Marc H. Tanenbaum

Who was Marc H. Tanenbaum?

Rabbi Marc H. Tanenbaum was a human rights and social justice activist who was known for building bridges with other faith communities to advance mutual understanding and cooperation and to eliminate entrenched stereotypes, particularly those rooted in religious teachings. He was an advocate during the Second Vatican Council on behalf of what eventually emerged as Nostra Aetate, a landmark document which overturned a long tradition of hostility toward Jews and Judaism—including the charge that the Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus—and affirmed the Jewish roots of Christianity. Nostra Aetate established a new policy of outreach in dialogue to Jews and set Catholic-Jewish relations on a new course.

Tanenbaum was dubbed "the human rights rabbi" for his work on behalf of Vietnamese boat people and Cambodian refugees. He helped organize humanitarian relief for victims of the Nigerian Civil War.