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Through a rereading of Heschel’s essay “No Religion Is an Island,” I will highlight his conceptual and methodological contribution, as well as address the issue of Heschel’s legacy and how it continues to challenge us. As one who follows in Heschel’s footsteps I shall move between a description of Heschel and his theoretical contribution and the realities, challenges, and work that lies ahead of us, now and in the future. This may be compared to a thicket of reeds which no man could enter, for whoever entered therein lost his way. What did a certain clever man do? He cut down [some reeds] and entered, then cut down more and penetrated further; thus he entered through the clearing and went out; then all began to enter through his clearing.

This introductory essay is my attempt to offer a reading of the corpus that provides the basis for the essays in the present issue of Contemporary Jewry. The books that form the basis for reflections divide into two categories-collaborative interfaith projects and studies in Jewish theology of religions. Beyond this division, I identify a common approach that is theologically informed and that sees religions as evolving entities that reach toward fulfillment of their higher purpose. I propose application of the term "coevolution," drawn from the field of biology and evolutionary theory but increasingly applied to the social sciences, as a means of describing the interdependence between religions. My application considers coevolution to be purposeful toward a higher goal. In this light, advances in interreligious understanding, collaboration, and theology all contribute not only to a more peaceful society but also to the actual growth in religions toward their own stated spiritual ideals and goals.