Yair Zakovitch | |
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יאיר זקוביץ | |
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| Born | 1945 (age 79–80) Haifa, Mandatory Palestine |
| Alma mater | Hebrew University of Jerusalem (professor emeritus) |
| Known for | Biblical 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.
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 ]
