Ziva R Hassenfeld

Ziva R Hassenfeld is the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Assistant Professor of Jewish Education at Brandeis University, with affiliations in the Interdepartmental Program in Education and the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies. Her research examines student reading development through sociocultural analysis of Hebrew Bible interpretation.

Education:

• Ph.D., Stanford University
• M.A., Brandeis University
• B.A., New York University

Her work employs ethnographic observation and interview-based methods to bridge biblical hermeneutics (contemporary and rabbinic) with literary theory. She leads the SCRoLL Lab (Student-Centered Religious Learning and Literacy Lab), focusing on qualitative educational research.

Scientific Awards:

• Network for Research in Jewish Education 2016 Research Award
• 2017 Article of the Year Award from the Journal of Jewish Education

Grants:

• Sylvia and Moshe Ettenberg Research Grant
• Theodore and Jane Norman Fund for Faculty Research and Creative Projects (Brandeis, 2020–2022)
• Provost’s Teaching Innovation Grant (Brandeis, 2021–2022)