Joel M. Hoffman, PhD, is a much sought after presenter who lectures
across the globe on popular and scholarly topics spanning education,
history, Hebrew, prayer, and Jewish continuity.  He has served on the
faculties of Brandeis University; the Academy for Jewish Religion;
and, currently, HUC-JIR in New York City.  Dr. Hoffman is the chief
translator for the multi-volume series, ``My People's Prayer Book''
(winner of the National Jewish Book Award) and the two-volume, ``My
People's Passover Haggadah'' (both from Jewish Lights Publishing) and
the author of the widely-read ``In the Beginning: A Short History of
the Hebrew Language'' (NYU Press).  He writes a biweekly column on
Hebrew for the Jerusalem Post.

In addition to his graduate-level teaching, Hoffman serves as Director
of Education at Temple Israel of Northern Westchester in Croton On
Hudson, NY.  He lives in Mt. Kisco, NY.