Hanan Eshel

Dr. Hanan Eshel visited TWU in September 2009. Prior to his passing on April 8, 2010 Dr. Eshel was an Associate Professor and former head (2002-2004) of the Department of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology at Bar-Ilan University and directed a number of excavations in Israel, including Qumran and Ein Gedi. His publications include The Bar-Kokhba Refuge Caves (Hebrew) and The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Hasmonean State and over 200 articles.

Professor Hanan Eshel received his academic training at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem: His B.A. at the Institute of Archaeology (1982-1984); and his M.A. (1985-1988) and Ph.D. (1989-1993) at the Jewish History Department.  The title of his M.A. thesis was: "The Historical Background of Building Temples for the God of Israel in Bethel and Samaria Following the Destruction of the First Temple", under the supervision of Professor  I. Eph'al. The title of his Ph.D. Dissertation was: "The Samaritans in the Persian and Hellenistic Periods: The Origins of Samaritanism", written under the supervision of Professor I. Eph'al and Professor D.R. Schwartz.

In 1990 Eshel started teaching in the department of Land of Israel Studies and Archeology at Bar-Ilan University. In 1996 he was appointed as a senior lecturer. In 1999 Eshel was appointed as an associate Professor with tenure.  Between 2002 and 2004 he served as the chair of the department.

After finishing his Ph.D. he was appointed as a Harry Starr Fellow at Harvard University (1994). In 1998 he came back to Harvard, now as a visiting scholar teaching courses on the Jewish background of Christianity at the Harvard Divinity  School. In 2004 he was the Louis and Helen Padnos Visiting Professor of Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

In his research Professor Eshel tried to combine archeological finds with historical sources, as well as field work and library research. Most of his excavations were conducted in the Judean Desert, but he also directed, together with partners, five seasons of excavations at Tel Yatir, near Arad (1995-1999).