The radio, whose name would become Radio Chrétienne Francophone (RCF), had a clear mission: to share a message of hope and to offer a Christian reading of the world to as many listeners as possible.
Very early on, Sister Brigitte Martin Chave, an NDS sister in Lyon, recognised the potential of this medium. She created the programme Nous Connaître (Know us), guided by her understanding that Christians can deepen their own faith by coming to know Judaism. In the programme, she gently dismantled a picture of Judaism laden with preconceptions, even prejudices, to reveal a different side, unknown to many. As well as this, she presented other programmes on the Bible and on the writings of modern spiritual figures.
Over time, the programme, now titled Connaître le Judaïsme (Know Judaism), has become one of RCF’s longest-running broadcasts. Its longevity is remarkable, especially given the specificity of its subject.
After Sister Brigitte’s death in 2015, following thirty years of dedicated service at RCF, Sister Dominique de la Maisonneuve continued this work for several years. But the sisters were concerned about how to keep the programme going in the long term in memory of Sr Brigitte. Today, the programme lives on in a partnership between RCF and Notre Dame de Sion, and is carried forward in fidelity to its original spirit.
Odile Riffaud, the journalist who now presents it, offers a glimpse through the voices of its listeners:
“Feedback from Christian listeners shows a real curiosity. Some even say they are deeply moved, as if they were discovering – or rediscovering – their own faith through their encounter with Judaism. It seems that, for many believers, there is a kind of quiet, latent curiosity just waiting to be awakened.”
In a world marked by tension, this space of opening perspectives and listening takes on a particular significance:
“With the conflict in the Middle East, some people find it difficult to approach Jewish-Christian dialogue in any way other than a political one. That makes this programme all the more important and useful.”
Odile notes that Sister Brigitte’s intuition in naming the programme Nous Connaître was truly inspired. Most tellingly, the programme reaches beyond its initial audience:
“I sometimes receive feedback from Jewish listeners who say they appreciate hearing their religion spoken about in a different way, especially in the current context.”
Today, Odile Riffaud presents Connaître le Judaïsme.
Day after day, RCF seeks to share a message of hope in a world that badly needs it. Its motto, “Joy is meant to be shared”, becomes an inspiration to understand and love the world, to share the joy of living and believing.
In this ongoing story, the commitment of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion in France endures, faithful to their long-standing vocation of fostering Jewish-Christian relations, and attentive to the signs of the times.
We recommend tuning in to Connaître le Judaïsme on Radio RCF, especially to an upcoming episode that will explore the association CIRDIC (Centre d’Initiatives pour les Relations et le Dialogue entre Juifs et Chrétiens), whose origins are closely tied to Notre Dame de Sion.
