This course explores the early history of Jewish-Christian relations in “Late Antiquity” (ca. 200-600 C.E.), a time of profound social, cultural, and religious transformation. This was a foundational period for the development of Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism, parallel to each other but also in conversation with each other. From both Jewish and Christian perspectives, this course will examine key ideas and practices, methods of interpreting sacred texts, and views of the “Other” and the “Self” that characterized Jewish-Christian relations in this dynamic period.

Instructors:

Benny Bar-Lavi is the inaugural Scholar-in-Residence in Jewish Studies and Jewish-Christian Relations at Providence College. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a Ph.D. in history from the University of Chicago, where he also taught courses in Jewish civilization and in the history of political thought. His research interests include early modern European history, Judaism and Islam in Christian and post-Christian thought, the Western Sephardi Diaspora, and the history of Jewish thought. His current book project is tentatively titled Politics Against God: Judaism and Islam in the Political-Theological Discourses of Early Modernity.

Arthur Urbano is Professor of Theology and Chair of the Jewish-Catholic Theological Exchange Committee at Providence College. He earned his M.Div. in Scripture at Harvard Divinity School and his Ph.D. in Religious Studies at Brown University. His research focuses on the history, theology, and culture of Early Christianity, with a focus on the relations between Christians and other groups in Late Antiquity. He teaches courses in the Bible, Early Christianity and Jewish-Christian Relations. He has been involved in interfaith work at PC and nationally since 2007.

Course sponsors:

This course is a collaboration between Delve Deeper and the Providence College Jewish-Catholic Theological Exchange, which welcomes Prof. Bar-Lavi as the college's inaugural Scholar-in-Residence in Jewish Studies and Jewish-Christian Relations. The mission of the JCTE is to foster interreligious learning, understanding, and friendship at the College and in the community.

Tuition: $175

Subsidy for PC attendees: 

Reduced-rate tuition is available to a limited number of Providence College faculty and staff. A limited number of tuition waivers for Providence College graduate and undergraduate students are also available. Inquire for more information. Email jcte@providence.edu for more information. 

Partial and full scholarships are available!

Please do not let cost be a barrier!

Contact Morty Miller or the rabbi of a sponsoring synagogue about the discounts.  Providence College community members can email jcte@providence.edu