The Hermeneutical Jew

The interconnected histories of Judaism and Christianity are explored in this compelling volume honouring the influential work of Jeremy Cohen. Cohen’s pioneering studies have reshaped our understanding of these religious traditions, emphasizing the crucial role of cross-religious engagements in forming their self-perceptions and identities.

Comprising fifteen chapters, the book is organized into four thematic sections. The first section, Literary Mirrors and Inter-Religious Representations, explores patterns of internalizations, (mis)representations, and appropriations between competing religious traditions. The second section, Physical and Figurative Encounters, addresses the roles played by visible and physical markers in setting interreligious boundaries and exchanges. The third section, Agents of Anti-Jewish Discourse, focuses on Christian thinkers of the late Middle Ages who propagated anti-Jewish measures or prejudices across different genres and causes. The final section, The Transformability of the Jews and the Hermeneutics of Inter-Religious Conversion, examines the cultural and intellectual impact of different efforts to convert Jews and Jewishness.

This collection of new studies by leading medievalists serves as a fitting tribute to Jeremy Cohen’s groundbreaking contributions and offers readers an insightful look into the complex world of medieval and early modern religious identity.