The Abraham J. Heschel Centre for Catholic-Jewish Relations at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) has begun its activities. It is a new scientific, educational and cultural centre to deepen Catholic-Jewish relations internationally.

The inauguration ceremony took place in the Knowledge Transfer Centre of the Catholic University of Lublin. The entity, whose patron was the Warsaw-born Jewish philosopher, theologian and poet Abraham Joshua Heshel, will function within the structure of the university.

“The pillars on which the Centre’s activities are based can be summarised by the motto: Common Bible – Common Past – Common Future. They refer to the common biblical roots, to the common history of both communities, as well as to the need to shape a future based on dialogue and openness to multiculturalism”, said the rector of the Catholic University of Lublin, presenting the main assumptions of the Centre.

The Centre’s scientific activities will focus on the issues of Jewish history, culture and heritage, mainly in Poland, but also in Europe, Israel and worldwide. The research will deal with the issue of mutual Polish-Jewish relations and common cultural heritage.

The initiative to establish the Heschel Centre of the Catholic University of Lublin has been welcomed by Jewish milieux. The Israeli Ambassador to Poland, Yacov Livne, states that it would not only provide a research function, but above all shape an attitude of openness to dialogue between the Polish and Jewish peoples.

“Focusing on scientific research activities, the Centre opens up issues related to Jewish history, culture and heritage, as well as to Polish-Jewish relations over the centuries, including the present day. I am glad that we are finding better and better ways of talking about the past”, wrote the diplomat in a letter to the participants in the ceremony.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński