Boaz Shpigel

Dr. Boaz Shpigel has a bachelor's degree in Talmud (extended) and a PhD in Talmud (direct route). His doctoral thesis, "The Halachic Derush in the 17th and 18th Centuries - Its Ways, Forms and Contents" (Bar-Ilan University, 2000), was written under the guidance of Prof. Shlomo Zalman Havlin. During his years of study, he won the prize for outstanding students four times, and in addition received a scholarship for outstanding research students.

He has been teaching at School for Basic Jewish Studies since 1993. Over the years, he also taught at The Central School for Teacher Training in Tel Aviv (1995-2005), and at Orot Israel College (2004-2020). For his lectures and classes at Bar-Ilan University, he won awards and grants four times for excellence in teaching.

Dr. Boaz Shpigel’s main areas of research and teaching are Talmudic and Midrashic literature (the Sages literature) and Rabbinical literature. His articles that have been published in academic and rabbinical journals deal with a variety of topics embedded in this literature, such as: Purim matters and the interpretation of the Book of Esther, and they also embrace various personalities in this literature, such as: Avraham, Haran, Og the King of the Bashan, King David, Rabbi Akiva and Rabban Gamliel.

Another area of interest for Dr. Shpigel is the world of angels and their influence on our lives. He published several articles on this subject, the most prominent of which is an article on the activities of the Angel of Death and his special attitude towards Torah scholars.

In addition, he wrote an article concerning the character of Elijah the prophet and his appearances in our world after he ascended to heaven, and he is still researching and writing in this field.

Research:

• Talmudic and Midrashic Literature
• Rabbinic Literature
• Derush, Sermons and Preachers Literature