New glossary breaks ground in tackling antisemitism through a Catholic lens

NEW YORK — As part of ongoing and broader efforts to counter antisemitism across society, American Jewish Committee, in partnership with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, released “Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition.” This groundbreaking resource paves the way for deeper and wider cooperation in a shared commitment to eradicating antisemitism at a time when recent events have challenged Catholic-Jewish relations.

“Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition” features Catholic commentary on various entries of AJC’s renowned Translate Hate glossary of antisemitic terms, themes and memes. It comes as Catholic and Jewish communities prepare to mark six decades of trust-building and mutual learning beginning when the Catholic Church reached out to the Jewish people and the world with “Nostra Aetate,” the historic Second Vatican Council document disseminated on Oct. 28, 1965, which dramatically and publicly decried antisemitism and transformed the Church’s approach to the Jewish people for the better.

“For 60 years, dialogue has helped to establish lasting friendship among leaders in the Catholic and Jewish communities,” said Bishop Joseph C. Bambera of Scranton, Pennsylvania, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. “As we prepare to mark the 60th anniversary of ‘Nostra Aetate,’ it is more important than ever to renew our commitment to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters against all forms of antisemitism. Sadly, we are currently witnessing a tragic rise in antisemitic incidents both globally and here in the United States, a painful reminder that our work is not done. This project is but one example of the fruits of our collaboration that we hope will have wide-ranging impact as Catholics and Jews continue building bridges and combat antisemitism together.”

“Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition” is the product of investment in Catholic and Jewish leadership dialogue. It is the latest, but not the last, installment in deepening and extending the infrastructure, educational tools, and reach of Catholic-Jewish relations. 

“This Catholic edition of ‘Translate Hate’ is a groundbreaking project for Catholic-Jewish relations and could not come at a more needed time, as we are experiencing the most dramatic rise in antisemitism since the Holocaust, including notably in the United States,” said Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC Director of Interreligious Affairs. “USCCB’s allyship and leadership in confronting antisemitism as a threat not only to the Jewish people but also to civilized society more broadly is a key part of the national whole-of-society approach we need to combat anti-Jewish hate. We are proud to partner with USCCB and support its ‘The Fruit of Dialogue: Catholics Confronting Antisemitism’ initiative. The path inaugurated by ‘Nostra Aetate’ must continuously be renewed and this USCCB partnership with AJC is a reaffirmation of that commitment.”

As with the original “Translate Hate,” the Catholic edition will be flexible and updated with more Catholic commentaries, even as the glossary list of antisemitic terms expands.

“Like the versions that came before it, we hope that ‘Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition’ will help equip Catholics, Jews and others with the tools needed to recognize antisemitism,” said Holly Huffnagle, AJC U.S. Director for Combating Antisemitism. “The first step in combating antisemitism is being able to understand and identify it. ‘Translate Hate: The Catholic Edition’ presents this information in a way that can be used at all levels of Catholic and Jewish formal and informal education and empower our partners to stand up to anti-Jewish hate.”