The Jewish-Christian Discovery Center
Educating Jews and Christians about the connection between the two faiths.
The JCDC has been hard at work creating a series of one-minute short videos, and longer form videos for usage in Church classrooms. Have a topic that Dr. Abraham hasn’t covered yet? Email us at DrAbraham@therabbijesus.com.
Check out our YouTube Channel– https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnsi7Dm2P6wHuDjhCZ9Yrzw/featured
Are you looking for a certain content of the Jewish Christian Discovery Center?
On YouTube you can find one minute and longer form videos about the Torah, Israel, Hebrew and more. Perfect for a Church religious school class. Also you can find the short film, “A Hanukkah Miracle” and soon to be a Passover/Easter film.
On Facebook you can find a library of our Facebook Lives, the latest going on with the Jewish Christian Discovery Center.
On Instagram you can find our InstaLives and updates on what we are doing.
On this website, we give you a longer view of what’s coming up with JCDC for the year.
Hello all. Yesterday, Fall began. Where we live, in the Atlanta area, it is possible to glance at certain trees and see them beginnings to change colors. A few thoughts come to mind as we usher in this autumnal season.
First, of course, is with the ever present Corona virus. It has been half a year that the world has been fighting this disease. This battle reminds us that we are united as a human race against this plague. We are indeed responsible for one another in so many ways. When I wear a mask, I am doing my part to help my fellow citizen regardless of race, faith or creed. When I pray, I pray for the health of all affected by this illnesses. The lesson I think is apparent: We should indeed “Love our Neighbors as Ourselves.” By adopting that standard of concern, we as a global community, will engage and confront this problem.
My second thought about the coming of Fall was one of comfort. Just as the seasons come and go in their natural order, it is my hope and prayer that we will be able to, fairly soon, return to our old normal activities. The falling of the leaves reminds us that after Fall comes winter followed by a new Spring. A spring time when we observe the holidays of Passover and Easter and more. Spring means new life, new beginnings and hope. Hope in a brighter future can be a powerful motivator during trying times. I believe that in the not so distant future, I will once again be able to embrace loved ones fully. I believe that we will be able to participate in the full gamut of social activities that we have made part of our lives. It is that hope for the future that can strengthen us as we go through the lean and cold times that lie ahead. Spring, hope and normalcy lie ahead. Be patient, be strong!
The Jewish-Christian Discovery Center conducted a professional survey, and every Friday we have been doing videos on Facebook and Instagram. Here are the questions- please join the conversation on Facebook or Instagram about these subjects.
Join us every Friday at noon EST for the results of the survey we took! What do other people know about Jesus, and Judaism??? Come find out! https://www.facebook.com/JewishChristianDiscoveryCenter/
A message from our founder, Rabbi Slomovitz/Dr. Abraham- Hello all. For the past few years, I have been making the point that one of the main themes that links the Hebrew and Christian faiths is the concept of, “Love your Neighbor as Yourself.” The origin of these words is the book of Leviticus. The sentiment is universal and most likely extends back into pre-Biblical periods of civilization. Its essence is on display daily as the entire country and much of the world struggles mightily to confront the Covid 19 virus. The virus knows none of the artificial boundaries that we spend much of our life reinforcing: gender distinctions, racial separations, differing nationalities and creeds, are subject to its harm. Our response must be a human one. People, expert in the fields of medicine, nursing and infectious diseases, have been wonderfully forthcoming with their wisdom on how best to fight this modern day plague.
Neighbors are helping neighbors. Advice and help of all sorts is being given freely one to the other. The irony about all this is that while we give of ourselves we are forced to do so at a distance. Social and physical distancing doesn’t mean that we have to be emotionally or spiritually apart. We give and help each other because it’s the right and humane thing to do.
Coming next week are the spring holidays of Passover and Easter. Both represent the a new season of hope, a belief in God acting in history and a desire to begin a new season of growth and new life. Let us hope and pray that we survive through April and are able to experience a more peaceful May and June and step back to our normative lives.
During the first weekend in February an anniversary will occur without receiving much attention or recognition. The Story of the Four Chaplains however, is a fascinating account of unparalleled bravery, dedication to a higher calling and remarkable examples of true interfaith beliefs and practices. The story touches on many contemporary themes: the courage and heroism of our military personnel, the unique role that chaplains play, the amazing sense of interfaith awareness that was exhibited and finally the powerful morale boost that their sacrifice offered to the entire country engaged in a fight for survival.
There was much anxiety aboard the US Army Transport Ship the Dorchester, sailing from the United States to Europe. It was early February 1943 and America had been in the Second World War a little over a year. The outcome seemed distant and uncertain. The nine hundred soldiers aboard knew that the Dorchester, an old transport, was entering an area in the northern Atlantic that made them vulnerable to a German submarine attack. This sense of impending doom was heightened by the fact that they were ordered to sleep in full uniform and life jackets.
At one o’clock in the morning on the third of February, their worst nightmare became a reality. The ship was torpedoed. Some were immediately killed and injured in the initial blast. Most, had been jarred awake by the explosion. Smoke was everywhere and the ship began to list. Within minutes, the order to abandon ship was given. The only option was to struggle through the darkness and smoke to the upper deck and get into a lifeboat.
Into this maelstrom of chaos and fear stood four Army chaplains, George Fox, Alexander Goode, Clark Poling, and John Washington. They acted with heroism and holiness offering prayers and words of encouragement to the soldiers, helping them into lifeboats. The chaplains had on their life-jackets and survival gear. They would survive. In their haste and panic, many of the warriors had forgotten their life jackets and other equipment. Without these items, they would die within moments in the frigid Atlantic water and bitter cold. Without any forethought, the chaplains began giving their life-jackets, gloves, and survival gear to the frightened men. In doing so, they ensured their own demise. One of the lasting memories of the survivors was the chaplains gathering together, offering final prayers and holding on to each other as the ship sank beneath the waves. As the Chaplains gave away their gear they said, “Take this my son, you need it more than I do.”
Each of the chaplains had their own life accomplishments. George Fox , a Methodist minister, had served in the First World War as a medic and had been wounded. receiving a medal for bravery. He was not required to serve again in the military. However, when his son enlisted in the Marines, he signed on with the Army as a Chaplain. Alexander Goode was a rabbi and scholar. He had earned his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University and was a successful pulpit rabbi. Prior to entering the chaplaincy he wrote, “The new world, held together by the bonds of religious idealism, is the goal of democracy through the ages.” He left behind a wife and young daughter. Clark Poling came from a prominent religious family. His Dutch Reformed Church in Schenectady, New York had told him that his primary responsibility during the war was to his wife, young son, and their church. Nonetheless, he volunteered for service. In a final letter to his congregation he wrote, “Our goal is not to gratify our pride and human desire, it is to hold high the light of our Savior in a troubled and confused world.” John Washington’s lifelong goal had been to become a Roman Catholic priest. He, along with two brothers, reflected their love of America by serving in the armed forces. During his last visit home, he asked everyone to say prayers for him. He sensed that he was going into a new and dangerous reality.
This incident, which became known as the story of The Four Chaplains, gave the country an enormous morale boost during the beginning months of the Second World War. We were fighting enemies who envisioned a world based on prejudice, hatred, and evil. This story reflected another vision. A courageous nation devoted to its ideals of freedom and liberty. The soldiers knew that this America was worth fighting for and if need be, making the ultimate sacrifice for future generations.
As we acknowledge the 77th anniversary of this event, we reflect upon its relevance. We recognize and appreciate the unbelievable sacrifices made by generations of men and women who take an oath to protect America and its liberties with their lives. The amazingly unselfish actions of the chaplains speak volumes. Not one of the clerics asked the soldiers rapidly moving toward the lifeboats their specific faith. A Catholic soldier was saved by the Rabbi’s lifejacket. A Jewish Private survived wearing the gloves of the Protestant minister. Where did they find the courage not to get into the lifeboats with the survivors? Only 200 soldiers survived out of the 900 men. As a Navy chaplain for twenty years, I have often asked myself what I would do in a similar situation.
For me, the image of the Four Chaplains holding on to each other and quickly offering their final prayers as the ship sank, is one of enormous Holiness. These men of faith found God in the grasp of each other. There was no place for intolerance or prejudice. People of faith should support each other. We need to learn about the countless historical and religious connections that we all have. In a moment of pure spirituality, the Four Chaplains reminded us that we are at our strongest and finest when we put the needs of others before our own.
Dr. Rabbi Albert I. Slomovitz
Founder-Jewish Christian Discovery Center
Check out our Facebook page for more frequent updates: https://www.facebook.com/JewishChristianDiscoveryCenter/
The book is out!
Click here for more information about our new book “A New Look at Rabbi Jesus: Jews and Christians Finally Reconnected” https://www.amazon.com/New-Look-Rabbi-Jesus-Reconnected/dp/1645596494/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Rabbi+Albert+Slomovitz&qid=1576542155&sr=8-2
Click here to watch: https://www.wsbtv.com/video/?id=4807366
Recently, I attended a wonderful conference of like-minded people. The annual conference of the Council of Centers on Jewish Christian Relations was held in Allentown, PA. There, scholars and clergy dedicated to the idea of promoting Jewish Christian relations came together for speeches and dialogues. For me, as the Founder of the Jewish Christian Discovery Center (JCDC) it was a wonderful and enlightening experience. Allow me to share with you a few of the high points that I took away from this gathering.
One of the scholars spoke about his study of Pirke Avot (An early rabbinic collection of life-lessons), I refer to this document in my book as well. I think this is an important point that needs to be constantly made: We can all learn from each other’s traditions. After all, if Judaism is the parent faith of Christianity and Islam as well, there will be elements of faith that link the traditions together over the millennia. The speaker shared that his faith had been strengthened by this study of Jewish sources. It is truly an amazing experience, to have Jews and Christians come together and study various elements of their faith. An awareness occurs as people realize that their beliefs can be understood in vastly different ways by people of honorable and spiritual intentions.
A major point that was made by a number of speakers was one that I think needs to be repeated in loud voices around the world: Jews and Christians are covenanted people. This is of enormous significance. It means that Christianity does not replace Judaism, but rather that Christianity is a representation of a holy connection with God as is Judaism and one could argue, other faiths as well. For so long, countless conversations have focused on which faith has the primary relationship with the Almighty. It seems appropriate to say that God is certainly capable of having different believers at the same time. By beginning to articulate an idea of differing covenants we open ourselves to a totally different spiritual world-view. In this perspective, we are all indeed creations of God, equally blessed and equally in a relationship. One of the main principles that I express in my book, now being published, is that we are all spiritual siblings.
A final fascinating aspect of this conference was to hear from various Church leaders. In this instance, Catholic and Lutheran clergy shared that many prayers are being rewritten to change the focus away from anything close to anti-Semitism to one that embraces the faith without the intention to denigrate Judaism. This is especially true when the liturgy revolves around the Passion of Jesus and Easter centered prayers. It is so essential that all people of faith review their liturgy and ask themselves if the prayers seem to be degrading or discriminatory to another faith.
In the end, this conference was quite worthwhile. It is so very important to realize that there are many committed people around the country and world who are advocating a positive, equality-based religious view. How wonderful our world would be if this ideology prevailed as the norm.