The Day of Judaism in the Lublin Archdiocese at the Catholic University of Lublin

“My Peace I Give to You” - is the motto of this year's celebration of the Day of Judaism in the Lublin Archdiocese, to be held on Wednesday, 18 January 2023, at 5 pm in Hall 1031 of the John Paul II College at the Catholic University of Lublin. The event with the participation of the Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich is organised by the Archdiocesan Centre for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue and the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.

“Faced with prolonged wars, conflict, and social tension, it is crucial that we collectively and zealously pray for Peace. As children of one God, we Jews and Christians, wish to read the Divine Word together. It is not just a word of instruction, it is not just a call to Peace, but it is a Living Word which Creates. It acts and makes itself real here and now, through our being together, through our unity, through us ourselves” – stressed in the invitation to the archdiocesan celebrations of the Day of Judaism Fr. Prof. Mirosław Wróbel, Rector’s Representative for the Catholic-Jewish Relations and Scientific Research in the Holy Land.

The meeting will begin with the song Shema Israel - Hear, O Israel, taken from the Book of Deuteronomy, one of the two most important prayers in Judaism. This will be followed by the reading of Torah and Gospel texts designated for this day by Chairman of the Committee of the Polish Bishops' Conference for Dialogue with Judaism, Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś. Two commentaries, a Jewish and a Catholic one, will follow; the notion of peace from the Jewish perspective will be discussed by Chief Rabbi of Poland Michael Schudrich, while the concept of peace from the Christian point of view will be addressed by Prof. Wojciech Kaczmarek from the Department of Drama and Theatre at the Catholic University of Lublin. Then, a joint prayer for peace will be led by Cantor Symcha Keller and Bishop Mieczysław Cisło.

The meeting will be concluded with a concert of Viennese chamber musicians from the Viva La Classica! Association: Julitta Dominika Walder – soprano, Mateusz Kasprzak-Łabudziński – violin, Piotr Lato – clarinet, and Joanna Sochacka – piano. The Melancholies concert is homage paid to the artists who suffered during the time of the Third Reich. An introduction to the music of the concert will be provided by dr. Teresa Księska-Falger.

The celebrations will be attended also by the Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Lublin, Metropolitan of Lublin Archbishop Stanisław Budzik, Vice Rector of the Catholic University of Lublin For Mission and Digitisation Prof. Adam Zadroga, and Fr. Dr Tomasz Adamczyk, Director of the Archdiocesan Centrum for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue.

“The diocesan celebration of the Day of Judaism is an opportunity to develop our Christian identity, to reach out to the sources, to open up to the world of symbols and meanings in which Jesus grew up and which He used”– added Fr. Dr Tomasz Adamczyk, Director of the Archdiocesan Centrum for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue.

The principal national celebrations of the 27th Day of Judaism will be held in Radom on January 17. The following day, on January 18, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin will celebrate the Day of Judaism in the Archdiocese of Lublin. It will be organised by the Archdiocesan Centrum for Catholic-Jewish Dialogue along with the Abraham J. Heschel Center for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.

The Day of Judaism in the Catholic Church in Poland was established in 1997 by the Polish Bishops' Conference. It is celebrated on the eve of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, i.e. January 17. It is to foster Christian-Jewish dialogue, as well as to pray and reflect on the relationship between the two religions.