Friars and Jews in the Middle Ages and Renaissance

Historians--some specializing in the Middle Ages, some in religion, and some in a particular European country--describe the major areas scholars are working in with regard to the friars' preaching to and writing about the Jews from the early days of the mendicant order about the turn of the 13th century to the 16th century. Their topics include the Antichrist and the Jews in four 13th-century apocalypse commentaries, contempt for friars and contempt for Jews in late Medieval Germany, Leonardo Dati's 1417 sermon on the circumcision of Jesus, anti-Jewish preaching in the 15th century and images of preachers in Italian Renaissance art, and messianism in Spain and Italy about 1500. The 16 essays are from an October 1997 conference in St. Louis (presumably Missouri). Annotation c2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Steven McMichael, OFM Conv., is Assistant Professor in the Theology Department at the University of St. Thomas. His interests include interreligious dialogue, especially Jewish-Christian and Muslim-Christian relations. He has published in the area of medieval Jewish-Christian relations, particularly on the writings of Alfonso de Espina.Susan Myers is Assistant Professor in the Theology Department at the University of St. Thomas and works in the area of New Testament and early Christianity. Her interests include Syriac-speaking Christianity, early heterodox movements, and early liturgical and doctrinal developments.