The Jewish Theological Seminary
Speakers Bureau
Name: Stephen Garfinkel
Title: Assistant Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages; Dean of Academic Affairs; Walter and Sarah Schlesinger Dean of The Graduate School
Department: Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages
Stephen Garfinkel is the Walter and Sarah Schlesinger Dean of The Graduate School, dean of Academic Affairs, and assistant professor of Bible at The Jewish Theological Seminary. During his tenure as dean of The Graduate School, Dr. Garfinkel has worked to enhance fellowship support for graduate students and has accomplished a significant increase in the school's enrollment. He also serves as vice chair of the Council on Graduate Studies in Religion.
Dr. Garfinkel's scholarly publications have appeared in a variety of journals, including Vetus Testamentum, Conservative Judaism, and the Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society. In 2000, his essay "Clearing Peshat and Derash" was published in Hebrew Bible / Old Testament: The History of Its Interpretation (edited by Magne Sæbø). Dr. Garfinkel also published an essay titled "Moses: Man of Israel, Man of God" in Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary (edited by David Lieber), and he has written about Ecclesiastes in his article "Qoheleth: The Philosopher Means Business" (in Bringing the Hidden to Light: Studies in Honor of Stephen A. Geller, edited by Kathryn Kravitz and Diane Sharon).
Dr. Garfinkel received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree and rabbinic ordination from JTS. He later received a second master's degree and the degrees of MPhil and PhD in Middle East languages and cultures from Columbia University. He was also awarded the DHL, honoris causa, from JTS.
Biography
Lectures
"How True Is the Torah?"
"How to Read the Bible and How Not To"
"Moses and God: Face to Face"
"Biblical Prophecy: Why It Began and Why It Ended"
"Qohelet [Ecclesiastes]: Pessimist or Optimist?"
"A Convincing Prophet: The Persuasive Techniques of Amos"
Topics
The Conservative Movement
Classical Jewish Texts
Modes of Biblical Interpretation
Prophecy