Opening a new chapter of coexistence and understanding between Slovakia’s Christians and Jews was the primary goal of an international conference held here in the capital of the 7-week-old Slovak republic.
Organized by B’nai B’rith and a Christian group, the Hanna Seidel Foundation of Germany, the conference was attended by high-ranking government representatives, clergy and scholars.
Deputy Prime Minister Roman Kovac, Foreign Minister Milan Knazko and the chairman of the Slovak parliament, Ivan Gasparovic, called for a new ethics in interreligious relations.
Most of the country’s Catholic bishops did not show up, and some blamed Cardinal Jan Chrysostom Korec for allegedly dissuading them from attending. Nevertheless, the conference was said by its Christian and Jewish organizers to have been a success.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
