Book Review The Misunderstood Jew by Amy Jill Levine.pdf

Book Review: The Misunderstood Jew by Amy-Jill Levine
Amy-Jill Levine is the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New
Testament Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville,
Tennessee. Raised and still a practising Orthodox Jew, she became
interested in Christianity and especially Catholicism as a child, as she was
raised in a Catholic neighbourhood in Massachusetts, and all her friends
were Catholic. When another student on her school bus called her a
‘Jesus killer’, Levine as a young girl decided to discover the ways that
Christianity had distorted Jesus and perpetuated anti Jewish and anti-
Semitic teachings.
With each chapter of the book, Professor Levine looks at Jesus and
Judaism, the development of Jewish sect to Gentile Church, the New
Testament and anti-Judaism, stereotyping Judaism and more. She
delves into the historical context of the good Samaritan, the
Samaritan woman at the well, the man with the withered hand, other
parables, the Our Father and many more stories that we teach within
our classrooms. The book may serve as an invaluable corrective for
some religious educators.
Just a few inclusions that I found fascinating in the book:
Amy-Jill Levine
Photo: Daniel Dubois
• To remember that the gospels, even though we as 21 st
readers can get so much out of the stories, were really written for 1 st Century Palestinians,
who were familiar with the Old Testament stories – for example, when hearing the story of
the Prodigal Son story, first century Palestinians know about sons and brothers and sibling
rivalry from their own story – Jacob and Esau, Isaac and Ishmael, Cain and Abel.
• What did Jesus wear? Levine discusses that Jesus would have worn the tzitzit “fringes”
which the Book of Numbers requires of all Jewish men. Some still wear these fringes today.
These tzitzit may be compared to the WWJD bracelets and just as these bracelets remind us
Christians of what Jesus would do so do the fringes remind Jewish wearers of the 613
commandments. The story of the haemorrhaging woman has her touching Jesus’ fringes. It
is also mentioned in Mk 6:56 and Mt 23:5.
In this wonderful book, Professor Levine helps Christians understand the Jewishness of Jesus, and to
know the historical side to Jesus and the world in which he lived. In doing so, she gently opens up a
new meaning to the New Testament and a historically refined appreciation of Jesus. Her book is full
of humour and good will, easy to read, but each paragraph has so much information about the
historical Jesus that it takes time for the information to settle in. This is wonderful book for APRE’s
to share with their teachers in making sure that as teachers in our classroom we are teaching
appropriately and with inter-religious sensitivity.

Levine has worked on a number of books with Marcus Borg, Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan
editing books such as the Cambridge Bible Companion, and a series on feminist companions to each
of the gospels. The Misunderstood Jew has opened my eyes to the respect I need to hold when
teaching New Testament to adults and students. Jesus’ own Jewish practices should be honoured
and shown respect, as well as explored to fully understand the life of Jesus and his message of the
Kingdom of God.
I have found this book to be an invaluable teaching tool where I have been able to re-look at stories I
have known my whole life through fresh eyes. Levine brings to this book a wealth of knowledge of
the Old Testament which influences the New Testament, as well as a great deal of knowledge of 1 st
and 2 nd century Palestine.
I highly recommend this book to those interested in gaining a better understanding of Jesus and the
scriptures especially those who teach students and adults.
Erin Wedge