Education:

• Ph.D. Princeton University, Religion, 2009
• M.A. Princeton University, Religion, 2007
• M.A. Hebrew University of Jerusalem, History of the Jewish People, 2004, Magna Cum Laude
• B.A. Binghamton University, State University of New York, Economics and Jewish Studies, 1998; Magna Cum Laude and High Honors in Economics

Academic Appointments:

• Editor in Chief, AJS Review: The Journal of the Association for Jewish Studies, July 2024–present
• Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Visiting Professor, May 2022
• University of Michigan, Visiting Associate Professor, Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, Fall 2021
• University of Pennsylvania, Jody Ellant and Howard Reiter Family Fellowship, Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, Spring 2020
• Brown University, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation/American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Postdoctoral Fellow, Recent Doctoral Recipients Fellowship, Early Career Program, 2010–11
• Harvard University, Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica, Alan M. Stroock Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center for Jewish Studies, 2009-10

Research Interests

• Jewish Studies
• Jews and Judaism in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras (4th century B.C.E. through 7th century C.E.)
• Judaism in Late Antiquity
• Classical Rabbinic literature (e.g. Mishnah, Talmud, Midrash)
• Judaism in the Second Temple era
• Hellenistic Jewish Literature
• Archaeology of Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine era Palestine
• Pedagogy in Religious Studies
• Religious ethics and law
• Religion and material culture
• Economic history

Research Areas

• Judaism
• Roman Studies
• Archaeology and Material Culture
• Reception
• Literature
• Culture and Identity
• Law
• Religions

Projects

• Material culture and archaeology of Jews and Judaism in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras
• Wealth, poverty, and philanthropy in classical rabbinic literature and late antique Judaism
• Social history of Jews and Judaism in Antiquity

For my complete CV, please visit https://ubc.academia.edu/GreggGardner

Books:

Gregg E. Gardner, Wealth, Poverty, and Charity in Jewish Antiquity. (Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2022), 302 pages.

• Finalist, 2024 Jordan Schnitzer Book Award, Association for Jewish Studies
• First runner up for all books published in 2021 and 2022 in the category of Biblical Studies, Rabbinics, and Jewish History and Culture in Antiquity
• Winner, 2022 Canadian Jewish Literary Award for Scholarship
• Subject of a book review panel at the 2022 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature in Denver, 11/20/22
• Reviews: The Journal of Religion 103:4 (2023): 578–79; Journal of Interdisciplinary History 54:1 (2023): 118–19; New Testament Abstracts 67, 1 (2023): 156–57; Association for Jewish Studies Review 47(2): 444–45; Studies in Late Antiquity 7,3 (2023): 474–77; Marginalia Review of Books (02/2024); American Historical Review 129, 3 (2024): 1321–22; Journal for the Study of Judaism 56, 1 (2024), 105–108; Reading Religion

Gregg E. Gardner, The Origins of Organized Charity in Rabbinic Judaism (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2015), xvi + 247 pages. Cambridge UP and Amazon

• Reviews: Review of Biblical Literature (08/2016); Marginalia: Los Angeles Review of Books (August 16, 2016); Bryn Mawr Classical Review (2016.08.20); AJS Review 40, 2 (2016; 404–7); H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online (January 2017); Journal of Jewish Ethics 3, 2 (2017; 267–29); Studies in Judaism, Humanities, and the Social Sciences 2, 1 (2018)

Gregg Gardner and Kevin L. Osterloh, eds., Antiquity in Antiquity: Jewish and Christian Pasts in the Greco-Roman World (Texts and Studies in Ancient Judaism 123; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008), viii + 475 pages.

• Reviews:  Bryn Mawr Classical Review (2009.09.73); Journal for the Study of Judaism (41; 2010); Journal for the Study of the Old Testament (33:5; 2009); New Testament Abstracts (53; 2009); Catholic Biblical Quarterly (72; 2010); Studia Historiae Ecclesiasticae (35, 2009), Biblische Zeitschrift (54, 2010), Journal of Ancient Judaism (1, 2010), Journal of Jewish Studies (61, 2010), Salesianum (72, 2010), Revue d’histoire et de philosophie religieuses (90, 2010), Review of Biblical Literature (two reviews: 12/2010 and 02/2012), Journal of Roman Studies (100, 2010), Journal of Semitic Studies (2011), Theologische Literaturzeitung (1; 2011), European Journal of Theology (20, 2011).

Articles

“Objects, Affordances, and Material Histories in Roman Palestine: A Case Study on Northern Collar-Neck Lamps and their Uses in Early Jewish Sources.” Journal of Roman Archaeology 37, 2 (2024): 508–34.

“Conspicuous Construction: New Light on Funerary Monuments in Rural Early Roman Judea from Horvat Midras.” Bulletin of the American Society of Overseas Research 391 (2024): 1–23. Co-authored with Orit Peleg-Barkat.

“Material Culture, Experimentation, and Household Lighting in Early Rabbinic Judaism.” Material Religion: The Journal of Objects, Art and Belief 20, 2 (2024): 176–96.

“Reading Texts with Objects: Rethinking Rabbinic Materiality by the Light of Early Sabbath Laws.” AJS Review: The Journal of the Association for Jewish Studies 48, 1 (2024): 46–76.

“Light, Lamps, and Material Religion in Early Rabbinic Judaism.” Journal of the American Academy of Religion 91, 1 (2023):136–53.

“Tractate Pe’ah (Introduction, Translation, and Notes),” in The Oxford Annotated Mishnah: A New Translation of the Mishnah with Introductions and Notes (ed. S. J. D. Cohen, H. Lapin, and R. Goldenberg. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022), 39–75

“‘No Jew Ever Has to Beg’: Money and Charity in Rabbinic Literature,” in Jews, Money, Myth (ed. J. Rosenthal and M. Volovici; London: Jewish Museum London and Pears Institute for the Study of Antisemitism, Birkbeck, University of London, 2019), 15–21.

“Charity as a Negative Obligation in Early Rabbinic Literature,” in Strength to Strength: Essays in Appreciation of Shaye J. D. Cohen (ed. M. L. Satlow; Brown Judaic Studies 363; Providence, RI: Brown Judaic Studies, 2018), 295–307.

“From the General to the Specific: A Genealogy of ‘Acts of Reciprocal Kindness’ (Gemilut Hasadim) in Rabbinic Literature,” in Religious Studies and Rabbinics: A Conversation (ed. E. S. Alexander and B. A. Berkowitz; Routledge Jewish Studies Series; London and New York: Routledge, 2017), 209–25.

“Talmud for Non-Rabbis: Teaching Graduate Students in the Academy,” in Learning to Read Talmud: What it Looks Like and How it Happens (ed. Jane L. Kanarek and Marjorie Lehman; Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2016), 117–36; peer-reviewed; 7,553 words.

“Reading Between the Strata: Teaching Rabbinic Literature with Material Culture,” Teaching Theology & Religion 19:2 (2016), 189–209; peer-reviewed. 11,958 words

“Pursuing Justice: Support for the Poor in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” Hebrew Union College Annual 2015, Vol. 86 (2016): 37–62; peer-reviewed. 13,848 words.

“Introduction: Competition and Material Culture Through Real and Imagined Spaces,” in Religious Competition in the Greco-Roman World (ed. N. P. DesRosiers and L. C. Vuong; Writings from the Greco-Roman World Supplements 10. Atlanta: SBL Press, 2016), 11–14.

“Care for the Poor in Early Rabbinic Literature,” in Wealth and Poverty in Jewish Tradition (ed. L. Greenspoon; West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press, 2015); 13–32. 10,525 words.

“Who is Rich? The Poor in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” Jewish Quarterly Review 104:4 (2014): 515–36; peer-reviewed.

“Tractate Pe’ah: Introduction, Translation, and Annotation,” The New Oxford Mishnah (ed. S. Cohen and H. Lapin; Oxford University Press); accepted and forthcoming. 16,565 words.

“From the General to the Specific: A Genealogy of ‘Acts of Kindness’ (Gemilut Hasadim) in Rabbinic Literature,” Religious Studies and Rabbinics (ed. E. Shanks Alexander and B. Berkowitz; Routledge Jewish Studies Series); peer-reviewed; in press. 8,338 words.

“City of Lights: The Lamps of Roman and Byzantine Jerusalem,” Near Eastern Archaeology 77, 4 (2014): 284–90; peer-reviewed.

“Competitive Giving in the Third Century CE: Early Rabbinic Approaches to Greco-Roman Civic Benefaction,” in Religious Competition in the Third Century C.E.: Jews, Christians, and the Greco-Roman World (ed. J. Rosenblum, N. DesRosiers, and L. Vuong; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht); 2014, 81–92; peer-reviewed.

“Let Them Eat Fish: Food for the Poor in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” Journal for the Study of Judaism 45 (2014): 250–70; peer-reviewed.

“Charity Wounds: Gifts to the Poor in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” The Gift in Antiquity (ed. M. Satlow; Chichester, West Sussux, UK: Wiley-Blackwell; 2013), 173–88; peer-reviewed.

“Cornering Poverty: Mishnah Pe’ah, Tosefta Pe’ah, and the Reimagination of Society in Late Antiquity,” Envisioning Judaism: Studies in Honor of Peter Schäfer on the Occasion of his Seventieth Birthday (ed. R. Boustan, K. Herrmann, R. Leicht, A.Y. Reed, and G. Veltri; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2013; 2 vols.), vol. 1, pp. 205–16.

“Astrology in the Talmud: An Analysis of Bavli Shabbat 156,” Heresy and Identity in Late Antiquity (ed. E. Iricinschi and H. Zellentin; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008), 314–38.

“The Significance of Antiquity in Antiquity: An Introduction,” Antiquity in Antiquity: Jewish and Christian Pasts in the Greco-Roman World (ed. G. Gardner and K. Osterloh; Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2008; co-written with K. Osterloh), 1–25.

“Jewish Leadership and Hellenistic Civic Benefaction in the Second Century B.C.E.” Journal of Biblical Literature 126, 2 (2007): 327–43; peer-reviewed.

Book Reviews

“Review of S. Fine, The Menorah: From the Bible to Modern Israel.” Reading Religion: A Publication of the American Academy of Religion (Sept. 19, 2017), (978 words)

“Review of Steven H. Werlin, Ancient Synagogues of Southern Palestine, 300–800 CE: Living on the Edge,” in  AJS Review 41 (2017): 247-49.

“Review of R. Ulmer and M. Ulmer, Righteous Giving to the Poor: Tzedakah (“Charity”) in Classical Rabbinic Judaism,” in Review of Biblical Literature, 09/2015 (2015): 4 pages (1,378 words).

“Review of S. Fraade, Legal Fictions: Studies of Law and Narrative in the Discursive Worlds of Ancient Jewish Sectarians and Sages,” in Catholic Biblical Quarterly 76 (2014): 177–78.

“Review of B.-Z. Rosenfeld and J. Menirav, Markets and Marketing in Roman Palestine,” Journal for the Study of Judaism in the Persian, Hellenistic and Roman Period 38, 3 (2007): 419–22.

Encyclopedia Entries and Short Articles

“How Tzedakah Became Charity.” The Gemara.com, July 5, 2017; http://thegemara.com/how-tzedakah-became-charity/ (3,617 words)

“Charity in Ancient Judaism: Problems and Prospects.” Ancient Jew Review, September 21, 2016; http://www.ancientjewreview.com/articles/2016/9/8/charity-in-ancient-judaism-problems-and-prospects (1,346 words)

“Hospitality in Judaism,” Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (ed. D.C. Allison, et. al.; De Gruyter; Berlin, 2016), Vol. 12, pp. 454–56.

“Almsgiving,” “Meir, Rabbi, “Mishnah,” and “Pe’ah,” in The Routledge Encyclopedia of Ancient Mediterranean Religions (ed. E. Orlin et al.; New York: Routledge, 2016), pp. 36–38, 589, 601, 703.

“Lighting the Way: Material Culture Illuminates Religious Identity,” Biblical Archaeology Review 36, 4 (July/August 2010), 30, 72.

Conference Presentations and Invited Scholarly Lectures

2025
“Mass Producing the Menorah in Roman Palestine,” Graphic Signs of Religion, Identity, and Authority in Antiquity Conference, Boston College

2024
“Jewish Studies Journals,” Association for Jewish Studies Annual Conference

“Material Methods and Early Rabbinic Archaeology: Affordances and Small Finds in Roman Palestine,” Association for Jewish Studies Annual Conference

“The Concept of Wealth in Judaism,” The Concept of Wealth and the Concept of Poverty in Judaism, Christianity and Islam,” at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

2023
“Affordances, Small Finds, and Literary Sources in Roman Palestine: The Example of Clay Lamps,” Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, Jerusalem

“Rabbinic Archaeology: New Pathways in Exploring the Use of Material Culture in Early Rabbinic Literature,” European Association of Biblical Studies annual conference, Syracuse, Italy

“Religion and Daily Life in Jewish Antiquity,” Hebrew U. of Jerusalem, Institute of Archaeology

“Objects, Affordances, and Consumption in Roman Palestine: A Case Study on the Usage of Ceramic Lamps in the Galilee During the First Two Centuries CE,” Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference, U. of Exeter, 4/28

“Reading Texts with Objects: Rethinking Rabbinic Materiality by the Light of Early Sabbath Laws” Talmudic Literature Conference, Yale U., 4/24

“Charity and Support for the Poor in Ancient Judaism,” U. of Georgia

“Material Religion and the Making of Rabbinic Judaism in the Roman Era,” U. of Southern California,

“Charity, Philanthropy, and Jewish Law,” Inaugural Lecture of the “Law at UBC Distinguished Speaker Series,” UBC Allard School of Law

2022
“Biblical Pasts and Hellenistic Present: Second Temple Judaism in Archaeology and Texts,” Oxford U., Wolfson College and Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

Response to book review panel for my book, Wealth, Poverty, and Charity in Jewish Antiquity, Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature (“SBL”)

“Markets, Labor, and Law: A Neo-Institutional Economic Reading of Early Roman Judea,” SBL

“Judaism, Wealth, and Charity in Historical Perspective,” York U., Centre for Jewish Studies, Canadian Jewish Literary Awards

“Wealth and the Origins of Charity in Judaism,” Keynote, U. of Texas at Austin

“Between Texts and Archaeology: Materiality in Early Jewish Sabbath Laws,” Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society of Biblical Studies

“Biblical Models: Some Material Reflections on Martha Himmelfarb writings on Judaism and Hellenism,” “One of the Glorious Ones” (2 En. 9:19): A Conference in Honor of Martha Himmelfarb; Princeton Univ., Dept. of Religion and Program in Judaic Studies

“Material Culture and the Study of Early Judaism,” Second Temple Judaism and Christian Origins: Retrospect and Prospects, U. of Michigan, Frankel Center for Judaic Studies

“Material Religion and Ancient Judaism: A Case Study on the Materiality of Light,” UBC Program in Religion

2021
“The Archaeology of Diversity in Rural Palestine During the Second Temple Era,” U. of Michigan, Frankel Center for Judaic Studies

2018
“Rabbis of the Lost Ark: Material Culture in Ancient Judaism,” Jews and the Material in Antiquity Conference, University of Michigan, Apr. 2018

“Materiality in Ancient Judaism: Lamps in Archaeology and Rabbinic Literature,” University of Michigan, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, March 2018

“Money in Classical Jewish Thought,” University of Michigan, Frankel Center for Judaic Studies, Jan. 16, 2018

“Heavenly Riches and Motivations to Give to the Poor in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” Society of Jewish Ethics Annual Meeting; Jan. 2018

2017
“Wealth in Late Antique Rabbinic Judaism,” Late Antiquity Group, University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University; Dec. 2017

“The Temple Vessels from Antiquity to Late Antiquity,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting; Nov. 2017

“Jews and Judaism in Idumaea,” Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Horvat Midras Excavation Project (Israel), Aug. 2, 2017

“Rabbinic Literature and Material Culture,” Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Horvat Midras Excavation Project (Israel), July 27, 2017

“Navigating Community and University Relations and Debates over Anti-Semitism on Campus,” Brown University, American Academy for Jewish Research, June 2017

2016
“The Sabbath and Archaeology,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting; Nov. 2016

Chair for “Religious Competition in Late Antiquity,” session at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting; Nov. 2016

“Wealth and Competitive Giving in Rabbinic Judaism,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting; Nov. 2016

“Ancient Charity,” Brown University, invited guest speaker for course Jews and Money, via video, Nov. 2016.

“Charity Laws by the Rich,” Judaica Electronic Workshop, Vanderbilt University, Nov. 2016.

“Food in Late Antique Judaism and Classical Rabbinic Literature,” Food and Jewish Traditions Conference, University of San Diego, July 2016

“Introduction to Giving With Interest: Wealth and Poverty in Jewish Antiquity,” Judaica Electronic Workshop, sponsored by Vanderbilt University, April 2016

2015
“Property and Poverty in Early Rabbinic Exegesis: Sifre Zuta Deuteronomy,” Jewish Attitudes toward Wealth and Poverty Workshop; Brown University, Nov. 2015

“Domesticating the Holy: Ancient Israelite Artefacts in Late-Antique Judaism,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting; Nov. 2015

“Knitting the Safety Net: The Evolution of the Soup Kitchen (tamhui) in Rabbinic Judaism” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting; Nov. 2015

“Reclaiming the Spoils of War: The Temple Vessels in Late-Antique Jewish Imagination,” Western Jewish Studies Association Conference, 2015

Chair for “In the Ancient World” session at the Western Jewish Studies Association Conference, 2015

2014
“Experts, Relics, and Competition,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 2014

“Communal Responsibility for the Poor in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 2014

“Teaching Talmud at a Public University: Evidence of Student Learning and Teaching,” Learning to Read Talmud: What it Looks Like and How it Happens, Brandeis University, 2014

2013
“Introducing and Teaching Talmud in Translation at a Large Public University,” Learning to Read Talmud: What it Looks Like and How it Happens, Brandeis University, 2013

Respondent for papers by M. Balberg and C. Chin, Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 2013

“Care for the Poor and the Origins of Charity in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” Wealth and Poverty in the Jewish Tradition, Creighton University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and University of Nebraska-Omaha, 2013

Presentations on teaching and research in classical rabbinic literature at the Early Career Faculty Workshop of the American Academy for Jewish Research, New York University, 2013

“Between Religion and Ethics: ‘Acts of Kindness’ (gemilut hasadim) in Early Rabbinic Judaism” Religious Studies and Rabbinics Conference, University of Virginia, 2013

“Pursuing Justice: Support for the Poor in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” University of Texas at Austin, Department of Religious Studies, 2013

“Judaism in Hellenistic Egypt,” University of British Columbia, guest lecturer for the course Being Like Gods: Divine Knowledge and Power in Roman Alexandria, 2013

2012
“Let Them Eat Fish: Food for the Poor in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 2012

Respondent for two papers in the Religious Competition in the Third Century C.E. session at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 2012

“Rabbis of the Lost Ark: Relics and Religion in Ancient Judaism,” University of British Columbia, 2012

2011
Respondent for two papers in the Religious Competition in the Third Century C.E. session at the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 2011

“Wounding Charity: Gifts for the Poor in Early Rabbinic Literature,” Harvard University, Center for Jewish Studies, 2011

“Who is Rich? Poverty and Identity in Rabbinic Judaism,” Brown University, Judaic Studies Faculty Seminar, 2011

“The Origins of the Jewish Concept of Charity,” Brown University, Cogut Center for the Humanities, 2011

2010
“A Horse, a Slave, and a Pound of Meat: Gift-Giving and the Social Needs of the Poor in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” Annual Meeting of the Association for Jewish Studies, 2010

“The Hebrew Bible and the Archaeology of Ancient Israel,” Smith College, guest lecturer for the course Introduction to the Bible, 2010

“Greeks, Rabbis, and the Origins of Jewish Charity in the Third Century,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 2010

“Charity and Justice in Rabbinic Judaism,” Marquette University, Department of Theology, 2010

“Gifts, Charity, and Social Competition in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” King’s University College at The University of Western Ontario, 2010

“Kind Words for the Poor: Economic Identity and Otherness in Early Rabbinic Literature,” Harvard University, Center for Jewish Studies, 2010

“The Poor, Otherness, and Communication in Late Antique Rabbinic Literature,” Harvard University, Center for Jewish Studies, 2010

“The Gift in Early Judaism,” The Gift in Antiquity Conference, Brown University, 2010

“Social Justice in Early Judaism,” Harvard University, Political Theory Colloquium, 2010

“The Origins of Jewish Charity,” Harvard University, Center for the Humanities, 2010

“The Origins of Rabbinic tsedaqah (“righteousness, charity”),” Harvard University, guest lecturer for the course The Jewish Political Tradition, 2010

“Rabbinic Charity and Greco-Roman Political Culture,” Harvard University, Center for Jewish Studies, 2010

2009
“Charity and Social Competition in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 2009

“Engagements and Conversations with the Poor ‘Other’ in Early Rabbinic Literature,” Rabbis and Others in Conversation, Princeton University, 2009

“Creating Moral Values: gemilut hasadim (“acts of kindness”) in Early Rabbinic Literature,” Harvard University, Center for Jewish Studies, 2009

“Feeding the Poor: Food and Charity in Early Rabbinic Literature,” University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Seminar on Christian Origins, 2009

2008
“Charity and Social Justice in Early Rabbinic Judaism,” Annual Meeting of the Association for Jewish Studies, 2008

“This Little Light of Mine: The Menorah and Oil Lamps in Byzantine Jerusalem and Late Antique Jewish-Christian Discourse,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 2008

“Biblical Memories, Archaeology and Texts: The Re-imagination of Ancient Israel by Ben Sira,” Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting, 2008

“Memory, Archaeology, and Text: Ben Sira and the Re-imagination of Ancient Israel,” New England Regional Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature and American Schools of Oriental Research, 2008

“Light to the Nations: The Menorah and Candlestick Lamps in Byzantine Christian-Jewish Discourse,” American Schools of Oriental Research Annual Meeting, 2008

“Reading Between the Strata: Archaeology, Economy, and Early Rabbinic Judaism,” A Century after Krauss’ Talmudische Archäologie: Rabbinic Literature and the Material Culture of Roman Palestine Conference, Princeton University, 2008

“The Menorah in Byzantine Christian-Jewish Discourse,” Harvard University, Center for Jewish Studies, 2008

2007
“Charity in Early Rabbinic Literature,” Harvard University, Center for Jewish Studies, 2007

“Friday Night Lights: The Oil Lamps of Roman Palestine,” Brown University, Brown Bag Talks, 2007

2006
“Tunnel Vision: King Hezekiah through Ben Sira’s Eyes,” Antiquity in Antiquity: Jewish and Christian Pasts in the Greco-Roman World, Princeton University, 2006

“Literature, Archaeology, and Methodological Considerations for the Study of Judaism in Late Antiquity,” Apollonia Excavations, Israel, 2006

2005
“Rabbis as the Other in Talmudic Literature: A Polemic Against Astrological Practices within Rabbinic Society (BT Shab. 156),” Making Selves and Marking Others: Heresy and Self-Definition in Late Antiquity Conference, Princeton University, 2005

“The Roman Fort at Yotvata, Israel,” Princeton University, Program in the Ancient World Workshop, 2005

“Jews and Judaism from 63 B.C.E. to 70 C.E.,” Princeton University, guest lecturer for the course New Testament and Early Christian Origins, 2005

“Rabbinic Literature and Material Culture,” Princeton University, 2005

2004
“Civic Benefaction in Second Century B.C.E. Judean Society,” Princeton University, Program in the Ancient World, 2004

“Non-market Economic Activity in First Century Judea, 37 BCE – 70 C.E.,” Princeton University, Program in the Ancient World, 2004

Invited Public Talks

“Jews and Judaism through the Ages,” Hillel of British Columbia, Vancouver, invited for Jan. 2018

“Searching for King David in Archaeology and the Bible,” Temple Sholom Synagogue, Vancouver, invited for May 2017

“Reward and Punishment in the Midrash,” Hillel of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2017

“Recent Archaeological Discoveries in Israel,” Temple Sholom Synagogue, Vancouver, 2016

“Jewish Studies at the University of British Columbia,” Hillel of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2015

“Noah in Rabbinic Literature,” Temple Sholom, Vancouver, 2015

“Lost Cities of the Ancient World: Jerusalem in the Hellenistic Era,” UBC Continuing Studies, Vancouver, 2015

“Ancient Judaism and Hellenism,” Pharos: The Canadian-Hellenic Cultural Society, Vancouver, 2015

“Mysteries of the Talmud Part IV: Legend of Shimon bar Yochai,” Hillel of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2015

“Intersections: The Archaeology of the Maccabees,” The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2014

“Talmud Study: Charity in the Talmud,” Canadian Conference of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Vancouver, 2014

“Purity and Authority in the Talmud,” Temple Sholom Synagogue, Vancouver, 2014

“Mysteries of the Talmud Part III: Rabbinic Authority,” Hillel of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2014

“The Late Bronze Age and the Mediterranean’s Path to Power: Bronze Age Palestine,” University of British Columbia, Continuing Studies, 2014; with Dr. Lynn Welton.

“Mysteries of the Talmud Part II: Origins of the Rabbinic Movement,” Hillel of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2014

“Mysteries of the Talmud Part I: Legends of Jerusalem,” Hillel of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2014

“Forgetting Jerusalem: Memories of the Temple in the Talmud,” Limmud Vancouver (a day of public learning), 2014

“Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies at the University of British Columbia,” King David High School, Vancouver, 2014

“Archaeology and the Bible,” Temple Sholom Synagogue, Vancouver, 2014

“Sacred Places of the Ancient Mediterranean: Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem,” Brock House Society Senior Centre, Vancouver, 2013

“The Temple Mount of Herod the Great,” University of British Columbia, Continuing Studies, 2013

“Food and Jewish Identity,” Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, 2013

“Selling Sacred Relics: The Oil Lamps of Late Antique Palestine,” Archaeological Institute of America, Vancouver Chapter, 2013

“Cashing In: Is Jewish Charity Altruistic?” Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia, Vancouver 2012

“Biblical Archaeology,” Vancouver Hillel, University of British Columbia, 2012

“The Origins of tsedaqah in Judaism,” Temple Sholom Synagogue, Vancouver, 2011

Panel discussant on the Vancouver riots, Congregation Beth Israel, Vancouver, 2011

Scholar in residence, Monmouth Reform Temple Synagogue, NJ, 2011

“Biblical Archaeology and Jewish Symbols,” Temple Isaiah Synagogue, MA, 2011

“The Origins of Jewish Charity” and discussion of Herod’s Lost Tomb; Temple Isaiah Synagogue, MA, 2010

Scholar in residence, Temple Isaiah Synagogue, MA, 2007

“Astrology in the Talmud,” Congregation Kol Hakfar, NY, 2005

“Jewish Art and Archaeology,” Congregation Hadar, NY, 2004

“Jewish Art in Late Antiquity,” Congregation Kol Hakfar, NY, 2004

“The Origins of the Ancient Synagogue,” Congregation Shaare Zedek, NY, 2003

–American Society of Overseas Research (ASOR), Stevan B. Dana Project Grant, 2025, “Horvat Midras (Israel) Archaeological Project,” Co-PI with Orit Peleg-Barkat

–Jordan Schnitzer Book Award, Association for Jewish Studies, Finalist

–International Catacomb Society, Shohet Scholar Grant, 2023–24: Rural Roman Judea Above and Below Ground: The Horvat Midras (Israel) Excavation Project. Co-PI with Orit Peleg-Barkat

–Albright Institute of Archaeological Research in Jerusalem, Lydie T. Shufro Summer Research Fellowship, 2023: Rural Diversity and Village Life in the Hellenistic and early Roman Era at Horvat Midras, Israel

–University of Michigan, Frankel Institute Fellowship, Fall 2021, Jean & Samuel Frankel Center for Judaic Studies. Fellowship theme: Second Temple Judaism: The Challenge of Diversity. Project: The Archaeology of Diversity in Rural Palestine During the Second Temple Era

–Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Halbert Centre for Canadian Studies, 2021–22; Rotating course award, for UBC-Hebrew University archaeological field school

–Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (“SSHRC”), 2019–2022, Insight Development Grant: The Horvat Midras Excavation Project: Cultural Interaction in Rural Roman Judea

–Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (“SSHRC”), Connection Grant, 2019: Project: Charity in Classical Jewish Law

–Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (“SSHRC”), Insight Grant, 2017–2022: Poverty and Social Justice in Classical Jewish Thought

–Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Fund for Advanced Studies of the University of British Columbia, Killam Faculty Research Fellowship, 2016

–Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (“SSHRC”), Insight Development Grant, 2015–2017: Charity for the Rich: Individual Almsgiving in Early Rabbinic Judaism

Theses supervised:

–“Manteis And Materials: Keeping an Omen Mind in the Greco-Egyptian Magical Formularies”

–“Mosaics of Identity: Herodian Legitimization Through Localized Cultic Toleration”

–“Reimagining The Problem of Evil in the Jewish-Roman Interwar Period Of 74-116 C.E.”

–”The Causes of the Bar Kokhba Revolt: A Critical Reassessment and New Comparisons”