MA Alumni

Supervisor: Dr. Ivy Sichel

Abstract: in my thesis I present and analyze the argument and event structure of Hebrew Psych nominals in light of, and with emphasis on the differences between the psychological lexicon of English and the rich Psych lexicon of Hebrew. I claim that this richness is what allows us to isolate meaning ingredients in verbal forms as to obtain a more direct mapping of meaning to form, thereby expanding the current knowledge regarding Psych verbs and their nominalizations. However, in spite of the meaning-form flexibility available in Hebrew, there are nevertheless also inter-language restrictions on the types of psychological nominalizations available in the language, depending on morphological form, i.e. verbal pattern. To show how the language is both restrictive as well as flexible, I focus on semantic contrasts between Psych nominalizations derived from the hif’il and pi’el verbal patterns.  

Research subject: The design of the educational system infrastructure (1953-1948)

Abstract: The first decade succeeding the foundation of the state of Israel was filled with critical historic events and radical changes. In those years, as expected of a newly founded state, policymakers started to form the public infrastructure of Israel - including the educational system. It was the decade in which the main characteristics of the educational system ways were formed, as well as its goals, ways of action and structural aspects. My research intends to dwell upon the connection between the historical events and sociological aspects of Israel in that time and the design of the educational system infrastructure. The research will discuss the ways in which the educational system itself, being one of the ultimate devices for shaping the society, is derived from the political and historical events which happened in that crucial decade.

Supervisors: Prof. Edit Doron, Dr. Aynat Rubinstein

Abstract: My work will refer to a phenomenon known in the literature as "the Actualization Effect", where modal expressions conjugated in preterit are interpreted as an action that has been carried out. My intention is to address the current theoretical literature related to this effect, focusing on semantic, syntactical and morphological aspects. These analyses will be examined with respect to Spoken Modern Hebrew data, as well as to written Hebrew corpora, from a diachronic perspective/

Supervisor: Dr. Orit Peleg-Barkat

Abstract: My work concentrates on the architectural decoration in Herodium and on the cultural sources, which derive from the analysis and the context of the architectural items at the site. The focus of my research will be the various architectural assemblages which were revealed in the site and include more than a thousand pieces. Those items, the vast majority of which have never been scientifically analysed, will be presented in detail and several aspects will be examine, such as the materials and the carving technique, typology and their archaeological and architectural context. The long-run excavation project at Herodium enables us to identify a few constructive stages at the site, which can be aligned in a relative stratigraphy. Thus, examining the architectural items in their archaeological context might help us trace chronological changes in the architectural decoration of the site and to identify accordingly trends of progress and development in the Herod’s building program. Similarly, the project aims to suggest a reconstruction for some of the architectural units at the site in light of the architectural and decorative analysis, as well as its scale, material, typology and style of carving. The reconstruction of the architectural units and their decoration will help in understanding the architectural characteristics of Herodium in particular and King Herod’s architecture as a whole. Equipped with such knowledge, many unsolved questions that the sheer architectural plan cannot answer, might be addressed, as like: what are the important parts of building which have the most elaborate decoration? How did the upper parts of the towers look like? Can we figure the King’s most beloved palaces due to its decoration? 

Supervisor: Prof. Brouria Bitton-Ashkelony

Abstract: My work explores the complex relations between voice and silence, in regard to how prayer was designed and constructed in Rabbinic and Syriac-Christian literature in Late Antiquity. In the Thesis I examine the interplay between Rabbinic and Syriac literature regarding perceptions of body and language, and from that I continue on to explore the different attitudes towards silent and bodily prayer.

The work focuses on the works of Aphrahat, Ephrem, the Book of Steps and John of Apamea - all Syrian writings of the fourth and fifth centuries, and on rabbinic literature from roughly the same period.

Subject: On the Discourse of Unity and the Discursive Unity of the Ma‘arekhet ha-elohut

Supervisor: Dr. Avishai Bar-Asher

Abstract: Ma’arekhet ha-ehlohut, though a foundational kabbalistic work, remains largely understudied. In past scholarship it has been argued that the work is composed of two distinct strata, each reflecting a distinct stage in the author's development from kabbalist to philosopher. In my research I would like to reexamine this in light of the idea that philosophy and Kabbalah were deeply integrated in this period.

Supervisor: Aldina Rodriguez Quintana

Abstract: This dissertation will examine how Hebrew speakers respond to compliments by examining Hebrew speaking students at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem as a sub-group of Hebrew speakers. This focus on a micro-level speech act is part of a wider understanding of the importance of pragmatics to intercultural communication.  By examining linguistic choices in socio-linguistic interaction a lot can be learned about the pragmatic motives of speakers. Understanding pragmatic motivation is extremely beneficial in preventing pragmatic failure, which occurs when speakers apply the pragmatic patterns of their native language (L1) on the spoken foreign language (L2) (Thomas 1983). 

 When receiving a compliment, it is expected to show happiness or embarrassment, the latter is more expected from women. External compliments, on appearance, performance and possession are the most welcomed, while physical appearance, talent and personality compliments are perceived as interior and therefore less welcomed. A simple /to’da/ will always suffice, especially if you are men, but expressing your pleasure with the compliment is a good choice too, especially if you are a woman and the giver of the compliment is a woman as well. Try to avoid denial of the compliment, as acceptance is much preferred. The least expected sub-strategies are ‘return compliment’, ‘magnified acceptance’ and ‘soliciting confirmation’. If you wish to choose ‘acceptance with amendment’, your best bet will be ‘tempered acceptance’. If you wish to ignore the illocutionary force of the compliment and address it as discursive, the best option is to view it a ‘topic introduction’.

The comparatively large variation in response choice in the Israeli culture, compared to the Spanish culture for example (Siebold 2008) is a result of two things: 1) the relative newness of the Israeli society, which means cultural expectations are not yet fully established, and 2) The importance of the individual over the importance of the group; Israel has become very diverse and Capitalism and North-American influence raised the importance of the individual over the collective. 

Subject: Talmudic reasonning and the Sasanian context of the Babylonian Talmud

MA Honors 2018/19

Supervisor: Prof. Michael Segal and Dr. Ronnie Goldstein

Abstract: My research deals with the character of Nehemiah and the various traditions about him during the Second Temple period. The first part of the study will deal with the composition of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah in general, and in particular of the stories about Nehemiah, in order to recognize the original traditions about Nehemiah that are in it and the changes that took place in his character during the formation of the book. The second part will deal with the traditions about Nehemiah in the post-biblical literature – Sirach, 2 Maccabees, the Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus and more – and the relationship between them and the biblical text. 

Bio: Natan Evron has a B.A. in Biblical Studies and Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies from the Hebrew University and a M.A. degree in Biblical Studies and in Mandel's School's Honorary Program at the Hebrew University. His Master thesis dealt with some of the stories of David's rise to monarchy in 1 Samuel. His research focuses on biblical historiography and comparisons between the Bible and ancient Near Eastern cultures. Participates in a research project by Prof. Daniel Schwartz from the Hebrew University for the Reconstruction of the Lost Hebrew Version of 1 Maccabees.

Publications:

“'David is Hiding among Us': The Stories about David, Saul, and the Ziphites (1 Sam 23:19–24; 26:1).” In David in the Desert. Edited by Hannes Bezzel and Reinhard G. Kratz. BZAW; Berlin / Boston: de Gruyter, 2020 (approx.)

Rotenstreich 2020/2021

MA Honors Program 2015/2016

Topic:  Public Opinion Polling and the Future(s) of the German Democratic Republic, 1966–1989

Supervisor:  Prof. Ofer Ashkenazi

Bio: I am a research student in history, focusing mainly on cultural history, Alltagsgeschichte, and knowledge production in Cold War Germany. I obtained my BA and MA from the same department and from the HUJI Institute of History Honors Program. I also participated in the Mandel School MA Honors Program, and am a fellow at the Koebner Center for German History. Between the years 2019-2021 I served as editor-in-chief of the student journal "Hayo Haya – a Young Forum for History." Beside my research, I am interested in cinema, socialism, and urban planning.

Abstract:  My dissertation will explore the widespread phenomenon of public opinion polling in East Germany and the multiple roles it played in the effort to sustain and reform the state’s power structure between the mid-1960s and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Through an analysis of the surveys and reports produced by the state-sanctioned social research institutes, I aim to establish the centrality of this method to the cultural, social, and political history of the German Democratic Republic and to understand the ways in which it was used by citizens in unexpected ways to imagine the future(s) of the GDR.

Publications:
Geller, Mor. “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Socialism: Education and Entertainment in the Musical Film Heißer Sommer (GDR, 1968).” Slil – Journal for History, Film, and Television (Forthcoming). [in Hebrew]

Mosse Stipend 2021/22

Supervisor: Dr. Roni Granot

Abstract: My research examines categorical perception of musical intervals. Categorical perception is a cognitive phenomena in which a continuous stimulus is divided perceptually to create distinct units. The research aims to expand our knowledge on categorical perception to the music field, as well as study its implications to our understanding on cultural differences in music perception and on perfect pitch. 

Subject: Ancient art

Abstract: The research focuses on early christian pilgrimage

Advisor: Prof. Rina Talgam

MA Honors 2019/20

Supervisor: Dr. Eitan Grossman

Abstract: Middle Persian is a southwestern Iranian language, documented from the second century BCE to the ninth century CE. In my thesis I will use a large Middle Persian corpus to examine the valency patterns of approximately 70 verbs and describe the argument structure properties of different valency patterns in Middle Persian.