A 'Model Seder' was conducted by Rabbi Gary Klein, Temple Ahavat Shalom, Palm Harbor, FL on the main campus of Saint Leo University on March 28th. The event was co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic- Jewish Studies and Campus Ministries as organized by Father Michael Cooper, S.J. The purpose was to introduce students and the local community to the Passover tradition. The event was attended by 50 people and received very favorable comments.

A description of an Interfaith Seder learning experience can be found by clicking onto the photo of Abigail Persky with Rabbi Gary Klein at left.

The Wiesenthal Center's Mark Weitzman, Director of Task Force Against Hate, will be speaking at the Florida Holocaust Museum on Monday, April 16 at 7:00 pm. More details can be found by going to the Museum's logo at left and viewing "What's New?" on the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies home page.

The Diocese of Venice, Florida is hosting its annual Yom Hashoah Service - An Hour of Remembrance at Epiphany Cathedral on Sunday, April 22nd at 2:30 pm.

This year, the guest speaker will be Rabbi A. James Rudin, the American Jewish Committee's Senior Interreligious Advisor. Rabbi Rudin recently received the Eighth Annual Eternal Light Award from the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies.

There is no charge for attendance of the Yom Hashoah service. For more detail or to contact the organizer, Deacon Pat Macauley, point and click on the photo at left.

FOUR RABBIS SHARE WISDOM IN CHRISTIAN- JEWISH DIALOGUE COURSE.

Tampa's RABBI SAM SEICOL, RABBI FRANK SUNDHEIM, RABBI JOEL WASSER and Savannah's RABBI ARNOLD BELZER generously gave of their time as guest lecturers for the Saint Leo University course "Abraham's Tent: Christians and Jews in Dialogue." Rabbi Seicol, Interim Rabbi at Congregation Beth Am, introduced the students to the rich history of Jewish Scripture and Rabbinic writings. Rabbi Sundheim, now retired from Congregation Schaarai Zedek, has taught at USF, Univ. of Tampa, as well as a course for Saint Leo in 2004. His presentation covered Second Temple Judaism, Pharisaic Judaism and its relationship to early Christianity. Rabbi Joel Wasser graciously hosted a class visit for the Saint Leo-based students to Congregation Kol Ami where Rabbi Wasser and his frequent interfaith dialogue partner, FATHER LEN PIOTROWSKI of Saint Paul Catholic Church, shared their knowledge and experience of Christian Jewish dialogue. Thanks to a personal introduction arranged by Rabbi Sundheim, Saint Leo University's Savannah students were given a special educational tour of Savannah's historic Temple Mickve Israel, established in 1733, conducted by Savannah's esteemed Rabbi Arnold Belzer. The Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies is grateful to our Rabbis and Father Len for their support of the course and the Center's mission to provide opportunities for interfaith education and dialogue.

email: catholic.jewish.center@saintleo.edu

phone: 352-588-8597

web: http://www.centerforcatholicjewishstudies.org/index.html