The Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies is proud to announce that this year's Eternal Light Award Dinner honoree will be Dr. Amy-Jill Levine.  Be sure to join us for the annual celebration on the evening of March 8, 2009 at Michael's on East in Sarasota as we recognize Dr. Levine's significant scholarly contribution to Christian Jewish understanding. 
 
Amy-Jill Levine is E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School, Department of Religious Studies, and Graduate Department of Religion.  She has held office in the Society of Biblical Literature, the Catholic Biblical Association, and the Association for Jewish Studies.  Her most recent publications include The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006), the edited collection, The Historical Jesus in Context (Princeton University Press, 2006) and the fourteen-volume series, Feminist Companions to the New Testament and Early Christian Writings (Continuum).  

Dr. Levine is also familiar to many for her contribution to "Walking God's Paths: Christians and Jews in Candid Conversation," a six part video-based interfaith dialogue and education series intended for use by Catholic and Jewish congregations led by knowledgeable clergy and facilitators. The Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies has been privileged to provide support and encouragement for "Walking God's Paths" in our communities. Much of the success of the program is due to the invaluable contribution of Dr. Levine and others.

The Eternal Light Dinner on March 8, 2009 is not only a time to recognize champions of interfaith dialogue, but an opportunity for us to recommit ourselves to our shared mission of promoting dialogue and mutual understanding between Catholics and Jews and all people of good will. The evening always proves to be an occasion of blessed fellowship. We hope you will join us.