In this research project, I will examine a new modality in interreligious dialogue and comparative religion stemming from recent and ongoing encounters between Jewish and Hindu faith leaders and academics. A central theme in Hindu-Jewish encounters is that the teachings and practices of Hinduism and Judaism are grounded in and aim to preserve the history, land, and language of these two ethno-religious groups and traditions, unlike other traditions that are missionizing and therefore aim towards absorbing other cultures. The Sanskrit dharma (»uphold«, »support«, »nourish«) encompasses the religious and moral law which governs human conduct. Likewise, the Hebrew halacha, (»go« or »walk«) comprises the »way« a Jew is directed to behave in every aspect of life. Dharma and Halacha represent an important principle that link Judaism and Hinduism, namely, the primacy of performing religious actions such as purity regulations and conduct in every aspect of daily life. Jewish and Hindu orthopraxy does not diminish the significance of personal beliefs, philosophy, and theology; rather, these are shaped by, and follow the performative dimension and daily worship and practices in these traditions. This modality provides an alternative to the more dominant paradigm of comparative religion, which privileges certain categories of analysis such as belief, faith, and theology over others, such as rituals.
Furthermore, I will evaluate the recent interreligious encounters of Jewish and Hindu faith leaders that led to historical declarations by the Jewish representatives affirming that Hindus accept One Supreme Being, and denying that the physical representations of deities used in worship are idols. (Yudit Kornberg Greenberg)