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OUR NEIGHBOR'S FAITH

Interfaith event honors leader


Joan Dunham was an exceptional woman who passed away on April 20, 2008. She was instrumental in re-forming what is today known as the Jewish-Roman Catholic Dialogue Committee of the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese. 

This was the result of an extremely successful interfaith journey to Rome and Israel led by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard and the late Rabbi Martin Silverman. Of course, Joan was a participant on this trip.

It was Joan's personality, caring and unrelenting desire to educate herself and others that had a positive effect on so many people. She constantly motivated people to work with her on every interfaith project that took place during her leadership role as chairwoman of the Jewish-Roman Catholic Dialogue Committee.

Joan was a prime mover behind an interfaith prayer service in 1986 titled "From Fear to Friendship," led by Bishop Hubbard. The event drew 1,200 Christians and Jews to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany to hear the Bishop apologize for the persecution of the Jews in the past by the Roman Catholic Church.

It was the first such apology in our country, and possibly in the world, made by a high-ranking Roman Catholic official. This earned the Capital Region a reputation as one of the most progressive areas in the U.S. in terms of respectful relationships between Christians and Jews. We were pioneers.

Next to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a sculpture created by Robert Blood called "Portal" symbolizing a "doorway to peace," which commemorates the "From Fear to Friendship" reconciliation prayer service.

Joan Dunham was also a master at inviting and receiving commitments from top-level scholars to come to our community to speak. We learned from some of the best, among them Rabbi James Rudin, Rev. Michael McGarry, Ambassador Avi Granot, Dr. Eugene Fischer, Dr. Mary Boys and Dr. Amy-Jill Levine. Joan was personally involved with all of the programs facilitated by these extraordinary speakers. 

How can we best honor our dear friend? Our religious dialogue must continue. It is also essential that everyone play a part in interfaith activities, which begins with simple conversations and learning from each other. This is how we not only immortalize Joan, but also improve our community, country and world.

It is with that focused desire that the Jewish-Roman Catholic Dialogue Committee is offering a program to honor Joan Dunham and her tireless work on behalf of positive interfaith relationships.

The program, "Abraham Joshua Heschel and Thomas Merton: Inspiring Jewish-Christian Life Together," is being held at Congregation Ohav Shalom in Albany on Oct. 25, 1:30-5 p.m. Dr. Mary Boys from Union Theological Seminary and Dr. Edward Kaplan from Brandeis University will be the guest speakers. The program is free and open to the public. 

(Ms. Silverman is co-chair of the Jewish-Roman Catholic Dialogue Committee.)

(10/01/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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