About
Dr. Tzvi Novick serves as the Abrams Jewish Thought and Culture Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame.
His educational background includes an M.A. from Yeshiva University and a Ph.D. from Yale University.
Dr. Novick's research focuses on law and ethics in rabbinic Judaism, with additional scholarly work on the Hebrew Bible, Second Temple Judaism, and Jewish liturgical poetry (piyyut) from late antiquity. His methodology examines normative structures in Tannaitic literature and explores how religious traditions address fundamental questions about national identity, covenant relationships, and ethical obligations.
His publications include significant books such as Piyyut and Midrash: Form, Genre, and History and What Is Good, and What God Demands: Normative Structures in Tannaitic Literature. His articles address diverse theological topics including the commemoration of Gedaliah's assassination, the relationship between land and Torah in binding Israel as a nation, and interpretations of biblical narratives involving figures like Jeroboam and Hadad.
Dr. Novick's scholarly approach emphasizes interpretation over literalism, advocating for engagement with religious texts that promotes meaningful living rather than rigid adherence or violence.
