The Reluctant Parting - by Julie Galambush (Paperback)

About the Book

The New Testament is considered a Jewish book, yet it holds Jews responsible for murdering the son of God. Galambush illuminates the New Testament's story as one of Jews struggling to maintain their Jewish identity and helps readers better understand the true intent of the texts.

From the Back Cover

Now in paperback, The Reluctant Parting is a poignant look at the New Testament exploring the forgotten question of intention and identity in Christianity's core writings- How did Jesus's followers stop being Jewish without meaning to?

While other books have demonstrated the "Jewishness" of Jesus, none have grappled with the implications of the New Testament authors' relationship to their own Judaism. The Christian New Testament has led a life never imagined by its Jewish sectarian authors. Through lively and accessible scholarship, Galambush reveals the anguish of the early Christians as they first struggled with, and then left behind, the larger Jewish community. She illuminates the human drama of the split between Jews and Christians, revealing a deep loss at the heart of Christian tradition that continues to cry out for reconciliation between Christianity and the Judaism it so painfully left.

Not just another well-credentialed scholar, Galambush is uniquely positioned as both a convert to Judaism and a former associate pastor to identify what is at stake for Jews as well as for Christians. The book's deeply empathic portrayal of the early Christians' struggle with their Jewish identity will allow it to serve as a resource for Jews and Christians alike.

Review Quotes

"Professor Galambush has given both Christian and Jew a valuable and potent lens for untangling their spiritual traditions....An indispensable primer for anyone interested in the history (and future!) of Judeo-Christian relations." - Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, The Emanu-El Scholar at Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco and author
"Galambush's thoughtful book will become an important resource for our continuing conversations." - Rev. John Buchanan, Pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago