Join us for a meaningful morning of reflection and dialogue as we mark the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the groundbreaking Vatican II declaration that reshaped Catholic-Jewish relations. This interfaith gathering will celebrate the progress made, explore the work still ahead, and deepen our shared commitment to understanding, respect, and partnership. Breakfast will be served.

All are welcome.

Please RSVP by October 20th: https://forms.office.com/r/ewuv23Ec6k 

Our Speakers: 

Thomas M. Bolin is a scholar of the Hebrew Bible and early Judaism. The author of four books and many articles, his work focuses on the creation of early Jewish texts and their subsequent interpretation by Jewish and Christian readers, the history of the Jewish community in Rome, and the teachings of the Second Vatican Council on the Bible. He is currently a consultor to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on the translation of scriptural texts. 

Rabbi Wayne Franklin is Senior Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Emanu-El in Providence, where he served from 1981 to 2019. He is a graduate of Yeshiva University and was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. In addition to his pulpit, pastoral and educational duties at the Temple, he has engaged extensively in community activities in Rhode Island. He served as Chair of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of RI and chaired the Rhode Island Interfaith Commemoration of the Holocaust for over thirty years. He is a member of the Miriam Hospital's Ethics Committee and has been a leader in various local interfaith endeavors, including a Rabbis and Priests Dialogue, create the Abrahamic Accord, and the Rhode Island Jewish-Catholic Dialogue group. He is a member of the National Council of Synagogues, a multi-denominational group of rabbis and Jewish scholars, which engages in interfaith dialogue with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Council of Churches. He has been honored by several organizations, including Providence College. He is a member of the Providence Art Club, where he enjoys creating abstract works of art and serves as a member of the Board of Managers. 

Holly Taylor Coolman is Associate Professor of Theology at Providence College. She earned her PhD at Duke University, and her areas of specialty include Christian accounts of Judaism, as well as the family, especially adoption. Recent publications include “Law in Translation: Reflecting with Aquinas on the Promulgation of the New Law,” in The Challenge of Catholic-Jewish Theological Dialogue, eds., Matthew Tapie & Alan Brill (CUA Press, 2025).