On Becoming a Biblical Scholar

For Shavuot 5781, the 8^th anniversary of TheTorah.com, we invited scholars to answer the following questions:

• What were the circumstances—familial, social, intellectual, religious—that influenced your choice to pursue biblical studies?
• Has your involvement in the field affected the nature of your religious beliefs and behavior, and if so, how?

This is a developing series: New reflections will be added over time.

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Banner image: Hebrew Bible, Spain, 1300–1350. Metmuseum.org

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Contributors

Adventure Awaits Those Willing to Study Bible Critically

Prof.

Nili Wazana

Theologically and Politically Inspired by the Bible

Prof.

Marvin A. Sweeney

Judaism Intellectually Alive: Scholarship and Rabbinate Intertwined

Prof. Rabbi

Pamela Barmash

Historical-Critical Scholarship Alone Does Not Constitute “Torah”

Prof.

Jon D. Levenson

Tanakh and My Search for Jewish Identity

Prof.

Carl S. Ehrlich

Between Heart and Mind: On Being an Observant Academic Bible Scholar

Prof.

Adele Berlin

Kiyyum Mitzvot and Biblical Criticism: Holding On to the One Without Letting Go of the Other (Eccl. 7:18)

Prof.

Baruch J. Schwartz

From “Kosher Cop” to Academic Bible Scholar

Prof.

Marc Zvi Brettler

Studying and Teaching the Bible as an Atheist

Prof.

Yairah Amit