Jesus: First-Century Rabbi - Hardcover

Zaslow, David; Lieberman, Joseph A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1612612962 ISBN 13: 9781612612966

Publisher: Paraclete Press, 2013

Synopsis

This bold, fresh look at the historical Jesus and the Jewish roots of Christianity challenges both Jews and Christians to re-examine their understanding of Jesus' commitment to his Jewish faith. Instead of emphasizing the differences between the two religions, this groundbreaking text explains how the concepts of vicarious atonement, mediation, incarnation, and Trinity are actually rooted in classical Judaism. Using the cutting edge of scholarly research, Rabbi Zaslow dispels the myths of disparity between Christianity and Judaism without diluting the unique features of each faith. Jesus: First Century Rabbi is a breath of fresh air for Christians and Jews who want to strengthen and deepen their own faith traditions.

About this title

Review:

Rabbi Zaslow has done a tremendous service to Christians and Jews alike―this book is wonderful! An important contribution to the continuing dialogue and relationship building between these two faith communities. We need to hear more of what brings us together, what we share, not just what sets us apart. Thank you both Rabbi Zaslow and Paraclete for bringing this work to fruition and for creating greater light in our world!
 
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein,
President, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
 
Today our faith traditions are in need of healing – both within themselves and with each other. Rabbi Zaslow's book is a dose of sacred medicine for both Christianity and Judaism. He challenges us to face our prejudices, while affirming and celebrating our unique traditions. While Jesus has a different meaning for a Christian and a Jew, reflecting on that can takes us on a deeper and yet more universal journey into our own faith. Based on solid scholarship and a luminous open heart, Zaslow makes a powerful and much needed contribution to the interfaith dialogue.
 
Joan Borysenko, Ph.D.
Author of A Woman's Journey to God, and co-author of
Your Soul's Compass
 
 
This an important book, for Christians and Jews alike. Rabbi Zaslow has tried to stimulate a conversation and build bridges between the two faiths. This is a critically important task, and this book makes that attempt with broad scholarship and great clarity.
 
Rev. John M. Salmon, Ph. D., Princeton Theological Seminary
 
Christian readers will find their faith stirred by reading this book on their own, or as shared reading with Jewish friends. Renewal is coming to faith by learning in the presence of the other...Add to this the restorative power the world has awaited to heal centuries of religious enmity and mistrust and hatred and bloodshed.  Jews are discovering ways to love being Jewish in the same room with Christians who are discovering ways to love being Christian.  It is as if Jesus has been holding his breath, waiting for this time.
 
Rev. Dr. Joseph Ward, D.Min., Presbyterian Church USA
 
 
Christians professing faith in Jesus will surely learn and be enriched immensely by studying Rabbi David Zaslow's great new book. The book is a must read for everyone exploring the relationship between Christianity and Judaism. The book fosters conversation and co-operation through mutual respect... fresh and insightful approaches to historic issues that have driven a wedge between two faiths that ironically share so many common values. Rabbi Zaslow encourages the orchestra to play the music that the world needs to hear and enjoy.
 
Dr. Brad H. Young, Ph.D. Oral Roberts University
author of Parables: The Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation
 
Theology books are rarely real page-turners but if you yearn to know Rabbi Jesus better, and to understand his parables and sayings, you won't be able to put this book down! Rabbi Zaslow has put the pieces back together for us. Learning more about the roots and branches that Jews and Christians share will  bring us closer to the center of God's new community and create a way to peace for people of every faith.
 
The Rev. Dr. Barbara J. Campbell. Pastor, St. Mark Presbyterian Church
 
Rabbi Jesus seen in his native setting was a he artful teacher of Jewish lore and morals. Rabbi Zaslow has brought him home to us so that we may hear him among his own contemporaries whom we honor and learn from.
 
Rabbi Dr. Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, author of Jewish With Feeling and Davening
 
This book will broaden the minds and deepen the hearts of individuals who read it, but imagine the possibilities for deeper understanding and compassion between Jewish and Christian congregatio

“...[a] wonderful book by another very ecumenical Rabbi. Many excellent points I needed to read about.”Father Thomas Keating  “As a Christian Priest I cannot recommend this book enough. It is one of the best pieces of interfaith Edifications I have ever had the pleasure to read, and re-read. Rabbi Zaslow approaches Jesus in an unbiased and truthfully honest way. He can do this with total perfection because of two great but forgotten reasons, firstly Jesus like the author was a practising Jew who was devoted heart and soul to his faith, he was also like the author a Rabbi teaching from the wealth of the Torah and Oral Traditions. This book gives us a beautiful tapestry that is the historical Jesus and sets him against an accurate back cloth of life and times. It hands us back the Hebrew Scriptures as Jesus loved them, not as something to be forgotten or defunct but as real and necessary today as they were to Jesus then. This book is enlightening, deep, thoughtful and a blessing if read as it was written with a contrite heart, an open spirit and with love. The disciples and those who heard Jesus in his day would have sat at his feet with the same open heart and listened to their Rabbi. While reading this book I too sat at the feet of Rabbi Zaslow and listened. Thank God I did!”
The Revd. Timothy Baker 

About the Author:

Rabbi David Zaslow, M.S., is the spiritual leader of Havurah Shir Hadash, a synagogue in Ashland, Oregon. He travels the country leading workshops with churches and synagogues on the Jewish roots of Christianity.

About this edition

• Publisher: Paraclete Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1612612962
• ISBN 13: 9781612612966
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256