1. Is there a special reason why Christians should be in dialogue with Jews?
Yes, definitely. Although our Christian religious traditions and sensibilities
are quite
distinctive, they are intertwined with and rooted in those of Judaism.
Jesus was Jewish, and we
are "grafted in," as St. Paul says (Romans 11:17). Through Jesus, God bound
Christians
together with Jews inextricably. We honor that special relationship only
if we understand,
respect, and in all things seek to love one another. Discussing how we
will do this in deed as
well as word could hardly be more important.