Bishop Joseph C. Bambera releases Yom Kippur message

Bishop Joseph C. Bambera released a video message on Sept. 18 to extend warmest wishes to the Jewish community ahead of Yom Kippur. As chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, the bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania, urged Catholics to reject antisemitism and recognize the spiritual bonds between Jews and Catholics.

Bambera noted that the Jewish holiday, which involves fasting and atonement, invites a searching examination of the past year and a commitment to the next. He stated that the themes of repentance and reconciliation central to the observance also resonate with Catholics. He described the relationship between the two faiths as being rooted in shared scriptural texts and a common patrimony rather than being a simple matter of dialogue.

The bishop called on Catholics to oppose all forms of hatred and to deepen their understanding of Jewish people. In his message, he said that building genuine friendship and understanding between the two religions is vital. Yom Kippur is observed from sunset on Sept. 20 to nightfall on Sept. 21.