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Center News
Report of Ruth Langer, Interim Center Director
Rabbi Dr. Ruth Langer, Professor of Jewish Studies in the Theology Department and Interim Center Director, reviews her recent scholarship and activities and reports on the forthcoming new chapter for the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning.
Report of Jesper Svartvik, 2020-2022 Corcoran Visiting Chair in Christian-Jewish Relations
Dr. Jesper Svartvik reflects on his tenure as the Center's 2020-2022 Corcoran Visiting Chair in Christian-Jewish Relations.
Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski named CCJL Director and Kraft Family Professor
Boston College and its Center for Christian-Jewish Learning announce the appointment of Rev. Dr. Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski as the holder of the Kraft Chair and Director of the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning, effective July 1, 2022.
Frans van Liere, 2022-2023 Corcoran Visiting Chair in Christian-Jewish Relations
Prof. Frans van Liere has been named the 2022-2023 Corcoran Visiting Chair in Christian-Jewish Relations.
Recent Center Programs
Jesper Svartvik
"Contemporary Jewish-Christian Relations: What Are the Challenges and Opportunities?"
Jan. 8, 2022
Corcoran Visiting Chair Dr. Jesper Svartvik delivered this lecture on the present day realities of Jewish-Christian relations for the National Library of Israel.
Charles R. Gallagher, S.J.
Jan. 27, 2022
For our commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we invited Prof. Charles R. Gallagher, S.J. to speak about his new book Nazis of Copley Square: The Forgotten Story of the Christian Front. This event was co-sponsored by the Boston College Jesuit Community, History Department, and Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life.  See more.
Ruth Langer and Jesper Svartvik
"Judas and Betrayal" (“Do you betray me with a kiss?”)
March 15, 2022
This presentation by Drs. Ruth Langer and Jesper Svartvik is part of a video series "Presenting the Passion … without blaming 'the Jews,'" presented by the Christian Scholars group on Christian-Jewish Relations in collaboration with the Council of Centers on Jewish-Christian Relations (CCJR) and the International Council of Christians and Jews (ICCJ). It examines various aspects of the Gospel passion narratives and is designed for use by preachers, teachers, and the general public. See more about the video series.
As part of the Center's Jewish-Christian Lecture Series, Prof. Frances Flannery discussed how the Gospel writers drew on Jewish apocalyptic traditions to self-consciously craft a portrait of Jesus as a Jewish healer who was superior to the Roman alternatives, especially the god Asclepius. See more.
2022 Corcoran Chair Conference
"Treasures New and Old"
This year's Corcoran Chair conference, organized by Dr. Jesper Svartvik, described and analyzed a reassessment of Jewish tradition across various Christian communities; focused on its implications for Christians’ self-understanding and explored how theological resources developed and cherished in various traditions within Christianity might become more broadly instrumental in developing Christian thinking about Jews and Judaism; and then sought to apply its outcomes through pedagogical efforts. See the conference program.
Jesper Svartvik: “Therefore Every Scribe Who Has Been Trained for the Kingdom of God Is Like the Master of a Household Who Brings Out of His Treasure What Is New and What Is Old”
Judith Hershcopf Banki: “The Struggle over the 'Jewish Declaration' at Vatican Council II: Reflections from an Eyewitness
Matthew Tapie: “I Have Called You Friends: The Catholic Church’s Affirmation of Rabbinic Judaism as Resource for Christian Theology”
Michael G. Azar: “Rethinking Jewish-Christian Relations and Orthodox Christian Theology”
Adam Gregerman: A Jewish Response
Barbara U. Meyer: “A Lutheran Dogmatics of Halakhah: The Way of Friedrich-Wilhelm Marquardt”
Randall Zachman: “‘God's Blessing Still Rests Among Them:’ Overcoming Contempt for the Jews in the Reformed Tradition”
Amy-Jill Levine: A Jewish Response
Mary C. Boys: “How Do We Transform Traditional Christian Representations of the Pharisees? Components of a Strategic Pedagogy”
Peter A. Pettit: “Getting Traction: Problems and Possibilities in the Journey Forward” 

Corcoran Visiting Chair Dr. Jesper Svartvik delivered a three-part lunchtime talk series examining fresh perspectives on New Testament exegesis. See more.

"Jesus the Jew and his Christian Followers"
Feb. 15, 2022
"Paul of Tarsus among Jews and Gentiles"
March 15, 2022
"The Epistle to the Hebrews—or against Them?"
April 19, 2022
Theology as Requirement: The Challenges of Teaching Theology in the Modern Academy
This seminar series, co-sponsored with the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life, brought together theology faculty and graduate students to discuss some challenges and opportunities associated with teaching theology in the modern academy—one characterized by pluralism, the rise of the “nones,” and even some hostility against the discipline. These discussions, each co-led by a faculty member and graduate student, engaged three moves innate to the theological classroom: introducing theology to those with a different or no experience of religion; complicating the discipline of theology for students who do have some religious background, but one that might be more catechetical in nature; and empowering students to engage the theological discipline themselves through their own theological reflection or the use of theological skills in other aspects of their lives. See more.
Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones & Nathan D. Wood-House
"Introducing Theology"
March 23, 2022
Jeffrey L. Cooley and Domenik Ackermann
"Complicating Theology"
April 13, 2022
Meghan Sweeney and Katie Mylroie 
"Practicing Theology"
April 27, 2022
Dr. Svartvik's students, after studying his book, Constantine's Sword: The Church and the Jews (2001), interviewed James Carroll about the impact of the book, what has been achieved, and what remains to be done. See more.
April 27, 2022
This collaborative program hosted by Boston College Jewish Studies included a talk by historian Prof. Michael S. Bryant (Bryant University) "Confronting Mein Kampf: Thoughts on the Republication of Hitler's Evil Manifesto" and a film screening by Boston College professors John J. and Susan A. Michalczyk. See more.
Amy-Jill Levine
"The New Testament and Anti-Judaism"
April 29, 2022
As part of the Center's Jewish-Christian Lecture Series, Dr. Amy-Jill Levine spoke in Prof. Dieter Roth’s course on the Historical Jesus, examining how issues dealing with the historical Jesus relate to the New Testament and anti-Judaism. 
Upcoming Events
June 16 (12:00-1:00 PM, Eastern Time, Virtual Lecture)
Barbara U. Meyer
"The Suffering Jewish Jesus and Christian Memory"

How does remembering Jesus’ Jewishness affect Christian approaches to suffering? For centuries, Christians have found comfort in associating their own suffering with that of Jesus. But what happens when Christians remember Jesus as a Jew who suffered? Barbara Meyer explores this question in dialogue with Jewish and Christian voices critical of the notion of redemptive suffering.
July 18-20 (10:00 AM-12:00 PM, Eastern Time, Virtual Seminar)
"Remembering the Holocaust: Voices of Survivors"

Boston College, in collaboration with the International Institute for Holocaust Research, Yad Vashem, invites you to a three-day virtual seminar on remembering the experiences of women and children during the Holocaust.
Center for Christian-Jewish Learning
Boston College
Stokes Hall N405
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-552-4495