Let me come to the point: just as much as you, for understandablehumane reasons, would like to put aside the theological-religious aspect in our situation, I have to insist on this aspect out ofthe same sentiment. The congregation which dedicateditself to the so-called “Judenmission” [mission to the Jews] is officially called“Jerusalem Congregation – Congregation for Service to Israel Within the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in the State of Hamburg”. Perhaps thekey words “service to Israel” indicate the priority. Those whofollow the efforts of this branch of the churches’ expression of life andcharacter will quickly realize that the term“mission” is defined differently than our traditionalusage of the term suggests. Interfaith dialog between Jewsand Christians can only be based on the assumption of a sharedsource of divine revelation and that we thereforehave to listen to one another. Based on the inter-pretation of the Old Testament, Israel has a message for the Christians,but the Christians have one for Israel as well, because they see this people’shistory of redemption as culminating in Christ. Thus“missionary work” in this case means establishing contact between groups which Goddirected towards each other by his acts throughout history.I believe the challenges of this partnershipare essential for both parties. This has nothing to do withoverbearance on the part of Christianity, with racial prejudice, with a lack of repentanceamong Christians in Germany or whatever elseone might assume.