Ari Mermelstein

Ari Mermelstein is an Associate Professor of Bible and Second Temple Literature at Yeshiva University, serving as Chair of the Department of Bible, Hebrew, and Near Eastern Studies. He also holds roles as Assistant Director of the YU Center for Jewish Law and the Israeli Supreme Court Project at Cardozo Law School. With dual expertise in ancient Jewish history (PhD, NYU) and law (JD, NYU Law), his work bridges historical scholarship and legal analysis.

His research focuses on emotions in ancient Judaism, exploring how affective dimensions shaped communal identity, legal practices, and theological frameworks. Major works include Power and Emotion in Ancient Judaism (Cambridge, 2021), a National Jewish Book Award finalist, and The Genesis of Beginnings (Brill, 2014), analyzing Second Temple period historiography. Current projects investigate silence and speech ethics in ancient Jewish thought.

Mermelstein teaches courses on biblical studies, classical Jewish history, and Second Temple-era figures like Josephus and Philo. His publications span journals such as AJS Review, Harvard Theological Review, and Dead Sea Discoveries, with a strong emphasis on interconnections between emotion, law, and identity.

Academic recognition includes the William L. and Lillian Silber Professor of the Year award (2015-16; 2017-18) and multiple book reviews shaping scholarly discourse. His work integrates rigorous textual analysis with innovative frameworks in emotion studies, offering fresh perspectives on ancient Jewish thought and practice.