Rescuing Paul
October and November 2001
The Fall 2001 Mini-Course, taught by Janis Koch, was held in October and November at the Church of the Redeemer. For the past two thousand years, most Christians and many Jews have understood the Apostle Paul to have been a Jew who, following the startling revelation of Jesus Christ, renounced his ancestral religion, attacked the validity of the Mosaic Law, insisted on justification through faith in Christ, and ultimately became the founder of Christianity. But is this understanding of Paul and his theology accurate? Ms. Koch, joined by ICJS scholars Rosann Catalano, Chris Leighton, and Charles Arian, introduced a "new" view of the Apostle Paul focused on the man behind the myth in the Pauline letters and the Acts of the Apostles. Rescuing Paul redefined Pauline concepts such as gospel, law, faith, and righteousness in light of recent scholar-ship. Participants applied these learnings to selected passages in Paul's "Letter to the Romans" and examined the study's implications for Christians and Jews today.

Jews and Christians in Antioch
October 24, 2001
In the first of several partnerships that focus on religious symbolism and art, the ICJS teamed with the Baltimore Muse-um of Art during the October exhibition, Antioch -- the Lost Ancient City.
   From the city's founding in 300 C.E. there was a strong Jewish presence. Jews were fully involved in local affairs while seeking to preserve their traditions and identity. At Antioch the disciples of Jesus were first called "Christians." Peter and Paul collaborated and clashed there. Matthew wrote his gospel in Antioch, and the city joined Rome, Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Constantinople as one of early Christianity's five major centers.
   John Roberts, ICJS project consultant and pastor emeritus of Woodbrook Baptist Church, led the discussion with educa-tor, artist, and BMA docent June Heintz. Together they revealed Antioch's complex relationship in the partings of the ways between Jews and Christians. Following the discussion, participants enjoyed a tour of the exhibition -- a truly fascinating collection of artifacts that reflect the city, its people, and its religious diversity.

Islam and the Jewish-Christian Encounter
November 27, 2001
and December 12, 2001
Our fall public event, hosted by Chizuk Amuno Congregation, explored fundamental questions about what it means to be a Jew or a Christian in relationship to the Islamic tradition. On two separate nights discussions were led by Dr. Sulayman Nyang, Professor of African Studies at Howard University, who addressed the questions "What does God require of us?" and "Is religious faith compatible with democracy?" Respondents included Rabbi Nina Beth Cardin, author and trustee Taylor Branch, and ICJS scholars Rosann Catalano and Charles Arian. The full transcript of both sessions is available on this Web site.

High School Genesis
January and February 2002
Hosted by Baltimore City College and Gilman School, the 2002 High School Genesis Project was held on four consecutive Tuesday evenings in January and February. The program brought together a remarkable cross-section of public and private high school students from in and around Baltimore. Sixty students, led by ICJS-trained facilitators Geoffrey Basik, Donna Lee Frisch, Judy Frumkin, Maggi Gaines, Emily Gaines Demsky, David Holland, and David Owens, studied the Genesis stories: Adam and Eve, Noah, The Tower of Babel, and The Binding of Isaac. The discussions engaged students with dif-ferent perspectives in conversations about biblical stories common to both the Christian and Jewish traditions. In its sixth year, High School Genesis continues to offer young lead-ers opportunities to navigate a disorienting world of religious and ethnic diversity.

Advent and Lenten Colloquia focus on Matthew
November 2001
and January 2002
The ongoing intention of the ICJS Preaching Colloquia is to provide Christian clergy a background for understanding texts that have often led to misrepresentation of Judaism and Jew-ish people. Both of this year's colloquia were hosted by Woodbrook Baptist Church. The first of two programs, An Advent Afternoon, was held in November and led by Chris Leighton, Rosann Catalano, Charles Arian, and John Roberts. The Advent study focused on Matthew 2:13-23, a challenging text that contains verses with allusions to the Massacre (or the Slaughter) of the Innocents. Our ICJS scholars shared materials from the worlds of exegesis, poetry, and art. The January program, Setting the Tone for Lent, featured Dr. Deidre Good, Matthean Scholar at the General Theological Seminary in New York. Dr. Good's lecture focused on the difficulties that emerge in preaching Lenten scripture.

Christian and Jewish Educators Study Group
February 7, 2002
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation provided the setting for the Christian and Jewish Educators Study Group study of "Who is Israel?" a chapter from Irreconcilable Differences? A Learning Resource for Jews and Christians. Rosann Catalano led the discussion of the political, social, and theological issues sur-rounding religious identification with Israel as a nation and as a "holy land."
   Following the afternoon session, the educators joined an audience of almost 200 to view I Am Joseph Your Brother --
a documentary film that follows the dramatic changes in the relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Jewish people over the past half-century. I Am Joseph Your Brother offers an honest and critical account of the church's history of anti-Jewish teaching and preaching, discusses the changes in that teaching begun with Nostra Aetate in 1965, and offers a brief assessment of what the future holds.
   I Am Joseph Your Brother was produced by Rabbi Ron Kronish, Executive Director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel. The ICJS was a consulting partner on the project, which was conceived and coordinated in association with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Congregational Conversation
Spring 2002
Oheb Shalom was the host for this spring's Congregational Conversation, held on four Tuesdays beginning April 30th. This year's project explored the question: "What are the meanings of ‘Israel’ for Jews and Christians?" Over 100 participants from 17 Jewish and Christian congregations throughout Baltimore joined our scholars to reach beyond the headlines and examine one of the least understood aspects of "Israel" -- its religious significance. Over the course of the four-week program, participants read and studied biblical texts and traced some subsequent developments within their respective traditions with the intention of learning to navigate these troubled waters with greater sensitivity. Together they discovered how the multi-layered concept of Israel continues to shape the identities of both Jews and Christians.