Prof. Emeritus at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Dept. of Arabic Language and Literature. Areas of interest and research: Medieval Judeo-Arabic literature and culture, Medieval Jewish communities in the East, the Qurʾān – text and exegesis, Islamic religious thought. Appointments: Director of Ben-Zvi Institute for the Study of Jewish Communities in the East (1996-2003); President of the Society for the research of Judeo-Arabic Culture (1997-2013); Co-Director of the Joint Department of Jewish Studies at the Universities of St. Pietersburg (Russia) and Jerusalem (2000-2006); Academic Director of the National Library of Israel (2009-2015).
