ALL TOO often do University students confine our learning to classrooms and textbooks. But one of the greatest aspects of attending a four-year institution is what we do not have to do. In our everyday interactions and living situations, as well as participation in student organizations and attendance at visiting lecturers' talks, we have the opportunity to enrich our educations by exposing ourselves to the unfamiliar, whether it be others' religious and cultural practices or lifestyles. And for this reason, members of the Catholic Student Ministry and Hillel Jewish Student Union have taken their desire to educate themselves about other religions and break down barriers between them into their own hands.
It is not as often as it should be that a comfortable setting is provided in which interfaith dialogue can be exchanged. Given the rocky relations between Jews and Catholics in the past, it is beneficial for both sides to come together in the quest for greater understanding and reconciliation with history.
On the evening of Friday, Oct. 15, CSM and Hillel jointly hosted an informative interfaith gathering designed to help promote greater understanding of each faith's tenets and teachings. Students from Hillel first attended a Daily Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish with members of CSM. Preceding the Mass, CSM members gave a brief explanation of the differences between Sunday Mass and Daily Mass, and provided an introduction to the basic components of a Catholic Mass. Father Thomas Blau integrated explanations of each part of the Mass, such as the consecration of the bread and wine, into the service so that those unfamiliar with it would be able to follow along. He also invited Hillel members to participate to the extent that they felt comfortable. He described their attendance as a great opportunity to remind churchgoers of the deeper meanings and history behind Mass rituals, while helping others to understand it.
Following Mass, CSM and Hillel members met in the student center at St. Thomas Aquinas to discuss both the Mass and encourage discussion about other questions students had about each others' religious beliefs and practices and the complicated history of Jewish-Catholic relations. By no means have the events of the past been resolved, as demonstrated by the uproar of both the Jewish and Roman Catholic communities following the release of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" earlier this year. But for that reason alone, the opportunity to talk candidly is all the more valuable.
The informal question and answer session helped remove the barriers of political correctness that often plague such discussions and disallow any progress from being achieved. Questions that one might not normally feel comfortable asking, such as an explanation of the role of the Pope or concerns regarding each faith's position on abortion rights, were not taboo in this environment. The pretense of the gathering was to achieve a thoughtful understanding of the religious tenets that guide the respective groups.
Following the discussion, CSM members joined the Jewish students at Hillel for Shabbat services. Preceding services, the Jewish students showed the Torah to CSM members and gave a brief explanation of the differences between Reform and Conservative Shabbat services, which were held simultaneously. CSM members were then able to choose whether to attend the Reform or Conservative service. An interesting difference between a Catholic Mass and a Jewish service that the students' dialogue helped uncover is that Mass must be said by an ordained priest, because only he can consecrate the bread and wine, while Jewish services can be led by laypersons. They also noticed that elements of interactivity were present in both. Evan Wolf, a fourth-year student who led the Reform service, explained the various Shabbat rituals and prayers as the service proceeded. As Father Tom did, Wolf invited CSM members to participate in the service as much as they desired to. He directed them to English translations of the Hebrew prayers and readings, and also adapted the service to include more readings in English. Throughout the service, Wolf also drew attention to aspects of the Mass that he found to be similar to those present in the Shabbat service.
Following the services, both groups ate dinner at Hillel. Before the meal, the Jewish students explained the blessings over the wine and bread, and students discussed the different symbolism and emphasis placed on these two objects in their respective traditions. During dinner, the students were able to discuss religious issues more informally.
The evening's events proved educational for both sides involved. Many students expressed feelings of having their own beliefs confirmed and strengthened because they were made to consider the sources of their convictions. What I found most promising was the importance both Catholics and Jews place on community activism and social responsibility, which play a major role in the lives of many University students. The realization that there is more that ties us all together than separates us is an important moment, and is applicable in many cases beyond just religious difference. It is also something that one might not necessarily gather from formal classroom learning.
In the past, both Hillel and the Muslim Students Association have participated in similar events to share beliefs and ideas. This dialogue is vital to the processes of overcoming stereotyping and creating a community of understanding and trust both at the University and within a global context. Sometimes it is daunting to explore unfamiliar territory because we fear stepping on the toes of those to whom it is familiar. Political correctness can shelter us if we let it, but as these students have proven, we do not have to do so.
Todd Rosenbaum's column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at trosenbaum@cavalierdaily.com.
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