Dr. Amy-Jill Levine presented “Understanding Jesus Means Understanding Jewish Practice and Belief”
September 2026 – Drew University’s Caspersen School of Graduate Studies hosted its annual Fall Arts & Letters Salon for a timely conversation on antisemitism.
The virtual event featured a keynote address by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine titled “Understanding Jesus Means Understanding Jewish Practice and Belief.”
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Photo Credit: Daniel DuBois
Levine currently serves as the Hartford International University for Religion and Peace’s Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies and the Vanderbilt University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita, and Professor of New Testament Studies Emerita.
Levine took the audience through the presentation’s underlying theme of avoiding introducing and reinforcing Jew-hatred in teaching and preaching by covering everything from the impact certain grammar, translation, punctuation, and definitions can have on perpetuating antisemitism to what she framed as “mistakes” in widespread understanding of both Jesus as an historical and religious figure, and in traditional Jewish beliefs.
In answering an audience question on word usage and phraseology, Levine noted the broader implications of many points of her talk. “This is why political arguments go so wonky—because we’re using words in different ways or we’re being insensitive to how words are being used.”
Levine was asked about her experiences “being the person to name the harm against yourself” that she dissects in her work.
Levine began by noting that if she can make an impact on just one person at a time, her efforts feel worthwhile. She then spoke of hoping to avoid “special pleading” as an advocate for populations she doesn’t belong to herself.
“I find allyship most effective. If I say it, it’s special pleading. But if an Irish Catholic says it or a Black Baptist says it or a Hispanic Presbyterian says it, it’s no longer special pleading, it’s fact. So if I can get more people to say, ‘I heard this lesson from A.J. Levine and you, Father Smith, who just said this, you probably ought not to say that,’—good! It’s things like that that make me happy. It’s knowing that, actually, some people will listen. The fact that you all were willing to take time out of an evening to spend time with me, that means something.”
Susan Chang Saridakis G’27, a candidate for the Doctor of Letters in Writing and Studies in Religion in Drew’s Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, helped organize the event after connecting with Levine at one of Levine’s talks in New York City.
“This event was important because it focused on the value of learning about other peoples’ perspectives so we can be more supportive, understanding, and effective in how we conduct ourselves in the world,” she said.
Professor of Music and Program Director of Arts & Letters Leslie Sprout highlighted the importance of sponsoring events such as this one to bring together students, alumni, and faculty from both the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies and the Theological School.
“Dr. Levine’s talk was meaningful for people of all backgrounds to hear,” said Sprout. “Her message of vigilance against casual use of caricature and unthinking propagation of antisemitic stereotypes is relevant to academics as well as religious practitioners.” She reported that the affiliations of the forty people in attendance were split roughly equally between the two schools.
Drew Theological School Edmund S. Janes Professor of New Testament Studies Stephen Moore remarked, “Over the decades, Dr. Levine has helped hundreds of churches to preach, teach, and think non-antisemitically about the New Testament; and that accumulated wisdom and how-to practicality was fully on display in her Drew lecture. It contained enough content for an entire lecture series, but her rapid-fire, witty presentational style kept her audience engaged and even entertained.”
Earlier this year, the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies hosted its Spring Arts & Letters Salon with a theme of Paying Attention. The event featured a panel of DLitt students and recent alums, including Carron Ankiel G’02,’26, Jennifer Grehan G’26, Keturah Haferkamp G’26, Rebecca Mir G’26, and Jennifer Toriello G’06,’26.
The event was sponsored by the Arts & Letters, Conflict Resolution, and Jewish Studies Programs.
