We Remember: Faith, Failure, and the Moral Reckoning with Antisemitism with Brendan Murphy

We Remember: Faith, Failure, and the Moral Reckoning with Antisemitism:  examines the historical roots and enduring consequences of antisemitism, with particular attention to the development of Christian anti-Judaism and its theological, cultural, and social impacts across centuries. The lecture traces how inherited teachings, misinterpretations of scripture, and institutional practices contributed to hostility toward Jews in Europe and beyond, culminating in the catastrophe of the Holocaust. Special focus is given to Nostra Aetate (1965) as a transformative moment in Christian theology—one that repudiated antisemitism, rejected collective Jewish guilt, and reshaped Catholic–Jewish relations. Through historical analysis and moral reflection, participants are invited to consider what remembrance demands of us today and how confronting this past is essential for building a more just and humane future.

Brendan Murphy is a Catholic educator and the founder and director of the Bearing Witness Institute, an educational initiative dedicated to Holocaust education, the study of antisemitism, and interreligious dialogue. He teaches Holocaust studies and has led students and educators on intensive study programs in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic examining the history and moral legacy of the Holocaust. Murphy works closely with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim partners to foster meaningful encounters grounded in historical truth, human dignity, and moral responsibility. His work is particularly focused on helping Christian communities grapple honestly with the legacy of Christian anti-Judaism and the theological significance of Nostra Aetate for contemporary faith and public life. 

Murphy’s teaching has been widely recognized at the local, state, and national levels. He has received the Outstanding Educator Award from the Anne Frank Center in New York, as well as the Anti-Defamation League’s Abe Goldstein Human Relations Award and Unsung Hero Award. At Marist School, he has been honored with the Goizueta Chair of Excellence Award, the Faber–McKinley–Stadler Award, and the Frank P. Hagan Memorial Coach’s Award. His work has also been recognized statewide with the Distinguished Service Award from the Georgia Independent School Association and twice with the Georgia Outstanding Educator of the Year Award from the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. He has been named Teacher of the Year by the University of Notre Dame.

In addition to these honors, Murphy has participated in prestigious professional fellowships, including the Museum Teacher Fellowship at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Lerner Fellowship at the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous in New York City. He was recently selected as a member of Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2025.