Jewish Roots

A revelatory exploration of the Jewish roots of the Last Supper that seeks to understand exactly what happened at Jesus’ final Passover. “Clear, profound and practical—you do not want to miss this book.”—Dr. Scott Hahn, author of The Lamb’s Supper and The Fourth Cup Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist shines fresh light on the Last Supper by looking at it through Jewish eyes. Using his in-depth knowledge of the Bible and ancient Judaism, Dr. Brant Pitre answers questions such as: What was the Passover like at the time of Jesus? What were the Jewish hopes for the Messiah? What was Jesus’ purpose in instituting the Eucharist during the feast of Passover? And, most important of all, what did Jesus mean when he said, “This is my body… This is my blood”? To answer these questions, Pitre explores ancient Jewish beliefs about the Passover of the Messiah, the miraculous Manna from heaven, and the mysterious Bread of the Presence. As he shows, these three keys—the Passover, the Manna, and the Bread of the Presence—have the power to unlock the original meaning of the Eucharistic words of Jesus. Along the way, Pitre also explains how Jesus united the Last Supper to his death on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Inspiring and informative, Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist is a groundbreaking work that is sure to illuminate one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith: the mystery of Jesus’ presence in “the breaking of the bread.”

Thousands of young North American Jews visit Israel every year on organized, educational, heritage tours. Israel Experience Programs present religion, homeland, and nation to participants in compelling and sometimes unsettling ways. Supported by Jewish communal institutions, these programs are encouraged for their presumed value in combating assimilation and a loss of Jewish culture. Faydra Shapiro suggests that their real success may lie elsewhere.

Dramatic personal stories of the unexpected discovery of a Jewish heritage.

How Jewish is Christianity? The question of how Jesus' followers relate to Judaism has been a matter of debate since Jesus first sparred with the Pharisees. The controversy has not abated, taking many forms over the centuries. In the decades following the Holocaust, scholars and theologians reconsidered the Jewish origins and character of Christianity, finding points of continuity. Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity advances this discussion by freshly reassessing the issues. Did Jesus intend to form a new religion? Did Paul abrogate the Jewish law? Does the New Testament condemn Judaism? How and when did Christianity split from Judaism? How should Jewish believers in Jesus relate to a largely gentile church? What meaning do the Jewish origins of Christianity have for theology and practice today? In this volume, a variety of leading scholars and theologians explore the relationship of Judaism and Christianity through biblical, historical, theological, and ecclesiological angles. This cutting-edge scholarship will enrich readers' understanding of this centuries-old debate.

Are your roots firmly grounded in Scripture? The destiny of Israel and the Christian Church is bound together, evident in the Scriptures. Learning this truth is essential for survival. Jewish Roots—A Foundation of Biblical Theology is an introduction to biblical theology from a Jewish contextual point of view plus practical evaluation and council for the Messianic Jewish communities and the Christian Church. Jewish Roots presents the fundamentals regarding biblical theology, Israel and the Church, the Jewish people, the Messianic Jewish community, and much more. Important matters are discussed such as the relationship of law and grace, the role of the Spirit, and an approach to Judaism. This new edition considers recent biblical scholarship and evaluates the progress of the Messianic Jewish community—a pulsating grass roots movement among Jewish and non-Jewish followers of Jesus of Nazareth who recognize and identify with their Jewishness. Messianic Judaism and Messianic Jewish biblical theol­ogy are significant not only to those who are part of Messianic Jewish congregations—indeed, because the destiny of Israel and the Church is bound together, Messianic Jewish theology has implications of great importance for all people worldwide.

Given in memory of Robert C. Runnels by Sandra Runnels.

This is a simple, readable presentation of the principal beliefs, traditions, and rites of Judaism that includes an account of Judaism's influence on Christianity.