Congregation Anshei Israel will host Prof. Robert Eisen as its scholar-in-residence for the weekend of Jan. 11-12.
Eisen’s work as a professor of religion and Jewish studies at George Washington University focuses on the interpretation of peace and violence in the three Abrahamic faiths. Why is it, asks Eisen, that some tenets in Judaism, Christianity and Islam may “both inspire violent actions and at the same time inspire peaceful actions in some people?”
Eisen has been an academic for 22 years. His newest book is “The Peace and Violence of Judaism: From the Bible to Modern Zionism” (Oxford University Press, 2011). Over time, he has developed interest in medieval and modern Jewish philosophy, biblical interpretations, Jewish ethics and comparative religion.
“I keep adding interests, but they all currently revolve around questions of peace and violence in religion,” he told the AJP.
Eisen’s scholarship-in-residence weekend will begin with Anshei Israel’s Shabbat service on Jan. 11 at 5:45 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m., and his talk “The Peace and Violence of Judaism: The Examples of Laws of War.” On Jan. 12, as part of the Saturday morning Shabbat service, Eisen will give the D’var Torah, and at Saturday afternoon Torah study at 3:30 p.m., he will present “Hawks and Doves: The Complexities of Religious Zionism.”
Reservations for the Jan. 11 dinner are required by Jan. 7. The cost is $14 for CAI adult members; children, $8; adult guests, $18; children, $12 (after Jan. 7, an additional $5 per person). For more information and to RSVP, contact Barb at 745-5550, ext. 242, or visit www.caiaz. org.
