Why Is There a Menorah on the Altar?: Jewish Roots of Christian Worship »

A desire and demand to know more about the Jewish legacy of Christian identity is growing among laity. A
similar desire to foster interfaith understanding and dialogue is growing among officials of local churches.

This new book seeks to meet these demands by providing information and insight about Judaism's legacy as it is revealed in Christian rites, rituals, and traditions. It will introduce Christians in sacramental churches to ways Judaism has influenced the structure of liturgical worship and rituals; how church sanctuaries are designed and decorated; and baptism, Eucharist, and confirmation.

Why Is There a Menorah on the Altar? will provide readers a deeper understanding of Judaism, one that will enrich their Christianity and deepen appreciation for their enduring Jewish heritage. Easy to use by groups or
individuals, it also contains questions for reflection.

Library Journal

Relationships between "People of the Book" are estranged. Christians have blamed the Jewish people for Christ's death and have contributed to the stigmatization and persecution of Jewish people. Sociologist Gould is the perfect individual to foster understanding between the two faiths as she is as comfortable saying the Shema as reciting the Lord's Prayer, and she jokingly diagnoses herself with "multiple spirituality disorder." In brief, Gould identifies as a Jew, professes faith in Christ, and practices as a Catholic. Her goal: to dispel misconceptions, and she contends that "living in the respectful knowledge of our shared heritage is one way to begin repairing the shattered world of Jewish-Christian relations." She focuses on the practices of baptism, communion, and confirmation in the Christian tradition, highlighting their deep, rich roots in Judaism. Each chapter concludes with questions for study and reflection as well as an activity or a challenge (e.g., adding berakhot, Jewish benediction or blessing, to one's prayer repertoire). Appendixes include a glossary of Hebrew terms and Jewish concepts, a time line of how Christianity emerged from Judaism, copies of core documents on Jewish-Christian relations, and recommended resources. VERDICT A lucid and essential resource for interfaith dialog and understanding, this will have broad appeal—both to ivory-towered seminarians and proverbial street denizens.—C. Brian Smith, Arlington Heights Memorial Lib., IL