This is a review of the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kosher-Jesus-Shmuley-Boteach/dp/9652295787/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1330306870&amp;sr=1-1"><em>Kosher Jesus</em></a> by <a href="http://www.shmuley.com/">Rabbi Shmuley Boteach</a> (Gefen Publishing, February 1, 2012), Kindle edition.

When I first read that <em>Kosher Jesus</em> would be available in February, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. The prospect of reading more about Jesus from a purely Jewish perspective was intriguing.  I am pleased to say that <em>Kosher Jesus</em> lived up to my expectations.

<strong>The Good</strong>

What stands out immediately is Rabbi Boteach's friendly, conversational style. One almost has the feeling that he has come over for a chat in your living room. At the same time, he refuses to talk down to the reader. He addresses complex issues without sounding like a professor.

I also have deep appreciation for the humble tone of the book.  Naturally, Rabbi Boteach believes deeply in his conclusions, or he would not speak so passionately.  However, at no point does he claim to be the mouthpiece of God, or that Christians should abandon their faith.  He does not vilify individual Christians, even when taking to task the religious system which tragically spent centuries persecuting the very people who gave us Jesus.

One of the most important themes in Kosher Jesus is the treatment of Jews at the hands of Christians over the centuries. Although I am not ignorant of antisemitism, I was unaware of some of the finer points. It is heartbreaking to read about the ways in which the Christian Scriptures have been twisted and misused to justify oppressing people.  If for no other reason, Christians should read this book to understand what real persecution looks like.  History must not repeat itself.

Rabbi Boteach spends the first section of the book detailing the ways in which Jesus was, first and foremost, a Jew.  Too often, Christians pay lip service to that fact, but dismiss it as unimportant because it's overshadowed by his death and resurrection.  We cannot hope to understand the context of Jesus' mission and ministry without fully grasping his Jewish faith and nationality.  People unfamiliar with the life of a first century observant Jew will find their eyes opened after reading the book.

<strong>The Bad</strong>

I appreciate the way that Rabbi Boteach systematically addresses his points using Christian Scripture. He effectively demonstrates Jesus' Jewish faith.  However, I have the same criticism that I usually reserve for Christian literalists. By taking only certain parts of the text as "factual," and tossing out others as "edited," he ignores anything that does not fall into either category. For those Christians who have rejected a literal interpretation of the Bible, some of the Rabbi's arguments against Jesus' messiahship are rendered useless.

I don't have time or space here to comb through the book point-by-point. Nor would that be of use in a general review. I will leave it that the reader should be forewarned about the use of this approach to the Bible. Readers must also understand that Rabbi Boteach is bringing in his own control beliefs as well as using an interpretive style common to conservative Evangelical Christianity.

My final criticism is the Rabbi's continuation of the same Greco-Roman overlay which has been rejected by many post-modern Christian theologians. There seems to be an underlying violence here, a need for the literal beating back of enemies. I do not see this as being in alignment with what I believe we Christians are called to do. Given the fact that Evangelical Christians seem to be the target audience for <em>Kosher Jesus</em>, it is unlikely that this parallel is accidental.  It appears that Rabbi Boteach is searching for common ground.  Unfortunately, he won't find it outside conservative circles within the Church.  While I do understand Rabbi Boteach's perspective (even more so given the volatile history between the Church and the Jewish people), I think this is where the real divergence occurs.  Are we to be a people who bring about justice with the sword, or are we to love peace and work toward it using other means?  It is a question that divides the Church as well, and there are no simple answers.

<strong>Summary</strong>

Despite my criticisms, my experience reading <em>Kosher Jesus</em> was generally positive. It gave me much to consider. I believe that in thinking more about the points raised by Rabbi Boteach, my faith will be strengthened rather than weakened.

There are three groups of people who will benefit most from this book are: post-modern Christians interested in interfaith dialogue; people, like myself, from an interfaith background wanting to understand their dual heritage; and certain evangelical Christians who are ready to reject replacement theology (the idea that Christians have replaced Jews as God's chosen people). Reading <em>Kosher Jesus</em> requires an open mind.

Ultimately, the real value of Kosher Jesus is that Rabbi Boteach has opened the doors wide for respectful dialogue and debate. It matters very little to what degree he is "right" in his view of Jesus. What matters is that he has created safe space for Jews and Christians to "reason together" without need for a defensive stance or a push to convert. This is a refreshing break from the hostility of religious fundamentalism. Rabbi Boteach has provided us with an excellent place to begin building bridges between our religions and has also given Christians the gift of an open door for discussion within our own faith.

I look forward to reading more on this subject from Rabbi Boteach.

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*A detailed bio for Rabbi Shmuley Boteach can be found <a href="http://www.shmuley.com/site/about/">here</a>.
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