BOOKS: Salvation is from the Jews

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IsaacSheen

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Anyone else read the book “Salvation is from the Jews” by Roy H. Schoeman? If you have, what did you think?
 
I like the book very much. Roy show me just how much God is faithful to His word and how much evil can be evil. I give it 👍 👍 two thumbs up.
 
I have read it and have used it for reference many times. It is especially revealing how Roy Schoeman links today’s events in the Middle East to WWII Germany.

PF
 
I am reading it now. It would make a great “text book” for a small class/discussion. His conversion story is fantastic! I mailed a copy of his story and book to my children.
 
I’m thinking of purchasing this book, and before I ever do, I look to Amazon for information about what people think of the book I’m interested in. One of the reviews (namely the third one) is mostly negative, and brings to light some rather disappointing info.

I’ll quote the review here:
2/5:
Although Roy Schoeman appears to have a very worthy goal – exploring the Jewish roots of the Catholic faith, especially as they pertain to salvation history – I’m disappointed to say that I can’t recommend this book at all.

For one thing, the author presents a number of speculative ideas that don’t appear to have any basis in Catholic teaching. For instance, he tries to make the case for a separate “Hebrew Catholic community” within the Church, with its own liturgies, etc. This wouldn’t just be for reasons of ethnic identity (as in, say, a Polish Catholic parish), but also for spiritual ones. He suggests that God might desire this type of separation, as a way to preserve and promote the distinctive “Jewish charism,” or “leaven” – whatever that is. Along the same lines, he also puts forth the notion that Jewish Catholics have “particular qualities and characteristics,” given to them by God, which make them different from Gentile Catholics. This sounds very creepy and un-Christian to me. It smacks of ethnic chauvinism. Saying, “all Jews, as a group, have certain uniquely good qualities,” makes no more sense than saying, “all Jews, as a group, have certain uniquely bad qualities.”

Then there’s his concept that “the New Covenant is fulfilled in the Old,” which is a complete reversal of the traditional Catholic belief. Judging by the lack of references, he seems to be making this, and many of his other ideas, up out of whole cloth. (On the back cover blurb, two fellow converts from Judaism, David Moss and Ronda Chervin, note that he “weaves together fascinating speculations,” “some of which most have never heard before.”) These sorts of novelties have no place in a popular work of this type. When Catholics buy books from Ignatius Press, they’re looking for reliable information, not bizarre new theories from someone who doesn’t even appear to have any formal training in Catholic theology.

I was also very troubled by the fact that Mr. Schoeman repeatedly refers to “the Arabs,” en masse, as being violent and anti-Semitic. In saying this, he tragically ignores the peaceful voices of many people in the Arab world. (For example, see Father Elias Chacour’s “Blood Brothers,” in which a self-described “Arab Palestinian Melkite Catholic priest who is an Israeli citizen” tells the inspiring story of how he’s worked together with his Christian, Muslim, and Jewish neighbors to forge bonds of love and mutual understanding.) The author even alleges (p. 255) that the Arabs (yep, all of 'em) are controlled by the devil – a slander that was, of course, directed at the Jews in centuries past. Talk about fanning the flames of bigotry and hatred. Mr. Schoeman, have you learned nothing from all those history books you’ve read?

Jesus Christ, our salvation, came from the Jews, but He now lives in the Church… and the Church does not judge or discriminate between people on the basis of their ethnic background. I wish all of Her members could say the same.
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Could some of you confirm whether or not this is a good or accurate review or interpretation of what Schoeman writes in Salvation Is From The Jews?

Pax Christi,
tony
 
I’d recommend visiting Schoeman’s web site by the same name as his book. Then visit the audio section and listen to some of his presentations and guest appearances (many on EWTN).

The Steve Wood interview is particularily enlightening.
 
Could some of you confirm whether or not this is a good or accurate review or interpretation of what Schoeman writes in Salvation Is From The Jews?
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This is a thoroughly inaccurate review. I can’t imagine what this person’s complaint is based upon. I have read this book 5 times and can say, without hesitation, it is completely Catholic. Shoeman has been a guest on Catholic Answers, Kresta in the Afternoon, and many other EWTN programs. His references to the “Hebrew Catholic Community” are nothing more than an exploration of what it means to convert from Judaism to Catholicism. David Moss, who is the brother of Rosalind Moss (often heard on EWTN and herself a convert) is the head of an organization of Jewish Converts. Perhaps the reviewer was uncomfortable with Shoeman’s discussions about OT rituals being fulfilled in the NT and how Jewish converts have come to a deeper appreciation of their old traditions. I highly, highly recommend this book. It completely enriched my faith.
 
I loved the book. I do find the theory that Satan is targeting the Jewish people for extinction to prevent the fulfillment of Paul’s prophecy compelling. The connection between the Third Reich and Satanism is hair raising. Living in California for much of my life I have had many friends and acquaintences that are Jewish–primarily reformed. Virtually all identified themselves as ethnic Jews and otherwise atheist. It is so postive and refreshing to read the spirit filled belief by this man
who has found Christ in the context of his Jewishness just like the first several thousand Christians. Christ has a plan for the Jews. St. Paul said it, this book says it. Thats very Catholic to me.
 
What bothers me is when the reviewer writes about how Roy mentions that “the New Covenant is fulfilled in the Old,” and how that troubled him. Does Roy say such a thing? If so, perhaps it is a proof-text/misunderstanding.
 
Ignatius Press is coming out w/ this in audio book form . . . . in the not too distant future.
 
havemercy said:
What bothers me is when the reviewer writes about how Roy mentions that “the New Covenant is fulfilled in the Old,” and how that troubled him. Does Roy say such a thing? If so, perhaps it is a proof-text/misunderstanding.
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I believe it is most often attributed to Augustine who says someting like,

The New Testament is concealed in the Old and the Old is revealed in the New. paraphrased.
 
Mijoy2 said:
I believe it is most often attributed to Augustine who says someting like,

The New Testament is concealed in the Old and the Old is revealed in the New. paraphrased.
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Well, if that is the case then this reviewer simply can’t read. Because the Church teaches what Augustine did in this respect.
 
havemercy said:
What bothers me is when the reviewer writes about how Roy mentions that “the New Covenant is fulfilled in the Old,” and how that troubled him. Does Roy say such a thing? If so, perhaps it is a proof-text/misunderstanding.
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What he says is not a paraphrase of Augustine’s famous quote as some of the readers thought. It is a completely different idea. He is saying (if I understand him) that as the New Covenant fulfilled the Old Covenant, so too - perhaps - at the end of the age - by the ingrafting of the now believing Jews back into the Church and New Covenant people of God (who otherwise have been in a state of apostasy), the New Covenant will be perfected & consumated by the Old Covenant (people).

That is a new idea although it does have a solid basis in Rom. 11.
 
I had the chance to see Roy Schoeman speak a couple of weeks ago. He’s got an amazing testimony. I bought this book but haven’t had a chance to start it yet.
 
Just about a year ago Roy Schoeman emailed me re: my inquiry, and said this book is ready to be produced on cd, as he himself read it for Ignatius Press. And then I asked Ig.Press about this and they responded that yes it would come out on cd soon. I am still waiting.
 
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