Comments on: Prayer for reconciliation with the Jews passes first reading at General Synod

By: Ian Poole

Ian Poole — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 20:38:14 +0000

Is it wrong to confess Jesus as the salvation of the Jewish people? Is there some other name by which any of us will be saved? If Jesus is the Christ, tell us plainly. I understood that our teaching was intended to accord with the XVIIIth article of the Anglican faith. Read it for yourself in the BCP. Does ‘accursed’ seem a bit harsh to you?
The writer of Hebrews calls the old covenant “obsolete….out of date” and says it “will soon disappear.” Paul tells the Galatians that the old covenant “bears children who are to be slaves”. To the Corinthians he says of Israel that until they turn to Christ “a veil covers their hearts”. But John’s gospel has Jesus saying “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Judaism is a tribal religion. Christianity is a super-tribal religion. Neither is flawless, but we can’t go back to saying that some people will be saved because of their race, nor by their subjection to Torah law. People will be saved through their faith in Jesus Christ.
And I would appreciate it if the Holocaust was not used as a way of justifying this change in the prayer book. Nazi policy was disastrous for Jews, Gypsies, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and homosexuals, and eventually for the entire German nation. But it was not caused by praying that the people would turn to Jesus.

By: Rev. Deacon Stephen Bailey

Rev. Deacon Stephen Bailey — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 22:45:02 +0000

Glad to see the Rabbi’s presence at General Synod. Beth Israel congregation is an honoured institution in Vancouver and a place I have visited with my Comparative Religions students. Thank you, General Synod and thank you, Rabbi Stein.

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 21:56:48 +0000

whoops , that should be 18-54 Ave!

By: Bill

Bill — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 21:52:20 +0000

Wow, what a step in the right direction! After having grown up in Vancouver’s “borsch” belt along Oak between 18th and 54 streets and after having attended high school with my Jewish acquaintances and friends I was awed by their faith and determination. I have witnessed giving and commitment on the part of the Jewish community that transcends belief – the 1967 war was just one example. As a Christian family we belonged to the Jewish community Centre when many “Christian” golf courses wouldn’t allow their membership; still we always felt welcome in their community centre. Jews are both our ancestors and companions in our search for G-ds Kingdom;we should never forget this. On a more somber note you only have to see one extermination camp serial number on a living person to experience just a hint of the Holocaust. Well done Synod!