Dr. Birenboim’s Ph.D dissertation (2006) deals with the observance of the laws of purity during the second Temple period. His research interests include the development of the Jewish law during the Hasmonaean period and the Halacha of the Qumran sect. He teaches in the department of Jewish history at the Hebrew University and in Herzog College. In The Program in Jewish Studies Dr. Birenboim teaches the course ‘Readings in Jewish culture: pre-modern times’.