Then and Now
In the Babylonian Talmud, authority comes in variety of flavors. Sometimes a tradition, heard from and cited in the name of a teacher, carries the day. At other times, logic wins. The behavior of a rabbi, the opinion of an expert, or the common … [Continue reading] about One pesuk, two pesuk, three pesukim more…
I have now added two new syllabi: "Faith and Violence", a first-year seminar, and "The Talmud." … [Continue reading] about New Syllabi
I am happy to announce a new article that I have just published on pedagogy. Here is the abstract: During my career, I have regularly taught a survey course on the history of Jews and Judaism in the Persian, Greek, and early Roman periods (ca. 520 … [Continue reading] about New Article on Pedagogy
I am presently reading Daniel Kahneman's engaging book, Thinking, Fast and Slow. Kahneman, who won a Nobel Prize in Economics (!) for his collaborative work with Amos Tversky that helped to develop the field of behavioral economics, gained notice … [Continue reading] about Music for Learning
I have been struggling recently with the biblical account of Jacob’s last testament to his sons and their descendents, found in Genesis 49:1-27. I am hardly the first. As many commentators have already noted, this is one of the most … [Continue reading] about Judah or Joseph? The Riddle of Jacob’s Testament