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Jewish/ Christian Dialogue
Priest gives gift to honor interfaith connection
By LINDA M. LINONIS
liberty
Theology, history, poli- tics and religious dogma all had parts in a program Thursday at Temple El Emeth, where the Rev. George Balasko formally presented a gift of medallions representing the 12 tribes of Israel to Rabbi Joseph Schonberger and the synagogue. About 150 people attended.
Stephan Stoyak, temple co-president, summed up the human-to-human connection with a comment of, “Gifts are special when they come from the heart.”
That certainly was the impetus behind Father Balasko’s gift, which he has been collecting since the 1980s through the Israeli Government Coins and Medals Corp. Ltd in Jerusalem and Tel Avis, Israel. The oval medals of bronze are one of 2,250 sets minted by the company. Each features the name, in English and Hebrew, of the tribe and also has the signature of the artist, Salvador Dali (1904-1992). The medallions will be showcased in a display case with a model of the Ark of the Covenant.
The event recognized two milestones. The Jewish/Christian Dialogue series was co-founded 36 years ago by Rabbi Samuel Meyer, former rabbi at Temple El Emeth, now deceased, and Father Balasko, pastor of St. Ann Church in East Liverpool. The ongoing dialogue includes Rabbi Schonberger, Rabbi Joel Berman of Boardman and other clergy. It has been recognized nationally by the Journal of Ecumenical Studies.
The second is the landmark Nostra Aetate, “in our age” in Latin, which is the Declaration on the Relation of the [Roman Catholic] Church with Non-Christian Religions of the Second Vatican Council. The declaration was promulgated Oct. 28, 1965, by Pope Paul VI. The groundbreaking document states that Jews do not bear collective responsibility for the death of Jesus and that the Church deplores anti-Semitism. The document notes that the Ancient Covenant between God and the Israelites continues ... “theirs is the sonship and glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises” Romans 9:4-5.
Father Balasko said he gave the medallions to the temple because he knew they “would be appreciated.”
In explaining “Why We’re Here,” Father Balasko said when Jesus started his public ministry, only the tribes of Benjamin and Judah existed. Others had dispersed. “What happened to the other tribes,” he asked and answered with “they were assimilated in other cultures.” Father Balasko said many peoples of the world have Jewish heritage in their ancestry and don’t know it. He speculated the Celtic people could be one example, as they were from the area south of the Black Sea and migrated west.
Father Balasko said, “We are the experience of whole and broken moments.” But, he added, if people of different faiths work together, life for everyone will be whole. That goal is mentioned in the Nostra Aetate declaration ... “this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to ‘maintain good fellowship among the nations.’” (1Peter 2:12).
Rabbi Schonberger said the Jewish/Christian Dialogue involves “the children of one universal God.” He said the dialogue has “opened doors of discussion and developed understanding and tolerance.”
Keynote speaker, the Rev. Jeffrey Mickler, webmaster of the Society of St. Paul in Canfield, tackled the topic of “Past, Present and Future Reflections on Nostra Aetate.”
“I’m a priest, not a prophet, but I will take on the mantle of a prophet,” he said of predicting that the Nostra Aetate will hold its status as an “inspired document” taking a “startling change of attitude.”
He said 17 references to Jews in the document are “startling and stunning” and reflect a remarkable change in attitude by the Roman Catholic Church toward Judaism. Father Mickler said the humanity of the words acknowledge a “common origin in God” and reveal a respect for beliefs that are “true and holy.”
Children of Temple El Emeth participated in the presentation by carrying a poster depicting the symbol of each tribe and the corresponding medallion. They were: Devra Silverman, tribe of Levi, symbolized by breast plates; Raquel Allison, tribute of Issachar, sun and moon; Alyssa Schor, tribe of Judah, a lion, and Zebulun, a sailboat; Meryl Schor, tribe of Gad, tents; Benjamin Feuer, tribe of Reuben, mandrakes; Deena Berman, tribe of Simeon, city of Shechem; Brandon Solomon, tribe of Benjamin, a wolf; Shira Solomon, tribe of Joseph, shaft of wheat; Jacob Silverman, tribe of Asher, olive tree; Sophie Alpher, tribe of Dan, scales of justice; and Daniel Feuer, tribe of Naphti, a deer. The tribes of Israel are cited in Genesis 49.
Other program participants were Jodi Stoyak, temple co-president; Loretta Stock, who gave a reading from Genesis 49; and St. Patrick Church Folk Group of Hubbard, who provided music.