Naftali Cohn’s research focuses on Jewish Ritual. In his earlier work, he draws out the rhetorical force of literary choices made in the late-second century text, the Mishnah, in describing how ritual used to be performed in the Jerusalem Temple. His work on the Mishnah more widely explores the relationship between narrative, memory, ritual and gender and the self-construction of the rabbinic authors as authoritative legal figures. Currently he is preparing a book manuscript on the understanding of ritual in this ancient text as interpreted through the lenses of ritual theory, affect theory,and intersectional feminism. In addition, he is beginning a SSHRC-funded research project on the representation of Jewish ritual in recent film and television.He also continues to work on a smaller project on engaging Equity, Diversity,Inclusion, and Decolonizing insights into the pedagogy of the field of religious studies.
Educaton
PhD (University of Pennsylvania)
Research interests
Ritual, Ritual Theory, Jewish Ritual in Film and Television, Intersectional Feminist Interpretation, Narrative Theory, Ancient Jewish Texts, Mishnah, Cultural History, Textual Interpretation
Traditions
Judaism
Field areas
Judaism
Religion and Popular Culture (Film, Television)
Religions and Cultures in Late Antiquity
Women, Gender, and Sexuality
Current Graduate Classes
Methods in the Religions and Cultures (Fall 2021)
Food, Sex, and Death in Judaism (Winter 2020, Fall 2022)
Introduction to the Talmud (Fall 2017)
Current Undergraduate Classes
Sex, Gender, and Jews (Winter 2022)
Moses Throughout the Ages (Rebels, Leaders, Saints) (Winter 2020)
