A Blessing to Each Other
Description
This book gives a new account of the story of Jewish and Christian relations. It focuses on the little-known instances of goodwill and cooperation that occurred between Christians and Jews throughout history. Moments and eras marked by teamwork and trust have been overshadowed by narratives that concentrate on the tragic past. This has resulted in an inaccurate portrayal of both Christianity and Judaism. Jewish and Christian scholars have worked together since World War II, however, to bring new insights to biblical studies, to challenge old paradigms of difference, and to contribute to a deeper understanding of Jewish and Christian teachings. This book interprets their research for a non-specialist audience. It covers issues that have paradoxically brought adherents of the two faiths together, such as biblical studies and examinations of Jesus and the apostle Paul. An in-depth consideration of the Holocaust and subsequent efforts to reconcile and even revise Christian and Jewish theology reveals how radically things have changed, thanks to interreligious partnerships. Mutual efforts also led to the establishment of the nation of Israel. Readers will emerge with a new appreciation for the ties that exist between Jews and Christians, and a better understanding of where the two faiths converge and where they diverge.
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TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS BOOK
aggadic interpretation-nonlegal rabbinic literature that provides commentary on the biblical text, e.g. ethics, instructions, meaning.
agonistic respect-the sometimes painful recognition that other people have different faith commitments and beliefs about ultimate truth.
allosemitism-setting Jews apart from all other people as being in need of distinct language and treatment in order to understand them. Allosemitism contains the seeds of both antisemitism and philosemitism because allosemites perceive Jews as somehow "other" in either a bad way or a good way.
anti-Judaism, Christian-belief that Christianity is superior to Judaism. Anti-Judaism differs from antisemitism because it focuses on religion rather than race.
antisemitism-prejudice toward or hatred of Jews based on race rather than on religion. Spelled without a hyphen by scholars of Jewish and Christian relations. In this book, antisemitism encompasses any form of Jew hatred, whether grounded on religion, race, or other factors.
apocalypticism-the expectation that the world will end imminently and catastrophically as part of God's plan for final judgment and ultimate redemption.
BCE-Before Common Era, the nonsectarian designation for BC (Before Christ).
Byzantine Palestina-the geographical region of Palestine under Byzantine Christian control, 400-700 CE, prior to the Muslim conquest of the seventh century. A center of Christian and Jewish intellectual life.
canon-lit. rule or measuring stick; a collection of books or texts considered authoritative, as in the canon of scripture.
CE-Common Era, the nonsectarian designation for AD (Anno Domini, Latin for Year of [the] Lord).
Christ event-shorthand way Christians use to state that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus provide salvation.
Christian Hebraism-the interest in and study of Hebrew language and literature by Christians, particularly the Christian Old Testament.
Christology-in Christian theology, the explanation of the nature and person of Jesus Christ, especially in his relationship to God.
contaminated diversity-the principle that religious identities are complex and diverse rather than pure and unadulterated.
Danby-English translation of the Mishnah by Herbert Danby. Diaspora-lit. scattering about; the community of Jews living outside the Land of Israel.
dispensationalism-a Christian categorization in which history is divided into seven eras or dispensations. The Church and Israel are given distinct functions, and Israel will play a significant role in the final, Messianic era.
double-covenant theology-the post-Holocaust theology that sees Judaism and Christianity as two distinct religions with a shared biblical heritage.
Endtime-period of turmoil and disruption preparatory to the coming of the Messiah, or the Advent of Christ.
eschatology-study of last things or Endtime; or the study of an individual's ultimate destiny. For Jews and Christians, the coming, or return, of the Messiah is the central eschatological expectation.
exegesis-bringing out the meaning of a text; frequently used synonymously with commentary.
fl.-flourished, indicating the lack of specific dates to mark an individual's life.
Gemara-lit. to finish or complete; analysis and commentary on the Mishnah given by rabbis; together Mishnah and Gemara comprise the Talmud.
gentile-Jewish term for non-Jew.
gnosticism-variety of beliefs that posit an imperfect world and the necessity of knowledge as the means of redemption. Christian Gnostics see Jesus as a divine being who brings awareness of humanity's true, spiritual nature.
God-fearer-a non-Jew in Late Antiquity who respects Jewish customs and may observe some practices.
halakhah-general term for rabbinic law, which may include religious and ritual matters as well as civil and criminal law.
Haskalah-lit. wisdom, erudition; the Jewish Enlightenment; an intellectual movement that ran through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Hebrews-biblical term for the people Israel, generally used by foreigners rather than as self-identification. Hebrews can also simply refer to the Jewish people, although its use today is rare.
Hellenism-the Greek-speaking civilization that dominated Mediterranean culture from the fourth through first centuries BCE. Hellenization is the process of incorporating regional peoples into a common, universal society.
Hellenistic Judaism-a type of Judaism prevalent in the Mediterranean world from 250 BCE to 250 CE, in which Jews adopt and adapt elements from the wider Greco-Roman culture, including the Greek language.
hermeneutics-the study of meaning in a text; a hermeneutical key would be the overarching idea or ideas that guide the interpretive process.
historical criticism-a method of interpretation in which religious texts are read and understood apart from sectarian commitments.
Holocaust-lit. whole burnt offering; the genocide of European Jews that occurred during World War II. See also Shoah.
Holy Land-the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River most sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims; roughly the area of Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Incarnation-the belief in Christianity that God became human (enfleshed) in Jesus Christ.
intertextuality-the interpretation of one text by another text.
Israel, Land of-term referring to the geographical area of biblical Israel; in Hebrew eretz Israel. As distinct from the biblical area of the Northern Kingdom, Land of Israel encompasses both Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
Israel, the nation-political state created in 1947 by a United Nations mandate that formally came into existence in 1948.
Israel, the people-term referring to the biblical people with whom God made a covenant at Mount Sinai. Israel can also simply refer to the Jewish people as a religious group.
Israeli-a citizen of the modern political nation Israel.
Israelite-term describing a descendant of the biblical figure Jacob, also called Israel. The Israelites were made up of b'nai Israel, the sons of Israel. Jews were called "Israelites" well into the nineteenth century.
Israelite religion-the beliefs and practices of biblical Israel, as distinct from Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity.
Jew-the religious and cultural designation of an individual belonging to an ethnic group that claims biblical origins. Originally the term Judean, from which we get the English word Jew, signified people who lived in Judea. Later on, it became the identification for practitioners of the religion of Judaism.
Judaize-a term of disapprobation used by Christians that refers to the adoption of Jewish beliefs or practices by Christians.
Judea-variant of Judah. A Roman province in the first century CE in the land once known as the Southern Kingdom in the period of the Israelites. More broadly, a term for the first-century geographical region that encompassed several Roman provinces that now comprise Israel and Palestine.
Judenmission-German word that describes missionary efforts to convert Jews to Christianity.
Kabbalah-a mystical branch of Judaism popular in the Medieval and Renaissance eras that relies extensively on symbolic interpretation of scripture.
KJV-King James Version of the Bible.
Late Antiquity-the era in European history that runs from the second to the eighth centuries CE.
lit.-literally; usually indicating the original definition of a word rather than its meaning in general usage.
liturgy-lit. work of the people; communal worship according to prescribed forms rather than private devotion.
Logos-lit. word, reason; in Greek philosophy, the creative principle of the One; in Jewish philosophy, a divine being or principle who assists God in creation; in Christian theology, the Word of God incarnate in Jesus Christ.
Masorah-lit. tradition; textual apparatus developed between the seventh and tenth centuries CE that standardized spelling and grammar in the Hebrew Bible.
Messiah-lit. anointed one; in Judaism, traditionally seen as a political figure who will restore the Jewish kingdom on earth. In Christianity, a salvific figure, namely Jesus Christ, who will return to bring about the kingdom of God on earth.
Messianic Judaism-the branch of Judaism in which Jesus is accepted as the Jewish Messiah. Messianic Jews continue to observe Jewish rites, rituals, and customs.
midrash-lit. explanation through study; rabbinic mode of biblical commentary that examines letters, words, sentences, and stories to deduce meaning in the text.
millenialism-belief in collective redemption on earth or in heaven brought about by God or God's agent working with or without human assistance; also called millenarianism.
millennium-the time of the collective redemption of all people; in Christianity, the thousand-year reign of Christ (Revelation 20).
Mishnah-lit. repetition; the oldest collection of rabbinic traditions, compiled in the early third century CE.
NJPS-New Jewish Publication Society translation of Tanakh. NRSV-New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
Noachide Laws-laws of Noah's offspring; the seven biblical laws given to Adam and Noah prior to the revelation at Mount Sinai incumbent upon non-Jews. The laws prohibit idolatry, blasphemy, bloodshed, sexual sins, theft, and eating from a living animal (since some...
