F.J.E. Boddens Hosang:Establishing Boundaries. Christian - Jewish Relations in Early Council Texts and the Writings of Church Fathers.

(Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2010.)

In this study the author examines the relationship between Christians and Jews in the early centuries. It has been common practice to read the major sources of the Church Fathers, the major Church Councils and rabbinic literature. The question raised Judaism, but rather a local struggle to establish the boundaries of Christianity's own religious identity. This would eventually change.

As Christianity consolidated its identity (and powerbase)the author shows how its attempts to enforce Christians' compliance through the use of draconian Church canons, changed to prohibitions against Jews - clearly because Church and secular powers were eventually in partnership. A canon of the third Council of Orleans of 538 forbade Jews to associate with Christians from Maundy Thursday until Easter Monday, four days - a ruling that was now imposed upon Jews. This is one of the examples cited in the study to show the change from establishing boundaries of the Christian identity to aggression towards Jews. It may well indicate an early beginning of the anti-Semitism of the Middle Ages and later.

This is a fascinating study and warmly recommended, if the hefty price tag (US $ 136) does not deter the potential buyer.