The Third Way with David Levine

Jewish-Christian Relations :: From Jewish Movement to Gentile Church

There is a rapid spread of the story about Jesus, with followers being located in many parts of the Roman empire by the end of the first century CE: Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Balkans, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Egypt, Ethiopia. At what point in time can we appropriately speak of these followers as part of a religion that was Gentile as opposed to it being a movement within the umbrella of Judaism?

via www.jcrelations.net

Another later dating of the origin of Christianity.

Jewish-Christian Relations :: Jesus the Jew

Let me begin by acknowledging a certain hesitation in addressing this topic. I stand in the Christian tradition. What am I doing talking about Jewishness? I contemplated changing the title of my talk to, ‘Jesus, not a non-Jew.’ Furthermore I am aware that in addressing such a topic within the context of Jewish-Christian dialogue I cannot and must not avoid the broader context and history which surrounds the issue.

via www.jcrelations.net

Jesus the Jew, Jewish Christians, the Jesus movement, and more. This article reflects the great effort to grapple with issues, but as well it reflects all the limitations that come by trying to force the Jewish followers of Messiah - including the writers of the New Testament scriptures - into a Christian framework.

Jewish-Christian Relations :: The Relationship of the Old and the New Covenant as One of the Central Issues in Jewish-Christian Dialogue

Many recent approaches overlook the fact that both Judaism and Christianity cannot simply be equated with their biblical forms. Post-biblical rabbinical Judaism was formed only after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD by differentiating itself from aspiring Christianity and excluding the Christians from the synagogue. On the other hand, Christianity also had to differentiate itself from Judaism. In the form in which they exist today, both are post-biblical entities.³¹ The Pauline statements, which are at home in a different historical context, cannot be directly applied to their reciprocal relationship, that is, not without the necessary intermediate hermeneutical considerations. In addition, the biblical testimony is multi-layered and proves resistant to a systematic standardisation. The term “unabrogated covenant”, which has been so important in the new initiatives, should therefore not be regarded in isolation; it does not cover the whole multi-layered New Testament covenant theology. We are still far removed from a synthesis and even more from a consensus.

via www.jcrelations.net

The author notes the great challenge facing Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism given their common origins in the post-Temple era, and their common commitment to separation. What the author doesn't mention is the pre-existing movement which I like to think of as "Early Messianic Judaism" which both Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism had to interact with.

Jewish-Christian Relations :: Learning From Each Other – Reflections of a Jew

Rabbi Yitz Greenberg has described Judaism and Christianity as two Midrashim (homiletical expositions) on a common text – the Hebrew Bible. This appears to me to be a very useful formula – from a Jewish perspective – in our Jewish encounter with Christianity.

via www.jcrelations.net

Rabbi Yitz Greenberg has described Judaism and Christianity as two Midrashim (homiletical expositions) on a common text – the Hebrew Bible. This appears to me to be a very useful formula – from a Jewish perspective – in our Jewish encounter with Christianity.

Jewish-Christian Relations :: Let Us Make the Paths of History Straight for the Lord

Rabbi Rosen explained why it was gestures, and not words, that made Jews open so much to the church as their partner: “Jews had their ears boxed so often in the course of history that their eardrums are damaged to the extent that they are often unable to distinguish between evil sounds and beautiful music”. But their sight remains in good health, this is why they can hear the new reality only when they can see it.

via www.jcrelations.net

Rabbi Rosen explained why it was gestures, and not words, that made Jews open so much to the church as their partner: “Jews had their ears boxed so often in the course of history that their eardrums are damaged to the extent that they are often unable to distinguish between evil sounds and beautiful music”. But their sight remains in good health, this is why they can hear the new reality only when they can see it.

Jewish-Christian Relations :: Re-reading Paul.

On 17 August 1995, the Council of Christians and Jews (Victoria) Inc launched its Guidelines, "Rightly Explaining the Word of Truth". The purpose of the Guidelines was to provide specific instructions for clergy and teachers in their presentation of areas of the New Testament relating to Jews and Judaism. There was reason to believe that the intention of the Council was achieved by the publication.

via www.jcrelations.net

Good article on the "New Perspective on Paul".

Jewish-Christian Relations :: What can Jews and Christians hope for when they meet?

Can a keen observer consider that most problems have been solved between the Jewish people and the Catholic Church since dramatic gestures were made on both sides, especially by Pope John Paul II and Israeli officials?

via www.jcrelations.net

Interesting thoughts from this Jewish Catholic, who was Archbishop of Paris, and died in 2005.

Jewish-Christian Relations :: Paul the Jew

In August 1998 I took part in a day-long symposium organised by this Council of Christians and Jews in St. Kilda around the topic of the Torah. My colleague and friend Frank Moloney, now a professor in Washington, spoke on "Jesus and the Torah". I spoke on "Paul and the Torah". But before both of us, Rabbi Philip Heilbrunn had been asked to speak on the topic "Israel and the Torah". Very forcefully and vigorously, as many here present this evening may recall, he began by dismissing out of hand the title proposed to him. "I cannot speak on 'Israel and the Torah'. The conjunction ‘and’ is totally out of place. Israel and Torah are not two separable entities. Israel is Torah and Torah is Israel. That is the only matter I can address".

via www.jcrelations.net

Good thought: " So that in the end, as the Jewish Pauline scholar Alan Segal has maintained, you had Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity coming into being as the distinct adolescent offspring of Second Temple Judaism, with all the mutual loves and hates that mark adolescent striving for identity."
Missing: And what about "Early Messianic Judaism" which emerged as a part of Second Temple Judaism, and before Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity?
Even the scholars devoted to this topic are like bloodhounds who lose the scent...

Jewish-Christian Relations :: When Did Christianity Originate?

When posing the question “When did Christianity originate?” one can only be amazed at the matter-of-factness with which people can look at the New Testament and its time and use the terms "Christian," "first Christians," "primitive or early Christianity." On occasion one can hear the statement: "The first Christians were Jews." But that is a very complicated statement. They were all Jews, to be sure. However, were they also "Christians"?

via www.jcrelations.net

Provocative thought here: "The birth defect of Christianity" - Anti-Judaism.

Jewish-Christian Relations :: Jewish Voices About Jesus

During the last decades Judaism’s attitude toward Christianity has vacillated between the two poles of total disregard and a massive effort to develop dialogue.1 On the more extreme side of this spectrum is Orthodox Judaism, which, on the whole, does not know what to do with Christianity and therefore does not attempt to come to an understanding with it. Its main concern is with "missionizing" Jews and winning them for orthodoxy. But a legitimate skepticism towards Christianity also still exists among non-orthodox Jews. The Holocaust theologian Eliezer Berkowitz expressed it this way: "The only thing we ask of Christians is that they take their fingers off of us and our children."2

via www.jcrelations.net

This article focuses on Jewish interest in Jesus, and is a good source of authors for those just beginning to read.