On the fifth episode of the Good for the Jews podcast, hosts Yael Eckstein and Zvika Klein are joined by Rabbi Meni Even-Israel, CEO of the Steinsaltz Center and son of the late Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, and Bishop Paul Lanier, founder of the Home Community Church and chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ).

The two guests discussed the importance of fostering ties between Jews and Christians, as well as the meaningful ways in this these interfaith friendships can happen. 

Lanier discussed some of the concerns many Jews have regarding Christians, which he believes are understandable.

"None of us should be surprised at the concern from the Jewish community," he said. "There are massacres [and] a host of hideous crimes against humanity inflicted under the shadow of a steeple."

He further cited the Holocaust as an example, describing an IFCJ trip he went on to Auschwitz when he noticed a cross on the wall of one of the buildings. 

Auschwitz (credit: REUTERS)
Auschwitz (credit: REUTERS)
"I said 'That's it. That's what we have to get over,'" he explained. 

Even-Israel also discussed the importance of being up-front about the fears many Jews have.

"You allow them to be more blunt," he said. "The biggest fear from everybody is 'Oh, my God, these Christians will come and convert us all.'"

Do Jews see Christianity as idolatry?

One debate that occasionally comes up in halachic discourse is whether Christianity counts as idol worship. 

As Even-Israel pointed out, chief among these concerns is the fact that concept of the Holy Trinity in Christianity - meaning the division of God as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost - would count as polytheism due to it being seen as worshiping not one singular deity but rather three of them. 

However, nearly all Christian denominations agree that the Holy Trinity is a singular entity. 

But there are other potential halachic concerns that have risen up over the years. 

"When you try to explain to someone that this is not idol worship, the response is 'Wait ,but is Jesus on the cross?'" Even-Israel explained, referring to the many crucifixes that have statues of Jesus on them. 

"If you go to Rome, there are many others. I mean, [St. Peter's Basilica] is full of statues of every pope, every saint," he continued. 

However, he and many other rabbis argue that the Holy Spirit can be seen as monotheistic, and that visiting the Vatican and seeing the collection of art that is heavily rooted in Christian iconography is not problematic on a halachic level either. 

He recounted a story from his youth when he and his family went to the Vatican but got separated from their parents, only to find them in the Sistine Chapel surrounded by large and elaborate paintings of the Passion of Christ. The two were arguing over which artist did it better. 

"The idea is, if you go to a place, you need to appreciate the art... the culture," he continued, before recounting a trip he took with his father shortly before his death to visit the pope. Even-Israel had asked what the two of them spoke about. 

"He said something that was really profound for me and [informed] my perspective on my relationship with Christianity," Even-Israel said of his father. "He said 'I came to the pope and I told him it's about time you stop dancing the Cha Cha and start dancing the tango.'

"The relationship needs to be solid and close, because we are trying to achieve something for the greater good of the world."