Jewish-Christian relationship expert Amy-Jill Levine returns Oct. 29 as 2007 Weinstein-Rosenthal lecturer on "Hearing the Parables through Jewish Ears"

October 16, 2007

Amy-Jill Levine, a leading scholar in the Jewish-Christian relationship and elimination of anti-Jewish, sexist and homophobic thought, returns to the University of Richmond Oct. 29 to give the 21st Annual Weinstein-Rosenthal Lecture on “Hearing the Parables through Jewish Ears: The Good Samaritan, The Unfortunate Lawyer and The Jewish Teacher."

A self-described "Yankee Jewish feminist who teaches in a predominantly Protestant divinity school in the buckle of the Bible Belt," Levine is professor of New Testament studies and director of the Carpenter Program in Religion, Gender and Sexuality at Vanderbilt University's divinity school and graduate department of religion.

Levine delivered the 1999 Weinstein-Rosenthal Lecture on "Reading the New Testament through Jewish Eyes." This year's address is scheduled for Camp Concert Hall at 8 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public, with a book signing to follow. For more information, call (804) 289-8326.

"Her work is characterized by historical-critical rigor and literary-critical sensitivity," said Frank E. Eakin Jr., UR's Marcus M. and Carole M. Weinstein and Gilbert M. and Fannie S. Rosenthal Professor of Jewish and Christian Studies. "She couples her academic integrity with a rich sense of humor."

Author of "The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus," published last year, Levine holds a bachelor's degree from Smith College, master's and doctoral degrees from Duke University and an honorary doctor of ministry degree from Richmond. The Mellon Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities and American Council of Learned Studies have all awarded her grants.