Florida International University
February 28, 1996
To Whom It May Concern:
I have read with great interest Bill Glick's manuscript, The Rabbi and I and I
find it a thoughtful, provocative piece of work.
As someone who has worked in the general area of Indo-Judaic studies for a
number of years, I find much new material in the manuscript, Glick has culled
Judaic mystical literature and found striking parallels in Hinduism, Gaudiya
Vaishnavism in particular.
Much of what he writes in on the mark While I remain unconvinced of his central
thesis-that Judaism and Hinduism stem from a common source he calls
Vedic--nevertheless many of the parallels he has unearthed are tantalizing and
essentially accurate. Rather than postulate a common source, I might attribute
these affinities either to historical borrowing indeed, there has been many more
interactions between India and Judaic civilizations then is commonly supposed or
to inherent similarities of the human mind.
I commend his manuscript as a thoughtful exploration of a tantalizing theme.
Sincerely,
Nathan Katz
Professor and Chair
Department of Religious Studies
University Park, Miami, Florida 33199 (305)348-2186 ETDD,
via FRS E-800955E877l FAX (305)348-3605
Equal opportunity Equal Access Employer and Institution