Scholarship and Biography

My research deals in the history of Jewish thought, with a special focus on political thought, the history of law and theories of Jewish modernity. I am also an expert in Israel Studies and my research in the history of Israel focuses on the relationship between law, religion and politics, and in particular in the history of religious Zionism.

My latest book is "The Invention of Jewish Theocracy" (Oxford University Press, 2020).

I also have an interest in Jewish historiography. Together with David N. Myers, I edited the collected works of one of the last century's leading Jewish historians in: Myers, David N., and Alexander Kaye, eds. The Faith of Fallen Jews: Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi and the Writing of Jewish History. UPNE, 2013.

Honors

Teaching Innovation General Education Grant
Brandeis University (United States, Waltham), 2018
Fellow, Kogod Research Center for Contemporary Jewish Thought
Shalom Hartman Institute (Israel, Jerusalem), 2020
Recipient of the Salo Baron Prize for the best first book in Jewish Studies
American Academy for Jewish Research (United States, Ann Arbor) - AAJR, 2021
Recipient of the Leon Charney Book Award in Israel Studies
Yeshiva University (United States, New York) - YU, 2021
Finalist for the Jordan Schnitzer Award in the category of Philosophy and Jewish Thought
Association for Jewish Studies (United States, New York) - AJS, 2021
Co-Recipient of the Young Scholar Award: “Recognizes an exceptional scholar [up to the rank of Assistant Professor] who has made significant contributions to the field of Israel Studies, and whose record of publications and scholarship has demonstrated the potential to shape the field in the future.”
Association for Israel Studies, 2021
Finalist for the Concordia University Library - Azrieli Institute Award for Best Book in Israel Studies
Concordia University (Canada, Montreal), 2022
Brandeis Hiatt Career Center “Career Hero” (Student-nominated award)
Brandeis University (United States, Waltham), 2025

Organizational Affiliations

Karl, Harry, and Helen Stoll Associate Professor of Israel Studies, Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Brandeis University

Director, Schusterman Center for Israel Studies, Brandeis University

Education

Columbia University in the City of New York
Ph.D.
University of Cambridge
M.Phil.
University of Cambridge
B.A.