Jesus in the Talmud

“JESUS IN THE TALMUD"

by Peter Shaffer

Some quotes about Jesus in the book:

1- “Most remarkably, they counter the New Testament Passion story with its message of the Jews’ guilt and shame as Christ killers. Instead, they reverse it completely: yes, they maintain, we accept responsibility for it, but there is no reason to feel ashamed because we rightfully executed a blasphemer and idolater. Jesus deserved death, and he got what he deserved.” (Pag. 9) 

2- “I will show that the rabbis drafted here, in just a few words, a powerful counter narrative that was meant to shake the foundations of the Christian message: for, according to them, JESUS WAS NOT BORN FROM A VIRGIN, as his followers claimed, but out of wedlock, THE SON OF A WHORE AND HER LOVER; therefore, he could not be the Messiah of Davidic descent, let alone the Son of God.” (pag.10) 

3- “Here, a quite elaborate story—again only in the Babylonian Talmud—details the halakhic procedure of Jesus’ trial and execution: Jesus was not crucified but, according to Jewish law, stoned to death and then, as the ultimate postmortem punishment reserved for the worst criminals, hanged on a tree.” (pag.12) 

4- “The most bizarre of all the Jesus stories is the one that tells how Jesus shares his place in the Netherworld with Titus and Balaam, the notorious archenemies of the Jewish people. Whereas Titus is punished for the destruction of the Temple by being burned to ashes, reassembled, and burned over and over again, and whereas Balaam is castigated by sitting in hot semen, JESUS’ FATE CONSISTS OF SITTING FOREVER IN BOILING EXCREMENT.” (pag.13)

About the author:

Sir Peter Levin Shaffer (born 15 May 1926) is an English dramatist and playwright, screenwriter and author of numerous award-winning plays, several of which have been filmed. 

Shaffer was born to a Jewish family in Liverpool, the son of Reka (née Fredman) and Jack Shaffer, who was an estate agent. He is the twin brother of another playwright, Anthony Shaffer. 

He was educated at St Paul's School (London) and subsequently he gained a scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge to study history. Shaffer was a Bevin Boy coal miner during WW2 and took a number of jobs including bookstore clerk, and assistant at the New York Public Library, before discovering his dramatic talents.

(http://www.jewage.org/wiki/en/Article:Peter_Shaffer_-_Biography)