The Rev. Dr. Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski is the Kraft Family Professor and Director of the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning at Boston College. He is a scholar of Jewish-Christian relations and comparative theology. He is the author of The More Torah, The More Life: A Christian Commentary on Mishnah Avot and Christian Memories of the Maccabean Martyrs as well as numerous articles and chapters. He also is an appointed member of the Committee on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Prior to Boston College, he taught at Seminary of the Southwest, Church Divinity School of the Pacific, the Graduate Theological Union, and Episcopal Divinity School. He is also a priest ordained in the Episcopal Church and serve as Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer for the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
Description
Introduction The introduction lays out the difference between anti-Judaism and antisemitism. While the former is rooted in religious hostility towards Jews, the latter is a racialized form of hatred of Jews. Anti-Judaism emerges out of Christian contexts. Yet, Christianity is accountable in some ways for the development of antisemitism, even if antisemitism is not restricted today to religious categories or communities. Understanding the links between these two forms of animus towards Jews and Judaism provides Christian leaders with tools to respond to antisemitic events in their communities. The introduction establishes the claim that dealing with anti-Judaism in the life of the church enables the church to confront antisemitism socially. Part I: Resisting Anti-Judaism Within the Church Chapter 1: What is Anti-Judaism? This chapter introduces readers to anti-Judaism as a dimension of Christianity that started emerging in the second century. From there, the concept of supersessionism is presented as a means of analyzing the religious and theological dimensions of anti-Judaism. The chapter provides the concept of anti-supersessionism as a means of enacting solidarity with Jewish people and communities in combatting anti-Judaism. Efforts to resist anti-Judaism continue with investigating what anti-Jewish elements remain that can be reformed. Chapter 2: Lectionaries and Anti-Judaism Lectionary cycles of Scriptural reading are a vehicle for conveying supersessionist assumptions about Judaism as a spiritually incomplete religion that requires the person of Jesus Christ for fulfillment. This chapter uses the Revised Common Lectionary as a case study for how the structure of the lectionary frequently lends itself to an anti-Jewish interpretation. This chapter provides alternative means of both designing lectionaries and for thinking about the relationship between the two canons of Christian Scripture. Chapter 3: Preaching, Proclamation, and Anti-Judaism Preaching and proclamation of Scripture can be places where supersessionist framings are presented as sound Christian teaching. This chapter provides analysis of how anti-Jewish ideas are given voice in preaching. That most preachers do this inadvertently and without intention speaks to how embedded such ideas are in Christian thought. By using select case studies of problematic passages, this chapter provides a guide in how to move towards an actively anti-supersessionist mode of preaching to create solidarity with Jewish people and communities. Chapter 4. Advent and Anti-Judaism The liturgical season of Advent is a moment when anti-Judaism or supersessionism are particularly prominent. This chapter examines how lectionary readings, hymnody, Advent wreaths, and even Christmas pageants are places where care and attention must be placed. Case studies of dealing with difficult texts such as "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" or readings from Isaiah are provided to develop general principles for thinking about countering anti-Judaism in Advent and providing positive framings. Chapter 5. Lent, Holy Week, and Anti-Judaism The season of Lent and Holy Week is another moment when anti-Jewish elements come to the fore. Lectionary readings narrate rising conflict between Jesus and other Jewish groups, giving the impression that Judaism and Christianity are inevitably in opposition. The re-enactment of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus and the recounting of the passion are especially fraught with concerning moments about how the church represents Jewish people. This chapter provides practical suggestions for using alternative texts or employing anti-supersessionist perspectives. Chapter 6. Christian Education and Anti-Judaism This chapter examines curricula and other teaching resources, especially for children and youth, asking how these resources create early pathways for supersessionist thinking. Reading the Hebrew Bible in supersessionist patterns often appears deeply ingrained for many Christian adults. Therefore, this chapter focuses on examples of how such mode of thinking about Scripture are imparted in formative educational contexts. The chapter provides examples that foster ways of thinking about Judaism in terms of harmony with Christianity. Chapter 7. A New Vision of Jewish-Christian Relations This chapter illustrates how developing practices of resisting anti-Judaism and fostering alternate practices that envision solidarity with Jewish people creates the foundations for deepening Jewish-Christian relations concretely and not only in abstract ideals. Developing concrete forms of practices and language about Jews and Judaism provides Christians with the necessary resources to stand in solidarity with local Jewish communities when the need arises. Part II: Resisting Antisemitism Chapter 8. Antisemitism Today and the Church's Call Antisemitism is growing at alarming rates in the United States. Research shows that contemporary violence against Jews often has both racial and religious (often extremist Christian) motivations. If after the Holocaust churches vowed to never stand by again when Jews were persecuted or threatened, then churches today might be thrust into situations to make good on that promise. This chapter explains why local church leaders need to be attentive to rising antisemitism in their communities and understand the need to act in solidarity with local Jewish communities and their members. Chapter 9. Recognizing and Responding to Antisemitism To be an ally to Jews, Christians must recognize antisemitism when it appears in their communities. This chapter will help clergy and other congregational leaders identify common ideas, terms, movements, and media utilized that convey antisemitic ideas and messages. The chapter offers a particular focus on recognizing how young adults are especially vulnerable to this messaging. This chapter also provides practical suggestions for interventions and how to work in solidarity with local Jewish communities when antisemitic events occur. Chapter 10. How to Be an Ally with Jews If Christians are called to be in solidarity with Jews, what does this look like? This chapter lays out best practices for how Christians and their churches can learn how to become allies with Jews. Following anti-racist principles, these practices focus on prioritizing Jewish needs and priorities and de-centering Christian presuppositions and assumptions. Case studies of how Christian and Jewish congregations have navigated these dynamics serves as this chapter's centerpiece. Chapter 11. Moving Allyship to the Public Square For Christian communities to fully resist antisemitism, they must move into the public square. This chapter maps out ways that clergy and congregations can utilize local civic and communal networks to resist antisemitism. Learning how to speak openly and publicly about the morals and ethics that guides a Christian to resist antisemitism is important, especially in a political moment when religious language is being co-opted by extremism. Developing this public means of resisting antisemitism can translate into other public means of resisting other forms of bias, discrimination, and oppression. Chapter 12. Grappling with Israel-Palestine Tensions over Israel and Palestine can easily derail work to create solidarity between Christians and Jews. This chapter examines why Israel is often central for Jewish communities and how Christians can come to appreciate this commitment. While recognizing that agreement is impossible regarding every aspect of a complex situation, this chapter provides best principles for giving appropriate attention to the important issue of Israel-Palestine without letting the issue's complexity derail the work of resisting antisemitism and anti-Judaism. Part III Conclusion: Deep Solidarity The conclusion reflects on how Christians working to resist anti-Judaism in the church and antisemitism in society exemplifies deep solidarity with Jewish people and communities. The conclusion ties together the book's themes and outlines how this work of deep solidarity can be transformative for the church in all aspects of its life and mission, including with other marginalized people and communities.