Whose Law? Christians and Jews Rethink the Pharisees

Throughout the centuries, in Christian writings and homilies, the Pharisees have been called legalistic, money-loving, self-righteous hypocrites. That definition has become a label applied to Jews in general, as well as any persons or groups the speaker or writer despised. For Jews, however, the Pharisees are respected teachers of the past who are in some way the predecessors of all forms of modern Judaism.
Who were the Pharisees, really? And why does this question matter today?

Join this conversation about The Pharisees, an interdisciplinary and multifaith volume that seeks to contribute to finding the elusive truth, overcome untruths, and investigate approaches to the Pharisees.

Moderator: Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky, professor of Midrash and Interreligious studies

Welcome Remarks: Endy Moraes, IRLLW director, and Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC director of interreligious and intergroup relations

Speakers

Amy-Jill Levine, professor, Vanderbilt University Divinity School

Joseph Sievers, Pontifical Biblical Institute

Shaye J. D. Cohen, professor, Harvard University

Angela Harkins, associate professor, Boston College.

This joint event of Fordham’s Institute on Religion, Law, and Lawyer’s Work and Jewish Theological Seminary is also supported by AJC – American Jewish Committee. It will be held in person and livestreamed.