Passing of Prof. Shalom M. Paul

Shalom Berger Discussion

H-Judaic is greatly saddened to learn of the passing of Shalom M. Paul (1936-2020), Yehezkel Kaufmann Professor Emeritus of Bible Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  Born in Philadelphia,  Prof. Paul was one of the early students of Nahum Sarna, then still at Gratz College.  He also studied with William F. Albright, H.L. Ginsberg, and E.M. Speiser.    He made aliyah in 1971. Upon the occasion of his 70th birthday, he received a festschrift which includes a bibliography of his writings; see Chaim CohenVictor Avigdor HurowitzAvi HurvitzYochanan MuffsBaruch J. Schwartz, and Jeffrey H. Tigay (eds.), Birkat Shalom: Studies in the Bible, Ancient Near Eastern Literature, and Postbiblical Judaism: presented to Shalom M. Paul on the occasion of his seventieth birthday, 2 v., Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 2008.‎   

For a recent biographical sketch  of Prof. Paul, see Hebrew Wikipedia, which includes information on disciplinary actions against him for harassment of female students  https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D_%D7%9E%27_%D7%A4%D7%90%D7%95%D7%9C.     

Prof. Marc Zvi Brettler conducted an illuminating interview with Prof. Paul upon the publication of the latter's important commentary on Isaiah 40-66 (also published in Hebrew); see http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com/resource/interview_4.xhtml.  Prof. Paul was widely known as an inspiring teacher and lecturer. For an example, see the video preserved at https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox?compose=CllgCJTLqDfbcpzlmQCWbpqmxqrxxLHjDlbkJmkCLdhFBRfvKqvVrmPmKPBdVnpgtSGznPlDHBV.

 

We extend deepest condolences to Prof. Paul's family, friends and students.

 

Jonathan D. Sarna

Chair, H-Judaic

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