Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception
I serve as the Modern Judaism Editor for the Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (De Gruyter). The EBR is the first comprehensive research tool to fully incorporate the history of the interpretation and reception of biblical themes, concepts, and characters in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, other religions, and the arts — literature, visual arts, music, dance, and film — into an encyclopedic treatment of the Bible. The EBR is available in both print and online formats.
Grant Participation
I am a Co-Principal Investigator on a $250,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation entitled “Jews of Color: Histories and Futures.” Spearheaded by Principal Investigator Professor Samira Mehta (University of Colorado Boulder), this initiative is a partnership between CU’s Program in Jewish Studies and University Libraries, and seeks to recover, study, and elevate the voices and experiences of Jews of color in the United States. Additionally, I am a Cooperation Partner on an approximately €1,200,000 grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft entitled “Emancipatio Rabbinica: Die Stellung der rabbinischen Literatur in den Debatten über den Status der Juden in der Moderne (1600–1900) im italienischen, deutschen und osteuropäischen Kontext.” Led by Professor Ze’ev Strauss (Universität Hamburg), this project explores the role of rabbinic literature in modern debates about Jewish civic and social status across Europe.
Peak to Peak Series
During my time as Director of Jewish Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, I oversaw the Peak to Peak Series, a program that brings humanities scholars into conversations with audiences and communities across Colorado and beyond. Our events explored topics from global Jewish music to food and social justice to photography and Holocaust memory to American law and Jewish messianic heresy. This program is an initiative of the Program in Jewish Studies in partnership with the CU Boulder Office for Outreach and Engagement Arts and Humanities Initiatives and communities and civic organizations across Colorado, including the Corazón de Trinidad Creative District, Garfield Public Library District, Trinidad Carnegie Public Library, Western Colorado University, Aspen Jewish Congregation, Boulder JCC, and Temple Aaron in Trinidad.
Society of Jewish Ethics
I serve as Treasurer and a past program committee co-chair for the Society of Jewish Ethics, which meets each January in conjunction with the Society of Christian Ethics and Society for the Study of Muslim Ethics. Our most recent annual meeting took place virtually in January 2024.
University of Colorado – University of Denver Jewish Philosophy Collaborative
With Sarah Pessin, Director of Judaic Studies at the University of Denver, I co-founded the University of Colorado – University of Denver Jewish Philosophy Collaborative. This initiative seeks to promote new work in Jewish thought by fostering relationships between faculty and graduate students at DU and CU and encouraging interdisciplinary conversations across fields such as religious studies, philosophy, cultural studies, and history. We have been awarded a Special Initiatives Grant from the American Academy for Jewish Research, and current projects include an annual “Week of Jewish Philosophy,” featuring visiting scholars of Jewish thought from across North America and local faculty in related fields. Our 2021 program was an online roundtable on the contemporary relevance of Franz Rosenzweig’s The Star of Redemption, hosted with the Political Theology Network; the presentations have been collected in a special issue of the journal Political Theology, curated by me and Pessin. 
Past visito
rs include Mara Benjamin, Chair of Jewish Studies and Irene Kaplan Leiwant Associate Professor of Jewish Studies at Mount Holyoke College; Martin Kavka, Professor of Religion at Florida State University; Samuel Moyn, Professor of Law and History at Yale University; Michael Morgan, Chancellor’s Professor of Philosophy and Jewish Studies (Emeritus) at Indiana University; Randi Rashkover, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at George Mason University; Leora Batnitzky, Ronald O. Perelman Professor of Jewish Studies and Professor of Religion at Princeton University; and Paul Franks, Professor of Philosophy, Religious Studies, and Judaic Studies at Yale University.
The Jewish Publication Society: Conversations with Authors
During my time as Director of The Jewish Publication Society, I oversaw JPS’s new “Conversations with Authors” series, speaking with scholars and teachers from academia and beyond about their newest publications on Jewish thought, history, literature, and exegesis. You can find these conversations here.
Elias Sacks 