions. Discussions on the formulation of the document that became Nostra Aetate began with discussions on the attitude of the Catholic Church towards Jews and Judaism and this subject, the content of paragraph 4, is the longest part of the text.

Rabbi Kinzer defines four major changes evoked by Nostra Aetate in its long paragraph on the Jews and Judaism:

- The rejection of the claim that the Jews killed Christ. This tragically wrong interpretation of the Gospel has had devastating consequences for the Jews throughout the past two thousand years of history. The Council denounced anti-Semitism and all forms of racism!

- The reminder that Jews and Christians have a shared heritage not only focused on the Old Testament as a common patrimony but also emphasized that Yeshua, his Blessed Mother, the apostles and the early Church are Jewish.

- The insistence that the Jews are a chosen people and have an irrevocable vocation. They are not rejected by God because God is always faithful despite our faithlessness. In a particularly revolutionary formulation, the document, basing itself on Romans 11:29, a text never cited before in the Magisterium of the Church, said: “God holds the Jews most dear for the sake of their Fathers; He does not repent of the gifts He makes or of the calls He issues.”

- Finally, Kinzer claims that the document drives home the realization that the Church and the Jews are inextricably linked in the sight of God. It is from here that he derives the title of his book, quoting the beginning of paragraph 4: “As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham's stock”.

The renewal and purification of memory led to a change in thought and language that transformed a “teaching of contempt”, a phrase formulated by the Jewish French historian Jules Isaac, who encountered Pope John XXIII in 1960, into a “teaching of respect”.

Kinzer’s book goes on to deepen an understanding of the theological challenges that result from Nostra Aetate, examining ecclesiology, the sacraments of priesthood, baptism and Eucharist and challenging the Church and the Jewish people to pursue an understanding of sacramental presence that brings them ever closer together. The book includes fascinating sections on Kinzer’s own spiritual journey and the ongoing dialogue between Messianic Jews and Catholics.

 

 

 

“It is impossible to separate the Church of Yeshua from the Jewish peoplehood, and it is also impossible to separate the Jewish people from the person of Yeshua of Nazareth, the crucified and resurrected Messiah. Therefore, the Jewish people and the Christian Churches are so intimately connected that it is impossible to clearly understand one without the other…” (Mark Kinzer – Paris 2011)

“Our relationships express both the reality of Jewish peoplehood—our bond as Jews which transcends our theological and organizational differences—and the reality of our common union with the Messiah through the Spirit”. (Mark Kinzer – Helsinki 2010)

Read about the members'
personal experience of the HC 

 

GO to the Statements' PAGE 

In particular, GO to: 

Boris Balter

"For me, being Jewish has never been a problem..." (read more)

Jacques Benjamin Doukhan

"When I accepted the invitation to join the Helsinki Consultation it was because I was intrigued..." (read more)

Richard Harvey

"I am delighted of being part of this growing group of Jewish believers in Yeshua..." (read more)

Mark S. Kinzer

"For the first twenty years of my life as a disciple of Yeshua I was a member of an ecumenical community..." (read more)

Antoine Levy

"In hindsight, I would describe my discovery of Christian faith at the age of 23 as a wonderful disaster..." (read more)

Lisa Loden

"As an Israeli Messianic Jew with scholarly interests, the Helsinki Consultation provides a unique forum..." (read more)

David Neuhaus

"I became a believer in Yeshua through the luminous witness of a Russian Orthodox nun..." (read more)

Svetlana Panich

"When I came to the Helsinki Consultation for the first time in 2010, I was sure that it would be just one more interesting academic encounter among others..." (read more)

Vladimir Pikman

"I believe the visible unity of sincere followers of Yeshua the Messiah reveals the mystery of the very divine nature and calling of Yeshua..." (read more) 

You can find here some books and articles written by the participants and other publications.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE HELSINKI CONSULTATION

 

BORIS BALTER (founding member of the HC)

Boris Balter (Russian Federation) was born in 1952, and graduated in 1975 from the Moscow State University as a physicist. He works in the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences doing research in applied mathematics and information processing. He is the author of numerous scientific publications. Balter is an active member of the Russian Orthodox Church, participating in the Cosmas and Damian parish in Moscow. Harmonizing Jewish and Christian wisdom in theology and life is among his principal theological interests.

Among his ecclesial activities is the editing and publication of the sermons of Father Alexander Borisov and the late Father Georgy Chistyakov. Balter also teaches Bible in “Bridge of Friendship,” a Christian community mainly serving Jewish Christians and non-Christians. His Bible-teaching is collected in a series of audio-disks. READ Boris' personal statement here 

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JACQUES BENJAMIN DOUKHAN

Jacques B. Doukhan is professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, director of the Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies at Andrews University, and general editor of the Seventh-day Adventist International Bible Commentary project. He has been with the Andrews faculty since 1984. Before assuming his present position, Doukhan taught and served as president of the Adventist Seminary in Mauritius. He also taught at the seminary in Collonges and the Adventist college in Algiers. In addition, he served as a pastor in the France-Belgian area.

Born in Algeria, Doukhan received a Master in Hebrew Language and Literature and a doctorate in Hebrew Language and Literature from the University of Strasbourg. Later, he received a doctor of theology degree in Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology from Andrews University. Doukhan also holds a Master in Egyptology from the University of Montpellier.

Doukhan is the author of ten books including Israel and the Church: Two Voices for the Same God (Hendrickson Publishers, 2002); Mystery of Israel (Review and Herald Publishing Assoc., 2004). He is the editor of Thinking in the Shadow of Hell: The Impact of the Holocaust on Theology and Jewish-Christian Relations (Andrews University Press, 2002). Doukhan is married to Lilianne Uebersax, and they have one daughter. READ Jacques' personal statement here

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RICHARD HARVEY (founding member of the HC)

Richard Harvey was a founding member of the London Messianic Congregation, and also served as President of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance.  He holds an undergraduate degree in Theology and Religious Studies at Bristol University and a Master of Arts degree in Hebrew and Jewish Studies from University College, London (1992). He was awarded his PhD in 2008 for his pioneering study Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology (Paternoster/Authentic Media 2009), the first comprehensive study of the emerging theology of Messianic Judaism.

In 1997 he joined the staff of All Nations Christian College, where he has taught Hebrew Bible, Jewish Studies, Intercultural Discipleship, Hermeneutics and Preaching, and where he served as Academic Dean and Director of Post-graduate studies. He introduced the first UK Masters Programm in Messianic Jewish Theology. He is now Senior Researcher at Rosen Centre, Tel Aviv, and Associate Lecturer at All Nations College. He is married to Monica, who is also a Messianic Jew, and they have two children. READ Richard's personal statement here, GO to his blog and personal website

See here the publications' page.

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MARK S. KINZER

Co-chair of the Helsinki Consultation on Jewish Continuity in the Body of Messiah

Mark Kinzer is Senior Scholar and President Emeritus of Messianic Jewish Theological Institute, a Messianic Jewish graduate school, and the Spiritual Leader of Congregation Zera Avraham, a Messianic Jewish synagogue in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US. He is the author of Postmissionary Messianic Judaism: Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People (Brazos 2005), Israel’s Messiah and the People of God: A Vision for Messianic Jewish Covenant Fidelity (Cascade 2011) and A Searching Her Own Mystery (Wipf and Stock 2015).

Kinzer received his PhD in 1995 in Second Temple Judaism from the University of Michigan, and was ordained a Rabbi by the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations in 2001. He was the first chair of the Faith and Halakhic Standards Committee of the Messianic Jewish Rabbinical Council, and has also been a member of the Roman Catholic – Messianic Jewish Dialogue Group since it was called into being by the Theologian of the Papal Household, Cardinal Cottier, in 2000. He is married to Roslyn, also a Messianic Jew. They live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. READ Mrak's personal statement here

See here the publications' page and his website.

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Fr. ANTOINE LEVY, OP

Co-chair of the Helsinki Consultation on Jewish Continuity in the Body of Messiah

Fr. Antoine Levy OP is Professor at the University of Eastern Finland (School of Theology) and Director of the Helsinki Studium Catholicum. He was born in Paris in 1962. He was raised in a non-religious Zionist home. He discovered Christian faith while studying Philosophy at the Sorbonne and at the École Normale Supérieure (St. Cloud). After receiving Baptism in the Catholic Church, he entered the Dominican Order in 1990.

Fr. Antoine is the author of a monograph on St.Maximus the Confessor and St. Thomas Aquinas, and has published journal articles in French, English, and Finnish on a variety of subjects including Patristics, Medieval theology, Orthodox spirituality, Russian political philosophy, and Messianic Judaism. He is also a member of the Roman Catholic-Messianic Jewish Dialogue Group. (Read more >>). READ Antoine's personal statement here

See here the publications' page.

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LISA LODEN (founding member of the HC)

Lisa Loden is the Head of Leadership Development at the Nazareth Evangelical Theological Seminary where she lectures on leadership, spirituality, and forgiveness studies. Loden serves on the boards of the Israeli Bible Society; Musalaha (a ministry of reconciliation); the Student Fellowship in Israel; Hagefen (an Israeli Messianic publishing company); and The Global Network for Reconciliation. She is co-coordinator for the Catholic - Messianic Jewish Dialogue Group and is a Contemplative Prayer Retreat Leader.

Loden served as the Managing Director of The Caspari Center for Biblical and Jewish Studies from 2002-2007. In 2011 she co-edited the book The Land Cries Out, and her articles have appeared in The Bible and the Land (Musalaha 2000); Lausanne Occasional Papers (Lausanne 2004); World Pulse (Lausanne, 2006) and Christian Perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Neufeld Verlag 2008).  She has also had poems published in international anthologies. 

Loden immigrated to Israel from the United States in 1974. In 1977, together with her husband David, she cofounded Messianic congregation Beit Asaph in Netanya. She has one daughter and one grandchild. READ Lisa's personal statement here  

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Fr. DAVID M. NEUHAUS, SJ (founding member of the HC)

David Mark Neuhaus SJ is an Israeli Jesuit Catholic priest. He is Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel (www.catholic.co.il). He is also Coordinator of Catholic services to the migrant worker and asylum seeker populations, and teaches Scripture at the Seminary of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and in the Religious Studies Department at Bethlehem University.

Fr. Neuhaus received his PhD (Political Science) at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and then completed a Theology degree in Paris (Centre Sevres) and a degree in Scripture at Rome (Pontifical Biblical Institute). He was ordained to the priesthood in Jerusalem by the Patriarch of Jerusalem in 2000.

His publications include Justice and the Intifada: Palestinians and Israelis speak out (edited with Kathy Bergen and Ghassan Rubeiz; New York: Friendship Press, 1991); Kritische Solidarität: Einige Uberlegungen zur Rolle privlegierter Christinnen und Christen im Kampf der Enteigneten (Trier: Aphorisma Kulturverein, 1995); and The Land that I will show you…Land, Bible and History (written in collaboration with Alain Marchadour), which has been published in French (2006), English (2007), Italian (2007) and German (2011). READ David's personal statement here

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SVETLANA PANICH (founding member of the HC)

Svetlana Panich is a literary critic and translator. Panich was born in Donetsk (Ukraine), and graduated with a degree in Russian Philology from Moscow State University. From 1998 till 2005 she lived in Kiev (Ukraine), and worked as a journalist, a coordinator in the CIS branch of the Association of Christian Schools International, and a researcher at the Institute of Jewish Studies and the Centre of European Studies in Humanities of the National University “Kiev-Mohyla Academy.”

In 2005 Panich returned to Moscow, where she has worked as a lecturer in Literature at St. Andrew’s Biblical Theological Institute and as a researcher at the Alexander Solzhenitsyn Centre of Russian Emigré Studies. She is also a member of the Council of  Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh Spiritual Heritage Foundation.  Panich is the author of more than 30 articles in Russian and other languages. READ Svetlana's personal statement here

SEE some pictures of Svetlana in the HC Dropbox!

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VLADIMIR PIKMAN (founding member of the HC)

Vladimir Pikman was born in Kiev (Ukraine). He is the founding Executive Director of Beit Sar Shalom, the largest Messianic Jewish outreach in Germany, and the Rabbi of the Messianic Jewish congregation in Berlin. In Chosen People Global Ministries he helps in coordinating Messianic Jewish outreach in Western and Eastern Europe. He was the founding President of the German Messianic Jewish Alliance and is the Vice-President of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance.

Pikman holds a Master of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the Ukrainian National University in Kiev, a Bachelor of Theology from Cornerstone International University, and a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is presently working on his PhD in New Testament Exegesis at University of Dortmund (Germany). He has taught in theological schools worldwide and is the author of numerous theological, missiological, and intercultural-communication articles. He lives in Berlin, Germany, with his wife, Inna, and two daughters, Elishevah and Shoshannah. READ Vladimir's personal statement here