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October 21, 2025

The Book of Genesis Through the Lens of Ancient Biblical Interpretation

Dr. Chanan Gafni

Dr. Chanan Gafni

Chanan Gafni Studied at the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, while earning his academic degrees from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (MA) and Harvard University (PhD). He currently teaches at Hebrew University and Midreshet Lindenbaum. His publications include The Mishnah’s Plain Sense (2011), and most recently: Conceptions of the Oral Law in Modern Jewish Scholarship (2019).

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This course introduces participants to the rich and diverse world of ancient Jewish biblical exegesis—traditions and texts often overlooked in conventional study settings. We will explore a variety of lesser-known interpretive sources, including the Apocrypha, Jewish Hellenistic literature, ancient translations, early poetic traditions, as well as the systems of biblical vowels and cantillation marks.

Each session will focus on a distinct type of source, highlighting its unique contribution to the understanding of the weekly Parasha.

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Session 4

Session 5