Dubrau Alexander is a Research Fellow at the University of Tübingen’s Centre for Islamic Theology, leading an interdisciplinary project on Talmudic rationality since 2013. His research focuses on rabbinic literature, Talmudic exegesis, and ancient Jewish legal concepts. Previously, he held a position as a research assistant at the Hochschule für Jüdische Studien Heidelberg from 2005–2013, where he specialized in Talmud, codices, and rabbinic literature under Prof. Ronen Reichman. He earned his doctorate in 2011 with a thesis on Sifre Zuta Numeri , analyzing its textual history and exegesis. His academic journey includes studies at the Free University of Berlin (1999–2005) and advanced research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2001–2003). His publications span topics such as purity laws, rabbinic spatial theology, and legal reasoning in ancient Jewish thought, with a particular emphasis on Tannaitic controversies and midrashic exegesis. His work bridges textual criticism, religious studies, and interdisciplinary approaches to understanding rabbinic traditions. He has co-edited the journal PaRDeS (2006–2009) and contributed entries to major encyclopedias like the Wissenschaftliche Bibellexikon . His research highlights intersections between legal, spatial, and theological dimensions in ancient Jewish texts.
Ottfried Fraisse serves as Professor of Jewish Studies at the Oriental Institute of Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, holding the chair since 2019 after serving as interim chair from 2016-2019. He also holds positions as member of the board of directors of the IZEA and the IZP since 2020. Previously, he held academic positions at the University of Cologne and Goethe University Frankfurt, where he coordinated the graduate college 'Theology as Science - Formation Processes of Reflexivity of Faith Traditions in Historical and Systematic Analysis.' His educational background includes an MA in Semitic Languages and Theology from the University of Amsterdam, a PhD in Judaic Studies from the Free University of Berlin (summa cum laude), and Arabic studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Goethe Institute in Damascus. He completed his habilitation at Goethe University Frankfurt in 2014 with the thesis 'Coherence of History of Science and Judaism through the Transfer Dynamics of Cultural Overlaps: The Epistemic Significance of Islam in Ignác Goldziher's Work.' Fraisse's research centers on three overlapping fields: A) Jewish thought in MENA countries between 1750-1950, particularly examining whether a Jewish Enlightenment (Haskala or Nahda) existed in Maghreb and Mashriq; B) Relations between this thought and Europe, especially European Enlightenments and Wissenschaft des Judentums; C) Critique of orientalist and colonialist concepts in Jewish Studies. His specific interests span rabbinic Midrash, medieval Jewish-Arabic philosophy, Greek-Arabic-Jewish philosophy in medieval commentaries, Jewish philosophy of poetry and music, Judaism under Islamic rule, comparative legal interpretation in Judaism and Islam, Enlightenment and Islam, Jewish Enlightenment, and modern Jewish philosophy. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent scholarly trajectory focused on the intersections of Jewish and Islamic intellectual traditions, particularly through the lens of key figures like Ignác Goldziher. His work demonstrates increasing attention to transcultural perspectives, critiquing orientalist frameworks while examining how Jewish scholarship has engaged with Islamic thought across historical periods. A notable trend is his exploration of how Jewish intellectuals navigated European intellectual traditions while maintaining connections to Islamic cultural spheres. Fraisse directs significant research projects including the BMBF-funded 'Beyond Conflict and Coexistence - Intertwining Jewish-Arabic Knowledge Cultures' (2022-2024) and the Saxony-Anhalt Ministry-funded 'Migration and Antisemitism in the European Context. Transcultural Perspectives on Jewish-Islamic Relations in German Post-Migration Society' (2024). His earlier projects include 'Analoga - The Civilizational Project of Islamic-Jewish Cultural Hermeneutics' (2008-2011) and an international conference 'Beyond the Myth of 'Golden Spain'' (2014). These projects consistently address Jewish-Islamic intellectual history through interdisciplinary, transcultural frameworks. His scholarly output includes major monographs such as 'Ignác Goldziher's Monotheistic Science and the Historicization of Islam' (2014) and 'Moses ibn Tibbons Commentary on the Song of Songs and His Poetic-Philosophical Program' (2004), along with numerous edited volumes that have shaped contemporary discourse in Jewish Studies and Islamic-Jewish intellectual history.
Dr. Moshe Lavee serves as a Lecturer in Talmud and Midrash at the University of Haifa and chairs the Inter-disciplinary Centre for Genizah Research. His academic work bridges traditional Jewish textual study with contemporary scholarly approaches to religious texts. Dr. Lavee's research primarily focuses on Aggadic Midrash within Genizah communities, examining how ancient Jewish communities interpreted biblical narratives. His work demonstrates particular expertise in utilizing Cairo Genizah materials to illuminate rabbinic thought and biblical interpretation across different historical periods. His research reveals how medieval Jewish communities engaged with foundational biblical stories through midrashic elaboration and creative exegesis. Analysis of Dr. Lavee's publications shows a consistent emphasis on Cairo Genizah materials as primary sources for understanding the development of Midrashic literature. His work spans multiple biblical narratives including Exodus, Genesis, and prophetic texts, with particular attention to character studies and thematic connections across different biblical episodes. He frequently examines how medieval interpreters reconciled textual difficulties and constructed theological frameworks through midrashic expansion. Dr. Lavee actively works to connect academic scholarship with broader community engagement through leadership programs including "Mashavah Techila" and "Ruach Carmel," which aim to foster relationships between academic Jewish studies and communal religious practice.
