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November 28, 2003/Kislev 3 5764, Vol. 56, No. 10
Rabbi lays out common ground in new book
VICKI CABOT
Contributing Editor
Why would a rabbi spend nearly all of his professional life researching the commonalities between synagogue and church liturgy?
Because he sees it as a way to bridge difference.
"My work has been all about ecumenism," said Rabbi Albert Plotkin during an interview about his recently published book, "Sacred Roots, Commonalities Expressed by the Early Church and Synagogue" (Fogfree, Inc., $19.95 hardcover.) "I feel that it was one of my callings."
Beyond ministering to the needs of what has become one of the largest Reform congregations in the Valley, Plotkin, now rabbi emeritus at Temple Beth Israel, reached out to the non-Jewish community throughout his rabbinate to foster mutual respect and tolerance.
His book reflects his lifelong commitment to religious understanding and a serious interest in both Jewish liturgy and music.
Plotkin, a graduate of Notre Dame University, says his experiences as an undergraduate at the Jesuit university shaped his religious outlook.
"It was the best thing that ever happened to me," says the rabbi who was born and raised in South Bend, Ind. He calls his bachelor's degree cum laude, class of 1942, his "mark of distinction," and, in fact, was recognized by his classmates last year as their most distinguished member for his interfaith work.
Working his way through school shelving books in the library and tutoring local bar mitzvah boys on the side, Plotkin blossomed in the religious environment. Any initial reservations he may have had about attending a Catholic school were diffused when his father reminded him that "the lady on top of the dome was Jewish," he chuckles.
After college, Plotkin attended rabbinical school at Hebrew Union Seminary in Cincinnati where he was awarded a Doctor of Hebrew Letters degree. His first pulpit was in Spokane, Wash.; from there he moved to Phoenix in 1955, serving as TBI's spiritual leader for 38 years until his retirement in 1991. He currently is the spiritual leader for the Jewish Community of Sedona.
Plotkin explains that he has worked on the book, which began as his graduate school dissertation, for more than 50 years.
"I worked on and off; then three years ago, I thought it was time to really put it together," he says.
The book was published with the help of his friend, Rev. Charles Pohlaun, a retired minister, who wrote the editor's postscript. The foreword is written by another longtime friend and colleague, Bishop Thomas O'Brien of Phoenix.
The book bespeaks its roots as a scholarly paper. It is well researched, well organized and clearly written in academic style. In it Plotkin traces the Jewish origins of early church practices then goes on to look at specific instances of commonality in the liturgy. He explains how the Hebrew book of psalms serves as a common source for both Catholic and Jewish worship and shows how there is a similarity in language, music and teachings. "The literature of antiquity was rich in many types of expressions but it was its purest in voicing the language of the heart. The Hebrew Psalms were the first to give voice to the conversation of the human heart with God," he writes.
Both services incorporate doxology, sections praising God; both utilize similar key words - amen, hallelujah are just two examples - both reflect veneration of martyrs and shared commitment to justice and righteousness. Food remains a universal element, as is music. Plotkin gives many examples of similarity in choral structure and responsive reading. "As we study the early Christian liturgy of the first and second centuries, we uncover material the Jews had been singing for over 500 years," he writes. For instance, he goes on, "Today, when you hear the words of the Kadosh in the synagogue, you will also find angels in the Sanctus of the Catholic Mass and related parts of the Greek Orthodox liturgy."
Scriptural lessons, based on the Hebrew bible, are also key elements in both the Catholic and Jewish worship service.
"Christian homily was based on the scriptural reading of the week, another carry over from synagogue practice," he writes.
As time passed, he notes, the Christian church sought to differentiate itself from its Jewish forebears and some of the commonalities were not recognized.
Still, he notes, if you attend a Catholic mass you will be struck with similarities in melodies, albeit with different words.
Plotkin, who teaches at both Jewish and non-Jewish venues throughout the Valley, tells of speaking to a group at Sun City's Temple Beth Shalom about his book.
"I sang some of the melodies - music of the church - and they were in shock (at the similarity to Jewish liturgy)," he says.
For years, Plotkin has taught comparative religion at All Saints Episcopal Church in Phoenix and has lectured on this topic there as well as at other churches in the Valley. He hopes to engender increased dialogue on interfaith issues.
When he first came to the Valley with his late wife Sylvia, Plotkin says there was a decided undercurrent of anti-Semitism. "It was underneath," he says, "you heard it on the radio, political stuff."
Determined to offset it, Plotkin began reaching out to the non-Jewish community pursuing interfaith activities. He helped to organize the Anytown program which provided opportunities for Jewish and non- Jewish teens to interact, and his wife looked for opportunities to use the Jewish museum, since named in her memory and housed at Temple Beth Israel, as a vehicle for teaching the general public about Jewish history and heritage.
Plotkin was one of the founders of the now defunct Phoenix Corporate Ministry, meeting regularly with his colleagues from across the religious spectrum. The two extant clergy organizations in the Valley, the Greater Phoenix Clergy Council and the Ecumenical Council do not have any Jewish members, he says.
Plotkin bemoans the lack of available forums for Jews and non-Jews to dialogue and continues to personally seek out opportunities to speak and teach at many different religious institutions.
He believes that the need is greater than ever to reach out, particularly in the face of rising religious extremism.
"There are many (moderate) Muslims and Christians who would welcome a dialogue with Jews," he suggests.
"I think if we could speak to each other we would be able to share and learn from each other."
Callling himself a "cockeyed optimist," Plotkin says that he feels positively about Jewish/Christian relations.
"There is a much improved climate," he says. "I have great hope for the future."
Plotkin will be honored Jan. 9-10 by Temple Beth Israel and the Arizona Jewish Historical Society for his 48 years of community service. Call 480-951-0323.
Details
- What: Book signing for "Sacred Roots, Commonalities Expressed by the Early Church and Synagogue"
- Who: Rabbi Albert Plotkin
- When: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14
- Where: Israel Connection, 5539 N. Seventh St., Phoenix
- Call: 602-265-6606
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