Jewish-Christian Dialogue from the Underside: Markus Barth's Correspondence with Michael Wyschogrod (1962–84) and Emil Fackenheim (1965–80)*

precis:

Markus Barth has long been recognized for his pioneering contribution to the advancement of Jewish-Christian dialogue. Building upon the work of his father Karl, Markus consistently stressed the unity of Jews and Christians as the one People of God. Moreover, his insistence on this theological principle was illustrated not merely through his publications but also by his very close association with leading members of North America's Jewish communities. In this essay, we can see how two of those relationships developed during the 1960's–1980's but then tragically imploded due to Markus's own intransigent commitment to the very principle of unity for which he had been a champion.