Draft:Coordinating Committee of Christian-Jewish Cooperation

The Coordinating Committee of Christian-Jewish Cooperation is an Austrian organization, dedicated to Christian-Jewish dialogue.

History
In spring 1956, the presidium (committee) of the Austrian section of the Catholic peace movement Pax Christi decided to dedicate itself to the Christian-Jewish relationship and the fight against Antisemitism in a working group. This decision was made upon the initiative of the then prelate Karl Rudolf (chief of the archiepiscopal pastoral care office of the archdiocese of Vienna) and was supported by cardinal Franz König. Thereupon, the judaist Kurt Schubert gave a keynote speech on October 18th, 1956 and presented 7 theses concerning the Jewish-Christian cooperation. This was the date of foundation of the Coordinating Committee of Christian-Jewish Cooperation which initially was a working group of Pax Christi. As an independent and ecumenical borne association, the Coordinating Committee of Christian-Jewish Cooperation constituted itself on February 12th, 1965.

Range of tasks
The Coordinating Committee of Christian-Jewish Cooperation is a platform for educational work and serves as a tool for Christian-Jewish rapprochement in the fields of education, science, dialogue, and public communication. In cooperation with with educational institutions such as the University College of Teacher Education of Christian Churches Vienna/Krems or the Jewish Institute for Adult Education, the Coordinating Committee of Christian-Jewish Cooperation offers seminars and lectures, conferences and excursions, opportunities to meet and cultural events.

The Coordinating Committee for Christian-Jewish Cooperation is the only Austrian organization which emerged from the area of churches which dedicates itself exclusively to the Christian-Jewish dialogue. Local committees of the Coordinating Committee for Christian-Jewish Cooperation work in Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz, Eisenstadt and Graz. As the Coordinating Committee for Christian-Jewish dialogue is a member of the International Council of Christians and Jews and thanks to numerous international cooperations, the Coordinating Committee for Christian-Jewish Cooperation keeps an eye not only on Austria.

Form of Organization
The executive committee (board) consists of Christian and Jewish personalities. Furthermore, there is an advisory board as well local committeees in Vienna, Eisenstadt, Graz, Linz and Innsbruck.

Regular members during the term 2023-2025
Martin Jäggle, president (Roman-Catholic) Margit Leuthold, vice president (protestant) Willy Weisz, vice president (Jewish) Ferenc Simon, financial officer (Roman-Catholic) Ruth Schelander-Glaser, secretary (protestant) Mitchell Ash (Jewish) Elisabeth Birnbaum (Roman-Catholic) Stefan Fleischner-Janits (protestant)

Managing director is Yuval Katz-Wilfing.

Co-opted members
Ruth Steiner (Roman-Catholic) Christiane Arnbom (Roman-Catholic)

Literature
Georg Schilling:"Schalom und Grüß Gott?". Die NGO "Koordinierungsausschuss für christlich-jüdische Zusammenarbeit" in Österreich. Grin, Munich 2009, 978-3-640-32419-4.