Interview with Rabbi David Rosen

Posted by Helen on: 12.02.2007 /

This was originally posted here; it’s being reposted as an article in the December Idealab.

About a week ago I wrote to Rabbi David Rosen with questions about his dialog with RT Kendall. Rabbi Rosen is the Chairman of IJCIC, the International Jewish Committee that represents World Jewry in its relations with other world Religions. His answers are in bold.

Rabbi Rosen,

On my blog we recently discussed Christianity Today’s interview with you and RT Kendall. The interview was about the book you wrote together, The Christian and the Pharisee.

We didn’t agree with Christianity Today that the two of you “model a warm friendship”. In our opinion RT Kendall failed to show you the curiosity and respect we expect to see in a friendship or friendly dialog.

Were you surprised at how your exchange with RT Kendall went?

Not at all. I know where he is coming from and what to expect.

Did you expect him to show more interest in your views and spend less time trying to convert you?

Regrettably no. As much as I have a genuine affection for RT Kendall, a fundamentalist mind-set by definition doesn’t really want to discover the spiritual world of another for its own sake, but is only interested in what is perceived as relevant to the fundamentalist’s own world and goals.

Were you satisfied with the outcome of the exchange? Did you achieve what you were hoping to achieve through it?

At the beginning my only goal - as indicated in the exchange - was simply to set the record straight as far as I was concerned - specifically in relation to who were (are ?) the Pharisees. However I realized as this was progressing, that it could be a helpful exercise in explaining to Christians from a wide spectrum, who the Jews are; why they believe what they do; why they do not believe what they don’t; how they have traditionally viewed themselves, Scripture, Tradition and a variety of topics. I realized that this was not just a PR exercise (though that a good enough reason in itself) but in fact could reduce misunderstanding, prejudice and bigotry, even if we can never entirely eliminate these. And the reactions I have received in email and letters to the book, even exceeded my expectations in these regards.

I was interested in your comments about Jesus, that you believe he was a Pharisee who was happy with most Pharisees of his day but upset with a few who were desecrating the tradition they were custodians of.

What do you imagine Jesus would say to RT Kendall and other Christians like him who believe God has placed a “double blindness” on all Jews?

Firstly I think he would warn RT not to judge others and to have more faith in God’s unlimited love and ability to relate to all people in all their diversity and thus for there to be diverse ways of relating to God (which is of course one of my main arguments in the book.)

Then I would think he would tell RT how puzzled he is by all this foreign Greek thought that has corrupted plain and simple Hebrew thinking - and in his name, no less !

He would say to him, I didn’t teach anything about vicarious atonement or incarnation and all this theology business. Didn’t I tell you that the most important things are to love God and love your neighbor ? Stop wasting your time with all this theoretical business and just live life the right way, with compassion and love, in keeping with God’s commandments.

What do you imagine Jesus would say to you? Do you think you’d be friends with Jesus if he were alive today?

He might pat me on the back for having reached out to others, pursuing peace and reconciliation; founding interfaith bodies and a human rights organization like Rabbis for Human Rights - although he might warn me of the danger of any self-satisfaction let alone self-righteousness.

He might actually be critical of the overwhelming focus of my work today with religious leadership and tell me that I should be spending more time with the simple folk - for my own good, not theirs. He might tell me to spend more time on charitable initiatives and get back to the grass roots education that I used to be more involved in - again for my own good as much as anything.
I would like to think that he would be open to hearing my defense of his criticisms.
I would like to think that we would be friends, but he might find me a bit frustrating.

Anything else you’d like to add?

The request of the Psalmist. Seek the peace of Jerusalem - may all that love ( her), prosper.

Thank you for taking time to answer my questions. It’s been very encouraging to me reading your website and learning about the all interfaith dialog you’re involved in. We hope your future interfaith dialog endeavors will be enjoyable and productive.

---

Semi-Related Posts

• Interview with a Pharisee and a Christian
• Interview with Rabbi David Rosen
• Online Interview Instructions
• Online Interview Form
• Interviews
• Interview with a missional minded atheist
• Mistakes interviewees made

---