Encyclopedia of Judaism & Christianity

AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY, by Dan & Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok. Darton, Longman & Todd, London. 2004.181pp.

Reviewed by Günther Simmermacher

The row over perceived anti-Semitism that greeted the film The Passion of the Christ shows that, despite great progress on the inter-faith front, members of both faiths still do not always understand the other side.

Dan and Lavinia Cohn-Sherbok’s Encyclopedia of Judaism and Christianity – a revised version of their 1991 “dictionary” – is a handy volume that will help explain where each respective side “is coming from”.

The entries are sufficiently comprehensive and written with admirable clarity.

Although the authors are Jewish, there is very little evidence of bias. The objective of the book, after all, is to facilitate greater Jewish-Christian understanding, hopefully with a view to encourage firther study (a long list of suggested readings are appended to the main body book).

Each entry discusses the Jewish and Christian view on the subject, noting denominational differences if necessary.

There are some surprises. For example, the entry on “Celibacy” notes that in contrast to Catholicism, bachelors have traditionally been excluded from occupying leadership positions within Judaism (groups such as the monastic Essenes excepted).

The entry on “Gentiles” explains why Jews do not evangelise, and why they believe in the salvation of Christians.

On rare occasions the Encyclopedia slips up on matters Catholic. For example, discussing birth control, it refers to the Catholic permission of “the legitimacy of the rhythm method of contraception”, when this method is generally regarded as obsolete. Elsewhere, the frequent error of Catholics supposedly “worship[ping]” the Blessed Virgin is made.

This must not detract, however, from the great value of this book to those engaged in Christians-Jewish dialogue, and to those who wish to find the roots of the Christian faith in Judaism.