Talya Fishman

Talya Fishman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on Jewish history and culture from the 9th to 18th centuries, emphasizing interactions with Christian and Muslim societies. She explores themes like rabbinic culture, legal traditions, and manuscript illumination in medieval Jewish communities.

Research Highlights:

• Analyzes early modern critiques of rabbinic authority, such as the pseudonymous 'Voice of a Fool' text.
• Studies the transformation of oral Torah into written tradition in medieval Judaism.
• Investigates cultural differences in legal practices between Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities.
• Examines the role of masorah figurata and manuscript illuminations in Hebrew Bible codices.

Awards:

• Winner of the Nahum M. Sarna Award for Becoming the People of the Talmud.
• Fellowships from ACLS, NEH, Charlotte Newcombe, and Guggenheim Foundations.

Professional Roles:

• Editorial Board Member of Association for Jewish Studies Review.
• Advisory Board Member of Zutot: Perspectives on Jewish Culture.

Teaching:

• Offers courses on medieval Jewish texts, mysticism, and legal-political thought.
• Guides graduate students in Hebrew textual analysis across 10th–18th century Jewish communities.