Tel Aviv Scholar at Holy Cross to Tackle Question: 'How Holy are Holy Wars?'

WORCESTER, Mass. – Ithamar Gruenwald, professor of Jewish Philosophy at Tel Aviv University and an internationally renowned specialist in apocalyptic, mysticism, Gnosticism and ancient ritual, will lecture on "How Holy are Holy Wars?" on Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rehm Library at the College of the Holy Cross.

Gruenwald will explore the uses of the notion of "Holy War" in the ancient texts and in current politics. He will also lead a three-day faculty seminar on the Zohar, a book on the Jewish Kabbalistic teachings, from Feb. 8 to Feb. 10. He is the author of three books and more than 40 articles on early Judaism.

The talk is sponsored by the Kraft-Hiatt Fund for Jewish-Christian Understanding, which supports campus and community-wide educational initiatives that foster understanding of Judaism and Jewish culture, and dialogue between Jews and Christians.