On 9/9/20, Hunter hosted this program as part of the Robert Seltzer Lunch Lecture Series.
Efforts to reconcile the biblical account of creation with the conclusions of science take many forms. Modern-day efforts of this kind, including those that fully embrace the scientific consensus, find precedent among traditional Jewish authorities in the Middle Ages, who interpreted the biblical story in full accordance with medieval science. This presentation highlights the positions of Maimonides and of other, lesser-known figures, and considers their influence on present-day discussions of the issue.
Yitzhak Berger is Professor of Biblical Studies at Hunter and Hebrew Administrator. He specializes in medieval biblical interpretation and literary interpretation of the Bible. His most recent book, Jonah in the Shadows of Eden, was published by Indiana University Press in 2016. Yitzhak teaches courses on the Jewish Bible at Hunter College.
Watch the program below.