A New Look at Rabbi Jesus: Jews and Christians Finally Reconnected

By Rabbi Albert (Abraham) I. Slomovitz Ph.D.

The primary goal of this book is to solve a two-thousand-year-old puzzle: if Jesus lived a totally Jewish life and became the founder of Christianity, why aren't Jews and Christians in a respectful, appreciative, and embracing relationship? This work begins to reduce two thousand years of misunderstanding, stereotyping, and prejudices that have existed between these two faiths. In its place are historical facts about the childhood, religious education, and communities that nourished and influenced Jesus. This work also encourages new approaches to biblical interpretations and thought. The ultimate aim of the author is to have Jews and Christians realize that they are strongly connected by mutual faith, beliefs, and traditions. Dr. Slomovitz has summarized this linkage with the phrase, "Loving Jesus means loving Jews."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781645596509

Book preview

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A New Look at Rabbi Jesus

Jews and Christians Finally Reconnected

Rabbi Albert (Abraham) I. Slomovitz, Ph.D.

ISBN 978-1-64559-648-6 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64559-649-3 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-64559-650-9 (Digital)

Copyright © 2019 Rabbi Albert (Abraham) I. Slomovitz, Ph.D.

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

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www.covenantbooks.com

It is with a great deal of gratitude and love that I dedicate this book to Bernie and Billi Marcus whose transformative acts have impacted the world. Their innumerable contributions to society reflect that together, they embody the words found in Leviticus 19:18 Love Your Neighbor As Yourself.

Bernie and Billi Marcus

I want to thank Rabbi Slomovitz, friend and teacher, for creating in this book an inspirational, spiritual and educational dialogue with the Gospel of Matthew. He brings important socio-cultural and religious insights for enhancing the biblical context, he poses provocative spiritual formation questions for inter-religious conversation and brings a pastoral sensitivity to the application of biblical thems to life situations. I am sure this will make for a lively and fruitful personal and communal study for Jewish and Christian brothers and sisters in their shared faith journey. I highly recommend this work if careful learning and spiritual growth, shared through the biblical lens of Matthew’s gospel.

Fr. Raymond Cadran.

Pastor

St. Ann Catholic Church

Marietta, Ga

A new look at Rabbi Jesus: Jews and Christians Finally Reconnected a work by Rabbi Albert I. Slomovitz is a conscientious effort to focus on the common grounds of two distinct faiths. While the work acknowledges the divergent points between the Jewish and Christian faiths he focuses on the compatible points. Though some are anithetical and unreconcilable, readers of either faith can better understand the position of the other. Perhaps he best expressed his purpose and spirit in these words:

What I am advocating is that we realize our spiritual closeness and connections. Ultimately we remain Jews and Christians...

One point of compatibility on which both are urged to agree is love one another.

Readers can better understand their own faith and appreciate that of others.

Nelson L. Price

A New Look at Rabbi Jesus is essential reading for all of us who seek to better understand Judaism and Christianity - two sister faiths. Readers will quickly develop a deeper appreciation of the plethora of ways to read Matthew. More importantly, Rabbi Slomovitz provides compelling prompts that will help reduce the prejudices and misunderstandings that have plagued us over the years. This book could not have come at a better time.

Rabbi Peter S. Berg

Senior Rabbi, The Temple

Atlanta, GA

Preface:

Why Write This Book?

This book, A New Look at Rabbi Jesus: Jews and Christians Finally Reconnected, is based on decades of conversations with friends and colleagues. Over that time, I concluded that there is an uncertainty in the relationship between Jews and Christians. The Christian biblical stories partially create this puzzlement. For example, the very first verse of the Christian Testament, Matthew 1:1, speaks about the Jewish lineage of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham. It then proceeds to reconfirm this point by giving generational data which prove that assertion. Within this initial chapter is the first of fifty references to the Hebrew scriptures, especially the prophets, which are used as texts to authenticate the belief that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God.

Thus the role of Jews and Judaism seems to be established as crucial elements to the ministry and life of Jesus. Yet as the life story of Jesus is told, the main antagonists to him seem to be other Jews. People and groups such as Judas, the High Priest, the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, even everyday Israelites, are portrayed in negative ways, creating an antagonism toward Jews and Judaism. I think that most people are unable to reconcile the beginning part of Jesus’s story in a totally Jewish world, with the latter stories which describe the abovementioned groups as major adversaries. This unsolved riddle and inability to make a spiritual connection has led to two thousand years of prejudice, stereotyping, and horrible acts of anti-Semitism (anti-Judaism).

It is long past time to correct this unbelievably sad situation. I will attempt to do so. Let me state what the goals of this work are:

First, to educate Jews and Christians about the numerous areas of connections which exist between the two faiths.

Second, to demonstrate Jesus’s lifelong religious affiliations including his prayer life, education, and life principles.

Third, to examine the parental, family, and community influences that shaped his personality and beliefs.

Fourth, to offer additional interpretations to the well-known stories found in Matthew. This process encourages readers of holy texts to create new meanings and interpretations of popular biblical stories. In the Jewish tradition, this approach is ongoing and normative. It is hoped that as people consider different textual views, they will reach new conclusions about the stories and their ultimate meanings.

We live in an era of terrorism and violence. It is time for these two major faiths to act as the spiritual siblings that they are as an example for the rest of the world to emulate. This approach can be applied to Islam as well. I firmly belief that if Jesus were able to give us a grade on our overall religiosity or our spirituality, it would not be a passing one. We often go through life not really knowing about others and not taking the time to learn and experience what they believe and feel. An honest and very-real question each of us can ask in a moment of quiet and reflection is: Do we really love our neighbors as ourselves? This book helps us better answer that question.

Acknowledgments

There were a number of people who offered insightful suggestions and guidance with this work. I feel blessed that they took the time to work with me. Special thanks to Dr. Stephen Bartlett, Rabbi Peter Berg, Fr. Ray Cadran, Dr. Peter Gilmour, Mr. Nico Kroes, Dr. Nelson Price, Mrs. Ann Marie Martin, Rev. Elizabeth Milford, Rev. R. Bruce Pierce, Dr. Thomas A. Scott, Rev. Aaron D. Slomovitz.

I wish to thank my family for the wonderful ongoing support that they have given me. I also want to acknowledge the Marcus Foundation for giving initial grants to help begin the nonprofit The Jewish Christian Discovery Center.

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord (Leviticus 19:18).

The Author’s Method and Introducing Midrash

It is essential for authors to share their methodology when writing a text. In this case, I selectively work my way through the book of Matthew. The verses and stories I chose will be examined from a variety of sources including historical references, other biblical sources, Midrash (interpretation), literary themes, my own commentary, and open-ended questions for the reader to pursue.

Another focus will be on geography. This work includes maps which show the reader the location of Israel and the various towns which were important in the life of Jesus. These maps provide information that helps the reader better understand the actual places where events occurred.

Historically, I hope to answer many questions about Jesus that are not normally posed. For example, what sort of childhood did he have? What was his formal and informal education like? What did the significance of his being raised in the general Galilee area have on his subsequent development and growth? What occupation did Jesus possibly have as a young adult? What impact did his parents and general community have on him? As he grew, what were the influences of the Roman empire on his life? What exactly happened in Jerusalem at the end of his life and are there other facts that could help readers understand the biblical texts?

Let me also share another source that I have found very important in this research: Our power to interpret. We spend a good part of our lives trying to understand meaning. Much of what family and friends communicate to us is open to interpretation. Even ordinary phrases require context. The words I love you when accompanied by acts of respect and affection are consistent and make sense. However, if the words are spoken, but the actions are those of bitterness and insults, we must recalibrate our thoughts about the words and their meaning.

This interpretative process, called Midrash from the Hebrew, to explain or search, is very significant as it helps give additional meaning to biblical verses, stories, and concepts. This methodology allows the reader to consider multiple explanations and interpretations for the same verses. Midrash creates a variety of understandings about well-known stories or personalities. Let’s take an episode from the Bible and illustrate this approach. Numbers chapter 15, verses 32 through 36, has an odd and difficult story.

Once, when the Israelites were in the wilderness, they came upon a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day. (This activity was prohibited on the Sabbath.) Those who found him as he was gathering wood brought him before Moses, Aaron, and the whole community. He was placed in custody, for it had not been specified what should be done to him. Then the Lord said to Moses, The man shall be put to death: the whole community shall pelt him with stones outside the camp. So the whole community took him outside the camp and stoned him to death—as the Lord commanded Moses.

Now that we have read this story, what do we make of it? Our thoughts about the episode might lead to real-life consequences that are very important. Our principles and beliefs inform and shape our interpretations of these verses. In other words, what we bring to the text is as important as the text itself.

One of the most important techniques to be used when studying a text that is cited as a source is to read the quote in its full original context. By reading the larger context of the quote, we are able to best determine its most accurate meaning.

A woman from Northern India gathers wood to sustain her family.

In this case, Numbers Chapter 15, begins with those who desire to acknowledge God by offering an animal from their herds. Midway through the chapter, the focus shifts to those who have unwittingly failed to follow God’s commands. For those individuals, sacrifices are given. What follows next are verses that concern a person who is deliberately ignoring the commandments of the Lord. That person is cut off from the community and as verse 31 says, Because he has spurned the word of the Lord and violated His commandment, that person shall be cut off—he bears his guilt. Now come our verses (32–36) about the stoning. It is appropriate to suggest that within the context of the whole chapter we have moved from those who follow God’s command to those who don’t. So now that we have read the chapter in its original context, how are we to interpret our verses? What follows are five possible interpretations of this story.

Interpretation Number 1: This version of the story takes it as a literal account of what happened. The man gathering wood on the Sabbath was brought before Moses and Aaron and the whole community who, with all their wisdom and experiences, had no response. The Lord deemed him to be killed by stones. In this interpretation, God’s punishment was swift, harsh, and unforgiving. Other parts of the Bible offer similar sentiments. In Deuteronomy Chapter 28, blessings are offered to those who follow God’s command. Later in that chapter, verse 15 and on, is a series of pretty dire consequences for those who don’t follow the law. Verse 22, The Lord will strike you with consumption, fever, and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew; they shall hound you until you perish. This interpretation accepts the possibility, even the reality, of divine punishment.

Interpretation Number 2: Our verses are not meant to be taken literally, but given as an example of people who must bear their guilt for not following the law. The aim of these verses is to get the attention of the Israelites and have them comply with the commands of the community. The purpose of this story might be the same as some road signs which tell us that there is a $1000-fine for littering the highway. The story’s goal is to get compliance from people to obey the commandments that were deemed proper to follow. God doesn’t want us to stone anyone to death. This story is just a reminder about how important it is to obey social norms and standards.

Interpretation Number 3: In this explanation, we use our imaginations and come up with a different meaning for the verses. An approach of Midrash might be to creatively tell the rest of the story that is not expressed in the text. Perhaps this harsh punishment declared by God is really a test for Moses and Aaron and the Israelite community. In the book of Genesis, we see that God had tested Abraham on various occasions to gauge his character. Chapter 22:1, Sometime afterward, God put Abraham to the test. He said to him, ‘Abraham,’ and he answered, ‘Here I am.’ In this instance, perhaps God expected Moses to say, Creator of the universe, I understand your anger against this man. Nonetheless, people know You are the great loving and merciful God, full of compassion. Let us not punish the man this time. He has been scared enough. At that point, the Lord says, Moses, my faith in you is once again justified. You are a true lover of people. It is interesting to note the relative silence of Moses and Aaron who routinely communicated with God to request plagues in Egypt, when crossing the Red Sea, during the time on Mt. Sinai and throughout the ongoing journey in the wilderness. Why the silence now?

Interpretation Number 4: Of course, an individual that has not been spoken about until now is the wood gatherer himself. Why was he gathering wood, when he knew it was prohibited? Using our imaginations, we can speculate about this. Perhaps he had not collected enough wood to keep his family warm. Possibly he thought that he should get a head start in collecting wood for the next day. Maybe he believed that the Creator of the World was merciful and forgiving of this minor indiscretion. After all, in the gamut of transgressions, getting some extra wood, even on the Sabbath, seems fairly trivial.

Interpretation Number 5: Perhaps this story is really about us, the reader. We are the wood gatherers. We are the people who don’t follow every rule about life that we have been taught. We are the folks who eat foods we shouldn’t and drink a bit more then we should. We are the ones that curse more than some, and we are the ones that have felt the pain of divorce and family strife. Are we the wood gatherers that sometimes cut corners to give ourselves or our family some advantage? If we are the wood gatherers, what do we want from God? Not to be pelted with stones!

Above we have looked at five differing interpretations. Obviously, there are more ways to think about these four verses. I invite you to offer your own insights and thoughts. In each of the above examples, it is clear that while the text is, of course, the same, our principles, values, and life experiences are crucial when we take the time to consider the myriad of possible explanations