On this somber anniversary, Rabbi David Wolpe emphasizes the importance of memory in Judaism, particularly in light of historical tragedies. Jewish memory serves as both honor and prophecy. It urges remembrance not only of pain but also of survival and divine presence. A piece published at Dispatch Faith. … More October 7 and the Perils of Memory
LECTIONARY REFLECTION| LUKE 11:1-13 NEWS FLASH! JESUS WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN! Most people, Christians and non-Christians alike, recognize that Jesus Christ is the center of the Christian faith. Even the name of our religion – CHRISTianity – reflects the importance of Jesus Christ to us. Christians, as a group, tend to forget that Jesus was a … More Jesus-Shaped Prayer (Mike Fox)
I’m in Chicago all week in a classroom full of doctoral students with noses in ancient texts, studying the role of teachers and students, prophets and scribes, literacy and illiteracy in the ancient world. Our course has the somewhat laudatory title: Becoming Doctors of the Church. I’m sharing some thoughts and insights from my studies for … More Sages Then & Now: Ben Sira
Here’s a small portion of my first doctoral research essay exploring Jesus and Rabbi-pupil dynamics in the ancient world. Warning: Academic essay. ——————————— There’s no denying the fact that at the center of Jesus’ earthly ministry was a group of pupils called disciples (Gk. mathetes; Heb. talmudhim), and that Jesus was called a ‘rabbi’ on … More ESSAY: Rabbi Jesus & the Embodiment of Torah
One dynamic that Jesus films help bring out that often gets missed in common Christian teaching is how real and popular the “zealot” movement was in Jesus’ day. These were religious “freedom fighters” who wanted to take up arms against Rome and try to incite insurrection and political unrest in the Holy Land. Jesus rejected … More A.D. Miniseries Commentary – Resisting the Way of Violence
Jeremy L. Berg 