Dr. Yosef Priel

Academic profile

In recent years, my main occupation has been the connection between Hebrew song    and the Bible. I wrote four Articles on the biblical writing of Yoram Taharlev, Dudu Barak and Natan  Yehonatan. My teaching also includes this area and I teach in Bar-Ilan three interdisciplinary courses: "Reflection of Torah Stories in Hebrew Song"; "Reflection of the prophets in Hebrew   song" and "The Reflection of the Bible at Israeli writes". which the connection between the Bible  is expressed Musicology, Zionism, history and culture.

My doctoral dissertation revolved around Rabbi Hezekiah Ben Manoah (Hizquni), of the 13^th century. Hizquni was found to be the commentary successor of Rabbi Yosef Bechor Shor (12^th century France) and Rabbi Yehuda Hachasid (12-13^th centuries Ashkenaz). His commentary contained a great deal of discussion of “the way of the world” and “human life” presented from the viewpoint of the commentator as well as that of the reader. Additionally, his commentary is filled with naïve and popular ideas aspiring to bring the Torah, its teachings and commandments closer to the common people. The innovation of this research was in analyzing the general atmosphere and context of the commentary not only its content. This opened up a new perspective on the commentary methods of Northern French commentators. This research also found an answer to the question of the time and place of Hizquni, and through revealing numerous independent commentaries by Hizquni, called for a greater estimation of his historical role. I'm waiting for publishing the book I wrote about.

Another area I research is the issue of Babylonian weekly portion division, the one practiced today. We do not have historical information explaining this division and through the years I have constructed a thesis attempting to elucidate this division. Parts of this thesis are occasionally published in the Bar-Ilan University Weekly Study Sheet, presented in a regular class in Givat Shmuel.

More than anything else my academic profile is expressed through teaching. Significant teaching and education experience and a deep love for fellow human beings, create classes encompassing the almost impossible combination of tradition and research. These classes are emotional at times (en suite what I found in my dissertation and the clear connection between researcher and subject) and create a unique mixture penetrating the hearts of almost all students, even those coming from different background. The many appreciation letters received by the Basic Jewish Studies center, and the meaningful personal connections I have made with students throughout the years, are all evidential to this point.