History
Founded in 1987 in Baltimore by an interfaith coalition of laity and clergy, the ICJS emerged out of the conviction that ignorance, fear, and hostility have all too often defined the character of the Jewish-Christian encounter. For centuries, religious and ethnic rivalries and hatreds have led to such world horrors as the Holocaust; the conflicts in Bosnia, Nigeria, Lebanon, and Northern Ireland; and, more recently, the September 11th terrorist attacks and the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
The ICJS seeks to understand the ways in which religious communities can shape our noblest dreams and ignite our most deep-seated hatreds. We are committed to offering educational programs that create respect for values essential to our particular communities and for the democratic ideals that uphold our society.
