Interview with a Pharisee—and a Christian

[Michie]

How two believers of two faiths talk to one another with conviction and civility.

In 1964, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote: "I am ready to go to Auschwitz any time, if faced with the alternative of conversion or death." The prominent Jewish theologian was protesting a reference to the future conversion of the Jews in a Vatican II working document on Catholic-Jewish relations. Both The New York Times and Time magazine picked up on Heschel's letter, which alienated many of his Christian friends.

That was 1964. This is 2007. Jews still find the subject of conversion extremely painful. For them it is, as Heschel said, tantamount to annihilation. Christian hopes for conversion can be a deal breaker in interfaith friendships.

Continued- http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/...ber/34.56.html (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/october/34.56.html)

[Michie]

I thought this article appropriate given the goals of the forum. Open communication & understanding even in diagreement.

[Izdaari]

Paul never thought of himself as a Christian, but rather a Jew who accepted the Jewish Messiah. And we are honorary Jews, by virtue of being Gentiles who accept the Jewish Messiah.

But the Kendall/Rosen book looks like a fascinating read. Thank you, I'll put it on my list.