For the Sake of Heaven and Earth: The New Encounter Between Judaism and Christianity

by Irving Greenberg

Book Overview

Rabbi Greenberg's book makes an invaluable contribution to interfaith conversation. He calls for Christians and Jews to come together in their continuously evolving partnership with God--dual covenants that demand "openness to each other, learning from each other, and a respect for the distinctiveness of the ongoing validity of each other." Now, when the resurgence of anti-Semitism poses a threat to Jews here and around the world, this powerful...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0827608071
• ISBN13: 9780827608078
• Release Date: October 2004
• Publisher: Jewish Publication Society
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Exceptional

Rabbi Greenberg's book is exceptionally well written. Even more important, the Rabbi gives us new and insightful ways to frame the Jewish/Christian dialogue. He and Blu Greenberg are pioneers in so many aspects of Jewish thought, and this book is just one more example.

A radical rethinking of Jewish- Christian relations

Rabbi Irving (Yitz) Greenberg has been for close to half- a - century one of the most caring and courageous of Jewish thinkers. For many he is the Reform and Conservative Jews' Orthodox Rabbi. For some he is the person who has gone so far astray from traditional positions so as to be no longer part of Orthodoxy at all. Yet even his most fierce opponents would find it hard to deny that he has been a tireless worker for the Jewish community and world through these years. And that he has in his thought addressed important questions others dared not approach. One area in which he has pioneered is in Jewish- Christian relations. In this present book he tells in a remarkable autobiographical first- chapter the story of his efforts in these directions. He in this chapter outlines positions he has been developing for over forty years, positions which involve a radical rethinking of the Jewish relationship to Christianity. This rethinking comes out of his historical knowledge of Jewish- Christian relations, and his understanding of the Christian roots of the Holocaust. More than anything else Rabbi Greenberg seems to be working for a kind of `tikkun' in Jewish- Christian relations that will prevent disaster in the future. What he proposes is a relationship which goes beyond mere tolerance. He proposes that both Judaism and Christianity each other as valid religious responses, as valid Covenant religions.. Both religions as he understands it have their task, and their chosen place. Both present visions of Divine Redemption which have and can help bring about tikkun olam, a better world, a world more filled with life and goodness. For him Judaism is the senior partner, with its own special niche and relation to God. And Christianity is the religion which has spread the vision of one moral God to a vast share of humanity. Rabbi Greenberg understands the terrible asymmetry in Jewish - Christian relations historically, in terms of persecutor- persecuted. But his thought is directed toward creating of a better future. He in this stresses the value of the kind of dialogue that he himself has engaged in for so many years with his Christian counterparts. And in fact the work concludes with the responses of some of his distinguished Christian colleagues, James Carrol, Michael Novak, Mary C. Boys, and Krister Stendhal. And Rabbi Greenberg is especially grateful to the insights and help given him and wife Blu through the years by Roy and Alice Eckhardt. Rabbi Greenberg has always been an optimistic and positive thinker. And so he believes that despite the fact that the Jewish people today are barely holding their own in number while Christianity is a growing faith of close to two billion believers that Judaism's special message will appeal to that portion of mankind who needs what it alone can give, the demanding Torah- inspired life. As a master teacher of Torah who has educated many of the Jewish leaders of today Rabbi Greenberg believes that a more lear

Rabbi Greenberg opens a path to God

Over the years Rabbi Greenberg has shared his love of the Jewish people and Torah with thousands of readers. His love for God and God's people may have driven a wedge between some in the Jewish community and himself, but Rabbi Greenberg stays true to God by reaching out to the Jewish community once again and the Christian community. Christians and Jews both worship and love the same God. Christianity has taken the Jewish God and made him known worldwide. While medieval Christianity was cruel to non-believers and especially Jews, the Christian community can join with Jews in the most important mission of all, repairing the creation and presenting it to God shining and restored. The Jewish people view the mitzvah (Jewish Law) as the way to "tikkun olam-repairing the broken creation" and this book shows Christians how they too can join with the Jewish people to accomplish God's work. As a convert to Judaism, I grew-up in the Christian community. I have found the same God, just different emphasis. Perhaps it is time for the Christian community to rise-up to the challenge and see Judaism as their partner in the work of God. And perhaps, it is time for the Jewish community to attempt to do the work of God with their Christian partners. This book is a challenge to both faith communities. Rabbi Greenberg will certainly create controversy, but he will also, if given the chance, make both Christians and Jews think about their roles in THIS world, how they can help repair the insanity of poverty, illness, and senseless violence. Rabbi Greenberg is, as always, ahead of the times. His challenge to individual Christians and individual Jews is a much needed wake-up call. I highly recommend this book. My prayer is that all of God's people finally learn to do His work and bring their love, passion and hard work to task at hand. Thank you Rabbi Greenberg for a thought provoking book. I am certain that God is smiling.