A RENOWNED scholar from Broughton Park is holding an event to launch her new book about Judaism in the middle ages.

Dr Irene Lancaster has written a book about Jewish academic Abraham ibn Ezra, a 12th-century expert in the Hebrew bible.

Ibn Ezra was a medieval pioneer of Jewish-Muslim dialogue and was also a poet, astronomer and scientist,

Dr Lancaster’s book has been adopted onto the curriculum of the theology department at the University of Aberdeen, one of the best theology faculties in the country.

The book, Deconstructing the Bible, is the first attempt to present a complete account of ibn Ezra and Dr Lancaster says the book may have important lessons for religious interaction today.

Irene, who spent time in Israel, said: "In an age of violence, ibn Ezra showed that Jewish and Muslim believers could meet together in peace, and learn from one another.

"He was a pioneer of religious interface and I think that it is especially important today."

Dr Lancaster’s book will have its official launch in Sedgley Park Community Library on Monday, April 27 at 7pm

The library is a small "outreach" library run by Bury Council in the heart of a local community where Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities live alongside one another.

Irene said: "I work quite closely with Reverend Steve Williams in Sedgley Park and he has been so helpful in getting this book launch up and running and I must offer my thanks to him for that."

Dr Irene Lancaster has close links with the Centre for Jewish Studies in the University of Manchester - and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts for her international inter-faith work in the field of Jewish-Muslim-Christian relations.

The launch will be held in the Sedgley Park Community Library, in the community rooms of St Gabriel’s, Bishops Road, Prestwich, on Monday, April 27 at 7.30pm.

For information, email: lirene@013.net