The Samaritan Woman Reconsidered

In the gospel of John, Jesus (a Galilean) engages in a most unusual conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well. This Samaritan woman is generally portrayed in Bible studies as a woman of ill repute. While avoiding people because of her deep shame over her immoral life, she seemingly stumbled upon Jesus resting at a well. However, if that is the case, then a nagging question remains: How could this woman, with her poor reputation, receive such an overwhelmingly positive response from her village neighbors when she called them to drop everything and come with her to meet a Jewish man that she herself had just met? Something does not add up.

Don't miss this fascinating conversation! Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg and Dr. Yeshaya Gruber — professors of Jewish history and scripture at the Israel Bible Center – will discuss and argue over the meaning and importance of this encounter in its original historical and cultural context.