The 28th Annual Day of Judaism in the Archdiocese of Lublin
The 28th annual Day of Judaism in the Archdiocese of Lublin was a momentous occasion held at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL). The event brought together representatives from Catholic and Jewish communities, with participants even joining from the United States. Fr. Prof. Mirosław Kalinowski, the university’s rector, set the tone for the day with a powerful message in a letter, emphasizing the values of liberation, freedom, and justice. He called for dialogue, mutual respect, and joint efforts to build a better world according to God’s design.
Fr. Prof. Kalinowski stressed the university’s duty as a space for dialogue and exchange of ideas to support and promote understanding between religions and nations. He highlighted the international dimension of the event, bringing together representatives from different parts of the world.
The day featured a guest lecture by Prof. Robert S. Schine, head of Jewish Studies at Middlebury College, who highlighted the significance of the event in fostering understanding between Christians and Jews.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Lublin and KUL’s Grand Chancellor, Archbishop Stanisław Budzik, emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue, setting the tone for a day of reflection and celebration.
This year’s message for the Day of Judaism was delivered by Prof. Susannah Heschel, daughter of the patron of the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations. She expressed her joy at joining in the Jubilee Year, a time for spiritual awakening and empathy.
Fr. Prof. Mirosław Wróbel, director of the Institute of Biblical Studies at KUL, reflected on the theme of this year’s event and the spiritual significance of the Jubilee Year. He emphasized the need for inner transformation alongside external celebrations.
Sister Dr. Katarzyna Kowalska NDS, Co-Chair of the Polish Council of Christians and Jews, spoke about signs of hope and the papal bull issued by Pope Francis, emphasizing the theme of hope for the Jubilee Year.
The Day of Judaism concluded with a prayer led by cantor Symcha Keller and a moving performance of an Akathist hymn by artists Ewa, Martyna Sykulska, and Marcin Ramfeld.
The event was a collaboration between the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at KUL and the Archdiocesan Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Center in Lublin.
The Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church in Poland, established in 1997, aims to promote Christian-Jewish dialogue, prayer, and reflection on the connections between the two faiths. This year, the central celebrations took place in Wrocław, marking another significant milestone in interfaith understanding.
