Who Was a Jew?: Rabbinic and Halakhic Perspectives on the Jewish Christian Schism

by Lawrence H. Schiffman

In recent years the issue of ''Who is a Jew?'' has become predominant in the Jewish community both in America and Israel. This book masterfully explains the relationship between halakhah and the issue of ''Who Was a Jew,'' showing that the Jewish Christian schism was a result of the halakhic definition of Jewish identity. Using Talmudic sources, Professor Schiffman examines the halakhot governing the Jew by birth, conversion, heretics and apostates, and the Rabbinic reaction to the early Christians, and discusses the narratives illustrating Rabbinic contact with Jewish Christians. He concludes that the Christians were regarded initially by the Rabbis as minim, Jews who had heretical beliefs. With the ascendancy of Gentile Christianity, the Rabbis could no longer regard the Christians as Jewish, since they lacked the legal requirements for Jewish status. Therefore, in the early second century the Rabbis began to regard them as members of another religious community.
This book is required reading for both historians of Judaism and Christianity and those who would seek to formulate educated views about the issue of Jewish status in contemporary times.

Genres: Religion, History, Judaism

Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[[Name Redacted] · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid and surprisingly thorough study of the Tannaitic perspectives on Second Temple Jewish and early Christian identities, arguing that the ultimate split between the two came from conflicting understandings of what made someone an Israelite/Jew. One of the most interesting points Schiffman makes is that, while Rabbinic Judaism came to view Christians as heretics and apostates and rejected them, according to halakha and Second Temple traditions, Jewish Christians who were born Jewish could not have their Jewishness revoked.

This book suffers only from Schiffman's clear fealty to the Rabbinic tradition, as throughout he assumes the historicity of the tannaitic and amoraic sources -- though he generally (and refreshingly!) accords Christian texts the same favor.

[Alexandra]

Christianity became a separate religion as it became dominated by Gentiles who did not abide by halakhah after the Bar Kochba revolt.
Distinction between Nazoraeans (Judaizing Christian sect) and Nazarenes (general term for Christians).
Conversion by 100 CE: acceptance of Torah, immersion, circumcision, sacrifice (before destruction of the Temple).

[Craig Bolton]

Who Was a Jew?: Rabbinic and Halakhic Perspectives on the Jewish Christian Schism by Lawrence H. Schiffman (1985)