Rabbi David Maayan of St. Leo University Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies will address the topic of THE OTHER at the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County’s annual Kristallnacht 2023 Commemoration.
Dictionary.com defines the other “as a person who or thing that is different, distinct or not included from one or ones already mentioned or known about”. This very simple term has taken on profound implications. These include the concept of the scapegoat; a person who is blamed for another’s wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults. Further implications of invoking the concept of “the other” are bullying, nationalism, genocide, racism, antisemitism and hate crimes. The Holocaust revived this horrific approach by casting the Jews as “the other” in order to deflect from the diabolical plan of Hitler’s agenda and cause.
The concept of “the other” has never been extinguished. It raises its ugly head in ideologies, politics, organizations, religions, and theologies that bolster their views and beliefs as better and purer and truer than “the others”.
Friedrich Gustav Emil Martin Niemöller, the German theologian and Lutheran pastor, expressed what happens to an individual and a society that does not understand the insidious results of “the other”.
FIRST THEY CAME
First they came for the Communist
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
In his address, Rabbi Maayan will discuss the theological resources that exist for Catholics and Jews; in their respective traditions, to encourage genuinely open engagement with each “other”. Rabbi Maayan will share some encouraging examples from both traditions, as well as point towards potential theological resources for further development.
We invite you to share this newsletter with family, friends and any group or organization that will facilitate active listening and thoughtful dialogue about this topic.
