The Jewish Studies Blog

I must admit that for some time I have dreaded having to deal with this passage. The reason is not because this passage has been a subject of age long debates within Christian circles as to the meaning of eating the body and drinking the blood, but rather because I keep coming back to a sense of intense personal discomfort with the whole idea.

The Hoi Ioudaioi asked how was it possible that Jesus came down from heaven, since they knew his parents from Nazareth’s village life. At first, this seems like an honest question with no hidden agendas. However, as we continue to read, we see Jesus (who sees the hearts of men), accuse them of grumbling among themselves. It is important that we note the literary connection with the Israelite grumbling in the desert.

While I can not say that I agree with the all final conclusions (what scholar would admit it even if he did?!), I find this selection of arguments by Prof. John Robinson very stimulating and helpful. I think you would too http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/john_robinson.pdf He authored them in 1962 way before everyone else got serious about rediscovering […]

So, imagine the same Jesus who told the Samaritan woman that he was the Messiah, expected by all the ancient Israelite movements, who now says to the representatives of the Jerusalem Temple authorities in Galilee – I will not lose anything my Father has entrusted me – not any group under the Ancient Israelite umbrella. In a sense he is saying, “I have not come only for Judeans, or only for Samaritans, or only for Essenes or exclusively for any other single Jewish/Israelite group. I have come as a true King of Israel to reunite and lead ‘all Israel’ out of exile to the long awaited redemption.”

the hoi Iudaioi (Jewish Israelites) who saw the miracles were not able to see them as signs (Read here) and therefore, they did not believe (John 6.36); while the Samaritans (Samaritan Israelites), who did not see a single miracle of Jesus – “believed in him because of the woman’s testimony…” and “many more believed because of his (Jesus’) word.” (John 4.38-41)

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Part of the problem is that we can only know with limited certainty where the miracle of feeding 5000 was performed. The most likely location is at the place where the travel of Jesus […]

My article (slightly longer than usual) on the Samaritan Woman has been getting a lot of attention lately from our readers judging from my blog reports. So, I decided to post this video to create even more. Once you watch this video that recasts the woman from sinner to saint (or at least a God-fearing […]

Prof. Menachem Fisch is a Joseph and Ceil Mazer Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Tel Aviv University and serves as a director of the Center for Religious and Interreligious Studies. I think what he has to say is good for all of us to hear and seriously consider. Those of you interesting […]

Shalom friends, If you are going to be in Israel next week, consider joining “God is on Our Side: Holy War and Sacred Struggle in Judaism, Christianity and Islam” conference. It will be held as a joint conference between Tel Aviv and Cambridge Universities. I am passing this info to you at the request of […]

28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” In the new rendition of the Sherlock Holmes films, Holmes and Dr. Watson are recast in a very different and one […]