More on Jewish-Christian relations

Bridget

While we’re sort of on the topic of Jewish-Christian relations, a wonderful lecture (ten years old) from the always-humorous and incisive Amy-Jill Levine, a Jewish feminist New Testament scholar.

Among the topic she addresses: why we need to pay attention to the differences between the Jewish and Christian canons (and why she favors “Old Testament” and “Tanakh” rather than “Hebrew Scriptures”); why Christians should stop celebrating seders; why Christians and Jews need to learn from each other.

Dabru Emet, to which she refers, may be read here. (One of its authors, I should note, was my beloved professor Rabbi Michael Signer (z”l), whose untimely death in 2009 leaves the world greatly bereft.)

Bridget Avatar
Bridget
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9 responses to “More on Jewish-Christian relations”

  1. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    thanks for posting this, bridget. I am very much looking forward to watching it!

    Reply
  2. Megan Avatar
    Megan

    This lecture is great! I’m glad I finally clicked on it to watch.

    Reply
  3. Bridget Avatar
    Bridget

    I have a massive intellectual crush on her. The last ten minutes are AMAZING.

    Reply
  4. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    It had never occurred to me how “in christ there is no jew or gentile” would sound to jewish ears–especially after the Shoah. wow. Thank you so much for posting this–I have learned a lot and have been given much to reflect upon and discern!

    Reply
  5. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    it would also seem as though her claim that it doesn’t seem as though the last supper took place on passover would have some pretty hefty theological implications for christian self-understanding, no?

    Reply
  6. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    that was amazing. i teared up a bit at the end. post more stuff from her if/when you can!

    Reply
    1. Bridget Avatar
      Bridget

      I will, if I find more!

      I would really recommend, when you have time, reading her book The Misunderstood Jew. It’s very accessible (I plan to one day use it with undergrads), her writing voice is pretty much identical to her speaking voice (so it’s that same mixture of humor and edge), and it’s particularly important for those of us working out of feminist and liberationist commitments: she is deeply sympathetic to feminist and liberation theology, but provides a really sharp view of the anti-Judaism latent in a lot of the way that feminist and liberationist arguments are framed. Honestly, if I were ever teaching a course on feminist or liberation theology, I would include part of that book in the syllabus. She is really able to illuminate the cost to actual people of anti-Jewish rhetoric.

      Basically, I just think she’s wonderful.

      Reply
    2. Bridget Avatar
      Bridget

      I mean, her self-description on her faculty website ends with “Professor Levine combines historical-critical rigor, literary-critical sensitivity, and a frequent dash of humor with a commitment to eliminating anti-Jewish, sexist, and homophobic theologies.”

      How could one not love her?

      Reply
  7. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    thanks for the book recommendation! I will definitely check it out!

    Reply

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