Amy-Jill Levine named first Jewish president of Catholic Biblical Association

Amy-Jill Levine has been appointed as the first Jewish president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America (CBAA). A scholar of New Testament and Jewish studies, Levine is a professor emerita at Vanderbilt University and currently serves at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace.

Following the announcement, Levine faced antisemitic backlash on social media, with some critics labeling her ‘anti-Christian’. In response, the CBAA leadership issued a statement expressing shock at the vitriol, asserting that her appointment is based on her academic excellence and her significant role in Catholic-Jewish dialogue rather than her religion.

Bishop Joseph Bambera, chair of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, also issued a letter of support, describing the appointment as a ‘historic moment’ that celebrates the interfaith nature of biblical scholarship. Levine, an Orthodox Jew, has dedicated her career to improving mutual understanding between Christians and Jews, emphasizing that historical research shows the two faiths can learn much from one another.