Insight

Ideas & Issues

Jesus And The Jews

Jewish biblical scholar discusses the importance
of a Jewish interpretation of the New Testament.

SHARON LUCKERMAN

I

n many Jewish homes, a "conspiracy of
silence" persists about Christianity
and, in particular, the New Testament,
said Temple Beth El's scholar-in-resi-
dence Dr. Michael Cook.
But a Jewish approach to the New
Testament and Jesus can arm Jews against
proselytizing Christians. It also can enlighten
not only Jews but those of other faiths.
A lively current sparked from lecturer to
audience as Cook, professor of Judeo-
Christian studies at Hebrew Union College-
Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati,
spoke Feb. 23 at Temple Beth El on "Five
Anti-jewish Sources
Jewish Approaches to Jesus and Paul, A
Rabbi Daniel B. Syme of Temple
Critique and Defense."
Beth El introduced Cook at the
More than 200 people, including Catholic,
Friday morning session. In Cook's
Dr.
Michael
Cook:
"It
is
ironic
Eastern Orthodox, Muslim and Protestant
lecture, he traced the evolution of
that the Jews, a people who profess
religious leaders, gathered with rabbis and
Christianity, from its Jewish roots
knowledge
and
learning
...
should
Jewish community members for the 59th
make so obvious an exception when it under Jesus to its re-interpretation
annual Rabbi B. Benedict & Ada S. Glazer
by the Apostles. Filtered through
comes
to Christianity, including the
Institute on Judaism. Rabbi and Mrs. Glazer
the Apostle Paul and later through
New Testament."
were rabbi and rebbetzin at Beth El from
other Apostles, the Gospels (the
1941 to 1952.
first four books of the New
The scholar fostered a common ground from which to
Testament) progressively recast Jesus' teachings in a negative
discuss varying viewpoints, said Catholic Pastor William
light toward the Jews.
Sinatra of St. Ives Church in Southfield.
Cook showed, for example, the camaraderie between
Noor Abdalah, from Islamic House of Wisdom in
Jesus and a Jewish scribe in Mark's early Christian writings.
Dearborn Heights, said, "Dr. Cook is controversial, but it's
Later, when the Apostle Matthew interprets the same pas-
nice we can agree to disagree."
sage, the complementary section is omitted — an example
"The lecture's wonderful," said the Rev. Jane Moschenrose of heightened anti-Jewish tendencies in the text.
of Northwestern Baptist Church in Royal Oak. "I've never
Some of this hostility, Cook explains, stems from the
thought about these conflicts before — of the different ways Jews refusing to embrace Christianity
Jesus is portrayed by a Jewish interpretation."
"This lecture is a wonderful beginning to a great dia-
The reverend was not the only person who hadn't heard a
logue," said Pastor Sinatra. "But there's more than facts;
Jewish interpretation of the New Testament. Many Jews at the there's spirituality, too."
lecture hadn't heard it either, and Cook hopes to change that.
"I was awed," said Harriet Rotter, a Beth El member
"It is ironic," he said, "that the Jews, people who profess
from Bingham Farms. "That Cook could take his enormous
knowledge and learning as keys to problem-solving, should
knowledge and reduce it to such comprehensible parts is a
make so obvious an exception when it comes to
mark of a true scholar."
Christianity."
Cook is working on a book titled Removing the Veil:
In two decades of teaching the New Testament to rab-
Modern Jews and the New Testament.
binic students, he learned that such study heightened rather
The Glazer Institute is made possible through a Heritage
than undermined a sense of security for Jews.
Endowment Gift from Merton & Beverly Segal and Marvin
Cook also believes that learning the New Testament from
& Peggy Novick.
a Jewish perspective can "not only facilitate handling of
Beth El's Rabbi David S. Castiglione studied with Cook.
interfaith issues but also earn students respect from within
"He's a major scholarly figure in the field of Judaic Biblical
the Christian community"
scholarship," the rabbi said. "He seeks an understanding
The process, he concluded, ultimately fosters better inter- and compatibility, rather than divisiveness." ❑

- - 4,t;

;;

' '

-

1.•= . , .3. -4::,.=;.. -:,:. , ,

—

.

From the pages of the Jewish News for
this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50
years ago.

1991

faith relations.
Cook himself has addressed such
groups as the Southern Baptist
Convention and the Episcopalian
Presiding Bishop's Advisory
Committee on Christian-Jewish
Relations.
On a more pressing note, Cook
later discussed at Shabbat services
that evening in "Praying FOR or
Preying ON the Jews?" that this
knowledge is an important tgol in
protecting Jewish children and Jews
who have intermarried.

Editorial Assistant

Remember
When • • •

Elizabeth Applebaum of Oak Park,
assistant editor of the Jewish News;
won second prize in the 1991
Raymond Carver Short Story
Contest, sponsored by Humboldt
University in California.
Detroiter Ronald Horwitz, profes-
sor of finance at Oakland University,
joined the board of trustees at
Roeper City and Country School in
Bloomfield Hills.

1981

Rabbi Leizer Levin, president of
Detroit's Vaad Harabonim, reiterat-
ed the group's decision not to erect
an eruv in Detroit.
Israeli President Yitzhak Navon
assured freedom of religion and
access to holy places to every religion.

1971

The American Institute of
Architects named Albert Kahn
Associates, Detroit architects and
engineers, recipient of the 1971
Architectural Firm Award.
Janis Rosner of Oak Park was
awarded a $500 scholarship by the
Michigan State Federation of
Women's Clubs to study art at
Interlochen Arts Camp.

Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago
proclaimed "Traditional Synagogue
Week" to promote "religious and cul-
tural activities of the Jewish people."
Detroiter Harvey Krupp enrolled
in Ferris Institute's optical technol-
ogy program in Big Rapids.

f'4 7
Young Israel completed the pur-
chase of land on Wyoming and
Seven Mile in Detroit for a youth
center.
Detroit attorney Abraham Jaffin
was named toastmaster for the
annual Detroit Ladies Lechem
Aneeim banquet.
World Wide Travel Bureau in
Detroit offered a 39-day tour of
Israel starting at $1,295.

—Compiled by Sy Manello,
Editorial Assistant

3/2

4-

2001

*rif41 2.wfisli. agimpaeNsioatioistratAlsts

25