Michelle
J.
Levine
Professor of Bible
Beren campus - Stanton Hall (245 Lexington)
Room#604
Dr. Michelle Levine is a tenured Professor of Bible in the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College for Women since 2001. She is also faculty member of the GPATS graduate program, Tanach Studies. She holds a BA (Summa cum Laude with honors) from Brooklyn College, an MS in Bible from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and a PhD in medieval biblical exegesis and medieval Jewish history from New York University. She also studied at Michlalah Teacher’s College in Israel. She served as the Jewish Studies curriculum coordinator on the Board of Education for Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY, for twelve years. She is a former faculty member of the Stella K. Abraham Yeshiva High School for Girls (SKA).
Dr. Levine teaches undergraduate advanced and honors courses at Stern College and at GPATS graduate program, on medieval and post-medieval biblical exegesis, including the commentaries of Rashi and Rashbam, Ramban (his literary approach to biblical narratives), Sforno, and Malbim, and on topics and books of Tanakh, including the Creation Narrative in the Book of Genesis, Women in Genesis, Exile and Redemption in the Book of Exodus, Moses' Leadership in the Book of Exodus, The Wilderness Narratives in the Books of Exodus and Numbers, and on the Books of Judges, Isaiah, Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Daniel. She also teaches theme-based courses on Poetry in the Bible and the Symbolism of Clothing in the Bible. Dr. Levine serves as a mentor for honors theses on topics in the Bible and biblical exegesis. Her research interests focus particularly on Ramban's biblical commentary. Her recent research includes a study of this commentator's literary analysis of biblical narratives, particularly his analysis of the literary strategies by which the Torah portrays the biblical figures as well as his structural analysis of the pattern and design of biblical narrative. In addition, her research focuses on Ramban's literary perspective of the Bible's songs and poems, including his close readings of the Song of the Sea and his keen understanding of the dynamics of biblical imagery, metaphor and simile. Dr. Levine lectures widely to synagogues and learning groups in the United States and Israel on topics on Tanakh and biblical exegesis. She has also been teaching a weekly adult lecture series on Tanakh and biblical exegesis in Queens, NY, over two decades.
Dr. Levine received doctoral dissertation fellowships from the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture and from the (National) Foundation for Jewish Culture. She has been awarded the E. Billi Ivry Summer Research Grant twice. In May 2011, Dr. Levine was awarded the Senior Class Jewish Studies Professor of the Year Award.
Books
Naḥmanides on Genesis: The Art of Biblical Portraiture, Brown Judaic Studies 350 (Brown University Press, 2009/2010) Reviewed by George Savran in: Review of Biblical Literature by the Society of Biblical Literature (March 2013)
Navigating Wilderness: Ramban’s Commentary on the Exodus and Numbers Narratives (Kodesh Press, 2025)
Articles
"Parshas Shemos" in: Torah Insights: Divrei Torah on the Parshiot Hashavua by Leading Rabbis and Teachers, eds. Rabbi Bertram Leff and Yisroel Epstein (New York: Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, 2000), 79-80.
“Maimonides' Philosophical Exegesis of the Nobles' Vision (Exodus 24): A Guide for the Pursuit of Knowledge” Torah u-Madda Journal 11 (2002-03): 61-106.
“The Inner World of Biblical Character Explored in Nahmanides' Commentary on Genesis” Journal of Jewish Studies 56/2 (Autumn 2005): 306-334.
“Nahmanides’ Literary Approach to Biblical Narrative: Varied Repetition in the Joseph Story” Torah u-Madda Journal 13 (2005): 88-127.
"From Darkness to Light, From Slavery to Redemption" in: Pesach To-Go (New York: Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future, 2009), 39-46.
“Ramban on the Dynamics of the Biblical Dialogue in the Book of Genesis” in: Between Rashi and Maimonides: Themes in Medieval Jewish Thought, Literature and Exegesis, eds. Ephraim Kanarfogel and Moshe Sokolow (New York: Yeshiva University Press, 2010), 365-399.
"The Cognitive, Emotional, and Sensory Experience of the Yamim Nora'im: The Message of the Akedah" in: Rosh Hashana To-Go (New York: Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future, 2010), 31-39.
“Va-Yera: The Potency of Prayer" in: Mitokh Ha-Ohel: Essays on the Weekly Parashah from the Rabbis and Professors of Yeshiva University, eds. Daniel Feldman and Stuart Halpern (New York: Michael Scharf Publication Trust of Yeshiva University Press, 2010), 45-60.
“Nahamu Nahamu Ami: Finding Comfort in Exile” in: Tisha Be-Av To Go (New York: Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future, 2011), 34-43.
“Yeshayahu’s Call to Prophecy and Ma’amad Har Sinai” in: From Within the Tent: The Haftarot: Haftarot Mi-Tokh Ha-Ohel- Essays on the Weekly Haftarah Reading from the Rabbis and Professors of Yeshiva University, eds. Daniel Feldman and Stuart Halpern (New York: Michael Scharf Publication Trust of Yeshiva University Press, 2011), 147-62.
“Character, Characterization, and Intertextuality in Naḥmanides’s Commentary on Biblical Narrative” Hebrew Studies 53 (2012):121-142.
“Moshe Rabbenu at Ma’amad Har Sinai: Ascending and Descending the Mountain” Shavuot To Go (New York: Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future, May 2012), 24-31.
“Ramban’s Integrative Approach to the Reading of Biblical Narrative” Conversations: Where the Yeshiva Meets the University: Traditional and Academic Approaches to Tanakh Study, edited by Rabbi Hayyim J. Angel, Issue 15 (Winter 2013), 154—167.
“The Berakhah of Yotzer Or: The Light of Creation, the Light of Redemption From Within the Tent: The Weekday Prayers [Mi-Tokh Ha-Ohel: Tefillat Chol], eds. Daniel Feldman and Stuart Halpern (New York: Michael Scharf Publication Trust of Yeshiva University Press, 2014), 139—154.
“Havdalah— Emulating God in Mind and Deed: Israel’s Divine Mission and the Quest for Salvation” Havdalah. Mesorah Matrix Series, New Paradigm Matrix Publishing, eds. David Birnbaum, Martin S. Cohen, and Saul J. Berman (New York, 2017), 221—250.
“Ehyeh—The Promise of God’s Perpetual Providence” Ehyeh asher Ehyeh: “I-Will-Be-That-Which-I-Will-Be” [The Personal Name of God]. Mesorah Matrix Series, New Paradigm Matrix Publishing, eds. David Birnbaum, Martin S. Cohen, and Saul J. Berman (New York, 2019), 59—83.
“V’Shamru: Guarding and Preserving the Eternal Covenant of Shabbat” V’Shamru: The Sabbath. Mesorah Matrix Series, New Paradigm Matrix Publishing, eds. David Birnbaum, Martin S. Cohen, and Saul J. Berman (New York, 2019), pp. 47—74.
“Matriarch, Matriarchs, Medieval Judaism” Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (Walter de Gruyter), Volume 18 (2020), 85—89.
“Form and Rhetoric in Biblical Song: Naḥmanides’ Commentary on Song of the Sea (Exod. 15:1—18)” The Torah u-Madda Journal, Volume 18 (2020—21): 131—174.
“Naomi, Medieval Judaism” Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (Walter de Gruyter), Volume 20 (2022), 762—768.
“The Versatile Inventiveness of Biblical Imagery in Ramban’s Torah Commentary” Tradition 54:2 (Spring 2022): 17—54.
“Psalm 83: A Cry to God to Safeguard Our Nation”; “Psalm 8: Gaining Perspective on Man’s Greatness and Nothingness”; “Psalm 57: Seeking Refuge under the Divine Wings of Protection”; “Psalm 104: The Synergy between Man and Nature” The Soul's Refuge: Meditations on the Psalms (Yeshiva University Press/Maggid Books, 2026): 69-72; 93-96; 121-124; 214-217.
“Rachel, Medieval Judaism” Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (Walter de Gruyter), Volume 26 [forthcoming 2026]
“Rebekah, Medieval Judaism” Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (Walter de Gruyter), Volume 26 [forthcoming 2026]
Beren campus - Stanton Hall (245 Lexington)
Room#604