Dr. Joel M. Hoffman focuses on translation, Hebrew, and the
Bible, and is known for his "fresh insights and interpretations about
religious life in the 21st century." A popular speaker, Dr. Hoffman
presents to churches, synagogues, community groups, and university
audiences across the world. He holds a Ph.D. in linguistics and has
served on the faculties of Brandeis University and Hebrew Union
College.
Dr. Hoffman is the chief translator for the popular 10-volume series,
My People's Prayer Book (winner of the
National Jewish Book Award) and for My
People's Passover Haggadah. He is the author of the critically
acclaimed In the Beginning: A Short History of
the Hebrew Language (NYU Press), and, most recently, And God Said: How Translations
Conceal the Bible's Original Meaning (Thomas Dunne
Books/St. Martin's Press), which explores how translation mistakes mask the
original meaning of the Bible.
Dr. Hoffman lives in Westchester, NY.