Book Review: Return of the Kosher Pig

Was Jesus who he really said he was? This is a question that has been answered since the time of his ministry on earth. The Gospel writers and his earliest followers wrote to answer this very question. Still today there is a need to discuss this question and present thoughtful answers that quell the doubts of those that would seek to know Jesus Christ.

Rabbi Itzhak Shapira has written to answer this question once more. In his book, The Return of the Kosher Pig: The Divine Messiah in Jewish Thought, Shapira seeks to delve into the teachings of the Jewish rabbinical historical writings to show evidence that the Messiah was expected to be divine and that Jesus was this divine Messiah.

Shapira does this by showing the reader how the Jewish rabbis went about reading the scriptures and each other’s writings. Shapira forms his book by following a legal argument and presenting evidence in a logical and compelling manner. He has five sections to his book and in each he shows the scriptures and the historical Jewish understanding of these scriptures.  His final conclusion is that the Jewish people expected a Messiah and many expected a divine Messiah. Although Jesus broke many expectations as a leader, teacher, and savior the expectation of divinity was not one of them. The divine nature of Jesus should then frame his leadership and teaching.

Shapira has done a marvelous job introducing into the way that the Jewish scholar works through a text and argues logically. He presents a Jewish method of hermeneutics that is enlightening and interesting. He also serves as a reminder that the questions about Jesus have not been answered for the final time but that all believers need to be answering the doubts of those that are seeking to know Jesus more.

The one criticism that I have about this book is that it is not for everyone. There are very difficult readings and a lot of Hebrew to read. Even as someone with multiple years of training in Hebrew it becomes confusing. However, no one should expect that every book appeal to every audience.