H510 – Jewish-Christian Relations in Historical Context

Instructor: Dr. Jennifer M. Rosner
Dates:  October 15 – December 17, 2023
Location: Populi (https://mjti.populiweb.com)

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Distinctive to a Messianic Jewish interpretation of Judaism is the conviction that the identities of Judaism and Christianity are inextricably intertwined, and that the fortified barrier dividing them reflects and perpetuates a tragic schism within one two-fold community. In this light the present class will examine the relationship between these two religious traditions from their origins at the end of the Second Temple period to their new encounter in the modern era. The course will examine key issues and key points of contact that contributed to generally accepted definitions of Judaism and Christianity and will raise questions about the future of this relationship in view of the new circumstances of the twenty-first century and the witness of Messianic Judaism.

RELATIONSHIP TO THE CURRICULUM
This is a Core course required course for the Master of Jewish Studies and Master of Rabbinic Studies degrees.

RELEVANCE
For most in the wider Jewish world, the study of Jewish-Christian relations reflects a concern for how Jews relate to the world external to Judaism. In contrast, from a Messianic Jewish perspective, Jewish-Christian relations are integral to the internal identity of Jews and Judaism. Consequently, this course is central to the MJTI Core curriculum, and to the education of every matriculated student.

PREREQUISITES
There are no prerequisites for this course.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
The student must have a computer, headset, and high-speed internet access. For assistance with Populi, please contact Rabbi Michael Hillel admin@mjti.org.

COURSE FORMAT
Lecture (by podcast) and asynchronous online discussion (by blog).

REQUIREMENTS
Listen to all lectures, read all assigned texts, actively participate in all discussion questions, and complete the final examination.

REQUIRED TEXTS (The publication dates indicate the required edition of each text)

• Boccaccini, Gabriele. “Multiple Judaisms” in Bible Review XI:1 (February 1995), pages 38-41.
• Boyarin, Daniel. Border Lines. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 2004.
• Braaten, Carl E. and Robert W. Jenson. Jews and Christians: People of God. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.
• Christianity in Jewish Terms (ed. Frymer-Kensky, et al). New York: Basic Books, 2002.
• Kinzer, Mark. Postmissionary Messianic Judaism. Grand Rapids: Brazos, 2005.
• Yuval, Israel Jacob. Two Nations in Your Womb. Berkeley: University of California, 2006

RECOMMENDED READING

• Bader-Saye, Scott. Church and Israel after Christendom. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2005.
• Boccaccini, Gabriele. Middle Judaism. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1991.
• Boyarin, Daniel. Dying for God. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999.
• Fredriksen, Paula. Augustine and the Jews. New York: Doubleday, 2008.
• Gillet, Lev. Communion in the Messiah. London: Lutterworth, 1942.
• Greenberg, Irving. For the Sake of Heaven and Earth. Philadelphia: JPS, 2004.
• Neusner, Jacob. Judaism in the Matrix of Christianity. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1986.
• Novak, David. Jewish-Christian Dialogue. New York: Oxford, 1989.
• Rottenberg, Isaac C. Christian-Jewish Dialogue. Atlanta: Hebraic Heritage, 2005.
• Schäfer, Peter. Jesus in the Talmud. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007.
• Wyschogrod, Michael. Abraham’s Promise. Edited by R. Kendall Soulen. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.

ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS AND DEADLINES
Participation in the asynchronous online discussion is crucial to learning in the course and to your course grade. Lectures and discussion questions will be posted by the instructor no later than Sunday morning of the course week. Students are expected to log on to Populi and respond to the discussion questions no later than the end of the day on Monday. Tuesday through Friday will then be devoted to discussion of those responses. In a normal week, students are expected to post three or more times with substantive contributions.

The final exam will be posted on Populi no later than Thursday night, Dec 3, 2023. The exam is to be uploaded on Populi, before 11:55pm EST Sunday, Dec 17, 2023.