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Searching for Israel’s Ancestors in the Genomic Age
Drawing on the presenter’s collaboration with Stanford scientists, this talk will explore recent use of genetic evidence to uncover the ancient ancestors of the Jews. What has been learned from such evidence about the ancient Israelites, and why has this kind of research proven so controversial? The talk seeks to address these questions in a way that is accessible to people whatever their scientific background.
Steven Weitzman serves as the Ella Darivoff Director of the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and as the Abraham M. Ellis Professor of Semitics Languages and Literatures in the department of Religious Studies. Among his publications is The Origin of the Jews: The Quest for Roots in a Rootless Age (Princeton University Press), awarded a National Jewish Book Award.