Way back in 1941, then-U.S.-President Franklin D. Roosevelt began a National Bible Week, which was traditionally observed during the week of Thanksgiving. Ever since my earliest years of pastoring (well after 1941), I enjoyed celebrating it, and invited church members to read for devotions or study during that week in particular, to remind us of God’s presence and love.

In years since then, this has become International Jewish-Christian Bible Week. It involves participants from various European countries including England, Germany, the Netherlands, Israel, and the United States. Begun in 1969, three elements motivated their time together: shared study of the Hebrew Bible, Jews and Germans encountering one another after World War II, and ongoing Jewish-Christian dialogue.                                                                                        

Over the years, a younger generation of Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish theologians have contributed to the week’s development, including exploring diverse interpretations of the text.

Both Jews and Christians are called “People of the Book.” This week is a great time to find some new understandings from its pages. Enjoy!

Yours in faith exploration,

Betsy Schwarzentraub

Photo by David Beale, Unsplash