Nostra Aetate represents the historical period it was...

Nostra Aetate represents the historical period it was written in because the document would effectively bind the wounds of centuries of Christian Anti-Semitism and reexamine the churches relationship with the Jewish people (Traditions, p. 436). With the catastrophic genocide of Jews in the Holocaust, followed by the birth of the first Jewish state of Israel, the church would have to reassess its relationship with Judaism. The document connects Christianity to its Jewish roots and indicates that the two faiths share a common origin through Abraham. The declaration also uses Paul’s letters to the Romans as a New Testament source, where Paul gives reverence to the Jewish faith. The document further clarifies that the early history of the†¦show more content†¦By identifying the special bond between Christians and Jews through the Hebrew Scriptures, the church is trying to bind the wounds of anti-Semitism that had existed in the church for centuries. Nostra Aetate would al so use the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Romans as a New Testament passage where he gives reverence to Judaism. Paul praises â€Å"the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised† (Romans 9:4-5). â€Å"The Jews viewed God’s choosing of Israel in the Old Testament as being like an adoption† (Life Application Study Bible, p. 2044). â€Å"They were undeserving and yet God adopted them and granted them status of calling them children of God† (Life Application Study Bible, p. 2044). These verses states that the covenant made between Israel and God has never been revoked even though some of them rejected the Jewish Messiah. This reinforces the churches idea that Jews should not be cursed and they are the people of God. Usin g this New Testament passage the church is repairing the wounds of centuries of Christian prejudice towards Jews. The document would further point out the Jewishness of the early members of the church. â€Å"She also recalls that