In light of the death of Pope John Paul II this past Shabbat (April 2, 2005), some classes in Jewish educational institutions, particularly those studying Jewish-Christian relations, may be discussing John Paul II's relationships with the Jewish People, with Judaism, and with the State of Israel. We offer the following links as background resources for teachers preparing such lessons:
Like his predecessor Pope John XXIII, for whom the "John" in his double name "John Paul" was chosen, Pope John Paul II was an accessible, public figure who took strong and unequivocal stands on ethical, moral, and religious issues. Both John XXIII and John Paul II sought to come to terms with the Church's own past and to chart a more embracing view of other religious traditions as partners in God's work. In searching the Web, one encounters a large number of sites that originate with a small number of extremists who oppose these efforts at peace and reconciliation. This makes it all the harder for teachers to use the Internet as a quick research tool. While we have not ignored controversy, we have included links that we hope will be positive and helpful in providing our members with information which will prove useful in the context of the Jewish classroom.