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Hava Samuelson

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SHPRS History Faculty
Center Director and Regents Professor
Faculty w/Admin Appointment, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4302
Jewish Studies
SUM/WTR Faculty Research
Faculty, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4302
Affiliate Faculty, Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict
Professor
Faculty w/Admin Appointment, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4302
Sustainability Scientists and Scholars
Senior Sustainability Scholar
Faculty w/Admin Appointment, TEMPE Campus, Mailcode 4302
Biography

Professor Hava Tirosh-Samuelson is Regents Professor of History, Irving and Miriam Lowe Professor of Modern Judaism, and Director of Jewish Studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. She holds a doctorate in Jewish philosophy and Mysticism from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1978), and a bachelor's degree in religious studies from SUNY-Stony Brook, New York (1974). Prior to joining the faculty of Arizona State University in 1999, she taught at Indiana University (1991-1999), Emory University in Atlanta (1988-1991), Columbia University in New York (1982-1988), and Hebrew Union College in New York (1980-1982).

Tirosh-Samuelson is a Jewish intellectual historian who focuses on the interplay of philosophy and mysticism, Judaism and science, and Judaism and ecology.  In addition to over 50 essays and book chapters, she is the author of "Between Worlds: The Life and Work of Rabbi David ben Judah Messer Leon" (1991) which received the award of the Hebrew University for the best work in Jewish history for 1991, and the author of "Happiness in Premodern Judaism: Virtue, Knowledge and Well-Being in Premodern Judaism" (2003). She is also the editor of "Judaism and Ecology: Created World and Revealed World" (2002); "Women and Gender in Jewish Philosophy" (2004); "Judaism and the Phenomenon of Life: The Legacy of Hans Jonas" (2008); "Building Better Humans? Refocusing the Debate on Transhumanism" (2011); "Hollywood’s Chosen People: The Jewish Experience in American Cinema" (2012); "Jewish Philosophy for the Twenty-First Century: Personal Reflections" (2014); "Perfecting Human Futures: Transhuman Visions and Technological Imaginations" (2016), "The Enduring Legacy of Salo W. Baron" (2017), and "The Future of Jewish Philosophy" (2018).  Professor Tirosh-Samuelson is the editor-in-chief of the "Library of Contemporary Jewish Philosophers (2013-2018), a series of 21 books featuring outstanding Jewish thinkers and their reflections on Judaism.

Within the field of science and religion, Tirosh-Samuelson explores the interplay of religion, science and technology with a focus on transhumanism and the relationship between Judaism, science and medicine.  She is the PI or Co-PI of several Templeton funded projects: 1) “Facing the Challenges of Transhumanism: Religion, Science, and Technology” (2006-2010); 2) “The Transhumanist Imagination: Innovation, Secularization and Eschatology” (2012-14); and “Beyond Secularization: Piloting New Approaches for the Study of Religion, Science, and Technology in Public Life” (2016-2018). These grants have funded symposia, public lectures, faculty seminars, and international conferences. Tirosh-Samuelson is a member of International Society of Science and Religion (ISSR) and serves on the academic board of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science. She is also the Division Chair of Medieval Jewish Philosophy in the Association of Jewish Studies. As director of the Center for Jewish Studies at ASU, Tirosh-Samuelson manages the international society, Judaism, Science and Medicine Group (JSMG) and organizes its annual conferences. 

CV
Binary Data Curriculum Vitae
Education
  • Ph.D. Hebrew University of Jerusalem 1978. Dissertation: “The Philosophy of David ben Judah Messer Leon.” Supervisor: Professor Shlomo Pines
  • Graduate Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Philosophy and Kabbalah (Direct Ph.D. Program) 1974-1978 
  • B.A. (with Honors), SUNY at Stony Brook, Dept. of Religious Studies 1974
  • Undergraduate Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Department of Jewish Philosophy and Kabbalah and Department of Hebrew Literature 1971-1973
Research Interests

Professor Tirosh-Samuelson is the recipient of several large external grants: "Facing the Challenges of Transhumanism: Religion, Science and Technology" (2006-2010); "The Transhumanist Imagination: Innovation, Secularization, and Eschatology" (2012-2014);  and "Beyond Secularization: Piloting New Approaches to the Study of Religion, Science and Technology in Public Life" (2016-2018).  

Her research interests include:

  • Jewish intellectual history
  • Jewish Philosophy and Mysticism
  • Religion and Ecology/Religious Environmentalism
  • Religion, Science and Technology
  • Gender Theory
Research Group

2004-2005: "Being Human: Science, Religion, Technology and Law

2005-2006: Suffering and the Human Good: The Interplay of Science and Religion

2006-2010: "Facing the Challenges of Transhumanism: Religion, Science, and Tehcnology"

2012-2014: "The Transhumanism Imagination: Innovation, Secularization, and Eschatology"

2014-2016: "Interrogating the Post-Secular Moment"

2016-2018: "Beyond Secularization: Piloting New Approaches to the Study of Religion, Science and Technology in Public Life"

Publications

Select Publications

Books:

  • Between Worlds: The Life and Thought of Rabbi David ben Judah Messer Leon (Albany SUNY Press, 1991)
  • Happiness in Premodern Judaism: Virtue, Knowledge and Well-Being (Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College Press, 2003)
  • Judaism and Ecology: Created World and Revealed Word (Harvard University Press, 2002)
  • Women and Gender in Jewish philosophy (Indiana University Press, 2004)
  • The Legacy of Hans Jonas: Judaism and the Phenomenon of Life (Brill: 2008)
  • Building Better Humans? Refocusing the Debate on Transhumanism (Peter Lang, 2012)
  • Hollywood's Chosen People: The Jewish Experience in American Cinema (Wayne State University Press, 2012)
  • Jewish Philosophy for the Twenty-First Century: Personal Reflections (Brill, 2014)
  • Perfecting Human Futures: Transhumanist Visions and Technological Imagination (Springer, 2016)
  • The Enduring Legacy of Salo W. Baron (Jagiellonian University Press, 2017)

LIBRARY OF CONTEMPORARY JEWISH PHILOSOPHERS (Brill, 2013-2018). 

  • Vol. 1, Eliezer Schweid: The Responsiblity of Philosophy (2013) 
  • Vol. 2, Jonathan Sacks: Universalizing Particularity (2013)
  • Vol. 3, David Novak: Natural Law and Revealed Torah (2013)
  • Vol. 4, Eugene B. Borowitz: Rethinking God and Ethics (2013)
  • Vol. 5, Elliot Dorff: In Search of the Good Life (2014)
  • Vol. 6., Judith Plaskow: Feminism, Theology and Justice (2014)
  • Vol. 7, David R. Blumenthal: Living with God and Humanity (2014).
  • Vol. 8, Moshe Idel: Representing God (2014)
  • Vol. 9, Lenn E. Goodman: Judaism, Humanity and Nature (2014)
  • Vol. 10, Avi Sagi: Existentialism, Pluralism and Identity (2015)
  • Vol. 11, Elliot R. Wolfson: Poetic Thinking (2015)
  • Vol. 12, Menachem Kellner: Jewish Universalism (2015)
  • vol. 13, J. David Bleich: Where Halakhah and Philosophy Meet (2015)
  • vol. 14,  Michael Fishbane: Jewish Hermeneutic Theology (2015)
  • Vol. 15, Norbert M. Samuelson: Reasoned Faith (2015)
  • Vol. 16, Arthur Green: Hasidism for Tomorrow (2015)
  • Vol. 17, Tamar Ross: Constructing Faith (2016)
  • Vol. 18, Menachem Fisch: The Rationality of Religious Belief (2016)
  • Vol. 19, David Shatz: Torah, Philosophy and Culture (2016)
  • Vol. 20, Michael Morgan: History and Moral Normativity (2018)

Articles:

  • "In Defense of Jewish Humanism," Jewish History 3 (2) (1989): 31-57.
  • "Jewish Culture in Renaissance Italy -- A Methodological Survey," Italia 9 (1990): 63-96.
  • "Continuity and Revision in the Study of Kabbalah," AJS Review 18 (1991): 161-192.
  • "Jewish Philosophy on the Eve of Modernity," in History of Jewish Philosophy, ed. Daniel H. Frank and Oliver Leaman (London and new York: Routledge, 1997), 499-573.
  • "Theology of Nature in Sixteenth-Century Italian Jewish Philosophy," Science in Context 10 (no. 4) (1997): 529-70.
  • "Rethinking the Past and Anticipating the Future," Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 40 (1) (2005): 33-42.
  • "Religion, Ecology and Gender: Jewish Perspective," Feminist Theology 13 (3) (2005): 373-397.
  • "History and the Future of Science and Religion," Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 45 (2) (2010): 445-461.
  • "Transhumanism as a Secularist Faith," Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 47 (4) (2012): 710-34.
  • "Religion, Science and Technology in the Post-Secular Age: The Case of Trans/Posthumanism," Philosophy, Theology and the Sciences 4 (1) (2017): 7-45.

Book Chapters:

  • "Philosophy and Kabbalah: 1200-1600," Cambridge Companion of Medieval Jewish Philosophy, ed. Daniel H. Frank and Oliver Leaman (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003), 218-57.
  • "The Bible in the Jewish Philosophical Tradition," The Jewish Study Bible, ed. Marc Brettler and Adele Berlin (Oxford University Press, 2003), 1948-75; revised second edition (2014), pp. 1916-1943.
  • "Judaism," The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Ecology, ed. Roger S. Gottlieb (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006), pp. 25-64.
  • "Virtue and Happiness," The Cambridge History of Jewish Philosphy: From Antiquity through the Seventeenth Century, ed. Stephen Nadler and T.M. Rudavsky (Cambridge University Press, 2009), 707-767.
  • "Jewish Philosophy, Human Dignity and the New Genetics," Biotechnology: Our Future as Human Beings and Citizens, ed. Sean D. Sutton (Albany NY: SUNY Press, 2009), pp. 81-122.
  • "Kabbalah and Science in the Middle Ages: Preliminary Remarks," Science in Medieval Jewish Culture, ed. Gad Freudenthal (Cambridge University Press, 2011), 476-510.
  • "Jewish Environmentalism: Bridging Scholarship, Faith and Activism," Jewish Thought and Jewish Belief, ed. Daniel Lasker (Ben Gurion University of the Negev Press, 2012), 1-18. 
  • "Feminism and Gender," The Cambridge History of Modern Jewish Philosophy, ed. Martin Kavka, Zachary Braiterman, and David Novak (Cambiridge University Press, 2012), 154-189. 
  • "Utopianism and Eschatology: Judaism Engages Transhumanism," in Religion and Transhumanism: The Unknown Future of Human Enhancement, ed. Calving Mercer and Tracy J. Trothen (Praeger, 2014), pp. 161-180.
  • "Judaism," Routledge Handbook of Reliigon and Ecology, ed. Willis Jenkins, Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim *Rouytledge, 2017), 39-46.
  • "Jewish Environmental Ethics: The Imperative of Responsibility," The Wiley-Blackwell Companion of Religion and Ethics, ed. John Hart (Wiley-BLackwell, 2017), 179-194..
  • "Technologizing Transcendence: A Critique of Transhumanism," Religion and Human Enhancement: Death, Values, and Morality, ed. Tracy J. Trothen and Calvin E. Mercer (Palgrave Mcmillan, 2017), 267-283. 
Research Activity
Spring 2020
Course NumberCourse Title
SOS 792Research
Spring 2019
Course NumberCourse Title
REL 314Jewish Philosophy
JST 314Jewish Philosophy
HST 390Jewish Philosophy
SOS 792Research
Fall 2018
Course NumberCourse Title
SOS 349Nature,Sustainability&Religion
REL 349Nature,Sustainability&Religion
JST 349Nature,Sustainability&Religion
HPS 349Nature,Sustainability&Religion
HST 499Individualized Instruction
REL 690Reading and Conference
Fall 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
SOS 394Special Topics
JST 394Special Topics
REL 394Special Topics
JST 492Honors Directed Study
JST 493Honors Thesis
HST 499Individualized Instruction
REL 690Reading and Conference
Spring 2017
Course NumberCourse Title
HST 304Studies in European History
JST 304Studies in European History
REL 394Special Topics
JST 492Honors Directed Study
JST 493Honors Thesis
JST 499Individualized Instruction
Fall 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
SOS 394Special Topics
JST 394Special Topics
REL 394Special Topics
JST 492Honors Directed Study
JST 493Honors Thesis
HST 493Honors Thesis
SOS 590Reading and Conference
Summer 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
JST 499Individualized Instruction
Spring 2016
Course NumberCourse Title
JST 294Special Topics
JST 394Special Topics
SOS 394Special Topics
REL 394Special Topics
JST 492Honors Directed Study
HST 492Honors Directed Study
JST 493Honors Thesis
HST 493Honors Thesis
JST 499Individualized Instruction
Fall 2015
Course NumberCourse Title
HST 304Studies in European History
JST 304Studies in European History
JST 492Honors Directed Study
JST 499Individualized Instruction
Presentations
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson and J. Benjamin Hurlbut. The Transhumanist Imagination: Innovation, Secularization and Eschatology". Religious Studies Forum (Oct 2014).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "The Singularity". Screening and discussion of a film about concept of singularity (Mar 2014).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Nature's Otherness and Human Responsibility: Jewish Ecological Ethics". Humanities and the Environment (Feb 2014).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Judaism and the Contemporary Pursuit of Happiness". Shaol and Louis Pozez Memorial Lectureship Series, University of Arizona (Jan 2014).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Science and Religion in the Post-Secular Age". The Science and Religion Dialogue: Past and Future (Oct 2012).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Judaism and Environmentalism: Are the Compatible?". Annual endowed lecture at Syracuse University (Apr 2012).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Panel on Judaism and Science. American Academy of Religion -- Annual Conference (Nov 2011).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Sex and the Jewish Family in the 21st Century. Princeton University, Summer Seminar of the Tikvah Foundation (Jun 2011).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "The Freedom to Be Human: Critique of Transhumanism". Neurocognive Enhancement: Its Impact on Human Mind and Evolution (May 2011).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Economic Function and Otherness: A Jewish Perspective on Contemporary Exclusion. Medieval Academy of America (May 2011).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Creation and Evolution: Response to Michael Ruse. Origins : Causation and Boundaries (Apr 2011).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Kabbalah and Science". Annual Conference of Association of Jewish Studies (Dec 2010).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Judaism and the Ecological Crisis". Annual Lecture of Jewish Studies at the University of Texas-Austin (Oct 2010).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Jewish Environmentalism: Bridging Scholarship, Faith, and Activism". Conference on "Jewish Thought, Jewish Studies" (Jun 2010).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Hans Jonas in Retrospect". Workshop on Hans Jonas at Princeton University (Jun 2010).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Nature and Renewal in Modern Jewish Thought. Annual Wolinsky Lecture at York University, Canada (Mar 2010).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Conceptions of Nature in Medieval Judaism". ACMRS Annual Conference: Humanities and Nature in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance (Feb 2010).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Jewish Environmentalism: The Biblical Conundrum". Helen and Martin Schwartz Lectures in Jewish Studies for 2009-2010 (Nov 2009).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Nature in Modern Judaism: Between the Religion and the Secular". Helen and Martin Schwartz Lectures in Jewish Studies, Indiana Univesity (Nov 2009).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "History and the Future of Science and Religion". Conference: "Where are We Going: Zygon and the Future of Religion and Science (May 2009).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Gender in Jewish Thought: Problems and Possiblities.". Conference on Gender in Jewish Thought at Brandeis University (Apr 2009).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. A Feminist Reads Maimonides: Science and Religion in Judaism. Lecture Series on Science and Religion in the Abraham Faiths, St. Mary's College, South Bend IN (Apr 2009).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "The Dialogue of Science and Religion in American Academe.". Science and Religion Roundtable sponsored by the Ford Foundation (Mar 2009).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Religion and the Enviornment: Perspective from Judaism, Christianity, and Buddhism, Sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at Stanford University. Howard M. Garfield Forum for Undergraduates at Stanford University (Feb 2009).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. "Gender in Jewish Mysticism: Historicism, Feminism, and Psychoanalysis.". Conference on "Jewish Mysticism: new Insights and Scholarship,"at Florida Atlantic University (Feb 2009).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Jew and Philosopher: A Hans Jonas Retrospective. Annual Conference of Association of Jewish Studies (Dec 2008).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Jewish Environmental Thought. Annual Conference of Association of Jewish Studies (Dec 2008).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson and Daniel Bernardi. Stars of David: The Jewish Experience in American Cinema. Conference (Nov 2008).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Jewish Ecological Wisdom. Interfaith Climate Summitt (Nov 2008).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson and Norbert Samuelson. Judaism and Science. Workshop (Aug 2008).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Jewish Conceptions of the Self. Annual Conference of Metanexus Institute (Jul 2008).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Transhumanism and the Pursuit of Immortality: A Jewish Critique. International Conference on "Personal Identity and Resurrection" University of Innsbruck, Austria (Jul 2008).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Transhumanism and the Meanings of Progress. Annual Workshop of Templeton Research Lectures (Apr 2008).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Human Embodiment and Dignified Death: A Critique of Transhumanism. Conference on "Extending Life" organized by the Center of BIoethics and Human Dignity, Chicago (Mar 2008).
  • Samuelson, Hava. New Directions in Feminist Jewish Studies. American Academy of Religion (Nov 2007).
  • Samuelson, Hava. What is Transhumanism and How to Respond to It?. Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix (Oct 2007).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Judaism and the Pursuit of Happiness. Foundation of Jewish Studies (Sep 2007).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Judaism and Science: Beyond the Conflict Model. AZ Interfaith Movement (Sep 2007).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Judaism and the New Genetics. (May 2007).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Conflict or Common Ground (Apr 2007).
  • Hava Tirosh-Samuelson. Transhumanism and the Meaning of Human Nature. Annual Workshop of the Templeton Research Lectures (Apr 2007).
  • Samuelson, Hava. "Philosophy and Kabbalah on the Pursuit of Happiness. (Mar 2007).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Multicultural Perspectives on the Human Body (Feb 2007).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Jewish Philosophy, Human Dignity, and the New Genetics. Conference on Creation, Procreation and the New Genetics (Sep 2006).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Conceptions of the Other: Gender, Philosophy, and Theology. Towards a Contemporary Jewish Theology of World Religions (Jun 2005).
  • Samuelson, Hava. The Challenges of Including Gender in Jewish Philosophy. AJS/AAR Western Division (Mar 2005).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Judaism and Ecofeminism: Convergence and Conflict. Bloome Leadership Institute and Coalition of Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL) (Feb 2005).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Gender and the Pursuit of Happiness in Maimonides' Philosophy. 'The House of Jacome': Images and Paradigms: Gender and the Family in Medieval Jewish Society (Jan 2005).
  • Samuelson, Hava. A Feminist Perspective on Maimonides' Political Theology. American Academy of Religion Annual Convention (Nov 2004).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Can Women Be Happy?: Gender in Maimonides' Theology. Amadao Colloquiuem in Sephardic Studies, UCLA (May 2004).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Judaism and the Environmental Crisis. The Abrahamic Religions and the Environmental Crisis (May 2004).
  • Samuelson, Hava. Judaism and Environmentalism: Are They Compatible?. The Shaul Pozez Lecture Seires in Judaic Studies, University of Arizona
  • Samuelson, Hava. Teaching Jewish Mysticism: Challenges, Themes, Methods. Annual Convention of Association of Jewish Studies
Service
  • Project Humanities and Institute of Humanities Research, Participated in a panel: "Being Human in a Posthuman World" (2012 - Present)
  • Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, Academic Advisory Board (2009 - Present)
  • Steering committee for the new School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Member of Committee (2008 - Present)
  • Origin Initiative, Member of committee to plan the public events for the Origin sympoisum in April 5-6, 2009 (2008 - Present)
  • Origins Initative, Member of advisory committee (2008 - Present)
  • Center for Jewish Studies, Director (2008 - Present)
  • Jewish Studies, Director of Jewish Studies (2008 - Present)
  • Brill Academic Publishers, Co-Editor (with Giuseppe Veltri) of manuscripts for publication in the book series, Studies of Jewish History and Culture (2008 - Present)
  • Carnegi Initiative on Doctorate Committee, Member of committee (2003 - Present)
  • Dean's Faculty Advisory Committee, Member of committee (2014 - 2016)
  • World Union for Jewish Studies, Referee (2014 - 2015)
  • Alei Sefer, Referee (2014 - 2014)
  • World Union of Jewish Studies, Member of a selection committee for the Matanel Prize in Jewish Thought, 2012-2014 (2014 - 2014)
  • Center for Jewish Studies, Director (2014 - 2014)
  • Center for Jewish Studies, Director (2014 - 2014)
  • Valley Beth Midrash, Panelist (2014 - 2014)
  • Journal for Contemporary Religion, Referee (2014 - 2014)
  • President Engagement Programs, Presenter (2014 - 2014)
  • Search Committee for Assistant Professor in Religion, Science, and Technology, Co-Chair (2014 - 2014)
  • Science, Religion, and Culture, Referee (2014 - 2014)
  • Bloomsbury Publishing, Referee (2014 - 2014)
  • Center for Jewish Studies, Director (2013 - 2013)
  • Valley Beth Midrash, Organized and modrated a Panel on "Jews and Political Power" (2012 - 2012)
  • Center for Jewish Studies, Presenter (2011 - 2011)
  • President Community Outpreach Program (ASU) and the Desert Botanical Garden (Tempe), Presenter (2011 - 2011)
  • Center for Jewish Studies and Phoenix Symphony, Orgnizer (2010 - 2011)
  • Temple Beth Israel, Scottsdale AZ, Lecture (2010 - 2010)
  • Journal of Modern Jewish Studies, Review of Michael Oppenheim, Jewish Philosophy in the 20th Century and Beyond (2010 - 2010)
  • The Goldstein-Goren International Center for Jewish Thought, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, A member of a committee of three to award $ 30,000 (2009 - 2010)
  • Goren-Goldestein Ingternational Center for Jewish Thought Ben Gurion University, Judge of book submissions for an award of $ 30,000 for the best work in Jewish thought in 2009 and 2010 (2009 - 2010)
  • Jewish Publication Society, Referee of Elliot Dorff (ed.), Social Justice: Jewish Choices, Jewish Voices (2010 - 2010)
  • Arizona Science Center, Phoenix AZ, Panelist (2010 - 2010)
  • Beth El Congregation, Phoenix AZ, Invited Lecture (2010 - 2010)
  • Peninsula Jewish Community Center, Foster City, CA, Lecturer (2009 - 2009)
  • Jewish Community Center, Scottsdale AZ, Lecture: "Integraing Feminism and Jewish Studies" in Annual Symposium on Women (2008 - 2009)
  • President Community Enrichmenbt Program, ASU, Lecturer (2009 - 2009)
  • Journal of American Academy of Religion, Member of the Editorial Board (2005 - 2009)
  • Temple Brith Shalom, Prescott AZ, Scholar in Residence (2009 - 2009)
  • Search Committee for position in Judeo-Hispanic Diaspora, Head of Search Committee (2008 - 2009)
  • Temple Beth Am, Los Angeles, Lecturer (2009 - 2009)
  • Faculty Women Emeriti, ASU, Lecturer (2009 - 2009)
  • Jewish Community Foundation, Lecturer (2009 - 2009)
  • Tel Aviv Univeresity, Israel, Evaluator of professor Ron Margolin for promotion to Associate Professor (2008 - 2008)
  • Hadassah: Prime Timers Chapter (meeting in Grayhawk Club), Lecutre: "An Israel WOman Studies Judaism: Challenges and New Directions" (2008 - 2008)
  • The New Shul, Scotssdale AZ, Lecture: "Kabbalah and the Quest for a Modern Jewish Identity" (2008 - 2008)
  • University of Rochester Press, Referee of book manuscript by David Conway, Jewry in Music: Jewish Entry to Musical Professrion, 1780-1850 for publication by the press (2008 - 2008)
  • Department of History, Associate Chair (2007 - 2008)
  • Temple Solel, Scottsdale AZ, Lecture: Jewish Sutdies at ASU: A Look to the Future (2008 - 2008)
  • Arizona Center of Medival and Renaissance Studies, Chair of session on mysiticism in a conference on "Law and Sovereignty in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance" organized by the ACMRS (2008 - 2008)
  • Bar Ilan University, External Reader (2007 - 2008)
  • Calgary Institute for the Humanities, Referee (2007 - 2007)
  • Interpreting Nature & Scripture in the Abrahamic Tradition: History of Dialogue, Referee (2007 - 2007)
  • Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology, Referee (2007 - 2007)
  • Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix, Lecture (2007 - 2007)
  • Judaism and Science: Beyond the Conflict Model, Lecture (2007 - 2007)
  • Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, Academic Advisory Board (2005 - 2007)
  • Jewish Publication Society, Referee (2007 - 2007)
  • Search Committee for Chair of History Department, Member of Committee (2005 - 2007)
  • Jewish Studies Quarterly, Referee (2007 - 2007)
  • New College of Integrative Studies, ASU-WEST, Lecture (2007 - 2007)
  • Indiana University Press, Referee (2007 - 2007)
  • Arizona Science Museum, Panelist (2007 - 2007)
  • Journal of American Academy of Religion, Referee (2005 - 2006)
  • Search Committee for Chair of the Department of History, Member of committee (2005 - 2006)
  • Search Committee for Director of Jewish Studies, Member of Committee (2005 - 2006)
  • Affiliated Council of the Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, Member (2001 - 2005)
  • Oberlin College, Evaluator of Tenure and Promotion File (2005 - 2005)
  • Arizona Center of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Member of a committee to select the ACMRS (2005 - 2005)
  • Planning Committee for a Center of Jewish Studies, Member of committee (2004 - 2005)
  • Radio Portugal Antena 2, Interview with Pedro Oliveira on Judaism and Ecology (2005 - 2005)
  • Jewish Studies Planning Committee, Member of Committee (2005 - 2005)
  • Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, Organizer and facilitator of a faculty seminar: "Being Human -- Science, Religion, Tehcnology and Law." (2004 - 2005)
  • Faculty Mentorship Program, Mentor of Prof. Claudia Mesch (2004 - 2005)
  • Journal of Hebrew Studies, Referee (2005 - 2005)
  • National Foundation for Jewish Culture, Referee of Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (2005 - 2005)
  • President's Community Enrichment Program, Taught a course on Modern Israel (2005 - 2005)
  • Indiana University Press, Referee (2004 - 2005)
  • American Academy of Religion Steering Committee for the "Study of Judaism" section of the AAR, Refereed 23 individual submissions and 5 proposals for panels submitted to the annual convention of the organization (2004)
  • Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, Refereed article for publication (2004)
  • Kansas Daily Star, Gave an interview on the history and meaning of Kabblah and the reason for its current popularity (2004)
  • National Foundation for Jewish Culture, Referee of Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (2004)
  • Research Award Committee, Reviewed grant applications for FGIA in Social Sciences (2004)
  • Science and Public Policy, Refereed article for publication (2004)
  • Studies in Medieval and Renaissance History, Refereed article for publication (2004)
  • Search Committee for Director of Research Administration, Member of Committee (2004 - 2004)
  • Arizona State University, Organized an international conference on "Jewish Tradition and the Challenge of Evolution" (2002 - 2004)
  • Aleph: Historical Studies in Science and Judaism, Referee of an essay for publication (2003)
  • American Academy of Religion, Chaired a Panel (2003)
  • American Academy of Religion, Organized a Panel (2003)
  • Association for Jewish Studies, Organizer and Chair (2003)
  • Association of Jewish Studies, Executive Board (2003)
  • CLAS Research Awards Committee, Member (2003)
  • Carnegie Committee on Graduate Education, Member of Committee (2003)
  • Colloquium Committee, member (2003)
  • Committee to evaluate Prof. Rachel Koopmans, member (2003)
  • Committee to examine pro-Seminar HST 498, member (2003)
  • Committee to rewrite the rules for promotion and tenure procedures, member (2003)
  • Curriculum Committee, Member (2003)
  • Hebrew Union College Press, Referee of Manuscript for publication (2003)
  • Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Academic Advisory Board (2003)
  • Isarel Science Foundation, Refereed a grant proposal (2003)
  • Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Refereed the file of Prof. Shaul Magid for Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure (2003)
  • Journal of the History of Ideas, Refereed an article for publication (2003)
  • KFYI, Phoenix AZ, Panelist (2003)
  • Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, Refereed of application for Doctoral fellowship (2003)
  • Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture, Refereed Proposals for Doctroal and Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2003)
  • Metanexus Institute on Science and Religion, Board of Directors (2003)
  • National Foundation for Jewish Culture, Refereed a grant Proposal (2003)
  • Reason and Revelation: Averroes, Maimonides, Aquinas in Their Time and Ours -- A Documentary Film, Board of Advisors (2003)
  • Review of Biblical Literature, Review of a published text (2003)
  • Search Committee for position in medieval history, member of committee (2003)
  • State University of New York Press, Refereed a manuscript for publication (2003)
  • Temple Beth El, Patchogue New York, Scholar-in-Residence (2003)
  • Temple Emanuel, Tempe AZ, Scholar in Residence (2003)
  • The Journal of Jewish Thought and Philosophy, Editorial Board (2003)
  • University of Wisconsin Press, Series on Modern Jewish Philosophy and Religion, Advisory Board (2003)
  • Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, Refereed article for publication (2003)
  • Arizona Center of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Member of committee (Present)
  • Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, Member of Academic Advisory Board (Present)
  • Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, Member of Committee to design a certificate program in the Study of Religion and Conflict (Present)
  • Search Committee for Chair of History Department, Member of Committee (Present)
  • Search Committee for Director of Jewish Studies, Member of Search Committee (Present)
Expertise Areas
History
Religious Studies