In a first, Jewish scholar elected to lead Catholic Biblical Association

The first Jewish president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America (CBA) — Old and New Testament scholar Amy-Jill Levine — intends to strengthen resources for educators and to build partnerships with parishes for guidelines about Scripture, she told EWTN News.

Levine was elected by a vote of CBA members at the organization’s annual general meeting in August for a one-year term. She has been a CBA member since 1988. She had served as the vice president in the previous term and earlier served as a consultor for the executive board and held editorial positions for CBA’s scholarly journal, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly .

Although the association is open to scholars of any religious faith, the president is typically a Catholic. Levine told EWTN News she was stunned to be elected to the role but expressed gratitude for the position.

“When I received notice from the chair of the nominating committee, I emailed another member to ask if this were a joke,” she said. “I was more than surprised, I was stunned. I was also, and remain, honored and grateful.”

Levine has served on several CBA task forces and continuing seminars, participated on panels, and presided over…