Abstract
This essay examines the place of Israel in the life and thought of Helmut Gollwitzer, an important German theologian of the mid-twentieth century. It examines his experiences with the Confessing Church struggle against the Nazi Reich, his solidarity with the Jewish people in the wake of the November 1938 pogrom, and his leadership in Jewish-Christian dialogue after the conclusion of the second world war. The essay ends with suggestions from Gollwitzer's example for Christians who engage in Jewish-Christian dialogue today.
Highlights
Helmut Gollwitzer was one of Karl Barth’s most significant students for a number of reasons, and not least among these was his deep-seated commitment to establishing a positive relationship between Christianity and Judaism.[1]
A version of this essay was presented on June 16, 2014 at the annual Karl Barth Conference at Princeton Theological Seminary
I am indebted to Dr Ellen Charry (Princeton Theological Seminary) for providing valuable comments on an early draft of the essay
Summary
Helmut Gollwitzer was one of Karl Barth’s most significant students for a number of reasons, and not least among these was his deep-seated commitment to establishing a positive relationship between Christianity and Judaism.[1]. Brigitte’s father Adolf had been with the German Foreign Service, but two things led him to rethink his career.[29] First, he was married to a secular Jew. Second, he and his wife fell under the influence of Martin Niemöller and shifted from conventional religious concern to intense Christian commitment.
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