: The story begins with a Jesus who was born, lived, and died as a Jew. His primary language was Hebrew or Aramaic, and his daily life revolved around the Shema Israel , the Temple, and the synagogue.

within the Pharisaic tradition. His debates with other Pharisees, often interpreted by later Christian theology as "persecution," were actually standard internal Jewish debates regarding the interpretation of the Law. Sabán even suggests that Jesus was one of Israel's great mystics and cabalists