Isaac on Jewish and Christian Altars - (Fordham Medieval Studies) by Devorah Schoenfeld (Hardcover)

About the Book

Rashi's commentary and the Glossa Ordinaria both developed in the late eleventh and early twelfth century with no known contact between them. Nevertheless, they shared a way of reading text that shaped their interpretations of the near-sacrifice of Isaac. This work compares them both with each other and their respective sources to show their similarity.

Book Synopsis

Devorah Schoenfeld's new work offers an in-depth examination of two of the most influential Christian and Jewish Bible commentaries of the High Middle Ages. The Glossa Ordinaria and Rashi's commentary were standard texts for Bible study in the High Middle Ages, and Rashi's influence continues to the present day. Although Rashi's commentary and the Glossa developed at the same time with no known contact between them, they shared a way of reading text that shaped their interpretations of the central religious narrative of the Binding of Isaac. Schoenfeld's text examines each commentary unto itself and offers a detailed comparison, one that illustrates the similarities between Rashi and the Gloss that derive not merely from their shared late antique heritage but also from their common twelfth-century context, and the Jewish-Christian polemic in which they both, implicitly or explicitly, take part.

Review Quotes

. . . Schoenfeld has opened up rich prospects for further investigation.-- "--Deborah L. Goodwin"

"Schoenfeld's book is at the forefront of new thinking about peshat/literal sense in both Jewish and Christian contexts, and she opens up new territory for exploration and comparison."-----Deeana Klepper, Boston University

Devorah Schoenfeld carefully places this exegetical double movement in its historical context and provides a valuable edition of Rashi and the Glossa Ordinari on Genesis 22. She utilizes twelfth-century biblical exegesis of the binding of Isaac to illuminate the paradox of Jewish-Christian relations. Sharing texts and methods of interpreting the Scriptures, medieval Jews and Christians established boundaries marking their mutual differences at the very moment when their modes of studying manifested their deep connections.-----Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Church Divinity School of the Pacific / Graduate Theological Union

This is a rich and careful study of a vital period in medieval Jewish-Christian relations. By focusing on interpretations of the near-sacrifice of Isaac, Schoenfeld illustrates the complex exegetical methods in Rashi's commentary and the Glossa Ordinaria. She untangles their diverse sources and offers us a clear view of the ways these texts transformed earlier traditions. This work is not just exegetical, but historical as well. She unearths compelling evidence for interreligious polemic in both these texts, something often suspected but rarely demonstrated. This skillful blend of close reading and contextual analysis is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the period.-----Adam Gregerman, Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies

About the Author

DEVORAH SCHOENFELD is Assistant Professor of Theology (Judaism) at Loyola University Chicago. Her research is on medieval Bible commentaries and Jewish-Christian relations.