Jewish Woman Heads Catholic Biblical Association for the First Time

Jewish professor Amy-Jill Levine has become the first person in history to lead the Catholic Biblical Association of the USA. The New Testament scholar will serve as president of the organization for 2026–2027. This was reported by Life Site News.

The association's leadership particularly emphasized Levine's authority in Rome. In 2019, she became the first Jewish scholar to teach the New Testament at the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Pope Francis has received the scholar in private audiences at the Vatican on three occasions.

One of Levine's primary goals as president is to combat traditional interpretations of the New Testament that she describes as anti-Jewish. In her view, Catholic clergy still rely on outdated seminary commentaries from years past rather than the latest research into the historical context of the life of Jesus Christ, the Pharisees, and the authors of the Gospels.

"I plan to put these quality materials into the hands of those who preach to parishioners, as well as teachers in parish schools who instruct teenagers and young children," Amy-Jill Levine told journalists. "No one has done this yet."

The new president of the association describes herself as "a guest in this house." According to Levine, her approach does not challenge the dogmas of Catholicism, but merely examines the human and historical environment in which Christianity emerged. She is convinced that historical analysis deepens Catholic theology through a serious engagement with the human nature of Christ.

Amy-Jill Levine has a distinguished career in academia and in the field of Jewish-Christian dialogue. She has written and edited more than 20 books, including The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus and The Bible With and Without Jesus. Levine is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and holds six honorary doctoral degrees.

As the Union of Orthodox Journalists reported, the president of Argentina, who converted to Judaism, received Communion at the Vatican.

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