Conference to explore relations between Christians and Jews – Nov. 17

A program at Elon's Numen Lumen Pavilion will bring together scholars to discuss the history and future of the relationship between the world’s Jewish and Christian communities.

A dozen leading scholars of religious studies will visit Elon University in November for the inaugural Elon University Conference on Jewish-Christian Relations.

The program, which is open to the public, takes place from 1-6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17, in the Numen Lumen Pavilion in Elon’s Academic Village.

Sponsored by the Elon College Fund for Excellence, the Eric and Lori Sklut Emerging Scholar in Jewish Studies Program, Elon’s Department of Religious Studies, the Department of History and Geography, the Women’s/Gender Studies program, the Elon Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society, and the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, the program is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is encouraged, but not required.

Refreshments will be available throughout the day.  

Schedule: 

1 p.m.: Welcoming Remarks
– Dr. Leo M. Lambert (President, Elon University)
– Dr. Geoffrey Claussen (Elon University)

1:05-2 p.m.: Reading Genesis
– Dr. Marc Bregman (UNC-Greensboro) – “Jewish and Christian Perspectives on the Sacrifice of Isaac”
– Dr. Ellen Haskell (UNC-Greensboro) – “Contesting the Kingdom of Heaven: Rachel as Counterpart to Christ in Medieval Jewish Mysticism”
– Dr. Malachi Hacohen (Duke University) – “Jacob and Esau, Isaac and Ishmael: The Future of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations”

2:15-3 p.m.: Defining Jewish Identity
– Dr. Lynn Huber (Elon University) – “‘Those Who Say That They Are Jews and Are Not’: The Function of Jewish Identity in the Book of Revelation”
– Dr. James Tabor (UNC-Charlotte) – “Who is a Jew?: A Modern Conundrum with Ancient Roots”

3:15-4:15 p.m.: Evangelical-Jewish Relations
– Dr. Shalom Goldman (Duke University), “The Use of Hebrew and Yiddish by British and American Christian Missionaries to Jews: 1870-1970”
– Dr. Yaakov Ariel (UNC-Chapel Hill) – “The Rise of Messianic Judaism”
– Dr. Motti Inbari (UNC-Pembroke) – “The Christian Zionist Response to Israeli Land for Peace Solutions”

4:30-5:15 p.m.: Jewish and Christian Feminist Ritual Innovation
– Dr. Vanessa Ochs (University of Virginia)
– Dr. Diann Neu (Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual)

5:30-6:30 p.m: The Future of Jewish-Christian Dialogue
– Dr. Stanley Hauerwas (Duke University)
– Dr. Peter Ochs (University of Virginia)

Closing Remarks: Dr. Jeffrey Pugh (Elon University)