Steven Weitzman

Steven Weitzman is the Abraham M. Ellis Professor of Hebrew and Semitic Languages and Literatures at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts & Sciences. He also serves as the Ella Darivoff Director of the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies and Undergraduate Chair of the Religious Studies Department. With a Ph.D. from Harvard University and a B.A. from UC Berkeley, his expertise spans the Hebrew Bible, ancient Judaism, and the intersection of religion with broader cultural and historical contexts.

His notable works include Surviving Sacrilege: Cultural Persistence in Jewish Antiquity (2005) and The Jews: A History (2009), alongside a biographical study of King Solomon (2011). His research bridges biblical studies with modern interdisciplinary questions, such as the FBI’s engagement with religion and the origins of Jewish identity. Weitzman previously held roles at Stanford University and Indiana University, where he directed Jewish Studies programs.

Weitzman’s research interests emphasize the Hebrew Bible’s literary and cultural dimensions, ancient Judaism’s adaptation to diaspora, and the FBI’s historical relationship with religious institutions. His recent publications explore topics like Yiddish post-Holocaust, spirituality in military contexts, and messianic thought across Jewish history.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Harvard University
  • B.A., UC Berkeley
• Previous Affiliations:
  • Stanford University (Daniel E. Koshland Professor)
  • Indiana University (Director of Jewish Studies)
• Labs/Teams:
  • Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
  • Taube Center for Jewish Studies (Stanford)