Whether one has questions about the current Christian attitude towards Jews or the New Testament, two new books act as guides for Jews to the Christian world.
Called a “groundbreaking, solution-oriented book,” “Modern Jews Engage the New Testament; Enhancing Jewish Well-Being in a Christian Environment” (Jewish Lights Publishing, hardcover, $29.99) by Rabbi Michael J. Cook aims to equip Jews to engage the New Testament and help resolve interfaith controversies when they arise.
While written primarily with Jews in mind, this book also hopes to clarify for Christians why Jews draw back from Christians’ sacred writings.
Topics include: “The Gospels, Romans and Revelations — The Key Concerns for Jews”; “Misusing the Talmud in Gospel Study”; “Millennialist Scenarios and Missionary Encroachment”; and “Is the New Testament Antisemitic?”
Cook is professor of intertestamental and early Christian literatures and holds the Sol and Arlene Bronstein Professorship in Judeo-Christian Studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati.
Another new book, “The Changing Christian World; A Brief Introduction for Jews” by Rabbi Leonard A. Schoolman (Jewish Lights Publishing, paperback original, $16.99) focuses on educating Jews about the modern Christian world.
Written especially for Jews, this 176 page book addresses Christianity’s modern views on sin, Israel, and of course, Jews themselves.
“Our goal in this book is to give Jews an understanding of the wide spectrum of the changes in Christianity and to [help them] appreciate the nuances of Christian thought and practice,” Schoolman writes.
Schoolman is director of the Center for Religious Inquiry, an interreligious adult education program at Saint Bartholomew’s Church in New York.
Talia Lakritz
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