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Religious 'Treasure' To Get Honor

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN

mbearden@tampatrib.com

Published: February 28, 2009

Amy-Jill Levine

You need to take a deep breath when you describe the 2009 winner of the Eternal Light Award from the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University.

She's Amy-Jill Levine, a noted scholar on the New Testament and a champion in the fight against bigotry and prejudice. She describes herself as a "Yankee Jewish feminist who teaches in a predominately Protestant divinity school in the buckle of the Bible belt."

Rabbi James Rudin, a previous winner and CCJS board member, has his own description:

"A true original," says Rudin. "A rare treasure."

Every year since 1999, the center - a collaboration of Saint Leo and the American Jewish Committee - has honored an individual for outstanding contributions to the fields of interfaith relations and human rights. Rudin says Levine, who teaches at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, clearly fits that bill.

"She has lent her time, talent and energy to building human bridges of mutual respect and knowledge between Christians and Jews," he says.

And there's no better time. Pope Benedict XVI caused quite an ugly buzz earlier this year when he lifted the excommunication of Bishop Richard Williamson. The British native has claimed that reports about the Holocaust were exaggerated and that no Jews died in Nazi gas chambers. In fact, in a Jan. 21 interview with Swedish television, he said there were "no gas chambers" at all.

Outrage was swift and global, particularly among Jewish religious leaders. Williamson has since written an apology to the pope for causing "distress and problems." And on his blog, he has asked for forgiveness for his "intemperate" remarks. However, he hasn't rescinded them.

The late Pope John Paul II spent a considerable amount of his papacy trying to ease the strained relations between the Vatican and Jews. Benedict's move seemed a setback, and he tried to counter the outcry by telling Jewish leaders that "any denial or minimization of this terrible crime is intolerable." But nonetheless, the reinstatement of Williamson stands.

I asked Levine to weigh in on the controversy. She provided a diplomatic answer.

She says that while interfaith understandings - and misunderstandings - take place among religious leaders, "major work is accomplished on the local level." What leaders declare only can be effective if the members of the group accept their teachings.

"People at the local level can influence the leaders to correct unfortunate or ambiguous statements," she says. "I have kvetched at religious leaders - from the World Council of Churches to the global Anglican communion to various Jewish organizations - when I think they could do more to foster interfaith understanding. Sometimes, the kvetching works."

Perhaps the Eternal Light committee needs to invite both the pope and Williamson to the dinner and listen to what Levine has to say.

We have enough problems in this world fighting among ourselves when it comes to all things divine. The word "respect" comes to my mind when I consider people of other faiths. Kudos to people like Levine - and the organization honoring her - for taking those steps on the local level that change how we deal with each other.

She says being honest about our questions and our answers, and coming to the conversation as equals rather than victims or perpetrators, goes a long way. Only then are we able to find truth, see beauty or take inspiration in our neighbor's tradition.

Levine will be honored March 8 at the Bethany Center in Lutz. Tickets range from $5,000 for a patron (a seating of eight) to $250 for individuals. For more information, call (352) 588-8264 or visit www.centerfor catholicjewishstudies.org.

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