The Bible usually tells us why bad things happen, but no explanation is given for why the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. The absence of an explanation does not mean that the biblical writers did not supply answers: in this lecture, we will uncover the different explanations that the Bible gives for this national catastrophe.

Yair Zakovitch is the Emeritus Father Takeji Otsuki Professor of Bible at the Hebrew University. In 2021, he will receive the prestigious Israel Prize in Biblical Studies.

At the Hebrew University, Prof. Zakovitch served as Dean of Humanities, Head of the Department of Bible, and Head of the Institute of Jewish Studies. He has taught at academic institutions throughout the United States and Europe, including Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, University of California at Berkeley, University of Notre Dame, Columbia University, The Jewish Theological Seminary, the Pontifical Gregorian University, and the University of Erlangen. In Israel, Professor Zakovitch is a well-known lecturer, teaching regularly at teachers’ seminars and continuing education programs, as well as appearances on radio and television.

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