The history of relations between Jews and Christians has been a long; complex and often unsettled one; yet histories of medieval Christendom have traditionally paid only passing attention to the role played by Jews in a predominantly Christian society. This book provides an original survey of medieval Christian-Jewish relations encompassing England; Spain; France and Germany; and sheds light in the process on the major developments in medieval history between 1000 and 1300. Anna Sapir Abulafia's balanced yet humane account offers a new perspective on Christian-Jewish relations by analysing the theological; socio-economic and political services Jews were required to render to medieval Christendom. The nature of Jewish service varied greatly as Christian rulers struggled to reconcile the desire to profit from the presence of Jewish men and women in their lands with conflicting theological notions about Judaism. Jews meanwhile had to deal with the many competing authorities and interests in the localities in which they lived; their continued presence hinged on a fine balance between theology and pragmatism. The book examines the impact of the Crusades on Christian-Jewish relations and analyses how anti-Jewish libels were used to define relations. Making adept use of both Latin and Hebrew sources; Abulafia draws on liturgical and exegetical material; and narrative; polemical and legal sources; to give a vivid and accurate sense of how Christians interacted with Jews and Jews with Christians.
#815086 in Books Lester L Grabbe 2010-08-12 2010-08-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .1 x 5.50l; .50 #File Name: 0567552489176 pagesAn Introduction to Second Temple Judaism History and Religion of the Jews in the Time of Nehemiah the Maccabees Hillel and Jesus
Review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The Jewish Background of JesusBy SusanAt first I was taken aback by the the thinness of this volume; but upon reading it I was grateful for the volume of information that it contained. I would recommend this book for any student of the Jewish; historical; religious context of Jesus and his followers. This was a great introduction to the subject of a time in Jewish history that is often misunderstood by those in Christian ministry.0 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Draws a good deal from 1st and 2nd MaccBy Jean McCartneyDraws a good deal from 1st and 2nd Macc. Gives good overviews of the revolt and summarizes well the landscape of the second temple period.18 of 18 people found the following review helpful. The grand review of the laying of Judaism and Christianity as foundation stones of western thoughtBy Stratiotes Doxha TheonThis grand review of many centuries of historical background in a single volume is an ideal introduction to second temple Judaism. It is a solid overview in a single readable form providing a solid foundation for a study in early Judaism as well as early Christianity. Beginning with an overview of the independent monarchies of Israel and Judah; followed by successive dominance by Persia; Babylon; Greece; and Rome; Dr. Grabbe draws out the development of this ancient faith into the diverse currents of thought it represented in the early common era. Judaism was not then; nor is it now; a monolithic faith in a single current of philosophical thought. In the early common era it was represented by one major group as a faith centered on the sacrificial cult of the temple; by another group that was suspicious of the temple cult; by yet another group of apocalyptists. Each of these currents of thought affected the others and indeed some mixed these currents into many varieties of Judaism. This development of Judaism into so many currents was the incubus of the Christian current that flowed from it just prior to the pivotal events leading to the destruction of the temple in 70 CE. Out of that diversity and subsequent temple destruction came the two major currents of religion in the west; Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity.As with any historical study you will want to explore other views and nuances to the period. The course offered by Prof. Schiffman; The Modern Scholar: The Dead Sea Scrolls: The Truth behind the Mystique; is a wonderful companion study to complement this book and provides a great deal more detail in the diversity of scriptural interpretation in second temple Judaism. Of course; Dr. Grabbe's two volume work on this period is also highly recommended for more detail and analysis.
