Jews and Catholics are part of the same family under God

When I was ordained a Catholic priest in 1983, a Jewish family friend from Brooklyn gave me a coffee cup with two inscriptions. One side of the coffee cup read “Jesus saves” and the other side read “but Moses invests.”

Growing up in Brooklyn displayed the bonds of affinity between Jews and Catholics. We all got along because we loved the Brooklyn Dodgers, drank egg creams, studied hard in school and pursued the Great American Dream through hard work and education.

As a Catholic priest, I am not only saddened by antisemitism but I am angered by its dangerous motives and repulsive rhetoric of hate. I cannot comprehend why warped minds constantly harangue against Jewish Americans who have contributed so much to this great land through medicine, science, literature, economics, music, teaching, philanthropy, social justice and so much more!

During my seminary years, among those who influenced me the most regarding Sacred Scripture were Jewish rabbis. The late, great Abraham Joshua Heschel, who died in 1972, was America’s Rabbi for many years. His wisdom and gratitude to God was inspirational and awe-inspiring.

I vividly recall the words he wrote in his preface to Yiddish poems. Heschel wrote, “I did not ask for success; I asked for wonder. And you gave it to me.” Heschel inspired many people from all houses of worship to be grateful to God for what we have and ready to help people in need.

Judaism has greatly influenced and shaped Catholicism. All seven Catholic sacraments have roots in Jewish rituals. The Catholic priesthood has direct antecedents in the Jewish priesthood. Morality and ethics are based on many ancient Jewish writings.

I get revulsed when I hear so-called fellow Catholics and Christians who utter ugly antisemitic tirades. They completely forget that the Second Vatican Council’s document “Nostra Aetate” (In Our Times) opened up relations between Catholicism and non-Christian religions. This landmark document repudiated antisemitism and the charge that Jews were collectively guilty for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. That same document calls all Christians to be “spiritual semites” in connection with our Jewish sisters and brothers.

Ignorance is not bliss! Ignorance has killed and caused harm to many Jews throughout the centuries. Our nation has to carefully evaluate its collective conscience if we are to free ourselves of enslavement to antisemitism.

What sets Judaism apart from other religions? I learned in Brooklyn that Passover marks the birth of a nation. Moses fashioned this nation and gave them a faith. Because of that great faith, Jews have never ceased to be a people! This week marks the joyous season of Chanukah. I hope and pray that the darkness of antisemitism be enlightened by the beauty of the lighting of the menorah candles. Jewish Americans are a legacy, not a label, in America! Mazel tov!

Jordan is a Roman Catholic priest at St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Md.