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Kosher Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is the most famous Jew who ever lived, yet remains profoundly alienated from his own people. At best he is viewed as the founder of a new religion which for millennia was hostile to Judaism. At worst he is seen as the source of world's anti-Semitism, with the charge that the Jews were responsible for his death being the impetus for the murder of countless Jews throughout the ages. But the historical Jesus is also foreign to most Christians who are oblivious to the life he lived as a Jew, his real mission in ancient Judea, the source of most of his celebrated teachings, and his firm attachment to his people. Now, in a remarkable new book, the man universally known as 'America's Rabbi' and whom Newsweek Magazine calls 'the most famous Rabbi in America, ' best-selling author Shmuley Boteach offers us a breathtaking new view of Jesus, based on Jewish and Christian sources, that will serve as a bridge between two faith communities too long parted by...
300 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2012
35 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Shmuley Boteach
47 books70 followersRabbi Shmuley Boteach, named by Talkers Magazine as one of the 100 most important radio hosts in America, is a nationally syndicated talk show host, the international best-selling author of 15 books, and an acclaimed syndicated columnist.
A winner of the London Times highly prestigious "Preacher of the Year" award, Rabbi Shmuley has lectured and appeared in print, radio, and TV all over the globe. His radio show, "Rabbi Shmuley's Passion," airs daily on Bonneville Broadcasting in afternoon drive-time.
He is the author of a number of books, including "Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy," "Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments," "Why Can't I Fall in Love," "Judaism for Everyone: Renewing your Life through the Vibrant Lessons of the Jewish Faith," and most recently, "Hating Women: America's Hostile Campaign Against the Fairer Sex." A winner of the annual "preacher of the year" contest sponsored by the Times of London, he was formerly rabbi of Oxford University.
Shmuley—he is known universally by his first name, has marketed himself as a rabbi to the stars and an expert on Jewish attitudes toward relationships and marriage. ("Dr. Ruth with a yarmulke," the Washington Post called him.)
A winner of the London Times highly prestigious "Preacher of the Year" award, Rabbi Shmuley has lectured and appeared in print, radio, and TV all over the globe. His radio show, "Rabbi Shmuley's Passion," airs daily on Bonneville Broadcasting in afternoon drive-time.
He is the author of a number of books, including "Kosher Sex: A Recipe for Passion and Intimacy," "Dating Secrets of the Ten Commandments," "Why Can't I Fall in Love," "Judaism for Everyone: Renewing your Life through the Vibrant Lessons of the Jewish Faith," and most recently, "Hating Women: America's Hostile Campaign Against the Fairer Sex." A winner of the annual "preacher of the year" contest sponsored by the Times of London, he was formerly rabbi of Oxford University.
Shmuley—he is known universally by his first name, has marketed himself as a rabbi to the stars and an expert on Jewish attitudes toward relationships and marriage. ("Dr. Ruth with a yarmulke," the Washington Post called him.)
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 19, 2012
For all its hype, the title of “Kosher Jesus” is far more evocative than anything contained within its 230 pages. If you get rid of the introduction, first and last 20 pages, what you are left with is essentially a sub-par but nearly adequate counter-missionary book.
Christian readers looking for a way to make Jesus more accessible to Jews or to enhance the authenticity of their faith will find neither within the pages of this work. Instead they will find a slap in the face that insults their convictions, belittles their intelligence and asks them to totally disregard everything they’ve ever believed about the New Testament and Jesus. In the last part of the book, Rabbi Boteach’s revisionist and morally relativistic call for Christians to embrace this new entirely human Jesus will be found to be nothing less than insulting.
Jewish readers, on the other hand, will find a work of fiction that paints a different picture of Jesus – a Jesus created out of whole cloth. While Rabbi Boteach’s Jesus is interesting, there’s very little of it that is supportable by any source other than the works of others who have also tried to remake Jesus according to their own suppositions. And while Jewish readers may find comfort in the book’s attempt to invalidate large portions of the New Testament and explain why Jews don’t believe in Jesus, Rabbi Boteach’s call for Jews to embrace Jesus as a Jewish martyr and hero is ludicrous at best and dangerous at worst. It attempts to do something only one step below what the Christian deification of Jesus did, making him into something he’s not.
All in all, a rather disappointing work from an otherwise brilliant if not a little egotistical Rabbi.
Christian readers looking for a way to make Jesus more accessible to Jews or to enhance the authenticity of their faith will find neither within the pages of this work. Instead they will find a slap in the face that insults their convictions, belittles their intelligence and asks them to totally disregard everything they’ve ever believed about the New Testament and Jesus. In the last part of the book, Rabbi Boteach’s revisionist and morally relativistic call for Christians to embrace this new entirely human Jesus will be found to be nothing less than insulting.
Jewish readers, on the other hand, will find a work of fiction that paints a different picture of Jesus – a Jesus created out of whole cloth. While Rabbi Boteach’s Jesus is interesting, there’s very little of it that is supportable by any source other than the works of others who have also tried to remake Jesus according to their own suppositions. And while Jewish readers may find comfort in the book’s attempt to invalidate large portions of the New Testament and explain why Jews don’t believe in Jesus, Rabbi Boteach’s call for Jews to embrace Jesus as a Jewish martyr and hero is ludicrous at best and dangerous at worst. It attempts to do something only one step below what the Christian deification of Jesus did, making him into something he’s not.
All in all, a rather disappointing work from an otherwise brilliant if not a little egotistical Rabbi.
March 2, 2013
This was a really interesting read, if you are interested in Jesus or in his Jewish roots. If you don’t believe in him (historically or religiously) or aren't interested in his Jewish roots please don’t read this book. It isn't for you. This book is an attempt to reconcile Christians with a Jewish Jesus and to introduce this well-known Jew to the Jews. Some Christians won't like it because it questions currently-held beliefs on Jesus. Some Jews won't like it because it makes them look at Jesus the person, which is usually skipped over along with Jesus the son of God and Jesus the initiator of Christianity (if you believe he was either of those things). I would still recommend it to both groups. Read it as you would a college thesis: someone did some research, formed an opinion, and wrote it down. I think it's too weak in its argument at times and overbearing at other times, but it's pretty good. Even I would argue that Rabbi Shmuley's depiction of the Sadducees isn't completely accurate.
Is the book perfect? Of course not, and even Shmuley Boteach makes a couple of mistakes. He says the crucifixion was on Sunday, though it is recorded as being on Friday, and he says that Jesus was then resurrected and ascended on Sunday, even though it is written that he ascended 40 days later. Outside of that, Shmuley makes some very good arguments for why both Jews and Christians should rethink the concept of Jesus.
The book is difficult from the beginning. If you are a Christian you probably aren't terribly familiar with Judaism or the times in which Jesus lived. If you are Jewish you probably aren't terribly familiar with even the basic story of Christianity. For the discussion to be easier, Christians would need an understanding of Mishna, Talmud, sages to that point (Hillel especially), and more familiarity with the “Old Testament” - basically the religious beliefs and traditions held by Jesus and other Jews at the time he lived. Conversely, Jews would need an understanding of the New Testament (especially the Gospels). Both sides need an understanding of how Christianity got from Judaism through Jesus and to where it is today. Both sides would need an understanding of the politics and history that existed up to that time. Shmuley tries to make it easy, but there’s a lot that has to be glossed over or assumed for the book to be shorter than an encyclopedia.
Boteach uses Hebrew from original sources (which he knows), not the standard modern translation of scriptural documents; they are sometimes different from the translated and retranslated English texts. This could be a source of contention for Christians who are used to the phraseology and implied meaning of their modern scriptures.
The book could easily anger Christians by claiming that Jesus was an observant Jew and a man - Messiah maybe, God or other deity no. It could anger Jews by claiming that Jesus was not starting a new religion, which either he did or someone else did it in his name. Many arguments that Shmuley brings up were decided thousands of years ago by early Christians, and – I believe – many Christians would rather they stayed in the past.
Shmuley paints Jesus as a Jewish patriot and hero, and he mourns the loss of such a person to the Jews. Some of the arguments to support his theories center on who the Messiah would be, what he would do, the role of sacrifices in Judaism (and what they can’t do), and whether there was an everlasting covenant in place before Jesus was even born.
Much of the book can be argued if you believe that Shmuley is incorrect about the New Testament being redacted - changed on purpose to hide the true story; it is especially challenging, since he presumably believes that the Torah was divinely inspired and written, likely without error. Shmuley makes several arguments in the beginning of the book, and continues to use his conclusion as evidence throughout the book. If you don’t believe his arguments, you will have trouble believing his findings later. For another academic look at the crucifixion story, also see Marvin Perry and Frederick Schweitzer's Antisemitism: Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present. In Chapter 1, Section "The Trial and the Crucifixion," see where the authors give 10 reasons why the story of the trial violated Jewish law plus numerous examples of inconsistencies.
The book was written to help both Christians and Jews better understand Jesus through his Jewishness. It’s intended to increase the dialogue between the two groups and help bolster mutual respect, which I believe it does.
**Corrected spelling errors**
Is the book perfect? Of course not, and even Shmuley Boteach makes a couple of mistakes. He says the crucifixion was on Sunday, though it is recorded as being on Friday, and he says that Jesus was then resurrected and ascended on Sunday, even though it is written that he ascended 40 days later. Outside of that, Shmuley makes some very good arguments for why both Jews and Christians should rethink the concept of Jesus.
The book is difficult from the beginning. If you are a Christian you probably aren't terribly familiar with Judaism or the times in which Jesus lived. If you are Jewish you probably aren't terribly familiar with even the basic story of Christianity. For the discussion to be easier, Christians would need an understanding of Mishna, Talmud, sages to that point (Hillel especially), and more familiarity with the “Old Testament” - basically the religious beliefs and traditions held by Jesus and other Jews at the time he lived. Conversely, Jews would need an understanding of the New Testament (especially the Gospels). Both sides need an understanding of how Christianity got from Judaism through Jesus and to where it is today. Both sides would need an understanding of the politics and history that existed up to that time. Shmuley tries to make it easy, but there’s a lot that has to be glossed over or assumed for the book to be shorter than an encyclopedia.
Boteach uses Hebrew from original sources (which he knows), not the standard modern translation of scriptural documents; they are sometimes different from the translated and retranslated English texts. This could be a source of contention for Christians who are used to the phraseology and implied meaning of their modern scriptures.
The book could easily anger Christians by claiming that Jesus was an observant Jew and a man - Messiah maybe, God or other deity no. It could anger Jews by claiming that Jesus was not starting a new religion, which either he did or someone else did it in his name. Many arguments that Shmuley brings up were decided thousands of years ago by early Christians, and – I believe – many Christians would rather they stayed in the past.
Shmuley paints Jesus as a Jewish patriot and hero, and he mourns the loss of such a person to the Jews. Some of the arguments to support his theories center on who the Messiah would be, what he would do, the role of sacrifices in Judaism (and what they can’t do), and whether there was an everlasting covenant in place before Jesus was even born.
Much of the book can be argued if you believe that Shmuley is incorrect about the New Testament being redacted - changed on purpose to hide the true story; it is especially challenging, since he presumably believes that the Torah was divinely inspired and written, likely without error. Shmuley makes several arguments in the beginning of the book, and continues to use his conclusion as evidence throughout the book. If you don’t believe his arguments, you will have trouble believing his findings later. For another academic look at the crucifixion story, also see Marvin Perry and Frederick Schweitzer's Antisemitism: Myth and Hate from Antiquity to the Present. In Chapter 1, Section "The Trial and the Crucifixion," see where the authors give 10 reasons why the story of the trial violated Jewish law plus numerous examples of inconsistencies.
The book was written to help both Christians and Jews better understand Jesus through his Jewishness. It’s intended to increase the dialogue between the two groups and help bolster mutual respect, which I believe it does.
**Corrected spelling errors**
July 27, 2012
How to sum up Kosher Jesus? Well, the acknowledgements at the end are funny (yet also annoying — way too many jokes about himself). As a whole, Boteach isn’t bad on Jewish history and on Jewish values, either.
But as a critique of the New Testament, it’s awful.
Boteach, it seems, would like to reclaim Jesus as a Jew, which for him means a first-century Rambo (or Judah Maccabee, if you like) who stood up against Rome and suffered for doing his part to bring in world peace.
To get to this picture of Jesus, Boteach has to deconstruct the New Testament, discovering with his Clue-ometer™ (my term, not his) a thick overlay of anti-Semitism and paganism over the original Jesus. (Think the Sistine Chapel ceiling before and after restoration. Now multiply that 100 times.)
To find the “real” Jesus amidst the overlay, Boteach’s Clue-ometer™ kicks in to find what is buried in the New Testament, if only we will look hard enough. It’s way more rhetoric than evidence, not that different from those who detect extra-terrestrials in Ezekiel chapter 1. (What else could create all those special FX the prophet sees? It has to be a spaceship!) Too much of Boteach’s argumentation is by insinuation: here’s a difficulty in the text – the only explanation is someone tried to cover up the truth! For extra fun, kids, try that with the problems in the Hebrew Bible and claim the original story is a lot different than what we read today.
And there are some howlers:
pages 68-70 — Boteach claims the apocryphal Gospel of Peter was written by the apostle Peter. (Nope.) And, since Jesus predicted Peter would be a liar (really?), it’s not surprising that he would make up anti-Semitic things in the Gospel of Peter.
page 113 — Boteach’s interpretation of Galatians 3:13 is bizarre. That verse reads, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’” (Paul is here citing Deuteronomy). Boteach claims the “tree” (which he calls a “pole”) refers to the Torah, and that Paul is teaching that a person is cursed by hanging from the Torah (depending on it) for salvation. Creative but very, very odd — Paul is referring to the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
page 127 — Boteach claims that Christians celebrate Sunday as the day of the crucifixion. It’s the celebration of the resurrection.
Elsewhere —
• contra Boteach, the incarnation was not meant to appeal to pagan Gentiles. They found the idea of an incarnation abhorrent.
• Christians do not think Jesus is a “part” of the Trinity (pages 152-153)
• Christianity doesn’t minimize works (think of Bonhoeffer who stood against “cheap grace”).
• Why rant against Christians who talk about the afterlife and then write that in regard to “righteous Gentiles,” Judaism is “a religion that assures the inclusion into heaven of those who don’t observe its tenants [sic] by virtue of their good deeds”? (page 193).
In the words of Sly and the Family Stone: And so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby….
Many Jewish scholars would take issue with Boteach on any number of points. In fact, his views are just plain outdated (he relies on 20th century Jewish scholar Hyam Maccoby for many of his talking points). A lot of the book seems like a rehash of older works like Trude Weiss-Rosmarin’s Judaism and Christianity: The Differences, which dates back to 1943 and was less concerned to find common ground than to keep Judaism and Christianity far apart from one another.
Two idiosyncratic chapters end the book. One claims that Christian doctrine is incompatible with American values (this, it seems, is a bad thing). The other chastises Christians for focusing on the issue of gay marriage when there are many other things to be concerned with.
Unlike the impact of a book of a previous generation, The Passover Plot (which posited that Jesus never really died on the cross in the first place), Boteach’s Kosher Jesus has been something of a flash in the pan. And no wonder; the feel is “been there, done that.”
With one hand, Boteach points out how impossible he believes Christian doctrine to be, and on the other hand wants to commend Christians for their faith, a faith he radically fails to understand.
In the end, he hopes that a “Judah Maccabee Jesus” will inspire Jews and Christians to join in fighting the injustices of the world.
Good luck with all that.
But as a critique of the New Testament, it’s awful.
Boteach, it seems, would like to reclaim Jesus as a Jew, which for him means a first-century Rambo (or Judah Maccabee, if you like) who stood up against Rome and suffered for doing his part to bring in world peace.
To get to this picture of Jesus, Boteach has to deconstruct the New Testament, discovering with his Clue-ometer™ (my term, not his) a thick overlay of anti-Semitism and paganism over the original Jesus. (Think the Sistine Chapel ceiling before and after restoration. Now multiply that 100 times.)
To find the “real” Jesus amidst the overlay, Boteach’s Clue-ometer™ kicks in to find what is buried in the New Testament, if only we will look hard enough. It’s way more rhetoric than evidence, not that different from those who detect extra-terrestrials in Ezekiel chapter 1. (What else could create all those special FX the prophet sees? It has to be a spaceship!) Too much of Boteach’s argumentation is by insinuation: here’s a difficulty in the text – the only explanation is someone tried to cover up the truth! For extra fun, kids, try that with the problems in the Hebrew Bible and claim the original story is a lot different than what we read today.
And there are some howlers:
pages 68-70 — Boteach claims the apocryphal Gospel of Peter was written by the apostle Peter. (Nope.) And, since Jesus predicted Peter would be a liar (really?), it’s not surprising that he would make up anti-Semitic things in the Gospel of Peter.
page 113 — Boteach’s interpretation of Galatians 3:13 is bizarre. That verse reads, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’” (Paul is here citing Deuteronomy). Boteach claims the “tree” (which he calls a “pole”) refers to the Torah, and that Paul is teaching that a person is cursed by hanging from the Torah (depending on it) for salvation. Creative but very, very odd — Paul is referring to the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.
page 127 — Boteach claims that Christians celebrate Sunday as the day of the crucifixion. It’s the celebration of the resurrection.
Elsewhere —
• contra Boteach, the incarnation was not meant to appeal to pagan Gentiles. They found the idea of an incarnation abhorrent.
• Christians do not think Jesus is a “part” of the Trinity (pages 152-153)
• Christianity doesn’t minimize works (think of Bonhoeffer who stood against “cheap grace”).
• Why rant against Christians who talk about the afterlife and then write that in regard to “righteous Gentiles,” Judaism is “a religion that assures the inclusion into heaven of those who don’t observe its tenants [sic] by virtue of their good deeds”? (page 193).
In the words of Sly and the Family Stone: And so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby….
Many Jewish scholars would take issue with Boteach on any number of points. In fact, his views are just plain outdated (he relies on 20th century Jewish scholar Hyam Maccoby for many of his talking points). A lot of the book seems like a rehash of older works like Trude Weiss-Rosmarin’s Judaism and Christianity: The Differences, which dates back to 1943 and was less concerned to find common ground than to keep Judaism and Christianity far apart from one another.
Two idiosyncratic chapters end the book. One claims that Christian doctrine is incompatible with American values (this, it seems, is a bad thing). The other chastises Christians for focusing on the issue of gay marriage when there are many other things to be concerned with.
Unlike the impact of a book of a previous generation, The Passover Plot (which posited that Jesus never really died on the cross in the first place), Boteach’s Kosher Jesus has been something of a flash in the pan. And no wonder; the feel is “been there, done that.”
With one hand, Boteach points out how impossible he believes Christian doctrine to be, and on the other hand wants to commend Christians for their faith, a faith he radically fails to understand.
In the end, he hopes that a “Judah Maccabee Jesus” will inspire Jews and Christians to join in fighting the injustices of the world.
Good luck with all that.
February 2, 2014
As someone who has perused many religious and spiritual paths, and planted roots in Judaism & Christianity, I greatly appreciate this book for the dogma-free way in which it looks at Jesus. After reading Kosher Jesus I felt as if I had more of a relationship with the man we call Jesus, and a better understanding of his historical perspective.
I recommend this book to Jews who want to know the Rabbi Jesus, instead of throwing him out with the religious bath water; to searchers like me, who have faith and belief in G-d but don’t accept the dogma (which is often contradictory to itself); and to Christians who are secure in their faith and open to learning more about the man they call a deity. I do not recommend the book for people whose mind is closed, and who believe the dogma of man is the word of G-d.
Kosher Jesus was well written and is easy to follow, and the author provides resources and references for further study. Proverbs 1:5 ESV “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance…”
I recommend this book to Jews who want to know the Rabbi Jesus, instead of throwing him out with the religious bath water; to searchers like me, who have faith and belief in G-d but don’t accept the dogma (which is often contradictory to itself); and to Christians who are secure in their faith and open to learning more about the man they call a deity. I do not recommend the book for people whose mind is closed, and who believe the dogma of man is the word of G-d.
Kosher Jesus was well written and is easy to follow, and the author provides resources and references for further study. Proverbs 1:5 ESV “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance…”
March 31, 2012
The nice thing about two religions having an argument is that atheism gets to sneak right up the middle.
Kosher Jesus is Shmuley-not Shumley!- Boteach's attempt to bring understanding between Judaism and Christianity by explaining Jesus' Jewishness. He does this by describing Jewish life in Jesus' time and how a Rabbi like him would have acted and what he would have believed. He supports this with citations from the Gospels in the New Testament (if I'm atheist, do I really need all these capitals?) and from other historical sources. What he does is make a portrait of Jesus as a Jewish Rabbi, following Jewish law and long after his death being turned into a Christian figure by a couple of his Roman-loving, Jewish-hating disciples. I think he does a good job of contrasting what he identifies as the false editing of the New Testament against: other parts of the New Testament, Jewish scripture, Jewish history, Roman history, more recent Bible studies, and any other good source he can find.
He also spends a chapter on taking down Judas, another on Paul and a few other related myths in Christianity that have affected attitudes about Judaism.
What I love about this book is the middle part that really fleshes out the history of the time and the 2 religions without any preaching. I feel he is really trying to be accurate in how Jesus probably lived his life and what he actually stood for when he was alive.
The later part of the book he uses to clarify Judaism and how in all fairness it can't accept Jesus as a messiah or as divine. This isn't AS interesting to an atheist as the full-blown criticism of the previous section because he really isn't critical of Judaism as a religion. All the while he is careful to reassure Christians that he means no disrespect but that he wants set the record straight so perhaps the two religions can find some common ground through Jesus.
This book is written for a very general american audience and it makes the introduction seem too broad and vague. It makes his ending silly when he argues Jesus should be revered as a hero (american-style). Again, there isn't as much here for an atheist because he isn't questioning the validity of Judaism, just Christianity. As well, in his conclusion he argues that the real societal problems that american religion should be addressing today are fanaticism, breakdown of the modern family, divorce, teen pregnancy, divorce again, maybe another divorce just to make sure you heard it, and apathy. He admires Christian missionary work and American military intervention in the name of a just cause. I don't really feel like picking apart that big mess of beliefs right now and it doesn't affect the quality of his Kosher Jesus arguments so I will just let it go.
Another thing that lessened the book for me is that a lot of his arguments, though well argued and probably right, were framed as 'obviously' 'there can be no doubt' and other such slam-dunk rhetoric before he'd even made the argument.
Anyone whose faith is brittle and intolerant should stay away from this book but I'd recommend it to thoughtful believers or anyone else who has an interest in Christianity and Judaism. There's a lot of stuff in here which is probably correct that challenges the very foundation of Christianity so you'd do well to hear it first from the sympathetic Shmuley Boteach.
Kosher Jesus is Shmuley-not Shumley!- Boteach's attempt to bring understanding between Judaism and Christianity by explaining Jesus' Jewishness. He does this by describing Jewish life in Jesus' time and how a Rabbi like him would have acted and what he would have believed. He supports this with citations from the Gospels in the New Testament (if I'm atheist, do I really need all these capitals?) and from other historical sources. What he does is make a portrait of Jesus as a Jewish Rabbi, following Jewish law and long after his death being turned into a Christian figure by a couple of his Roman-loving, Jewish-hating disciples. I think he does a good job of contrasting what he identifies as the false editing of the New Testament against: other parts of the New Testament, Jewish scripture, Jewish history, Roman history, more recent Bible studies, and any other good source he can find.
He also spends a chapter on taking down Judas, another on Paul and a few other related myths in Christianity that have affected attitudes about Judaism.
What I love about this book is the middle part that really fleshes out the history of the time and the 2 religions without any preaching. I feel he is really trying to be accurate in how Jesus probably lived his life and what he actually stood for when he was alive.
The later part of the book he uses to clarify Judaism and how in all fairness it can't accept Jesus as a messiah or as divine. This isn't AS interesting to an atheist as the full-blown criticism of the previous section because he really isn't critical of Judaism as a religion. All the while he is careful to reassure Christians that he means no disrespect but that he wants set the record straight so perhaps the two religions can find some common ground through Jesus.
This book is written for a very general american audience and it makes the introduction seem too broad and vague. It makes his ending silly when he argues Jesus should be revered as a hero (american-style). Again, there isn't as much here for an atheist because he isn't questioning the validity of Judaism, just Christianity. As well, in his conclusion he argues that the real societal problems that american religion should be addressing today are fanaticism, breakdown of the modern family, divorce, teen pregnancy, divorce again, maybe another divorce just to make sure you heard it, and apathy. He admires Christian missionary work and American military intervention in the name of a just cause. I don't really feel like picking apart that big mess of beliefs right now and it doesn't affect the quality of his Kosher Jesus arguments so I will just let it go.
Another thing that lessened the book for me is that a lot of his arguments, though well argued and probably right, were framed as 'obviously' 'there can be no doubt' and other such slam-dunk rhetoric before he'd even made the argument.
Anyone whose faith is brittle and intolerant should stay away from this book but I'd recommend it to thoughtful believers or anyone else who has an interest in Christianity and Judaism. There's a lot of stuff in here which is probably correct that challenges the very foundation of Christianity so you'd do well to hear it first from the sympathetic Shmuley Boteach.
May 6, 2012
First of all, I must say that it was with gladness that I greeted the news that America's most famous rabbi, Shmuley Boteach, had written a book about the central figure in Christianity, Jesus of Nazareth. Now, he is hardly the first rabbi to perform such a tack, but R. Boteach is certainly one of the most prominent in the present day to do so.
My hope for R. Boteach's KOSHER JESUS is this: that the book gain enough popularity among Jewish readers to make the person known as Jesus a kosher topic of discussion among the Hebrew people. Too often, there have been instances where rifts develop among Jewish families and other relatives, simply for bringing up the name of Christianity's central figure. If his book can merely accomplish the task of making Jesus safe for discussion in Jewish families, R. Boteach has performed a powerful mitzvah through his authorship.
It should be noted that the intended audience of KOSHER JESUS is not primarily Christians. His audience for this tome is Jewish, in a very intentional manner. As such, he develops theories and ideas about Jesus that many in Christianity will take issue with. That should be expected.
Due to the nature of this book, before I discuss KOSHER JESUS, I think a mention of my own background is necessary. For over a dozen years, I have attended Messianic Jewish communities, including several years of intense theological study as part of an informal Messianic Yeshiva. Prior to joining the Messianic movement, I was a goyim (of the nations) Christian, so I do not personally have any Jewish heritage. My ancestors were Irish. So, this is the perspective I bring to my reading and review of KOSHER JESUS.
Now, to the review at hand.
First, R. Boteach writes in a very fluid and accessible style. His prose reads quickly and one seldom gets bogged down in pretentious scholarly vocabulary and presentation.
In other words, his book was written for a popular audience, and so that a wide swath of readers could pick it up and understand his ideas. This approach doesn't do as well for him in the early going of the book, where he is developing his main suppositions on who Jesus of Nazareth was historically, in his first-century Jewish context.
Too often, it appears as though R. Boteach is merely asserting his own theories without the benefit of research and scholarly support. A plethora of end notes, however, indicate otherwise.
His greatest weakness, perhaps, is relying too heavily on the more scholarly-oriented work of Hyam Maccoby. KOSHER JESUS reads as though he has expected his audience to have read and become as familiar with Mr. Maccoby's work as he is. This is unfortunate, because R. Boteach leaves readers not familiar with Maccoby's books a little adrift at times.
In developing his portrait of a Jewish Jesus, R. Boteach leans on a familiar saw summed up succinctly in the word of this short poem:
"Blame it all
On Paul."
In sum, R. Boteach's theory is that the historical Jesus was a military Jewish rebel more concerned with political overthrow of Israel's Roman occupiers; a man who was a Pharisee, freedom fighter, and a fierce Israeli patriot.
While R. Boteach's Jesus seems new, his arguments are familiar: that Paul was primarily responsible for the development of a Christianity that embraced hostility toward Judiasm, and that later editors attempted to write the true nature of the historical Jesus out of the New Covenant writings.
Once he gets past these sticky points of contention, Boteach becomes incredibly articulate in outlining the Jewish identity of Jesus, stripping away the pagan trappings that have attached themselves to him over the centuries. He makes excellent points about how Jesus might have viewed Rome, regarded Jewish customs, and interacted among his fellow Jewish citizens.
What he builds is a portrait of a Jesus that Jewish people could indeed proudly embrace as a hero of their people.
His work, however, is not without some weaknesses.
The first thematic weakness of KOSHER JESUS is that R. Boteach relies far too heavily on traditional Christian interpretation of the New Covenant writings, assuming that those centuries-held teachings are not only a reflection of historical Christianity (they are, by and large), but also the proper and accurate way to interpret them (not so, in some cases).
As one example, R. Boteach asserts in his text that both Peter and Paul "ate pork."
He bases his assertion on popularly misunderstood portions of Acts 10 and 15, as well as Mark 7, which are passages Christians have historically pointed to as allowing for the consumption of meats declared unclean by God in Leviticus.
Yet any careful study of these passages show that the discussions in any of these passages was not about clean or unclean foods at all.
So much of what R. Boteach posits about Paul rests on this misunderstanding, it weakens his argument once one realizes these were not the issues at play in those passages.
While R. Boteach's work in KOSHER JESUS has done much to liberate the Jewish Jesus from his anti-Semitic Christian trappings, he does so at the expense of most of the New Covenant writings, as well as most of Jesus's disciples, who likewise were completely Jewish and not always what Christianity makes them out to be. But one can only expect to accomplish so much in about 300 pages.
The second primary thematic weakness in R. Boteach's work is that he often slips up, painting Jesus not merely as a Jewish man, but as a 21st Century Orthodox Rabbi, in some instances. While it is true that Jesus was a first century Jew, and some of the core teachings of modern Judaism come from first-century Pharisaic Judaism, it is a misstep to equate first-century Pharisaic Judaism with 21st-century Orthodox Judaism.
While considerably closer to the mark than mainstream Christianity's popular conception of Jesus, there is still a vast cultural gulf between the 2,000 years that separate Jesus of Nazareth and Shmuley Boteach. They might not always see eye-to-eye.
In the final analysis, while KOSHER JESUS may rub mainstream Christians the wrong way, this book was not for them. It is a work of a dedicated and popular Orthodox Rabbi, and its purpose is to paint a portrait of the first-century Jewish Jesus that modern Jews can reclaim and embrace as a cultural hero, without having to view him as divine, which is anathema to Judaism.
As an aside, I will say the book could have easily done without the chapter containing Shmuley's ad-hominem attack that Christian churches are "too obsessed" with "anti-gay" messages. This is another unfortunate example of R. Boteach painting all of Christianity with too broad a brush.
There are many Christian churches who agree that while homosexuality is a sin, it's certainly just one among many. In my pre-Messianic days, I almost never came across any church that was obsessed with "anti-gay" sermons; if it was mentioned once or twice a year, that was notable. I suspect not much has changed in the dozen or so years since I embraced the Messianic movement.
As a Messianic believer and reader, I do in the end possess some differences with R. Boteach on his conclusions about the fitness of Jesus (we prefer his Hebrew-Aramaic name, Yeshua) as the promised Messiah.
Yet despite such differences on Jesus' messiahship, it might surprise R. Boteach to know how often I found myself agreeing with him. KOSHER JESUS helps unclutter the portrait Jesus from his Greco-Roman Christian trappings to reach a more accurate first-century Jewish understanding of Yeshua.
Although I'm not convinced Yeshua was a first-century military rebel leader, largely unconcerned with spiritual matters, what I find refreshing is that R. Boteach has, at minimum, found a way to make acceptable a discussion of who Jesus was.
While our conclusions are and likely will remain somewhat different on key issues, his book has helped to popularize some teachings that hopefully will make an ongoing, respectful, non-proslytizing dialog more possible and palatable than it has been since any time in perhaps 1900 of the last 2000 years.
As a Messianic believer in Yeshua, I have spent the past dozen years learning the Jewish nature of Yeshua. Because of this, KOSHER JESUS is a welcome contribution to the discussion.
A faithful Jewish cantor once told me, "Here in America, you say there are Christians, and there are Messianics. But in Israel, there is no difference."
On the broadest possible spectrum, I can understand that lack of distinction. However, were I to write a book adding the Messianic perspective on Yeshua to this conversation, I suspect R. Boteach might be surprised by how often I agree with him, and on the much greater number of issues upon which I differ with mainstream Christianity.
KOSHER JESUS is not a book written for Christians; yet if Christians can resist attacking it because of the points they disagree with, and see it for what it is, I suspect it could serve as a path toward a more deeply respectful dialog between Christians and Jews. As a Messianic, I would only hope we are welcomed to the table for such a civil discussion, as well. Perhaps as moderators.
My hope for R. Boteach's KOSHER JESUS is this: that the book gain enough popularity among Jewish readers to make the person known as Jesus a kosher topic of discussion among the Hebrew people. Too often, there have been instances where rifts develop among Jewish families and other relatives, simply for bringing up the name of Christianity's central figure. If his book can merely accomplish the task of making Jesus safe for discussion in Jewish families, R. Boteach has performed a powerful mitzvah through his authorship.
It should be noted that the intended audience of KOSHER JESUS is not primarily Christians. His audience for this tome is Jewish, in a very intentional manner. As such, he develops theories and ideas about Jesus that many in Christianity will take issue with. That should be expected.
Due to the nature of this book, before I discuss KOSHER JESUS, I think a mention of my own background is necessary. For over a dozen years, I have attended Messianic Jewish communities, including several years of intense theological study as part of an informal Messianic Yeshiva. Prior to joining the Messianic movement, I was a goyim (of the nations) Christian, so I do not personally have any Jewish heritage. My ancestors were Irish. So, this is the perspective I bring to my reading and review of KOSHER JESUS.
Now, to the review at hand.
First, R. Boteach writes in a very fluid and accessible style. His prose reads quickly and one seldom gets bogged down in pretentious scholarly vocabulary and presentation.
In other words, his book was written for a popular audience, and so that a wide swath of readers could pick it up and understand his ideas. This approach doesn't do as well for him in the early going of the book, where he is developing his main suppositions on who Jesus of Nazareth was historically, in his first-century Jewish context.
Too often, it appears as though R. Boteach is merely asserting his own theories without the benefit of research and scholarly support. A plethora of end notes, however, indicate otherwise.
His greatest weakness, perhaps, is relying too heavily on the more scholarly-oriented work of Hyam Maccoby. KOSHER JESUS reads as though he has expected his audience to have read and become as familiar with Mr. Maccoby's work as he is. This is unfortunate, because R. Boteach leaves readers not familiar with Maccoby's books a little adrift at times.
In developing his portrait of a Jewish Jesus, R. Boteach leans on a familiar saw summed up succinctly in the word of this short poem:
"Blame it all
On Paul."
In sum, R. Boteach's theory is that the historical Jesus was a military Jewish rebel more concerned with political overthrow of Israel's Roman occupiers; a man who was a Pharisee, freedom fighter, and a fierce Israeli patriot.
While R. Boteach's Jesus seems new, his arguments are familiar: that Paul was primarily responsible for the development of a Christianity that embraced hostility toward Judiasm, and that later editors attempted to write the true nature of the historical Jesus out of the New Covenant writings.
Once he gets past these sticky points of contention, Boteach becomes incredibly articulate in outlining the Jewish identity of Jesus, stripping away the pagan trappings that have attached themselves to him over the centuries. He makes excellent points about how Jesus might have viewed Rome, regarded Jewish customs, and interacted among his fellow Jewish citizens.
What he builds is a portrait of a Jesus that Jewish people could indeed proudly embrace as a hero of their people.
His work, however, is not without some weaknesses.
The first thematic weakness of KOSHER JESUS is that R. Boteach relies far too heavily on traditional Christian interpretation of the New Covenant writings, assuming that those centuries-held teachings are not only a reflection of historical Christianity (they are, by and large), but also the proper and accurate way to interpret them (not so, in some cases).
As one example, R. Boteach asserts in his text that both Peter and Paul "ate pork."
He bases his assertion on popularly misunderstood portions of Acts 10 and 15, as well as Mark 7, which are passages Christians have historically pointed to as allowing for the consumption of meats declared unclean by God in Leviticus.
Yet any careful study of these passages show that the discussions in any of these passages was not about clean or unclean foods at all.
So much of what R. Boteach posits about Paul rests on this misunderstanding, it weakens his argument once one realizes these were not the issues at play in those passages.
While R. Boteach's work in KOSHER JESUS has done much to liberate the Jewish Jesus from his anti-Semitic Christian trappings, he does so at the expense of most of the New Covenant writings, as well as most of Jesus's disciples, who likewise were completely Jewish and not always what Christianity makes them out to be. But one can only expect to accomplish so much in about 300 pages.
The second primary thematic weakness in R. Boteach's work is that he often slips up, painting Jesus not merely as a Jewish man, but as a 21st Century Orthodox Rabbi, in some instances. While it is true that Jesus was a first century Jew, and some of the core teachings of modern Judaism come from first-century Pharisaic Judaism, it is a misstep to equate first-century Pharisaic Judaism with 21st-century Orthodox Judaism.
While considerably closer to the mark than mainstream Christianity's popular conception of Jesus, there is still a vast cultural gulf between the 2,000 years that separate Jesus of Nazareth and Shmuley Boteach. They might not always see eye-to-eye.
In the final analysis, while KOSHER JESUS may rub mainstream Christians the wrong way, this book was not for them. It is a work of a dedicated and popular Orthodox Rabbi, and its purpose is to paint a portrait of the first-century Jewish Jesus that modern Jews can reclaim and embrace as a cultural hero, without having to view him as divine, which is anathema to Judaism.
As an aside, I will say the book could have easily done without the chapter containing Shmuley's ad-hominem attack that Christian churches are "too obsessed" with "anti-gay" messages. This is another unfortunate example of R. Boteach painting all of Christianity with too broad a brush.
There are many Christian churches who agree that while homosexuality is a sin, it's certainly just one among many. In my pre-Messianic days, I almost never came across any church that was obsessed with "anti-gay" sermons; if it was mentioned once or twice a year, that was notable. I suspect not much has changed in the dozen or so years since I embraced the Messianic movement.
As a Messianic believer and reader, I do in the end possess some differences with R. Boteach on his conclusions about the fitness of Jesus (we prefer his Hebrew-Aramaic name, Yeshua) as the promised Messiah.
Yet despite such differences on Jesus' messiahship, it might surprise R. Boteach to know how often I found myself agreeing with him. KOSHER JESUS helps unclutter the portrait Jesus from his Greco-Roman Christian trappings to reach a more accurate first-century Jewish understanding of Yeshua.
Although I'm not convinced Yeshua was a first-century military rebel leader, largely unconcerned with spiritual matters, what I find refreshing is that R. Boteach has, at minimum, found a way to make acceptable a discussion of who Jesus was.
While our conclusions are and likely will remain somewhat different on key issues, his book has helped to popularize some teachings that hopefully will make an ongoing, respectful, non-proslytizing dialog more possible and palatable than it has been since any time in perhaps 1900 of the last 2000 years.
As a Messianic believer in Yeshua, I have spent the past dozen years learning the Jewish nature of Yeshua. Because of this, KOSHER JESUS is a welcome contribution to the discussion.
A faithful Jewish cantor once told me, "Here in America, you say there are Christians, and there are Messianics. But in Israel, there is no difference."
On the broadest possible spectrum, I can understand that lack of distinction. However, were I to write a book adding the Messianic perspective on Yeshua to this conversation, I suspect R. Boteach might be surprised by how often I agree with him, and on the much greater number of issues upon which I differ with mainstream Christianity.
KOSHER JESUS is not a book written for Christians; yet if Christians can resist attacking it because of the points they disagree with, and see it for what it is, I suspect it could serve as a path toward a more deeply respectful dialog between Christians and Jews. As a Messianic, I would only hope we are welcomed to the table for such a civil discussion, as well. Perhaps as moderators.
January 25, 2024
I read the book to answer my long term question, Why don’t the Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah. I learned a lot by reading this book. The author covered a lot of material and explained his thoughts well. The fact that I disagree entirely with his conclusions explains the 3-star rating. But very interesting read that was educational and long overdue for me.
August 10, 2019
A moderately entertaining exercise in imaginative fiction.
June 8, 2023
Actually deserves a 4.5. He got a little repetitive in the end but otherwise a very interesting read.
May 29, 2012
I really debated with myself about writing what I thought. Because I'm an honest person. I call things as I see them and it often offends someone. I figured if I wrote what I thought no doubt I'll get hate mail.
So here's my thoughts -
Once you set aside closed minded people such as atheists and "religious" fundamentalists, I bet, if you dug deep down, you'd find 90% of the people who dislike this book dislike it simply because it was written by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.
They might hem and haw and try to say it's for other reasons, but deep down, it's simply because of the author. If an unknown Rabbi, one who had never been on TLC or otherwise been in the spotlight wrote this, they'd probably say what I think. That this is a wonderfully researched, well written book that comes from the author's heart and soul.
Let me put what I'm saying in a matter probably only I would understand. Let's say Barry Manilow made a classical music album. Nevermind that he's a fan of classical music - in fact, the opening to Could It Be Magic comes from one of Chopin's fugues - nevermind he's an extremely talented musician. People will dismiss it simply because it's Barry Manilow. A man they accuse of being "too commercial." Therefore they'd approach the album with a closed mind and never hear the beauty of the music.
For those who are utterly confused - well, think of it this way - it's like people who dismiss the movie The Avengers simply because Scarlett Johansson is The Black Widow. Nevermind that the movie is awesome. (Granted, I'm guilty of some of this. I have never seen the Fantastic Four movies because I can't stand Jessica Alba. But let's face it, she's not as talented as Scarlett.) They're missing a great movie just because they don't like Scarlett.
I'm not saying that some don't like the book simply because they don't. But I really feel most don't like it because of the author's fame.
So I advise you, ignore your feelings one way or another about the author. Pretend someone else wrote it if you must. Once you can set aside that you'll see that Kosher Jesus is a wonderful book that should be required reading along with Rabbi David Wolpe's Why Faith Matters.
It's a book that's helping clear up a lot of my confused feelings. You see, my mom's side of the family is really Jewish, but hid the fact to escape persecution. So mom was raised Catholic and I was raised as a Protestant. My dad, who's both a PhD chemist and a devout Christian, and my mom both taught me much about Jesus Christ. But as I try to regain knowledge lost to me about my hidden maternal heritage, to reclaim what I see is a lost part of who I am, I find myself often lost and confused. While I still feel a little lost, I feel closer to the correct spiritual path to God.
And if that offends and upsets people, too darn bad!
So here's my thoughts -
Once you set aside closed minded people such as atheists and "religious" fundamentalists, I bet, if you dug deep down, you'd find 90% of the people who dislike this book dislike it simply because it was written by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach.
They might hem and haw and try to say it's for other reasons, but deep down, it's simply because of the author. If an unknown Rabbi, one who had never been on TLC or otherwise been in the spotlight wrote this, they'd probably say what I think. That this is a wonderfully researched, well written book that comes from the author's heart and soul.
Let me put what I'm saying in a matter probably only I would understand. Let's say Barry Manilow made a classical music album. Nevermind that he's a fan of classical music - in fact, the opening to Could It Be Magic comes from one of Chopin's fugues - nevermind he's an extremely talented musician. People will dismiss it simply because it's Barry Manilow. A man they accuse of being "too commercial." Therefore they'd approach the album with a closed mind and never hear the beauty of the music.
For those who are utterly confused - well, think of it this way - it's like people who dismiss the movie The Avengers simply because Scarlett Johansson is The Black Widow. Nevermind that the movie is awesome. (Granted, I'm guilty of some of this. I have never seen the Fantastic Four movies because I can't stand Jessica Alba. But let's face it, she's not as talented as Scarlett.) They're missing a great movie just because they don't like Scarlett.
I'm not saying that some don't like the book simply because they don't. But I really feel most don't like it because of the author's fame.
So I advise you, ignore your feelings one way or another about the author. Pretend someone else wrote it if you must. Once you can set aside that you'll see that Kosher Jesus is a wonderful book that should be required reading along with Rabbi David Wolpe's Why Faith Matters.
It's a book that's helping clear up a lot of my confused feelings. You see, my mom's side of the family is really Jewish, but hid the fact to escape persecution. So mom was raised Catholic and I was raised as a Protestant. My dad, who's both a PhD chemist and a devout Christian, and my mom both taught me much about Jesus Christ. But as I try to regain knowledge lost to me about my hidden maternal heritage, to reclaim what I see is a lost part of who I am, I find myself often lost and confused. While I still feel a little lost, I feel closer to the correct spiritual path to God.
And if that offends and upsets people, too darn bad!
June 28, 2015
If you think Jesus was a Constitutionalist/American Exceptionalist supporter of Modern Israel, than this book is for you. I do not think Jesus was such, and cannot get with Boteach's assumption that Christians take the Bible 100% literally so will somehow be won over to seeing Jesus as a Jew if its arguments don't make much logical/historical sense when they somehow make a more metaphorical/metaphysical sense. Plus he does this thing where he's like "I'll prove Jesus was this way" and then doesn't prove it and then is like "so since I proved Jesus was this way, then this other thing follows". Blargh. I think this book misrepresents both Judaism and Christianity to one another, but of course, its not the Judaism or Christianity I have experienced..which doesn't mean its not a real thing. There's a lot of comparative religion stuff out there that's a lot better than this, some of which I think he draws from. I'm sure this isn't the last book I'll read on the subject. Ah well.
May 8, 2015
This is an excellent high level view of the work of Hyam Maccoby. Most of the low ratings of this book are given by Christian who have prior theological commitments about the figure known as Jesus. And who have a desire to evangelize Jews. It proves essentially that gentiles (myself included) have little concept about what it actually means to be a Jew. Otherwise some of the stories of the Bible (the Gospels and the Epistles) would have been easy to identify as spurious as a ham at Passover. Part of the effort in this book is to try to put that context back in place.
I would have liked the book more, but feel like it gets a bit lost a bit at the end. Rabbi Schmuley attempts to be inclusive of Christians in the end, but it seems confusing to try to have it both ways. Either this Jewish preacher was divine or he wasn't.
I recommend reading Maccoby's book to get deeper context.
I would have liked the book more, but feel like it gets a bit lost a bit at the end. Rabbi Schmuley attempts to be inclusive of Christians in the end, but it seems confusing to try to have it both ways. Either this Jewish preacher was divine or he wasn't.
I recommend reading Maccoby's book to get deeper context.
October 10, 2016
As a Christian who is also knowledgable about Judaism, Shmuley definitely gives many radical, challenging, and unique thoughts on the life of Jesus. While he certainly makes a handful of good points I agree with, many of his arguments are outlandish and lacking in support. His thoughts of Paul are radical, and he sometimes contradicts himself while writing. He almost explicitly references Hyyam Maccoby, which makes for a very one sided argument, and occasionally references Christian speaker Dr. Michael Brown. Although I don't agree with much, Shmuley did challenge my thinking and cause me to do more in depth study of my own beliefs. He also provides some honest thoughts on the likely relationship between the Roman authorities and their portrayal in the Bible, which is fascinating.
May 26, 2012
I've been reading a bit of secular religious stuff over the last year and this book certainly expands up[on that genre with its Jewish scholarly take on Christianity. Boteach has spent a lot of time in debates with Israel supporting evangelicals, yet makes some very challenging arguments - with a touch of humor and respect.
The historical transformation of Jesus from Jewish revolutionary to justification for anti-semitism is an important historical fact to understand. The book is also full of other interesting trivia, such as the observation that the whole human/god thing has its roots in Greek and Roman paganism.
The historical transformation of Jesus from Jewish revolutionary to justification for anti-semitism is an important historical fact to understand. The book is also full of other interesting trivia, such as the observation that the whole human/god thing has its roots in Greek and Roman paganism.
November 19, 2012
I would give this book a minus 10 if the choice was avail. Although it may be a well written book I would have quit after the 2nd or 3rd chapter had I not been asked to read it by a good Catholic friend who appeasrs to be strugling with his faith.
It did reinforce my Christian belief in Christ although he denounced my denomination altogether.
I have had some good Jewish friends over the years who I have admired very much but I don't don't this Jewish Author at all.
I wouldn't recommend the reading of this book at all, even to the Jewish peoplel who may be searching for the truth, all the truth and nothting but the truth.
It did reinforce my Christian belief in Christ although he denounced my denomination altogether.
I have had some good Jewish friends over the years who I have admired very much but I don't don't this Jewish Author at all.
I wouldn't recommend the reading of this book at all, even to the Jewish peoplel who may be searching for the truth, all the truth and nothting but the truth.
April 18, 2013
Kind of disappointed in the book. The first few chapters were great as it was talking about the teaching of Jesus and how they relate to Torah and other classic Jewish teachings. The rest of the book was putting up a defense that the Jews didn't kill Jesus or why the Jewish faith cannot believe that Jesus is the long awaited "Moshiach." Which I'm totally fine with in another type of book.
As a convert to Judaism myself, I was expecting more but I guess I built this book up a little in my mind. Still a good read if you are a Christian who wants to read a little more about the "Jewish Jesus."
As a convert to Judaism myself, I was expecting more but I guess I built this book up a little in my mind. Still a good read if you are a Christian who wants to read a little more about the "Jewish Jesus."
November 28, 2015
Shmuley Boteach presents his case in this book how the Christians co-opted a Jewish figure in the historical Jesus and turned out major religion. These questions have been argued endlessly and will continue to be with the usual outcome of status quo. Many of his points are well stated and convincing and his style is easy to follow. But of course anyone reading this book will bring in their own biases for and against the arguments stated here. From my perspective I see both sides working off flawed data but don't ask me to prove it.
October 26, 2012
Rabbi Schmuley has written a most thought-provoking book aimed at both Jews and Christians, positing that Jesus the man was not the person depicted in the New Testament. Jesus, says Rabbi, was a pious Jew who had issues with the Romans, not other Jews or the Jewish way of life. A vast amount of research and biblical knowledge went into this fascinating story. Love him or hate him, he writes a great book and presents a very convincing case.
November 17, 2016
I thought this was a very good book, and quite well written. I've always believed the Bible was Historical Fiction at best, written by men for men. After reading this book I realize now the emphasis should be even more on Fiction!! I am pretty sure most Christians today have no idea the Jesus they worship and pray to is not the real person who actually existed. I'm very glad I read this to help educate myself.
April 23, 2015
It was interesting to read a different viewpoint on who Jesus is, and somewhat helpful to get a Jewish take on Him, but mostly this book was the same arguments over and over again. The author is rather pretentious and comes across as if his professional opinion is the only one that could be logical.
April 4, 2012
Nice objective on Boteach's part -- to show Christians the truth about Jesus from an objective Jewish perspective -- but the author falls abysmally short, picking the things he likes from Jesus' teachings as authentic and dismissing the parts he finds objective or problematic as "added later" to the texts by revisionists. Nice try but no cigar.
December 23, 2015
A tough book to write, no doubt. Yet whatever one thinks of Shmuley's position, there is one take-away line in the book that soars above the rest. "The merit of any religion is established not by its test of theological claims but by the goodness of its followers."
August 16, 2015
Interesting educated examination of Jesus' Jewishness. Although one can argue with some of Boteach's conclusions, interpretations, and interpolations, it is a worthwhile read for those interested in this critical junction of Judaism and its branch that became the new faith of Christianity.
September 8, 2012
This book was great. However it will shake up the notion of Jesus. Some people would be upset by that but I find it refreshing to challenge the status quo.
March 21, 2016
For anyone who has ever queried, "Why don't the Jews accept Jesus?"
December 15, 2017
He surmises that Jesus couldn't be how he's portrayed to be by the Christian Church and then makes arguments based on his surmising - a faulty form of logic.
June 18, 2015
Thought provoking. Rabbi Boteach discusses aspects of Jesus' life, teachings, and death about which I have pondered for years.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews