Yair Zakovitch

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Yair Zakovitch
יאיר זקוביץ
Yair Zakovitch.jpg
Born1945 (age 7980)
Haifa, Mandatory Palestine
Alma mater Hebrew University of Jerusalem (professor emeritus)
Known forBibical Research, Israeli Prize winner

Yair Zakovitch (born in 1945) is a biblical scholar and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Bible at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. [1] He is the Israel Prize winner for his achievements in Biblical Studies for the year 2021.

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Biography

Yair Zakovitch grew up in Haifa, the son of a Haifa port worker. [2] He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Haifa, received his Master's degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1972, and in 1978, he completed his doctoral dissertation at the Hebrew University on the topic "On Three and Four: The Literary Pattern of Three-Four in the Bible." [3]

His research fields and publications include literary reading, [4] intra-biblical interpretation, [5] and beliefs and opinions in the Bible, [6] as well as the relationship between post-biblical literature (Second Temple period, rabbinic literature, and early Christianity) and the Bible. [7] [8]

In his research, Zakovitch explores hidden polemics in biblical stories and echoes of ancient traditions that were excluded from the canon. Among other things, Zakovitch believes in two interpretative doctrines for uncovering early traditions: [9] the "Law of Center and Periphery", how marginalized traditions can be traced in less prominent biblical narratives, and the "Safety Valve", the inclusion of alternative perspectives while maintaining the dominant narrative. [10] [11]

Zakovitch served as head of the Bible Department from 1987 to 1989, head of the Mandel Institute for Jewish Studies from 1995 to 1997, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Hebrew University from 1997 to 2001. He also chaired the Bible Studies Committee at the Ministry of Education from 1981 to 1984 and again from 2003 to 2011. [12]

Zakovitch is one of the initiators and founders (with Alan David Hoffmann) of the "Revivim" (Hebrew : רְבִיבִים, lit. '(rain) showers') program for training teachers to teach Jewish Studies. [13] [14] He has served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, [15] the University of California, Berkeley, [15] the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS), [15] and Harvard University. [16] He is a recipient of the Israel Prize for Biblical Studies for the year 2021, [17] [18] a Fellow at the Open University, [19] and an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. [20]

He resides in Givat Yeshayahu, Israel.[ citation needed ]

Books

Articles

References

  1. "Prof. Yair Zakovitch". Huji.ac.il . Archived from the original on 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  2. "Prof. Yair Zakovitch to receive Israel Prize in Bible Studies". Jpost.com . 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  3. ( Zakovitch 1979 )
  4. Stackert, Jeffrey (2014). A Prophet Like Moses: Prophecy, Law, and Israelite Religion. Oxford University Press. p. 56. ISBN   9780199336456.
  5. Henze, Matthias (2012). "Inner-Biblical Interpretation". A Companion to Biblical Interpretation in Early Judaism. Eerdmans. pp. 27–63. ISBN   9780802867100.
  6. Kosior, Wojciech (2014). "Review of *From Gods to God: How the Bible Debunked, Suppressed, or Changed Ancient Myths and Legends*" (PDF). The Polish Journal of Biblical Research. Retrieved 2025-05-21 via WojciechKosior.wordpress.com.
  7. Bock, Andrew. "Review of "And You Shall Tell Your Son"" (PDF). MagnesPress.co.il .
  8. CV from the Israeli Prize official site
  9. ( Zakovitch 1992 )[ page needed ]
  10. ( Zakovitch 2012 )[ page needed ]
  11. ( Zakovitch 1995 )[ page needed ]
  12. "Israel Prize winner Prof. Yair Zakovitch: Bible values remain relevant". Jpost.com . 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  13. "Hoffman New DG of Jewish Agency". Israel National News. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  14. "רביבים" [Revivim]. revivim.huji.ac.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  15. 1 2 3 "Zakovitch, Prof. Yair". Orange County Community Scholars Program – Podcast Network (archive). 2005-02-17. Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  16. "Welcoming New Faculty and Visitors to NELC for 2018-19!". Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations Harvard.edu . Retrieved 2025-05-21.
  17. Kadari-Ovadia, Shira. "Yair Zakovitch, 'one of the world's most original Bible researchers,' to receive Israel Prize". Haaretz.com . Archived from the original on 2022-08-13. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  18. Sheleg, Yair (2021-02-21). ""האתגר הבלשי שלנו הוא לקרוא את התנ"ך בצורה צמודה ומרוכזת"" ["Our detective challenge is to read the Bible closely and in a concentrated manner"]. MakorRishon.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  19. "האוניברסיטה הפתוחה העניקה תואר עמית כבוד לנשיא לשעבר ראובן ריבלין" [The Open University awarded an honorary fellowship to former President Reuven Rivlin]. MakorRishon.co.il (in Hebrew). 2021-12-29. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  20. "2024 Commencement Exercises and Ordination - Jewish Theological Seminary". JTSA.edu . Retrieved 2025-05-20.