Who are the ancient role models for the
sacred relationship
between Jews and non-Jews today?
Now more than ever, gentiles are an
integral part of the Jewish community. But they are not new to
the Jewish story. In fact, righteous gentiles go back to
Abraham. The story of the Jewish people can’t be told
without them.
Noted author and educator Rabbi Jeffrey
Salkin provides an informative and inspiring look at the
sympathetic non-Israelite characters of the Hebrew Bible and
the redemptive relationships they had with the Jewish people.
Relying on biblical and extra-biblical sources, he introduces
each character, drawing lessons from the life of each that will
be relevant to you, whatever your faith tradition. They include
the …
• First gentile to bless a Jew
• First woman to hear the Divine
voice and save a Jewish baby
• First teacher of morality to the
Jews
• First gentile mother of Jewish
children
• Gentile midwives who invented civil
disobedience
• Mother of Moses and nurturer of the
Jewish people
• Father-in-law and teacher of Moses
• First “gentile
Zionist”
• Gentile warrior who fought for the
Israelites
• Gentile contractor for
Solomon’s Temple
• Gentiles who acknowledged God and
repented
• Creator of the Second Jewish
Commonwealth
“A treasure trove…. Teaches us
to open our eyes to people of all faiths among us who embody
the highest ethical ideals, enhance our lives and ensure the
ultimate redemption of all of humankind. A must read and gift
for everyone who is interested in reading the Bible.”
—Norman
J. Cohen, rabbi, provost of Hebrew
Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and professor
of midrash; author, The Way Into
Torah
“Sparkles with fresh insights and
new perspectives. Jews and Christians alike will be bemused and
enlightened by Salkin’s new look at our ancient
texts.”
—Dr.
Eugene J. Fisher, associate
director emeritus, Secretariat for Ecumenical and
Interreligious Affairs, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
“A mitzvah of great generosity. Will help gentiles like me find a place in the story
of God’s people without taking what does not belong to us.”
—Barbara Brown Taylor, author, An Altar in the World:
A Geography of Faith
Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin is recognized as one of the most thoughtful
Jewish writers and teachers of his generation. He has helped
people find spiritual meaning in both the great and small
moments in life.
A noted author whose work has appeared in
many publications, including the Wall
Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, and the Congressional
Record, Rabbi Salkin is editor of
the bestseller A Dream of Zion:
American Jews Reflect on Why Israel Matters to Them, and author of Putting
God on the Guest List: How to Reclaim the Spiritual Meaning of
Your Child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah; For Kids—Putting
God on Your Guest List: How to Claim the Spiritual Meaning of
Your Bar or Bat Mitzvah; and Being God’s Partner: How to Find the Hidden
Link Between Spirituality and Your Work, with an introduction by Norman Lear (all Jewish
Lights).
Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis is one of the most respected spiritual leaders
and teachers of his generation. He has been a rabbi at Valley
Beth Shalom in Encino, California, for close to forty years. He
is author of many books, including Conscience: The Duty to Obey
and the Duty to Disobey (Jewish Lights), and is founding
chairman of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous and founder
of Jewish World Watch.
Phyllis Tickle,
a lay Eucharistic minister and lector in the Episcopal Church,
is senior fellow of Cathedral College of the Washington
National Cathedral; and founding editor of the Religion
Department of Publishers Weekly, the international journal of the book
industry. Tickle is author of many books, including The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is
Changing and Why.
