Uncomfortable conversations with a Catholic and a Jew Program

Program by CJD

By Larry Hermalyn and Dick Surrusco, CJD Committee Members

Uncomfortable conversations don't only occur around the Thanksgiving table; they occur every day and everywhere. We live in a time of uncomfortable conversations — conversations that strike at the core of who we are and who we understand ourselves to be, walking the planet with those who follow different paths.

Our upcoming program, “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Catholic and a Jew,” will attempt to have a dialogue, a listening conversation, on topics ranging from antisemitism to Zionism, from patriarchal clericalism to pedophilia in the Catholic church.

Join us as presenters Larry Hermalyn, JD and Dick Surrusco, MD unpack issues in both their faith traditions, connecting the dots between the tropes and hatred of our past to the divisiveness of the current moment.

We will attempt to better understand Judaism: is it a religion, a culture or a race? If you are not a Zionist, does that make you antisemitic? Is the Catholic tradition inherently antifeminist; does a vow of celibacy make assaults on minors inevitable?

Bigotry toward one group is never isolated. If one is at risk, so are we all. It is only through talking and listening with open hearts that we can come to a sense of our shared humanity and dignity.

Join the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2:30 p.m. at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. Please register for this free program at www.jewishnaples.org.

The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County is a subcommittee of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of Greater Naples.