Jacob Neusner died on October 8 this year at 84 years of age. He was a very prolific scholar who highly influenced American Jewish studies of religion. Neusner was a pioneer in studying Judaism in relation to Christianity. And he was a fixture at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, which will occur this weekend. I’m sure Dr. Neusner will be sorely missed there by many, especially his publishers. Jacob Neusner is most known for having written or edited 950 books!
American-born, Jacob Neusner got degrees at Harvard University, Columbia University, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. He also studied at Oxford and Yale University. He taught at several schools including Columbia University and then Bard College since 1994. Neusner pioneered applying form criticism to rabbinic texts that resulted in much deconstruction. Partly due to Neusner’s book, A Rabbi Talks with Jesus (1993), Pope Benedict XVI nicknamed Dr. Jacob Neusner “The Pope’s Favorite Rabbi.”
I plan to attend SBL’s Annual Meeting starting this Friday in San Antonio, Texas. It is usually a highlight of my year. I’ve been an SBL member since 1999, and I’ve only missed one of its Annual Meetings since then. This convention is attended by thousands of biblical scholars (SBL membership is 8,500). The affair usually lasts four or five days. Thousands of scholars deliver papers at symposiums, and usually there is a Q&A period. Sometimes, a panel of scholars discuss some topic or book.
My professor friend Scot McKnight convinced me to join SBL. Even though I wasn’t a scholar with a PhD, he said I merited joining because I write theological books. And he added that it would benefit me. It sure does. I meet many scholars; learn what’s happening in the theological academy; and learn about all the new theological books and buy not a few. That’s because there is also a huge book exhibit in which all of the theological publishers are there with their many books that we can buy, usually at half the retail price.
Scot McKnight is a leading New Testament scholar and Jesus researcher who has written over fifty theological books himself. Over the years, Scot has introduced me to many of his colleagues at SBL’s Annual Meeting. Over ten years ago Scot introduced me to Dr. Jacob Neusner. Even then, Professor Neusner was known for having written more theological books than any other person ever. Scot then said to the professor, “Jacob, how many books have you written?” Dr. Neusner answered, “Over 600.” Scot then said, “How can anybody write 600 books?” Neusner replied, “Oh, it wasn’t that hard.” Scot and I laughed.
There is a joke that circulates about Professor Neusner and the many books he has written. Here’s how it goes. One day one of Dr. Neusner’s male students came to the professor’s house and knocked on his door. Mrs. Neusner opened the door and the student said, “Could I talk to Professor Neusner?” Mrs. Neusner answered, “Well, he’s busy writing a book.” The student responded, “Oh, I can wait.”
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