This document contains the statement of purpose of the first volume of The Bridge: A Yearbook of Judaeo-Christian Studies, which was edited by John M. Oesterriecher and Barry Ulanov

Oesterreicher, John M.

Ulanov, Barry

English

Seton Hall University eRepository

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eRepository @ Seton Hall 
The Bridge: A Yearbook of Judaeo-Christian 
Studies, Vol. I The Institute of Judaeo-Christian Studies 
1955 
A Statement of Purpose 
John M. Oesterreicher 
Barry Ulanov 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.shu.edu/jcs-bridge-I 
 Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Jewish Studies Commons 
Recommended Citation 
John M. Oesterreicher and Barry Ulanov, "A Statement of Purpose." In The Bridge: A Yearbook of Judaeo-
Christian Studies, Vol. 1, edited by John M. Oesterreicher and Barry Ulanov, 9. New York: Pantheon Books, 
1955. 
243 
322 
33 1 
338 
345 
347 
)4 and raJ 
~se Gallery, 
Chicago 
se Gallery, 
teght, Paris 
A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE 
A BRIDGE links two shores, spans an abyss, opens a road for com-
munication; it is thus an instrument of peace, as is this Bridge, its 
editors hope. 
THE BRIDGE tries to show the unity of God's design as it leads from 
the Law to the Gospel-the unbroken economy of salvation. Never 
can the Church forget that the Rock on which she stands is embedded 
in the revealed wisdom of patriarchs and prophets and in the mighty 
events which dominate the history of the children of Israel. For her 
the past is not dead but lives on, as it ought to live in the mind of every 
Christian; hence the marvels of the Ancient Dispensation will be 
spoken of repeatedly in these pages. 
THE BRIDGE speaks also of Christians and Jews of today, and speaks 
to them. But the peace it looks to is not merely a minimum on which 
Christians and Jews can agree. For were we, the editors, to seek no 
more than a lowest common denominator, we should be untrue to the 
faith dear to us and at the same time show little respect to them, in 
whom we see our separated brethren. We should be untrue were we to 
pass over in silence the one fact which separates Christians from Jews 
and Jews from Christians, the fact of Jesus. Yet, separated though we 
are, we are brethren, for He over whom Christians and Jews are sepa-
rated turns and ties us to them: He is the Bridge. 
What we wish, then, is that our work will help Christians to a 
deeper understanding of their treasures, and no less that it will serve 
the dialogue between Christians and Jews. We say a dialogue, even 
though one party to it speaks but indirectly, for this is a time-honored 
term in the Church's intellectual history, reaching as far back, for ex-
ample, as Justin the Martyr. Despite all its shortcomings, Justin's Dia-
logue with Trypho is unmatched in its tenderness, for in it a Christian 
and a Jew, having argued their faiths, at times vehemently but always 
amicably, end their discussion by praying for one another. Dare we ex-
pect that what we offer here will lead to like love? 
THB BDITORS 
9 


A Statement of Purpose

Seton Hall University Libraries

Seton Hall University eRepository @ Seton Hall The Bridge: A Yearbook of Judaeo-Christian Studies, Vol. I The Institute of Judaeo-Christian Studies 1955 A Statement of Purpose John M. Oesterreicher Barry Ulanov Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.shu.edu/jcs-bridge-I  Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Jewish Studies Commons Recommended Citation John M. Oesterreicher and Barry Ulanov, "A Statement of Purpose." In The Bridge: A Yearbook of Judaeo-Christian Studies, Vol. 1, edited by John M. Oesterreicher and Barry Ulanov, 9. New York: Pantheon Books, 1955. 243 322 33 1 338 345 347 )4 and raJ ~se Gallery, Chicago se Gallery, teght, Paris A STATEMENT OF PURPOSE A BRIDGE links two shores, spans an abyss, opens a road for com-munication; it is thus an instrument of peace, as is this Bridge, its editors hope. THE BRIDGE tries to show the unity of God's design as it leads from the Law to the Gospel-the unbroken economy of salvation. Never can the Church forget that the Rock on which she stands is embedded in the revealed wisdom of patriarchs and prophets and in the mighty events which dominate the history of the children of Israel. For her the past is not dead but lives on, as it ought to live in the mind of every Christian; hence the marvels of the Ancient Dispensation will be spoken of repeatedly in these pages. THE BRIDGE speaks also of Christians and Jews of today, and speaks to them. But the peace it looks to is not merely a minimum on which Christians and Jews can agree. For were we, the editors, to seek no more than a lowest common denominator, we should be untrue to the faith dear to us and at the same time show little respect to them, in whom we see our separated brethren. We should be untrue were we to pass over in silence the one fact which separates Christians from Jews and Jews from Christians, the fact of Jesus. Yet, separated though we are, we are brethren, for He over whom Christians and Jews are sepa-rated turns and ties us to them: He is the Bridge. What we wish, then, is that our work will help Christians to a deeper understanding of their treasures, and no less that it will serve the dialogue between Christians and Jews. We say a dialogue, even though one party to it speaks but indirectly, for this is a time-honored term in the Church's intellectual history, reaching as far back, for ex-ample, as Justin the Martyr. Despite all its shortcomings, Justin's Dia-logue with Trypho is unmatched in its tenderness, for in it a Christian and a Jew, having argued their faiths, at times vehemently but always amicably, end their discussion by praying for one another. Dare we ex-pect that what we offer here will lead to like love? THB BDITORS 9 

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