BSM Hosts Rabbi Skorka for Nostra Aetate 60th Anniversary

BSM commemorated the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, a groundbreaking Vatican II document on interfaith relations, with a special visit from distinguished author and Georgetown University senior research fellow Rabbi Abraham Skorka on Tuesday, November 4.

Nostra Aetate (In Our Time), promulgated in 1965, transformed the Catholic Church's relationship with Judaism and other world religions, rejecting antisemitism and emphasizing shared spiritual heritage. The anniversary celebration at BSM honored this legacy through dialogue and community building.

The event, presented in partnership with the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), featured:

• Keynote address by Rabbi Abraham Skorka
• Interfaith dialogue with Rabbi Skorka and Fr. Michael Maloney, BSM Chaplain
• Student-led Q&A with Patrick McDonald ‘26 and Harper Stevenson-Shimek '26
• Closing blessing by Rabbi Skorka and Fr. Maloney
• Musical performance by BSM's Red Knotes choir

The event brought together members of the JCRC, Beth El Synagogue, area Catholic high schools, students, and community members to celebrate the enduring relationship between the Catholic and Jewish communities.

"We are deeply honored to welcome Rabbi Skorka to BSM for this significant anniversary," said Danielle Hermanny '03, President of Benilde-St. Margaret's School. "This commemoration gives our students the opportunity to hear from a renowned scholar and to witness interfaith dialogue in action. Rabbi Skorka's visit reminds us that mutual respect and meaningful relationship-building across religious traditions remains as vital in our Catholic faith today as it did 60 years ago."