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As to the Jewish denial of Isaiah 53 as referring to Jesus, I would say this is described by Paul in Romans 11:8 "Just as it is written, 'GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.'" - A reference to Deuteronomy 29:4 describing the unbelief of the Jews during their time in the wilderness.

Interesting comment on Isaiah 53. The problem I see is that many Jews will see this passage as ONLY national Israel and not the Messiah, and have denied any connection to Messiah. And Christians see this as ONLY Christ, and not the Israel.

This is why it is wise for Christians to become students of rabbinic writings. They may discover things about the Bible that their theology has blinded them to. At the time of the Reformation, before Luther's blatant anti-Semitism, many seminaries in Europe were starting Talmudic studies because they were amazed at the breadth of understanding rabbinic writings contained.

As for Isaiah 53, Judaism, like Christianity, many times defines itself as "other than." The plain truth is that Christianity so hung its hat on Isaiah 53, that Judaism must answer. Historical Christianity has done the same, denouncing Moses and the Law, to define themselves as other than Judaism.

The reality is that it is not the cherry picking of passages like Isaiah 53 that best speaks of Messiah... but all the TaNaKh itself (Luke 24:27). The problem is that the Hebrew Scriptures are so foreign to Christians (they think of them as stories) - even to Christian scholars - that they cannot see the Messiah in them, while Judaism declares: "All the world exists for Messiah..."

For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? Jn 5:46-47