Born in Vienna as Erwin Pinchas Spitzer in 1922, Pinchas Lapide navigated a trajectory from wartime escapee to an influential voice in Jewish-Christian relations. Over a career spanning diplomacy and academia, he produced more than 35 books, systematically challenging prevailing mid-century narratives regarding theological reconciliation and the complex historical responsibilities surrounding the Holocaust.
Diplomatic and Academic Foundation
After reaching Palestine during the Second World War, Lapide pursued studies in Romance philology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He later transitioned into a diplomatic role, serving the State of Israel from 1951 to 1969. His tenure included a position as Israel's Consul to Milan, where he contributed to establishing international recognition for the newly formed nation. His academic career eventually led him to teaching positions at Bar-Ilan University and the University of Cologne, where he focused on the intersections of history and religious thought.
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In his 1967 publication, Three Popes and the Jews, Lapide examined the actions of the Catholic Church during the Second World War. He sought to provide a counter-narrative to criticisms famously levied in the play The Deputy by Rolf Hochhuth. Lapide argued that the pontificate of Pius XII was instrumental in facilitating the survival of hundreds of thousands of Jewish individuals. His work attempted to quantify these efforts, suggesting that the Church played a significant, if often overlooked, role in humanitarian rescue operations during the Nazi era.
Interfaith Dialogue and Theology
Lapide dedicated much of his later work to the reconciliation of Jewish and Christian theological perspectives. In dialogues with figures such as Jürgen Moltmann, he explored the possibility of shared spiritual paths toward the same God. His analysis of biblical texts, including Isaiah 53, frequently centered on the concept of Israel as a collective suffering servant, framing this role as an expiatory sacrifice for humanity. By bridging these religious traditions, he challenged artificial barriers that historically divided the two faiths.
Fast facts
- Born: 1922, Vienna
- Died: 1997, Frankfurt
- Citizenship: Austria, Germany, Israel
- Academic institutions: Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar-Ilan University, University of Cologne
- Notable honor: Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Total books authored: Over 35
- Diplomatic service: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1951–1969
Questions readers ask
What was Lapide's central argument regarding Pope Pius XII?
He argued that the Pope and the Catholic Church were instrumental in saving between 700,000 and 860,000 Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
How did Lapide view the relationship between Christianity and Judaism?
He believed they were parallel pilgrim paths leading to the same God and that historical divergence was largely due to artificial, surmountable barriers.
Achievements
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Held posts at Bar-Ilan University, University of Cologne and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel
