Christian–Jewish Dialogue founder Paul Filben dies

By the Rev. Albert Kennington

MOBILE, AL — Paul Filben, co-founder of Mobile Christian-Jewish Dialogue, died May 28, 2011, in his home in Mobile. He was 81. In 1974, Paul and his wife Mary, who died last year, began the work for which they are best known and will long be remembered in Mobile and beyond. Today, 37 years later, the Mobile Christian–Jewish Dialogue is recognized as the oldest, continuous lay-led Christian–Jewish Dialogue in the United States. Begun in Mobile for Roman Catholics and Jews, it was soon opened to all Christians. Bishop George Murray quickly joined the effort; Bishop Duvall and Bishop Duncan have continued support by the Episcopal diocese and encouraged participation by Episcopalians.

A native of West Virginia, he began his career as a “big band” musician at age 16. At countless Mardi Gras balls and other parties, many a dancer has enjoyed his trumpet and his songs from the bandstand with Bill Lagman and Bob Schultz. Paul was a gentleman who respected the dignity of every person. He was a Christian who had a special passion for Jews and the wrong done by the church and by church-influenced powers to Jews. He and Mary had the grace, courage, and patience to begin simply by inviting Christians and Jews to have a cup of coffee together to talk and listen. They actually believed that such a simple act could make a difference. They were right. They were so right that, after almost forty years of this around Mobile Bay, enough people have done it to know they were right, while too many other people are too busy or afraid to try it.

For most of these years, Paul and Mary led the Dialogue from their home on a modest budget funded by contributions from the two Mobile Jewish congregations, the Mobile Jewish Federation, and from the Roman Catholic and Episcopal dioceses. Programs grew from the early “living room dialogues” to include prominent scholars, and occasional musical, cultural, and social events. Paul and Mary played key roles in establishing the Gulf Coast Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education and the Alabama Holocaust Commission of which Paul was the first chair. As age and health became apparent issues, Paul and Mary took the first steps to help their work continue after them. In 2006, Spring Hill College agreed to become sponsor of the Dialogue under the leadership of a board of directors. Paul and Mary served on this board and the program committee until the end of their lives. Paul and Mary proved the Dialogue’s motto, “Hands that reach, touch.”

I was blessed to know them early in their dream and early in my ministry. They became cherished friends, and I am privileged to serve on the Dialogue board. Two nights before he died, Paul was at a Christian-Jewish Dialogue evening, ever the dapper gentlemen, with his sport coat, and bow-tie just right. He loved it that the lecture by his good friend, Jerry Darring, provoked animated conversation.

When I learned that he died on Saturday evening, I sat for awhile in my study letting thirty-seven years of memories flood over me. Then I thought of a special night in March of last year when the Christian–Jewish Dialogue sponsored a dinner in his honor and Mary’s memory at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Springhill. Some of his big-band buddies played his kind of music during dinner, and just before they finished their last set, Paul surprised us all by joining them. He no longer had the breath to play his trumpet, but he could still sing a song. And so he did.

Missed the Saturday dance, heard they crowded the floor, couldn’t bear it without you, don’t get around much anymore. — Bob Russell

Paul died on Saturday night, missing his Mary. He left their good work for us to carry on.