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at The 92nd Street Y, New York. Supported by The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity
Oct 18, 2007
As a general rule, Professor Wiesel does not teach Christian texts or themes; “Isaiah or the Besht are mine. Jesus is not.” Considering that Jesus was a Jew, however, Professor Wiesel explores his identity, legacy and meaning especially to a Jew such as himself. As a child, Professor Wiesel did not think about Jesus, his Jewishness or his biography, but only the persecutions carried out in his name against Jews throughout history. In this lecture, Professor Wiesel restores Jesus to his Jewish surroundings, upbringing and education. He asks the question: if Jesus did or said nothing to create a new Torah, why was he so severely treated in the ancient and medieval texts? Professor Wiesel explains that some sort of transcendental metamorphosis occurred in the accounts of the gospels and Paul’s letters that made Jesus into a new Moses with a new Torah. Professor Wiesel reflects that Jesus could or perhaps should have stayed within the Jewish community since Judaism invites diversity and pluralism. The entire Talmud is a dialogue of different opinions and interpretations.
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