Garden dedicated to a pioneer in Jewish-Catholic relations

More than 100 well-wishers gathered at the Lester Senior Housing complex on the Alex Aidekman Family Jewish Community Campus, Whippany, on Oct. 28 for the dedication of the Sister Rose Thering Garden.

Underwritten by David and Sylvia Steiner, the garden pays tribute to Thering, a Dominican nun and a resident of Lester Housing for the past three years, for her work combating anti-Semitism and promoting Holocaust education as a permanent part of the New Jersey schools curriculum.

Arthur Schechner, past president of the Jewish Community Housing Corporation, likened Thering to the late Rosa Parks, as a woman who would not back down in the face of discrimination and anti-Semitism. “Every time we come to the garden,” said Schechner, “we will know that a righteous woman has been here.” 

Sister Rose’s pioneering study of anti-Semitic texts in Catholic school books was pivotal in the creation and promulgation of “Nostra Aetate,” a revolutionary Vatican document that substantially improved the relationship between Catholics and Jews.

Upon presentation of a plaque by the Steiners, Thering said, “Again, the creation of this beautiful rose garden is another example of the goodness of the Jewish community, who have totally understood my message. I trust that they will help me spread this message to the entire Jewish and Christian world: Your people are my people, your God my God. Toda raba!”

The program was cosponsored by United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey and the Jewish Community Housing Corporation.

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