A Jewish Philosophical Approach to Interfaith Relations: Re-reading Genesis According to Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

8 June, 2023

We are deeply honoured to welcome Dr Miriam Feldmann Kaye, Lecturer in Jewish Philosophy at Bar-Ilan University, Israel, and Editor of St Andrews University Encyclopaedia of Jewish Theology, to lead a session of the Philosophy in Interfaith Contexts Reading Group.

PLEASE REGISTER HERE

Here are the details of this fascinating session.

Topic: A Jewish Philosophical Approach to Interfaith Relations: Re-reading Genesis According to Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.

Abstract: I will explore the fascinating interfaith aspects of the Jewish Theology of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. His approach to World Religions will serve as a frame to the case study of the biblical narratives of Isaac and Ishmael, Sarah and Hagar. Rabbi Sacks in his work Not in God’s Name, proposes a new Jewish theological reading of these narratives which seeks to read complexity and empathy into the text. In Jewish traditional interpretation, certain biblical figures are often presented as ‘other’, particularly Ishmael and Hagar. Sacks offers a re-reading of these sections, de-othering these characters, and enabling new interpretations. We will examine several ways of achieving it. This will include a reading of a section of the midrash (Jewish biblical commentary) and Qur’an. I will discuss the implications of such a reading, especially in the realm of creating and sustaining interreligious dialogue.

Speaker: Dr Miriam Feldmann Kaye, Lecturer in Jewish Philosophy at Bar-Ilan University, Israel, visiting Assistant Professor at Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, and a Fellow at the Van Leer Institute Polonsky Library, and Academic Editor of the St Andrews University Encyclopaedia of Jewish Theology.

Speaker’s Biography: Dr Miriam Feldmann Kaye’s fields of thought, teaching and research are: Modern Continental Philosophy of Religion, Jewish Theology in the modern and postmodern periods, Ethics, Biblical Interpretation, Interreligious Theology and the Study of Religions. Miriam co-founded and directed the Faith and Belief Forum Middle East, a dialogue project in Israel dedicated to developing relations between faith communities in partnership with the Hebrew University and the Truman Research Institute for the Development of Peace and Reconciliation. Miriam’s publications include her book Jewish Theology for a Postmodern Age, (LUP & Littman). She was included in the Jewish News’ Aliyah 100 list recognising those who have made a significant contribution to the State of Israel. Dr Feldmann Kaye is a recipient of the University of Cambridge Theological Studies Prize, and specialises in Late Modern Jewish philosophy, the philosophy of religion, the Study of Religions and interfaith theology. Her publications include her book Jewish Theology for a Postmodern Age, and other works on interfaith relations and theology.

Chair: Professor Clemence Boulouque, Bernice Witten Professor of Jewish and Israel Studies, Columbia University, NY, USA.

Date: 8 June, 2023

Time: 18:00-19:00 BST | 19:00-20:00 CEST | 10:00-11:00 PDT | 13:00-14:00 EDT

Venue: online

PLEASE REGISTER HERE

Philosophy-JUN-2023_MFK Download