t t
halom

SPEAK ON CHRISTIAN—JEWISH -
RELATIONS

On February 22, Clark M. Williamson, Indiana Professor of
Christian Thought, Christian Theological Seminary,
Indianapolis, will present a lecture at Transylvania
University. The lecture, "Christians and Jews: Rethinking
Christian Thinking" will be in Mitchell Fine Arts Center,
Recital Hall at 7:30 in the evening.

Williamson's work has concentrated on Christian-Jewish
relations for over 25 years. Among his books are "A Guest in
the House of Israel," 1993; "The Church and the Jewish
People." ed., 1994; "A Mutual Witness: Toward Critical
Solidarity Between Jews and Christians," ed., 1992; "The
Teaching Minister" (with Ronald J. Allen), 1991;
"Interpreting Difficult Texts: Anti-Judaism and Christian
Preaching" (with Ronald J. Allen), 1989. He has edited three
volumes of essays in honor of colleagues and is editor of

"Encounter”, a theological quarterly. As a member of the
theological wmmni: «ion of the (‘liri~»?é:i:a i‘h’ui‘l‘t! lllli>.'lpl(‘9 if

CM he wrote "Baptism-z Embodiment of the Gospel/f»

1987.

Professor Williamson has lectured widely. He is a member
of the Christian Scholars Group on Judaism, the Association
of Disciples for Theological Discussion and the American
Academy of Religion, He is also a member of the church
relations committee of the US. Holocaust Memorial Council.

He holds BD, MA and PhD degrees from the
University of Chicago and the BA degree from Transylvania
University. He has been a visiting professor at the School of
Theology in Clarmont and at the Graduate School of the
Ecumenical Institute (Chateau de Bossy) in Switzerland.

In teaching and in writing, Professor Williamson has
sought to engage persons in reinterpreting the faith of the
church. He believes that in every historical situation the
biblical community of faith has been reinterpreting its faith.
Acknowledging the fact of Christian complicity in the
Holocaust and the explosion of concern with all aspects of
relations between Jews and Christians beginning in the
1960s, he seeks to reconstruct Christian thinking "in the
light of the searching critique to which examination of its
anti-Jewish past subjects it."

 

CKJ F Non-Phrfit 0.;
340 Romany Road U.S.PPX)‘SII;AGE
Leiungton, KY 40502 Permit No. 719

Lexington, KY

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Bulletin of the Central Kentuelm
lewish Feberation

FEBRUARY 1994

FIRST CHAI AWARDS
RECIPIENTS NAMED

 

 

Georges Birenbaum

'IheJewfli Gmmm'tyd'
Cent ral Kent uekv submitted a
number , of

annual Chai Awartk (f the CKJF.
The Chai Awards, two to be
given, will recognize those
individuals who have given of
themselves to the Jewish and to
the general communities. The
presentations are scheduled
for Saturday evening, February
19thfrrxn 8pmthrough 11pm at
the French Quarter Suites in
Lexington.

The Chai Award
presentation evening will be
led by Master of Ceremonies,
Alan Stein. Jerry Sanders and
Bonnie Krasick, local media
personalities, will present
the awards. Designed by local
graphic artist Gloria Katz, and
hand crafted by Jack Sharer,
the original, one of a kind
awards, have been created
exclusively for this occasion.

Hors d'oeuvres and
desserts will be served with a
cash bar open through the
evening. Following the
presentations and ceremonies,
guests will be invited to join
Mardi Gras celebrations,
including live jazz bands,
hosted by the French Quarter
Suites.

Bmed m the Ixminating
petitions for the Chai Awards,
the judging committee selected
the following to receive the
first awards: For exceptional

outstanding .
. ." . firm. mew“

 

 

contributions to the general
community. local. national and
international, Georges
to the Jewish community, Jerry
and Rose Rita Wurmser.
What Gauges Baum
does for the community at large
is a well kept secret. One of
the people who nominated

Georges described his
contributions as "With no
fanfare or personal

recognition, Georges Birenbaum
has made fifteen trips to Third
World nations to do volunteer
teaching and eye surgery. He
has given sight back to
hundreds of poor, blind
individuals who would
otherwise be unable to afford
or even have access to the
necessary surgery. He travels
at his own expense..." Georges
has traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico,
Vietnam, Romania, Haiti, St.
Lucia, Brazil and Hadera,
Israel. In January of this
year he travelled to Chad.
Prior to each of his
trips to help suffering
individuals in Third World
nations, Georges prepares by
learning enough of the language
of the nation so that he can
communicate without the aid of
a translator. This saves time
in the operating room and
enables him to become a part of
the community which he is
visiting.
Having survived World

  

CK$JF

 

Rose Rita and Jerry Wurmser

War II as a Hdden Jewish
child, Georges came to the

Unitethtates at the ageof 22. ,
over. He understands what it
means to need help and to be
able to help others. By giving
sight back to the blind and in
offering education to those who
can, in turn, help the blind,
Georges offers people around
the globe a better quality of
life. He exemplifies the
Jewish concept of tzedakah.

T h e a w a r d f o r
outstanding contributions to
the Jewish community goes to
Jerry and Rose Rita Wurmser.
This couple has, in large part,
been responsible for the
furniture in all of the
apartments set up for former
Soviet Jews settled in Central
Kentucky. They have single-
handedly collected the
furniture from donors, stored
the items, and lovingly
arranged the apartments that
each new American receives on
his arrival. Anyone who visits
the apartments finds a stylish,
well coordinated decor with
every detail complete.

One of the nominating
petitions stated "It's payback
time. We have had a great
life! Jerry and Rose Rita have
undertaken their many
volunteer activities on a full

Cont. pg. 14
see CHAI