One of the goals of the ICCJ, as listed in our Mission Statement, is countering “all forms of prejudice, intolerance, discrimination, racism and the misuse of religion for national and political domination…” For many years, this goal was implemented largely in fighting against antisemitism. In fact, the first point of our Berlin Document—“A Time for Re-commitment”—calls upon Christians “to combat religious, racial and all other forms of antisemitism.”

Prime Minister Bouffier’s visit to the Martin Buber House was the culmination of a successful ICCJ Executive Board meeting. The Land of Hesse, one of Germany’s Länder, is an important partner in ICCJ’s activities. Through the International Martin Buber Foundation the Land of Hesse considerably supports the interreligious dialogue work of the ICCJ. To stress the fact that these ties are not merely of a formal nature, the Prime Minster came to Heppenheim to affirm his personal interest in our work.

The International Council of Christians and Jews received a request from our member organization in Sweden to help them combat the proposed ban on circumcision. Similar laws have been suggested in other places, as well. We are sending this to you as an initial response. Hopefully, within the next few weeks, we will send out a longer and more detailed booklet, with more resource material.

On the threshold of 2012 we wish all our friends world wide a happy and healthy new year. May the New Year be packed with interfaith activities in all those countries where ICCJ member organizations actively are engaged in interreligious dialogue. The International Council of Christians and Jews certainly will have its share in all this. To get a taste of all what is going to happen, please have a look at a preview of the planned 2012 activities.

It isn’t so often when Chanukah and Christmas (or, at least, the Western Christmas) come together. Of course, Christmas is a major Christian celebration, while Chanukah, for Jews, is a minor festival. Still, the two share something important in coming, as they do in the Northern hemisphere, around the time of the winter solstice. In both of our traditions, we are celebrating the triumph of light over darkness.

Recently some important books were published in the United States of America. The authors of which all are, one way or another connected to ICCJ. Dr. Adam Gregerman, Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies, Baltimore, MD, announces three of them.