Jews and Jewish Christianity - Preface to The First Printing

Jews And “Jewish Christianity” A Jewish Response to the Missionary Challenge by David Berger and Michael Wyschogrod

Preface to The First Printing

A Note to the Reader

1. Introduction

2. Jesus and the Messiah

3. Jesus and God

4. “Proofs” of Christianity in the Hebrew Bible

5. The Forgiveness of Sin

6. On Jews, Gentiles, and “Jewish Christians”

7. A Final Word

8. Suggestions for Further Reading

Preface To The First Printing

The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York serves as the central coordinating body on issues of concern to the Jewish community in the metropolitan area. Recognizing the increase in missionary activity directed at Jews, the JCRC established a Task Force on Missionary Activity to alert and educate the Jewish community and to develop appropriate responses.

Early on, the Task Force Subcommittee on Publications recognized the need for a work that would present a reasoned discussion of the major issues in readable fashion. We are therefore proud to have served as the catalytic agent, which led to the writing of Jews and “Jewish Christianity” by two distinguished specialists in this field.

It is our hope that this publication will contribute to a better understanding of the relevant issues and that it will deepen the Jewish community’s commitment to the crucial task of furthering Jewish education.

Seymour P. Lachman

Chairman, JCRC Task Force on Missionary Activity

111 West 40th Street

New York, N.Y. 10018

A Note To The Reader

This book has been written for two purposes: first, to persuade Jews who have been attracted by “Jewish Christianity” to take another look at the issues; second, to familiarize other readers with a Jewish approach to what has become a controversial and hotly debated topic. The introduction and final word are addressed specifically to the first group; other readers can skip them and concentrate on the substantive discussions that constitute the bulk of the work.

×Published by JEWS FOR JUDAISM

2795 Bathurst St., PO Box 41032, Toronto, ON, Canada M6B 4J6

Phone: (416) 789-0020 • Fax: (416) 789-0020

E-mail: toronto@jewsforjudaism.ca • www.jewsforjudaism.ca

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Berger, David, 1943-

Jews and “Jewish Christianity”.

Bibliography: p.

1. Judaism-Apologetic works.

2. Jewish Christians.

3. Missions to Jews. I. Wyschogrod, Michael, joint author. II. Title

BM648.B45 296.3 78-9423