Holy Envy: Writing in the Jewish Christian Borderzone

The unlikely sea-change in Jewish Christian relations is explored in Amos Oz's Judas, which suggests how literature can excavate an alternative interreligious space, at once risky and generative.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2022
Publisher: Fordham University Press

The relationship between Jews and Christians has undergone a significant transformation in the post-World War II era, marked by a shift towards greater openness and dialogue. Jews and Christians read each other's scriptures and engage in open discussions about their differences and similarities. However, many of these encounters often become routine and predictable, and the powerful emotions that arise during these conversations are often dismissed or ignored.

In his book "Holy Envy: Writing in the Jewish Christian Borderzone," Amos Oz explores a new way of thinking about interreligious relations. By focusing on modern and contemporary writers who navigate the volatile space between Judaism and Christianity, the book highlights the creative implications of these intense encounters. While recognizing the need to address the fundamentally Christian narrative that underpins much of twentieth-century American verse, "Holy Envy" goes beyond portraying Christianity as an aesthetically coercive force or an adversarial other. The book suggests that literature can create an alternative interreligious space, one that is both risky and generative.

"Holy Envy" brings together recent accounts of Jewish Christian relations, affect theory, and poetics to offer new insights into difficult and urgent conversations about interreligious encounters. The book engages readers who are interested in literature, religion, and interfaith dialogue, providing a fresh perspective on the complex and often fraught relationship between these two faiths.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781531501730