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The Significance of the Land in Birkat Hamazon : Lessons in Self-Understanding
Nathan, Emmanuel
Nathan, Emmanuel
Author
Abstract
This contribution is an applied Christian exercise in deep interreligious learning to understand more deeply the centrality of the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael) in Jewish (religious) self-understanding. The reason for such an exercise is because of a long Christian tendency towards spiritualization and interiorization, which obscures Christians from fully appreciating the significance of the land of Israel to Jews beyond simply the political. My contribution engages in a comparative theological reading of the Jewish blessings after meals, Birkat Hamazon, with special attention to the centrality of Eretz Yisrael within this set of prayers. In the process I argue that learning from Judaism and Jews is not only a Christian theological imperative but also indispensable to authentic Christian self-understanding.
Keywords
Religion, Christianity, Theology
Date
2022
Type
Book chapter
Journal
Book
A Companion to Comparative Theology
Volume
Issue
Page Range
170-193
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Theology
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
Collections
Relation URI
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled
Notes
Copyright 2022 by Pim Valkenberg. Published by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands.