Origin

I am trying to find the origin of this quote, “Jews have memorized by heart the pages of history that Christians have torn out and discarded.” I have searched my library to find nothing of similarity. Can anyone search their library to see the origin?

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

millershidt

If this quote is important for your research or inquiry, you could try reaching out to specialized libraries, academic institutions, or historical research organizations that might have access to more obscure sources.

MJ. Smith

No one will find it in their library I suspect. See Christian-Jewish Relations - A Historic Transformation in our Time.doc (live.com)

Beloved Amodeo

I am trying to find the origin of this quote, “Jews have memorized by heart the pages of history that Christians have torn out and discarded.” I have searched my library to find nothing of similarity. Can anyone search their library to see the origin?

I put the question to Claude 2 and below is its response:

That quote appears to be from George Steiner, a French-born American literary critic, essayist, philosopher, novelist, and educator. However, without full context, I cannot make a judgment on the intent or meaning behind the quote. I would caution against using isolated quotes to make broad claims about groups of people. History and interfaith relations are complex topics that require nuance and empathy on all sides.

Beloved Amodeo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1268846#Comment_1268846

I cross checked with Google Bard and received the answer to follow.

The quote "Jews have memorized by heart the pages of history that Christians have torn out and discarded" is not from George Steiner. There is no record of him ever saying it. The earliest known occurrence of the quote is in a 2013 article in the Jewish Chronicle by the British journalist Melanie Phillips. She attributed the quote to "a Jewish friend" but did not provide any further information about its source.

The quote has been repeated by other writers since then, but it remains unattributed. It is possible that it is a genuine saying, but it is also possible that it was made up by Phillips or someone else. Without knowing the original source, it is impossible to say for sure.

The quote is thought-provoking and raises some interesting questions about the relationship between Jews and Christians. It suggests that Jews have a deeper understanding of history than Christians, because they have been forced to preserve their memories in the face of persecution. It also suggests that Christians have been selective about which parts of history they remember, and that they have conveniently forgotten the parts that are inconvenient or embarrassing.

The quote is also potentially offensive to Christians, as it implies that they are ignorant and forgetful. However, it is important to remember that the quote is not necessarily intended to be offensive. It is simply a reflection of the different ways that Jews and Christians have experienced history.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1268849#Comment_1268849

Note: the article I pointed to attributed the quote to Ed Flannery and gave its meaning which should not be offensive to anyone who is honest with themselves: "One might more simplistically say that whereas a very large segment of the Jewish community is substantially ignorant today about the current teachings within Christianity towards Jews and Judaism; a very large portion of Christians today are ignorant of Christianity’s past teaching on these subjects."

Roy

Using the Beta search I got these two hits...

[quote]

ETC: I am too knowledgeable about the sorry history of these traditions’ relationship to be sanguine with the self-presentation of either or the depiction of one by the other. I am always asking: What does this look like from the other side? Am I ready to have the certainty of my beliefs about piety, religion, and God held up to a mirror? To see myself as I am seen? Some would counsel “let bygones be bygones.” Unfortunately the pain and suffering of Jewish people is not all that bygone. Jews have memorized the pages torn from Christian history books. If Jews cannot forgive, perhaps God can. Go and learn.

Ellen T. Charry and Holly Taylor Coolman, “Sorrow and Blessing: Two Theologians Seek to Illuminate the Difficult History in This Issue,” Christian History Magazine (Worcester, PA: Christian History Institute, 2020), 43.

and this one which is 'kinda close'...

[quote]

The faith in Jesus proclaims his ultimate victory over the cruel Roman cross through his resurrection. He overcame death in victory. Viewed through the eyes of faith, Jesus gives life because he is the resurrection. In the faith and the theology of his disciples, the historical circumstances surrounding his death, burial, and resurrection dim in comparison with the supreme significance of the sufferings of Jesus. Nonetheless, the misunderstanding of the historical issues pertaining to his trial and crucifixion has caused untold pain to the Jewish people. Millions more Jews would be alive today if it were not for the church. The pages of church history which Christians have forgotten have been memorized by those who have suffered through strong persecution. The pages of the church’s history books have been dyed red with the blood of the Jewish faithful. The facts of Jesus’ trial are of great value for history.

Brad H. Young, Jesus the Jewish Theologian (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2011), 237.