Lively Catholic-Jewish Panel Discussion on Rabbinic Stories Thursday

February 02, 2010

Saint Leo University’s Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library, the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University, and the university’s Master of Arts in Theology program have partnered to present a lively interfaith lecture and book discussion focusing on Rabbi Chaim Pearl’s popular text, Theology in Rabbinic Stories (Hendrickson, 1997). The program will begin promptly at 7 p.m., Thursday, February 4, in the Cannon Memorial Library browsing area.

The library overlooks Lake Jovita. Admission is free, and all are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served at a reception following the discussion.

Presenters include Tampa’s Rabbi Frank Sundheim—rabbinic scholar and guest lecturer at Saint Leo University, the University of South Florida, and the University of Tampa—and Saint Leo University’s own Deacon William Ditewig, Ph.D., Catholic theologian and director of Saint Leo University’s Master of Arts in Theology program.  Linda S. Taggart, director of the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University, will serve as moderator for the session.

Theology in Rabbinic Stories is highly recommended for use in interfaith education and dialogue programs. All are encouraged to attend whether or not they are familiar with this type of literature. Rabbinic stories were told to pass along ethical and theological lessons.

The program presenters will also recognize the generous donation of the Babylonian Talmud (Neusner, Scholars Press) to Cannon Memorial Library. It is a highly regarded translation. The work spans more than 100 volumes.

The Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies (www.centerforcatholicjewishstudies.org/) at Saint Leo University was founded in 1998.  The mission of the center is to build “mutual respect, understanding, and appreciation among Jews, Catholics and all people of good will by providing opportunities for interfaith education and dialogue.”

For more information, please contact Brent Short, director of library services, at (352) 588-8260 or brent.short@saintleo.edu, or contact Carol Ann Moon, reference and instructional outreach librarian,at 352-588-8261 or email her at carol.moon@saintleo.edu.