Jacob Neusner, rabbi who influenced Pope Benedict XVI, dead at 84

October 10, 2016

Jacob Neusner, a prolific and influential Jewish scholar whose work drew the admiration of Pope Benedict XVI, died on October 9 at his home in New York.

Neusner was the author or editor of more than 900 books. In his own book Jesus of Nazareth, Pope Benedict XVI drew heavily from one of Neusner’s works, A Rabbi Talks with Jesus, which the Pontiff described “by far the most important book for the Jewish-Christian dialogue in the last decade.”

Neusner was 84 at the time of his death. He had suffered from Parkinson’s disease.

 

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Further information:

• Jacob Neusner, influential scholar of rabbinic Judaism, dies at 84 (JTA)