More than 120 people came to the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City on Thursday evening, November 17, 2005, to celebrate the efforts of two extraordinary people—Sister Rose Thering, O.P., and Mr. Barry Sternlicht. The Nostra Aetate Awards Dinner, hosted by the Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding (CCJU) of Sacred Heart University, is now in its tenth year of commemorating individuals and organizations who exemplify the leadership and commitment to mutual understanding upon which Christian-Jewish relations continue to grow.
Nostra Aetate is the landmark 1965 Vatican II document that began a new and positive relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish People by repudiating historic Christian teachings of contempt towards Jews and positively asserting the ongoing validity and common spiritual heritage that Christians and Jews share.
Barry Sternlicht (left) received the Tzedaka Award and Sr. Rose Thering, O.P., received the CCJU Nostra Aetate Award.
Rabbi Joseph Ehrenkranz, executive director of CCJU, offered high praise for this year's awards recipients. He said, “Tonight's distinguished honorees remind us that progress is possible, but it is not achieved without the extraordinary efforts of people whose deep convictions and ethical values drive their vision.” Sister Rose is a Dominican sister and professor emerita of Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, whose pioneering research of Catholic teaching materials about Jews and Judaism played a significant role in influencing the passage of the document, Nostra Aetate.
One of the youngest and most respected leaders in the hotel and leisure industry today, Mr. Barry Sternlicht is chairman and CEO of Starwood Capital Group and founder of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. His acumen as a visionary and a businessman is matched by his passionate belief in giving back to others in need. He devotes a significant amount of his time and talent in support of a variety of noteworthy humanitarian efforts such as Juvenile Diabetes Research, City Cares of America, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, Ronald McDonald House, UNICEF and Kids in Crisis.
Due to her declining health, Sister Rose was unable to attend the evening's celebration so the Nostra Aetate Award had been presented her in a ceremony at Seton Hall University on October 23 by Dr. David Coppola, associate executive director of CCJU, and Rev. Michael Moynihan, chairman of the Center's Board. At the Park Avenue Synagogue dinner, an extraordinary video was shown of highlights from the Seton Hall University ceremony and from the Academy Award nominated documentary, Sr. Rose's Passion, a film that portrays her lifelong efforts to counter anti-Semitism. “This award has a special meaning in this 40th anniversary year of Nostra Aetate,” Dr. Coppola told the invited guests of the Awards ceremony: “Sr. Rose's life and legacy of promoting Christian-Jewish relations are unparalleled in the Catholic Church and among women of religion. Sister Rose reminds us that Christianity and Judaism have deep, intertwined roots in God's garden that will continue to grow and blossom with each decade if we do our best and speak truth with love.”
Dr. Anthony J. Cernera, president of Sacred Heart University, presented the Tzedaka Award to Barry Sternlicht for his commitment to charitable giving. Tzedaka is the Hebrew term that is commonly thought to mean charity, but is more accurately translated as righteousness or justice. In his remarks, Dr. Cernera said to Mr. Sternlicht: “Although your business accomplishments are extraordinary, your efforts at repairing the world are the reason that we celebrate you this evening. You remind us that in both the Jewish and Christian traditions we are responsible for making our world a better place for all God's people.” Rabbi Ehrenkranz, a lifelong friend of the Sternlicht family added, “Barry's significant deeds in caring for the poor and vulnerable members of society are manifold. I have known Barry since his youth and his example of charitable giving is an inspiration to us all. He has shown, through his outstanding dedication to humanitarian and social justice causes, many compassionate and noteworthy examples of his ability to build bridges of understanding.”
Father Moynihan concluded the evening by introducing the new generation of religious leaders committed to interreligious dialogue, namely five past participants of the Center's annual Institute for Seminarians and Rabbinical Students: Rev. Richard Bay, Rev. Martin Burnham, Rev. Thevenin Donelson, Rabbi Lauren Kurland and Cantor Kerith Spencer Shapiro. The Institute brings future religious leaders together for three days to learn from invited scholars and from one another about the importance of dialogue and the advances made between Jews and Christians over the past 40 years.
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