Jewish, Roman Catholic and Muslim clergy/educators will focus on their faith communities' experiences with prejudice over the last two centuries for the Catholic-Jewish Commission's Institute for Understanding fall 2009 semester. The classes, "Moving Forward From Prejudice— Catholic, Jewish and Muslim Experiences Over the Last Two Centuries," will examine how each faith responded, how they were changed and in what ways those experiences will affect the future of these communities and how they relate to the world beyond their respective faiths.

There will be four weekly classes for the semester, beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m., continuing for the next three Wednesdays. The classes will be held at the Weinberg Jewish Community Campus, 1301 Springdale Rd., corner of Kresson Rd., Cherry Hill. At the conclusion of the weekly presentations for each faith, the fourth class will be devoted to a discussion of those who attended the prior classes.

This semester marks the 12th year of the Catholic- Jewish Institute, South Jersey's main forum for Catholic- Jewish interfaith dialogue. The Institute has covered a broad range of issues of particular interest to Catholics and Jews, and several semesters, as this one, have also included Muslim perspectives, rounding out an understanding of the subjects from each of the Abrahamic faiths. The Institute began in 1997 as a shared educational program of the Diocese of Camden and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey.

The Institute is planned by a committee co-chaired by educators Rabbi Lewis Eron, Ph.D., a theologian and Jewish Community Chaplain and rabbi at Lions Gate Continuing Care Retirement Community, and Sr. Jane Kopas, Ph.D., retired Professor of Theology at the University of Scranton.

The first class on Oct. 14 will be on Jewish Reflections, taught by Rabbi Reba Carmel, who has taught adult education programs in the U.S. and Israel and has held rabbinic positions for congregations in the New Jersey and Philadelphia area.

Attendance at the classes can lead to two-year and four-year certificates in Jewish Catholic Relations, through an arrangement with LaSalle University. The classes are also open to those who wish to learn from the classes without seeking the certificates.

The cost per semester for those who register by the first class is $50 for participants pursuing the Certificate in Jewish Christian Dialogue and $25 for participants not pursuing a certificate. The cost per session is $20 for participants in the certificate program and $10 for participants not pursuing a certificate.

For registration and more information, call 751-9500, ext. 117. .