Research Fellowships – The Tanakh Fellowship

The Tanakh Fellow will work together with Judy Klitsner on the organizing, researching and production of her commentary on the Bible, which will be part of a major online library. After consultations with Judy on general lines of thought for interpreting a particular biblical passage, the fellow will survey a wide array of commentary, both ancient and modern, highlighting sections that might be used in the commentary, or as necessary background. The Torah commentary will combine rigorous literary analysis with psychological and philosophical human insights that are relevant to a modern reader. The commentary will include intertextual comparisons (in Judy’s words, helping to expose the “vibrant conversation” that takes place between biblical passages).

Description of Faculty Research:

The commentary will be produced one biblical chapter at a time, at the rate of ten chapters per year. In addition to helping Judy organize and focus her efforts, the fellow will research a wide range of ancient and modern commentary on a given chapter. Results will either be included in the commentary or will serve as essential background.

Some, but not all, of the content of the proposed commentary exists in shiur form (Judy’s source materials and lecture notes). At times, the project will include transforming current materials into expository form, so that it can be included in the commentary.

Responsibilities of the Tanakh Research Fellow include:

• Helping to organize and distill the scope and focus of the project.
• Conducting weekly sessions with Judy, acting as a supportive, yet critical, havruta partner, helping the author crystallize ideas and helping her decide on the ideal boundaries of each textual exploration.
• Researching ancient and modern commentary on a given chapter.
• Listening to classes taught by Judy, in which ideas for the commentary are presented. After listening actively, the fellow will pose probing questions and offer constructive suggestions. At times, the fellow will be asked to transcribe parts of the recorded classes.
• Reviewing Judy’s lecture notes and printed sources and transform them into expository form.