The Views of Rabbi Moses Feinstein, Rabbi Abraham Joshua ...

Rabbi Moses Feinstein on Interfaith Dialogue
Feinstein also speaks of gentiles in his writings, conceiving of three sources
among the gentile world from which threats against Jews emanate: namely, ―religion
(Christianity), the secular society and gentiles wishing to change their status to that of
Jews.‖ 106
That Feinstein maintains a rather suspicious attitude toward the gentile world is
apparent from ―a responsum he issued on interfaith gatherings of Jews and Christians in
the wake of Vatican II‖ 107 in which he states:
It is plain and clear that it is stringently forbidden [to attend such
meetings]...for this plague has spread through the influence of the new
Pope whose entire purpose it is to cause all the Jews to abandon their
faith…and accept the faith of the Christians, [feeling] that it is easier to
cause this abandonment in this way rather than through [means of] hatred
and murder which previous Popes had used. 108
An accurate understanding of Feinstein‘s position on interfaith relations between
Jews and Christians requires some theological-legal contextualization. The Talmud in
Tractate Sanhedrin 56a relates the fact that halakha recognizes the universal relationship
that exists between G-d and all of humanity. This relationship is signified by the Noahide
Covenant according to Jewish tradition and is characterized by seven commandments that
Noah and his descendants are legally obligated to observe.
One of these seven
106 Robinson 248
107 Robinson 248
108 Feinstein, IM. YD 3, no. 43/1. Cd. EE I, no. 6
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