Fighting AntiSemitism with Theology

Rabbi Eugene Korn of the American Jewish Congress on the Pope's Auschwitz remarks, in the Forward:

At Auschwitz, Benedict chose to speak in theological terms to reinforce this positive attitude by highlighting the church's new respectful posture toward the Jewish people and Judaism. He asserted in the name of the church that today's Jewish people remain living witnesses to God who spoke to their ancestors at Sinai. Further, he explained that the Final Solution was a Nazi attempt to banish God from the world that could only be achieved by first exterminating the Jewish people. This is a firm denial of the doctrine of Judaism as obsolescence and the Adversus Judeus church tradition. In doing so, Benedict indicated that he and the church understand the continuing religious and moral validity of Judaism and Jews.

Indeed, traditional Jews hold the very same convictions today about our faith and our people. Both faithful Jews and faithful Christians understand that there was no way for Nazi genocide to coexist with God's moral authority and "Thou shall not murder." It is therefore no surprise that researchers at Rutgers School of Law have discovered documents indicating that if Hitler had succeeded in destroying the Jewish people — God forbid — he would have proceeded to destroy the church. After the Shoah, both religions are allies in upholding morality and guiding humanity.

Indeed, the pope could have been more explicit about antisemitism at Auschwitz by repeating what John Paul II said numerous times: "Antisemitism is a crime against man and a sin against God." Yet Benedict chose to attack the foundations of Christian antisemitism in a message that resonates with more than a billion Christians around the world.

As Jews, we should be fully appreciative of Benedict's words — words that would have been unthinkable for a Catholic even 60 years ago. We do well to understand the context and power of the pope's theological statements and the breakthrough in church theology toward us. We must remain politically vigilant, but we harm Jewish interests and foster misunderstanding if we are deaf to the theological language of the church. At Auschwitz, Benedict attacked the roots of Christian hatred and persecution. In the end, these theological claims may do more to undo Christian antisemitism than exclusively political proclamations.