Nativity scenes are peaceful and idyllic. However, Matthew’s story of the magi bringing gifts to the newborn Jesus, set in the time of King Herod, foreshadows the gospel’s themes of political rivalry, violence, and the death of Jesus.
Prof.
Meira Z. Kensky
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The historical John, יוחנן, was a thoroughly Jewish religious preacher, who had little if any relation to Jesus and his movement. Here is the story of how John and his central rite, baptism, became part of Christianity.
Prof.
Tamás Visi
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The narratives of Jesus’ conception and birth as presented in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke echo Jewish history and cite Jewish prophecy. In that sense, the Christmas story can be said to have Jewish origins.
Prof.
Amy-Jill Levine
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How Jews responded to the celebration of Jesus’ birth by creating a cynical version of Christmas Eve lampooning him.
Shai Alleson-Gerberg
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