I am an independent scholar, whose research interests include the Talmudic era, medieval Kabbalah, digital humanities, and linguistics. I have a Master's degree in Medieval Jewish History from Yeshiva University, and spent a year studying in the Talmud Department in Bar-Ilan University. In addition to blogging here, I am a frequent contributor to The Seforim Blog.
Email me at ezrabrand@gmail.com.
Other places you can find my work:
https://yeshiva.academia.edu/EzraBrand (academic papers)
https://seforimblog.com/tag/ezra-brand/
https://www.youtube.com/@ezrabrand (speeches and generative AI videos)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezrabrand/
https://www.facebook.com/ezra.brand.7/
My Intellectual Journey: From Ultra-Orthodox Roots to Academic Exploration
Outline
The First Cracks: Questions and Exploration
The Jerusalem Years: A Major Shift
Embracing Academia and Redefining My Path
Where I Stand Today
I was born in 1990, the oldest of four boys, and raised in Passaic, New Jersey, in a home shaped by my parents' ba'alei teshuva journey. Having grown up completely secular, they became ultra-Orthodox before I was born, so my entire childhood was spent within that world. I attended ultra-Orthodox private schools and was deeply invested in my religious upbringing.
The First Cracks: Questions and Exploration
Around age 17-18, I started exploring beyond the carefully curated environment in which I had been raised. My dad had always been interested in history, and that rubbed off on me, but my personal turning point came when I stumbled upon Natan Slifkin's blog. Slifkin's work on evolution and the age of the universe opened up a realm of inquiry I had never seriously considered. Around the same time, I discovered Marc Shapiro's discussions on the principles of faith and history. These readings challenged many of the assumptions I had taken for granted.
At that stage, my intellectual explorations were cautious and, to some extent, secretive. The ultra-Orthodox yeshiva I attended, Sha’ar HaTorah in Queens, was somewhat more open-minded than other institutions, and this allowed for a few conversations that pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable. But there was still a strong sense that venturing too far into academic Jewish studies or philosophy was dangerous. Despite this, I became increasingly drawn to rigorous historical inquiry. I gained access to the internet, which expanded my exposure to the broader world of ideas, especially through blogs that explored the intersection of Judaism, science, and critical thought.
The Jerusalem Years: A Major Shift
A major turning point came when I went to study at the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Unlike my earlier yeshiva years, my schedule allowed for significant free time, and I used it to explore academic books, attend lectures and conferences, and frequent the National Library. It was during this period that I expanded my reading beyond Judaism to include general philosophy.
This deep dive into history, religious studies, and critical inquiry led me to a profound internal shift. I was still living in the ultra-Orthodox world, externally practicing as expected, but my beliefs had undergone a radical transformation.
Embracing Academia and Redefining My Path
As my intellectual explorations intensified, I decided to pursue Jewish Studies at Bar-Ilan University. This was a significant step, as it represented a formal commitment to the academic study of Judaism rather than the yeshiva-style approach I had grown up with. At Bar-Ilan, I immersed myself in academic Jewish history, textual analysis, and historical methodologies. The transition from a faith-based, traditional approach to an evidence-based, scholarly one was both exhilarating and deeply challenging.
This journey was not without personal struggle. I had always found it difficult to envision a future within the ultra-Orthodox framework, and my intellectual evolution only made this more apparent. While I tend to focus more on the present than on long-term planning, I knew that my path would lead me away from the world in which I was raised. There was anxiety in that realization, but also a sense of intellectual freedom that made it worthwhile.
Where I Stand Today
Looking back, my journey from an ultra-Orthodox childhood to academic Jewish scholarship has been defined by curiosity, rigorous questioning, and a willingness to challenge deeply held beliefs. What began with an interest in history and science led to a broader re-evaluation of my religious identity, culminating in my academic pursuits.
Today, I continue to engage with Jewish texts, but through the lens of scholarship rather than faith. My work focuses on uncovering patterns, structures, and historical contexts within the Talmud and Mishnah. While I no longer see myself within the ultra-Orthodox framework of my upbringing, my background remains an integral part of my intellectual history. The process of discovery is ongoing, and each new exploration adds another layer to my understanding of both the past and the present.
