Call for Papers

Bringing Ancient Greek and Hebrew Literature into Conversation

An International Conference.

July 6-7 2026, Yearim Hotel, Maaleh Hachamishah, Israel.

Sponsored by Bar Ilan University and its departments of Classical Studies and Bible.

What might become visible if classical Greek literature and Biblical Hebrew literature were read as mutually illuminating corpora rather than as isolated traditions? This conference aims to bring these two traditions into relationship by exploring common literary forms and themes. Questions that animate the project include (among others):

Narrative theology and heroic ethics

Law, kingship, and divine authority

Nostos and exile traditions

Wisdom literature and philosophical prose

Prophecy

Comparative poetics

Mourning, honor, and status

Religious practices and conceptions (think less monotheism versus polytheism and more tuma’ah versus miasma)

The Hellenistic synthesis of Greek and Hebrew cultures

Scholars whose research engages both traditions are warmly invited to send a proposal by May 24th.  Limited travel funding is available for successful proposals.

Please send proposals to the members of the organizing committee:

Professor Gabriel Danzig (Department of Classical Studies)

Gabriel.Danzig@biu.ac.il

Dr. Yisca Zimran (Department of Bible)

Yisca.Zimran@biu.ac.il