Meet the Rabbis

by Brad H. Young
Hendrickson Publishers

Many people ask why studying Jewish sources is important. They are extremely important in that they help us to understand our faith in context. Familiarizing oneself with Jewish sources will add dimension to your faith, and help gain a more in-depth understanding of key concepts found within the Biblical narratives, particularly in the Gospels and Epistles. I recommend Brad Young’s newest work as a starting point for those who desire to explore Jewish texts.

Following his other excellent works such as Jesus the Jewish Theologian, Paul the Jewish Theologian, and The Parables, Young puts forth his most recent work, Meet the Rabbis, in an effort to continue educating his readers about the Jewish context of our Scriptures, our Savior and our Faith. Young helps to gently bridge the gap between Christian understanding and the world of rabbinic writings, thought and Scriptural application. He does a great job and engaging the reader through continual cross referencing between the rabbinic texts and the teachings of our Master. This is why MTR is such a great starting point for those new to Jewish texts.

In MTR, he introduces the reader to rabbinic writings in a way that is very engaging, even including the full text of Pirkei Avot, one of the foundational texts for understanding the teachings of Judaism. This is a “don’t miss” book.

At FFOZ’s Shavuot 09 Conference last week, I had a few people ask me for recommendations on books to help them get started in Jewish sources. I’ll try to post recommendations / reviews now and then to help out with this. I’ll be publishing a review of Brad Young’s Meet the Rabbis a little later today.

If there is one book you need to get before Yom Kippur this is it. It should be in the library of anyone who can read. It will inspire you to live beyond yourself and for others. My wife began reading it a few weeks ago and it has presented serious challenges for both of us, as well as been an incredible source of inspiration to live an inspiring life. Legendary Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis tells how her family has left a legacy of a committed, inspired life of love for Hashem and His Torah, touching countless people in the process. The book is filled with innumerable, real-life stories of people whose lives have been challenged and changed through a Torah-filled life of love. It seems I can’t get past a story without weeping, being reminded of my short-comings, but being encouraged to know that there is hope for change as the illustrations prove over and over. If you’ve got nothing to remind you of how we need to be affecting those around us, this book is for you.

I have begun a Recommended Reading List which you may like to check out. Currently, it is very brief, but it includes short reviews of each book, cover artwork and a direct link to the selected book on Amazon. I will be adding to the list as time permits. Also, if you purchase any of these books through the links on this page, you will be helping to support this site. Thanks for taking the time to look these over.

This is a classic from half a century ago that is a must on every bookshelf. Some topics specifically addressed are the link between Yeshua’s words in the Sermon on the Mount in connection to Talmudic literature, linking the Last Supper with the Seder meal, etc. Although David Flusser is commonly attributed as to finding the connection of Micah regarding the ‘breaker going forth,’ and Yeshua’s words ‘the kingdom suffers violence,’ I believe Daube made ‘first contact’ decades previous, as this work testifies.

Bivin & Blizzard present a great deal of information in this little book. The primary subjects deal with the Hebraic background to the Apostolic Scriptures, arguing for a Hebrew undertext. They present some breakthrough understandings of difficult passages, such as “the kingdom suffers violence” (based on the work of David Flusser).

This is a very good overview of the basic theological and philosophical components of the Talmud. If you’re interested in studying the Talmud but don’t know where to start, this is one of the best starting points I have found.