Pirke Aboth, The Ethics of the Talmud: Sayings of the Fathers (Text, Complete Translation, and Commentaries)
by Michel Remaud
Category: Religion

Israel, Servant of God is an English translation of the Second Edition of a book which first appeared in 1983. The question addressed by the book is posed in the Introduction: what is the significance of the existence of the Jewish people for Christian faith? It is only since the end of the Second World War that attempts have been made to answer this question in a manner sympathetic to the Jewish people. Michel Remaud's book counts, therefore, as one of the few pioneering efforts made so far to present a detailed theological answer to the question.The book consists of three parts: 'The Faithfulness of Israel', 'On the Shoah' and 'Facing Israel'. The first part includes a re-thinking of Isaiah chapter 53 on the Suffering Servant; in order to reconcile the classical Jewish and Christian interpretations of this passage, the author refers to chapters 9-11 of Paul's Epistle to the Romans.'On the Shoah' deals with the difficulties of speech on the subject and describes in a circumspect manner the nature of the Christian responsibility for the Shoah.The third part concerns current Christian teaching on themes linked to Judaism and suggests positive ways in which the two faiths may be shown to be linked. This is done without falling into syncretism or diminishing the special natures of each faith.An Appendix describes the significance and difficulties concerning the recognition of the State of Israel by the Holy See.