The
following statement by Dr. David Berger was issued by the Institute
for Public Affairs of the Orthodox Union regarding the New York Times
ad by Dabru Emet:
This
is in many ways an admirable statement composed by people for whom I
have high regard. I agree
with much of it, including the controversial but carefully balanced
passage denying that Nazism was a Christian phenomenon.
However, I did not agree to sign it for several reasons.
First, for all its exquisitely skillful formulation, it implies
that Jews should reassess their view of Christianity in light of
Christian reassessments of Judaism.
This inclination toward theological reciprocity is fraught with
danger. Second, although
it is proper to emphasize that Christians worship the God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, creator of heaven and earth, it is
essential to add that worship of Jesus of Nazareth as a manifestation
or component of that God constitutes what Jewish law and theology call
avodah zarah, or
foreign worshipat least if done by a Jew.
Many Jews died to underscore this point, and the bland
assertion that Christian worship is not a viable choice for Jews
is thoroughly inadequate. Finally,
the statement discourages either community from insisting that it
has interpreted Scripture more accurately than the other.
While intended for the laudable purpose of discouraging
missionizing, this assertion conveys an uncomfortably relativistic
message.