Drawing on historical examples and the writings of John of Damascus, this talk critiques the misuse of Jesus’ Jewish identity for Israeli nationalism and argues for a more nuanced and inclusive understanding that centers the lived realities of Christians in Palestine.
Rev. Dr. Michael G. Azar holds a PhD in New Testament from Fordham University (2013) and an MA in theology from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (2005). He is currently writing a book on Orthodox Christian-Jewish relation. His other scholarly pursuits focus on New Testament studies, the “parting of the ways,” and the effects that contemporary sociopolitical policies have on scholarly understandings of the ancient world. He is currently a 2025-26 Lady Davis Fellow at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and continues to serve as a special advisor to the Orthodox Chair of the Orthodox Christian-Jewish dialogue and as a member of its planning committee. He is a priest of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.