Jewish Theology Is a Dialogue, Not a Conclusion

Ben Sommer: "If we want to do Jewish theology, you don't want to just say what you think. You want to get a table set up. And at that table you put Rabbi Akiva and Maimonides, and Rabbi Ishmael and the priestly authors of the Pentateuch and the Levitical Deuteronomy authors, and the two different authors of the book of Isaiah. You put them all around the table and you just start a discussion. Jewish theology isn't supposed to come to a conclusion; it's the process of the discussion itself that is a sacred conversation. The discussion itself is a form of worship." ------------- Benjamin D. Sommer is Professor of Bible at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York and one of the most respected contemporary scholars of the Hebrew Bible and Jewish theology. His work bridges rigorous academic study with deep theological reflection, helping modern readers engage Scripture as part of a living, dynamic tradition. A recipient of fellowships from the National Humanities Center, the American Council of Learned Societies, the Israel Institute for Advanced Studies in Jerusalem, the Tikva Center at New York University Law School, and the Yad Hanadiv Foundation, Dr. Sommer is known for his scholarship on biblical authorship, divine embodiment, and the theology of revelation and interpretation. His book "The Bodies of God and the World of Ancient Israel" was hailed as a groundbreaking exploration of how early Israelites imagined the presence of the divine, and it was recognized with the American Academy of Religion’s Award for Excellence. Dr. Sommer earned his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and previously taught at Northwestern University. He is a sought-after speaker and commentator on questions of Scripture, Jewish thought, and religious pluralism, and he has been active in promoting a vision of Jewish theology that is dialogical rather than dogmatic—embracing contradiction, multiplicity, and the sacred act of interpretation. MB01OZQHAQ5ROSY