Transforming Relations: Essays on Jews and Christians throughout History in Honor of Michael A. Signer

Description

Transforming Relations is a collection of original essays on the history of Jews and Christians in antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the modern era that honors the influential work of Michael A. Signer (1945-2009). Reflecting the breadth of Signer's research and pedagogical interests, the essays treat various aspects of the Jewish-Christian relationship through the centuries, from the divine law in antiquity to philosemitism in contemporary Christianity, from scriptural interpretation in the twelfth century to Christian Hebraism in the fifteenth, and from the presentation of Christianity in the Talmud and Midrashim to modern Christian understandings of Judaism. The essays are unified in their emphases on two principles that pervade Signer's own scholarly work: that the sacred texts shared by Jews and Christians serve simultaneously as a point of convergence and divergence for the two religious communities, and that modern practitioners of Judaism and Christianity must recognize and appreciate the other as part of a living tradition. A fitting tribute to Signer's wide-ranging work, the volume aims to complement and continue his passionate and learned work of transforming relations between Jews and Christians. It will appeal to a broad readership, including historians of Judaism and Christianity, scholars of the Middle Ages, students of the history of biblical exegesis, and systematic theologians. "Michael Signer, beloved scholar and rabbi, was a medievalist who spoke to contemporary concerns and a Jew who had close friendships with Christians. The scholarly depth of the essays in this volume and the range of issues the authors address are testimony to his significant legacy. This excellent book honors the memory of Rabbi Signer. It also will be a blessing to all who read it." --Mary C. Boys, S.N.J.M., Union Theological Seminary "The Babylonian Talmud teaches Haval al de'avdin ve-la mishtakhin (Sanhedrin 111a), "Alas for the one who has been lost and cannot be replaced." Michael Signer's death leaves us all bereft, family and friends alike. This volume is a testament to Michael's breadth of scholarship and to his enduring legacy, and is a fitting tribute. Yehi zikhro barukh: "May Michael's memory be always for a blessing." --Robert A. Harris, Jewish Theological Seminary "This superb collection of original essays is a most fitting tribute to the work of the late Rabbi Michael A. Signer (1945-2009). Michael's colleagues and students not only reflect on his legacy but also embody his very practice of a rigorous and collaborative scholarship that builds bridges of mutual understanding across the fractures of history and the realities of religious difference. With this volume, Michael's transformative work in Jewish-Christian relations continues." --Elizabeth Groppe, Xavier University About the Author Franklin T. Harkins is assistant professor of theology at Fordham University.Michael A. Signer was the Adams Professor of Jewish Thought and Culture at the University of Notre Dame from 1992 until his death in 2009. Among his many publications are the edited volumes Memory and History in Christianity and Judaism and Jews and Christians in Twelfth-Century Europe, both published by the University of Notre Dame Press. Foreword xi John Van Engen Acknowledgments xxi Contributors xxiii Introduction: The Transformative Work of Michael A. Signer 1 Franklin T. Harkins I . ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL PERSPECTIVES: EXEGESIS, POLEMIC, AND CULTURAL EXCHANGE one The Making of a Medievalist 25 Arnold J. Band two The End of the Law: A Significant Difference between Judaism and Christianity 34 David Novak three Christianity in Talmud and Midrash: Parallelomania or Parallelophobia? 50 Israel Jacob Yuval four The Psalms at the Abbey of Saint-Victor: From the Novices’ schola to the Heights of contemplatio 75 Grover A. Zinn f ive Historia and Sensus litteralis: An Investigation into the Approach to Literal Interpretation at the Twelfth-Century School of St. Victor 101 Dale M. Coulter s i x The Harmony of Similar and Dissimilar Things: Narrative and Reason in Richard of St. Victor’s De Emmanuele 125 Boyd Taylor Coolman s even “Following with Unequal Step”: Andrew of St. Victor, the Glossa ordinaria, and Compilatory Exegesis in the Northern French Schools of the Twelfth Century 150 Franklin T. Harkins e i ght “And Rebekah Loved Jacob,” But Why? Responses from Two Twelfth-Century Exegetes 179 Deborah L. Goodwin nine Two Introductions by Rabbi Samuel ben Meir (Rashbam): To the Song of Songs and Lamentations 205 Sara Japhet ten Wandering to the End: The Medieval Christian Context of the Wandering Jew 224 E. Ann Matter eleven Hugh of St. Cher and Medieval Collaboration 241 Lesley Smith twelve Wessel Gansfort’s (1419–1489) Use of Hebrew 265 Arjo Vanderjagt thirteen “The Guardian of Israel neither Dozes nor Sleeps”: Exegesis, Polemics, and Politics in the Late Medieval Jewish-Christian Encounter 285 Jeremy Cohen II. MODERN PERSPECTIVES: THEOLOGY, PRAXIS, AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE OTHER fourteen “To Get to Know, to Understand, and to Respect Each Other”: Guidelines Old and New 313 Peter von der Osten-Sacken f i f teen Biblical and Historical Perspectives on “the People of God” 319 Angela Kim Harkins s i xteen Rabbi Hayim David Halevi on Christianity and Christians: An Analysis of Selected Legal Writings of an Israeli Authority 340 David Ellenson s eventeen Michael Signer’s Theological Philosophy of the Plain Sense 363 Peter Ochs eighteen Can We Speak of a Theological Bond between Christians and Jews? A Dialogue with Michael Signer 385 John T. Pawlikowski, O.S.M. nineteen Philosemitism and “Judaizing” in the Contemporary Church 405 David Fox Sandmel twenty Contempt for the Jews and Disregard for the Old Testament: The Re-establishment of the Tridentine Rite in German Perspective 421 Hanspeter Heinz Publications of Michael A. Signer 445 Index 452