Susannah Heschel, Brian Robinette, and Joanna Kline
"Sabbath as Gift and Command: Jewish and Christian Perspectives"
September 11, 2023
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Profs. Susannah Heschel, Brian Robinette, and Joanna Kline considered what it means to enter into viewing Sabbath keeping as a gift and as a commandment from God for humans to nurture. In addition, they asked what it means for this to be a practice shared, yet shaped differently, by Jews and Christians. |
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Jonathan Decter
"Ranking Religions in Medieval Jewish Thought"
September 13, 2023
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One feature of medieval Jewish thought, in contrast with rabbinic thought, is the recognition of meaningful distinctions among non-Jewish religious groups, which ones were "closer to" and "further from" Jewish doctrine and practice. Prof. Jonathan Decter, 2023-2024 Corcoran Visiting Chair in Christian-Jewish Relations, addressed the emergence of this mode of thought as well as some of the formulations of specific thinkers such as Judah Halevi and Maimonides. In the process, Prof. Decter considered how the grounds of comparison themselves were shifting within this intellectual practice. |
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David Novak
"Humans as the Image of God: The Bible and John Paul II"
October 17, 2023
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Dr. David Novak delivered the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning's 11th Annual John Paul II Lecture in Christian-Jewish Relations: "Humans as the Image of God: The Bible and John Paul II." This lecture drew upon some of the profound insights of the late Pope John Paul II regarding human nature as biblically conceived. |
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Magda Teter
"Christian Supremacy: Reckoning with the Roots of Antisemitism and Racism"
November 1, 2023
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In her talk, Magda Teter, the author of Christian Supremacy: Reckoning with the Roots of Antisemitism and Racism, explained the deep roots of that connection and explored the interplay between Christian theology and law to demonstrate how legal and theological frameworks deployed centuries ago in regards to Jews have created social hierarchies that ultimately, in modern times, contributed to the legal exclusion of and a denial of equality to Jews and Black people.
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Michael S. Bryant
"Kristallnacht and the Anti-Semitism of Adolf Hitler: On the Interaction of Malicious Intentions and Unplanned"
November 7, 2023
As part of the Center's Jewish-Christian Lecture Series, Prof. Michael S. Bryant spoke in Prof. John Michalczyk’s seminar “Holocaust and the Arts.” Prof. Bryant’s lecture was a commemoration of the 85th anniversary Kristallnacht and reinforced the seminar’s ideas on how the Arts attempts to express the inexpressible tragedy of the Holocaust and help us in a human way to understand the historical and personal events of the Holocaust.
This event was co-sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program and the Film Studies Program.
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"Christian Homeland: Episcopalians and the Middle East"
September 16, 2023
Rev. Dr. Gardiner H. Shattuck spoke on his latest book Christian Homeland: Episcopalians and the Middle East, 1820-1958. His volume focuses on the involvement of clergy and prominent laity of the Episcopal Church in Middle Eastern affairs, both religious and political, between the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829) and the Second Arab-Israeli War (1956-1957), with a brief epilogue covering additional events up to the present day.
This event was hosted by the Boisi Center for Religion & American Public Life and co-sponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning.
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Owen Fletcher, Debbie Gotbetter, and Ed Marakovitz
"Welcoming the Stranger: Faith-based Migration Work in Boston"
October 25, 2023
This talk highlighted two passionate voices in Boston directly involved with migration work: Debbie Gotbetter, a board member of Jewish Family Services of MetroWest, and Ed Marakovitz, the coordinator of the Paulist Center's Immigration Advocacy Group. They drew from their experience supporting immigrants and refugees through their organizations to speak on the topic of migration work in the Boston area, especially within a faith-based context. Moderated by Owen Fletcher, BC '25 and Center for Christian-Jewish Learning Student Intern, this conversation helped contextualize the care and advocacy for immigrants and refugees in the greater Boston area, asking the question "what makes the Boston case specific?"
This event was hosted by the Boisi Center for Religion & American Public Life and co-sponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning.
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Susan Ackerman
"How Does a Woman Get To Be a Prophet in Ancient Israel?"
November 7, 2023
Prof. Susan Ackerman presented on her latest book Women and the Religion of Ancient Israel. In her work, Prof. Ackerman offers a comprehensive account of ancient Israelite women’s religious lives and experiences. Drawing on texts, archaeology, and material culture, and documenting the distinctions between Israelite women’s experiences and those of their male counterparts, Prof. Ackerman reconstructs an essential picture of women’s lived religion in ancient Israelite culture.
This event was sponsored by the Boston College Theology Department and co-sponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning.
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Center Student Internship Program |
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Owen Fletcher, Class of 2025
"Loving the Stranger: Christian and Jewish Responses to Migration in the United States"
November 8, 2023
Owen Fletcher (Boston College '25) recently completed his year-long research project "Loving the Stranger: Christian and Jewish Responses to Migration in the United States" (sponsored by the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning’s Student Internship Program). Through his research, directed by Prof. Mark Massa, S.J., Director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life, Owen sought to understand better the responses to global migration by people of differing faith traditions. His project explored the fundamental similarities and differences of how the identity of Jewish and Christian aid organizations influences their respective approaches to the realities of migration.
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Center for Christian-Jewish Learning
Boston College
Stokes Hall N405
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
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