Perhaps it was this image of a Jewish betrothal, as was customary at the time, that was on Jesus’ mind when He offered the cup of His covenant to His disciples at the Last Supper. Perhaps He thought of His bride when Jesus told His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you.” We cannot know for sure, but there is no denying that Jesus was Jewish, that he worshiped in the temple, read the Torah and lived in a culture surrounded by Jewish thought and life. A deeper knowledge of the Jewish roots of Christianity provides us with a richer understanding of our own Christian faith. 

    “In understanding the history of Judaism, it deepens our understanding of what Jesus was doing and what sort of an environment he was operating in,” said Dr. Christina Smerick, Shapiro Chair of the Jewish Christian Studies program at Greenville College. “This was pre-rabbinical Judaism. This was Judaism when there was still a temple.” 

    Dr. Smerick came to Greenville College to fill the Shapiro Chair of Jewish Christian Studies from Chicago where she served as an assistant professor of Philosophy at Xavier University. Her areas of specialty include philosophy and religion of Jewish thought, and the intertwining of Jewish theology and philosophy in the works of 20^th century German-Jewish thinker, Walter Benjamin.

    Dr. Smerick continues to explain the importance of understanding the historical aspects of Jesus’ day. “There were many sects operating at this time, different kinds of Jews who believed different things. Many different groups at the time said, this is what it means to be Jewish.” Dr. Smerick’s hopes for the program include a renewed focus upon the Holocaust. She will bring speakers to campus to assist the community in critically reflecting on these issues through their own stories as this unique Jewish Christian studies program is developed into a model for other protestant colleges and universities. 

    The program grew out of over thirty years of foundational work developing relationships with synagogues and Jewish leaders in Chicago. The Shapiro Foundation of Chicago has generously responded to this vision, contributing funds to help endow the chair of Jewish Christian Studies which serves both the Philosophy and History departments. The foundation has promised to match funds raised by the college up to $250,000 to permanently endow this position. To date, Greenville College has received over $160,000 toward this goal, but still looks to raise another $90,000.

    Comprised of the following seven courses taught by several religion department professors: Old Testament Survey; Pentateuch; Prophets; Wisdom and Poetic Literature; World Religions; History of Judaism; and Jews, Christians, Muslims, the program challenges students with both historic and contemporary issues of Judaism. 

    Dr. Smerick also leads extracurricular activities such as the Passover Seder and trips to synagogues in both St. Louis and Chicago. During the fall, Dr. Smerick plans to lead a book discussion series focusing on Jewish literature entitled, “Between Two Worlds: Stories of Estrangement and Homecoming.” Open to students, faculty, staff and community members alike, the American Library Association provided a grant for the purchase of the books. 

    As a non-ministry religion major, the Jewish Christian studies program has given junior Jonathan Baker-Johnson a greater sense of identity within the Religion department. Baker-Johnson discusses how the program has stretched his faith. “Ruth Huston recaptures the original feelings and approaches to the text of the Old Testament,” said Baker-Johnson. 

    Dr. Smerick appreciates the impact the study of Judaism has on students’ understanding of the Christian tradition. “Jewish Christian Studies help students to deepen their own faith and become more firmly rooted in their faith while also developing a way of understanding other faiths, which in a multicultural and global society has become more important,” said Dr. Smerick. 

Passover Seder. Students are dipping parsley in salt water, symbolizing the origins of the Jews and tears shed as a result of slavery. Other elements pictured include grape juice, boiled eggs, and maror, a mixture symbolizing the mortar used in buildingduring the Jews period of slavery.

    Senior Zach Heyveld also realizes the importance of the program in his faith journey. “The study of Judaism has changed and affected my understanding of Christianity more than any other medium. It unlocks some of the very essential questions of the Christian faith because it gives us the lenses through which to understand Christ in his context. When I think of my faith journey, it now includes the faith journeys of the fathers of the faith: Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah and David,” said Heyveld. 

    “I believe that understanding the origins of one’s religious faith is crucial to the deepening and strengthening of that faith,” said Smerick. “Studying and coming to develop an appreciation of Jewish history and thought serves both to develop our students’ faith and to build bridges between Christian and Jewish religious communities.”

Reaching out to his bride, the bridegroom took her hand and drawing her to his side, they began their journey back to his Father’s house through the crowd of smiling faces, family and friends, alternately envious and joyous. Today was their day.The preparations were finished and the beloved had finally come for his bride.