Amy-Jill LevineRecensioni

A great format to learn NT context with a few deep dives and sidetracks.

This book is about a tree but it’s also about having patience. A gardener plants a fig tree and tells everybody it takes time. Then one summer goes by then two summers and still no figs. The gardener wants to replace the tree, but the children say no the tree just needs love which they give it for another year or two or three until eventually the tree produces figs and becomes shade. The kids always knew it just took patience. The story is lovely and sweet. The illustrations are not my favorite, but they did grow on me by the end of the book. I do wish the cover was changed to one of the inside pictures that looks more complete. The current cover seems like a fast slap together.

beginner's guide to Holy Wk

guide to perplexing teachings

Church & Scandal of Jewish Jesus

Amy-Jill Levine is an Orthodox Jew and—oddly enough one might think—a New Testament scholar. Her books were introduced to me by a friend who is a Jewish convert to Christianity.

The focus of the book is to make known what the author concludes is a common Jewish perspective on Jesus, Christianity, and the New Testament Scriptures, one that it is important for us to be aware of in order to foster compassionate dialogue between Jews and Christians.

Levine states a key point for all readers of books and Scripture alike: “Each reader and community of readers brings to a text different presuppositions and experiences, and each will emphasize different parts of the text.”

A good bit of her perspective, especially in earlier chapters, may likely be a bit jarring for some Christian believers. Most probably won’t see eye-to-eye on some of the opinions presented. That said, I agree with another reviewer who said some of the ways certain New Testament passages have been used to promote anti-Judaism and mistreatment of Jews is shocking, and having been promoted by Christians makes this horrific.

Truthfully, there were moments I did not fully agree with all of Levine’s thoughts. Some of it also left me unsure and would require further research and study before making a conclusion. However, I want to receive the book as the author presents it, remembering that the point of the book isn’t about agreeing with what is written, but understanding a perspective we may not know: how Jews of today see Jesus, the New Testament, and Christianity so that Christians and Jews can have healthy and helpful conversation and connection in spite of our differences.

If you’re like me, you may not have realized the amount of anti-Jewish teaching, Scripture interpretation, and so forth that is actually out there, even by well-known theologians and preachers. Levine writes (and I agree): “Untrained but well-meaning teachers tend to implant a great deal of religious bigotry.” She also states (in the immensely helpful final chapter) that until people are “aware of what is on the bookshelves, they will have no reason to seek to counter it.”

As stated in the final chapter’s suggestions for healthy interfaith relationships between Christians and Jews, “we need to be able to listen with the ears of our neighbors,” without which, we may unintentionally express “anti-Judaism where none is intended.” And most can agree that listening like this is one way to show loving kindness to those around us. In the words of the author, “look at the other tradition with generosity and seek to see the good.”

Lastly, Levine ends “The Misunderstood Jew,” summarizing its message: “…if the church and synagogue both could recognize their connection to Jesus, a Jewish prophet who spoke to Jews, perhaps we’d be in a better place for understanding.”

Based on the creation story, everyone argues they are the most loved by God. God says they love everyone and everyone is needed. Something about this didn't work for me so I didn't keep it for my children. The illustrations are cute and the message is fine though.

Os aclamados estudiosos e professores Amy-Jill Levine e Marc Z. Brettler acompanham o leitor em uma incursão pelas passagens mais populares da Bíblia hebraica citadas no Novo Testamento, para mostrar o que os textos significavam em seu contexto original e, com o passar do tempo, como judeus e cristãos vieram a entender esses mesmos textos. Entre essas passagens estão aquelas sobre a criação do mundo, o papel de Adão e Eva, o Servo Sofredor de Isaías, o livro de Jonas e o salmo 22, cujas palavras — “Deus meu, Deus meu, por que me desamparaste?” — são citadas por Jesus ao morrer na cruz.
Comparando as várias interpretações históricas, literárias e teológicas de cada texto antigo, Levine e Bre­ttler oferecem compreensões mais aprofundadas das narrativas originais e de seus desdobramentos posteriores. Os autores demonstram como o texto fala a diferentes gerações sob novas circunstâncias, revelando, assim, de forma nítida, a beleza e o poder das Escrituras. Ao compreender a profundidade e a diversidade com que essas passagens foram e podem ser entendidas, A­ Bíblia com e sem Jesus faz muito mais do que aprimorar nossas compreensões religiosas: ajuda-nos a ver a Bíblia como fonte de inspiração para todo e qualquer leitor.

Good content. Found writing style a bit cumbersome. Great conversation fodder!

An excellent look at and discussion of anti-Jewish sentiment in the New Testament and in Christianity. Levine does not hesitate to deal with ugly truths. I found this an enlightening book to read.½

6 part DVD to go with book and teacher;s guide found in, SPI LEV

Group studies done during Lenten season 2022.

A beautifully illustrated story attempting to communicate the Parable of the Mustard Seed falls just short of its attempt, giving a fun and creative story in a child-friendly way to understand and engage in the picture of a mustard seed, but leaves a bit to be desired in its connection to faith, Jesus, and the kingdom of God. It does connect to this toward the very end, but just for a moment. In this attempt, this comes across more as a cute story to emphasize the idea of not being seen as much or having much ability to achieve...YET! That in itself is a fun opportunity of conversation with a child, but doesn't do well on the faith-based side in communicating what this has to do with the kingdom of God.

With self-deprecating humor, a knowledge of both Jewish and Christian explications of the sacred Scriptures and clear prose, Dr. Levine illuminates the Sermon on the Mount in this short book. I am not a beginner in the Sermon on the Mount but I found her insights and her references to the Jewish Bible and tradition clarified and expanded my understanding of Matthew 5 - 7 and, incidentally, the entire Gospel of Matthew. This is the first of Levine's books I have read but it will not be the last.

I love her writing, and always find something I hadn’t considered. 3/4/22

I received this ARC as part of the Early Reviewers in exchange for an honest review. This was a sweet story about a Fig tree that need time and love to grow into it's full potential. Based on a parable from the Gospel of Luke, it is a quick simple way to teach children the importance of patience and love, and that each one is different.
I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to sharing with my nephews.

This is a unique little book about patience, determination, care, and love. The students will love the illustrations. The fact that it was inspired by the parable of the barren fig tree from the Bible makes it a welcome addition to our collection for young children. It even comes with a recipe! Parents and teachers will enjoy sharing this in their home and classroom.

Thank you, Flyaway Books, for giving us this free copy.
Augustine School Library

It’s easy for children to feel as if they are “good for nothing” because they do not commonly make as significant of societal contributions like adults. Sometimes, forgotten in a Christian, technological culture is that care, and nurture are required for all things to bloom. This book, based on one of Jesus’ parables from Luke 13.6-9, reminds us all – children and adults alike – of the value of love so that things can grow.

Levine and Sasso, interestingly, are both Jewish and culturally relate to this parable in a way that many Christians might not. I have known of Levine’s work as a New Testament scholar for some time, and her academic research focuses on the Jewish culture during New Testament times. I am happy to discover that she also writes children’s books!

Bowler’s illustrations in this book are clear and receive my ten-year-old daughter’s seal of approval. Through vivid colors and relatable characters, they bring the story to life and allow all readers to reimagine the meaning behind this ancient text. Sometimes, love and nurture can seem far away from us all in the midst of argument, politics, and strife. Levine and Sasso remind us of its eternal value to both trees and humans.

Overall, this is a nice picture book with a good message about patience and perseverance. A gardener and some children plant a small fig tree that takes several years to bear fruit. Even though the adults give up on the tree, the children (who don't really age for some reason) keep taking good care of it until it finally produces sweet, juicy figs. It's a quiet book and there's a recipe for fig balls at the end :)

With beautiful illustrations and a simple text, The Good For Nothing Tree, reminds us that things grow at their own pace and we must have patience.
The adults all say the fig tree is good for nothing and will not grow but it's the children who have faith that them tree will produce figs.
The book also includes a recipe for fig balls.

What? It feels like this book stops half way in the middle. A man counts sheep every day. One day there aren't 100, and he goes to find the missing sheep. He throws a party, then counts to 100 again. It almost feels like a waste of paper, but I guess someone will like it.

As a Christian lay minister (Church of England) I found this challenging and compelling, but an absolute delight. Challenging because although the authors do their level best to be plain spoken, much of the Jewish terminology was new to me. In the early chapters I had to go back and re-read something, some things several times. Compelling because it was great to see the whole Bible (old and new testaments in Christian-speak) from this new perspective, and to understand how the Jewish bible is understood and interpreted in Judaism - especially the rich entanglement of the Tanakh and the Talmud, terms entirely new to me. Makes me almost wish to have been a thelogian!
What we need now is a similar treatise that includes Islam - sadly not yet a feasible prospect.

"In an age where polemics and talking past one another is common, the appeal to respectful interpretation and dialogue is refreshing and helpful. Perhaps it is not too much to expect that we see ourselves as others see us or see our sacred texts as others see them. Highly recommended." -- Dr. Ben Witherington, III, Amos Professor of NT for Doctoral Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary

“Incisive and accessible in content and welcoming in tone, the book express very well a point I sought to convey throughout my career: ‘The more one knows of Israel’s scripture, the more meaningful the New Testament becomes.’” -- Christian Century

“Impeccable . . . remarkable, accessible.” -- Publishers Weekly

“Jews and Christians read the Bible with different histories, interpretations, contexts, and emphases. How can the two understand each other better? No two persons are better suited to answer this question than Brettler and Levine. It requires expertise in the Bible itself and in the history of interpretation. These two respected scholars bring that dual expertise with style, clarity, wit, and visible honesty. They replace ignorance with mutual respect and replace polemics with possibilities. Truly a book for everyone.” -- Richard Elliott Friedman, author of The Exodus and Who Wrote the Bible?

A scholarly interpretation, including how the Sermon itself was a scholarly interpretation of Jewish teachings to a Jewish audience. We also watched excerpts of the accompanying video series as part of a discussion group about this book. Amy-Jill Levine is engaging and thought provoking.