Rabbi David Rosen Cited in Latin Prayer Stories

The New York Times, AP and the Jerusalem Post quoted Rabbi David Rosen, AJC’s international director of interreligious affairs, about the Catholic Church’s new latin prayer for the Jews.

Rosen made the following statement regarding the new prayer, which still contains languague calling for Jews to recognize Jesus:

While we appreciate that the text avoids any derogatory language towards Jews, its regretful that the prayer explicitly calls for Jews to accept Christianity.

This differs greatly from the text in the current universal liturgy that prays for the salvation of the Jews in general terms.

We hope that through further dialogue, the full implications of the Second Vatican Council’s affirmation of the Jewish covenant might lead to a deeper understanding of the value of the Torah as the vehicle of salvation for the Jewish people.