FEATURED PUBLICATIONS
“Why centuries-old astrology and tarot cards still appeal to us”
Online article in: The Conversation (2024)
Summary: This article explores the enduring appeal of divinatory practices like tarot and astrology, particularly among women, young people, and LGBTQ+ communities navigating uncertainty. Drawing from both ancient traditions and modern observations, it highlights how these practices offer emotional insight, symbolic reflection, and a sense of agency when other systems fall short. In moments of crisis or transition, divination provides a space for meaning-making and connection—often outside the bounds of organized religion. Far from being frivolous, these practices can be deeply personal, empowering tools for navigating life’s unpredictability.
"Women, Knowledge, and ‘the Wicked’—Deserving a Chance to Fly"
Online article published in Women in Higher Education (2024)
Excerpt: During the holidays, I saw the film “Wicked: Part I,” which tells the story of Elphaba Thropp, the misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West of “The Wizard of Oz.” This movie depicts Elphaba essentially as a young woman learning about her potential. First, she cannot control her powers; people treat her as strange and isolate her. But at the moving end of the film, Elphaba, finally in charge of her forces and letting them loose, flies on her broom, singing that everyone deserves a chance to fly, and nobody will bring her down. Walking out of the cinema, I noticed the audience was mostly female. Many women seemed moved and had teared up. Even if these women didn’t identify as witches, Elphaba’s story has struck a chord with so many—what it feels like to be different, what it feels like to be ostracized or discounted for what should be considered a gift.
"Retreats Offer Academic Women Protected Writing Time"
Research article published in Women in Higher Education (2024)
Volume 33, Issue 8
Abstract: Academic writing retreats have gained popularity in recent years. Retreats literally mean withdrawing—from the challenges and responsibilities of the 9-5 grind, among other things—and writing retreats broadly mean a designated period and space where writers withdraw from their other projects to focus on their writing. In my experience as a participant and organizer of retreats, they are particularly popular among women. Academic women especially benefit from dedicated and distraction-free writing time that allows them to focus on projects that can boost their careers.
“Soccer and religion have more in common than you might think”
Online article in: The Conversation (2024)
Summary: Soccer, like religion, fosters a deep sense of unity, identity, and meaning through shared rituals and emotions. From historic ties between sport and spirituality to modern expressions—like pre-game prayers, symbolic gestures, chants, and lucky routines—soccer connects players and fans in ways that transcend the game itself. These ritualistic behaviours, whether religious, personal, or communal, offer comfort, reduce stress, and create a sense of belonging, even in the face of unpredictable outcomes. Fans waving scarves, singing chants, or following game-day routines experience what scholars call “collective effervescence,” a powerful feeling of being part of something bigger. In this way, soccer becomes not just a sport, but a meaningful ritual woven into the fabric of people’s lives.
“Do Academic Sabbaticals Offer Space to Rest?”
Online article in: Inside Higher Education (2024)
Summary: Hanna Tervanotko reflects on the pressures and expectations of her first research sabbatical, questioning whether it should be focused solely on productivity or also include rest. While sabbaticals are often framed as a time to accelerate research for the benefit of the institution, this expectation can be unrealistic given the long timelines of academic work. Sabbaticals should balance productivity with rest, drawing on the original concept of the sabbatical as a time for renewal. Honest conversations between faculty and institutions are needed to set realistic goals, recognizing that rest can enhance creativity and ultimately benefit both the individual and the university.
“Making More Space for Research Creativity: In Defense of Presence”
Online article in: Inside Higher Education (2023)
Co-authored with Helen Dixon
Summary: During the isolation of the pandemic, two tenure-track faculty members began weekly Zoom writing sessions to stay motivated and support each other’s research. While helpful, they soon realized that in-person collaboration unlocked a deeper level of creativity, trust, and problem-solving that virtual meetings couldn’t replicate. Meeting face-to-face allowed for more natural conversations, spontaneous brainstorming, and the subtle nonverbal cues that enhance communication and understanding. Unlike structured online meetings, in-person interactions provided downtime for casual chats, which often led to important breakthroughs. While not everyone can travel for writing retreats, the authors encourage academics to seek local, in-person collaborations—whether at a café, on a walk, or in small group meetups—as a way to enrich their work and foster creativity.
Miriam, Herbert Bourne, ca. 1820.(colorized) Library of Congress
“More about Miriam the Prophetess”
Online article in: TheTorah.com (2023)
Summary: Ancient Jewish texts expand significantly on the biblical figure of Miriam, portraying her as a prophet, leader, and key figure in the Exodus story. While the Bible only preserves brief accounts—such as her victory song after the crossing of the sea—manuscripts from Qumran, the targumim, and other writings provide longer versions of her song, details about her marriage, children, and visionary experiences. Texts like Visions of Amram describe her marriage to her uncle Uzziel and her role as a recipient of divine secrets, placing her alongside Moses and Aaron as spiritually significant. Other writings reference her involvement in the conflict over Moses’s prophetic authority, reflecting both her influence and the complexities of her legacy. Collectively, these sources demonstrate how ancient communities developed Miriam’s character beyond the biblical narrative, emphasizing her enduring importance as a prophet and leader in Jewish tradition.
Lars Leetaru for The Chronicle of Higher Education
“How Do Tenure-Track Professors Really Spend Their Work Time?”
Online article in: The Chronicle of Higher Education (2021)
Co-authored with Helen Dixon
Excerpt: Professors on the tenure track usually have a contract that sets out how we are supposed to divide our time between research, teaching, and service. The most common model, and the one that guides both of our careers as assistant professors, is 40/40/20 — that is, 40 percent research, 40 percent teaching, and 20 percent service. But is that really how we work?
“Pandemic cooking and Jewish food rituals offer comfort in times of sickness”
Online article in: The Conversation (2020)
Co-authored with Katharine Fitzgerald
Excerpt: From our morning routines to our cultural and religious traditions, the COVID-19 pandemic has intensely highlighted our need for rituals. Rituals, understood as “a strategic way of acting in social situations,” are performative activities that follow a prescribed sequence of actions. Most scholarship understands rituals to be an inversion of regular behaviour that set an action apart from mundane activities. Not all rituals are religious, but religious studies scholar Catherine M. Bell has explained how almost any ceremony, traditional clothing and various traditions can be considered ritual-like activities. Sometimes such activities reflect a memory of an earlier tradition, such as Thanksgiving dinner. Other times, material items, such as a flag or scriptures, evoke a ritualistic context. Rituals provide connections with the past, belonging to a community and a sense of continuity. When everything else is changing, engaging with activities that “we have always done” can provide comfort. Rituals have become common in news media as both a casualty and something that has benefited from COVID-19. Many people miss access to their usual rituals due to the pandemic’s disruption of normal routines and traditions. There is also evidence that some have created new rituals, specifically in the context of their home. One interesting trend that has surfaced during this pandemic is pandemic baking. People have turned to cooking and baking as a means of coping during these trying times.
"Materiality of Death and Afterlife: A Visit to a Local Cemetery."
Online article in: Ancient Jew Review (2020)
Summary: In designing a course on “Death and Afterlife in Early Judaism and Christianity,” I integrated experiential learning by organizing a visit to a local Catholic cemetery. This allowed students to connect biblical concepts of death, afterlife, and mourning with contemporary funerary practices. The visit included guided tours, discussions about burial traditions, gravestone symbolism, and the growing practice of cremation. Students reflected on the socio-economic, cultural, and religious aspects of death, comparing them with ancient traditions studied in class. The experience deepened engagement, encouraged critical thinking, and enriched their understanding of how concepts of mortality evolve over time.
Preparation for the Seder (British Library)
"How the Ancient Israelites Dealt with Epidemics: Bible Tells of Prophecy and Rituals"
Online article in: The Conversation (2021)
Excerpt: Catastrophes have always touched people’s lives. With these words, the prophet Jeremiah addressed a disaster of his time, centuries before the common era. Scientists are working to explain the causes and origins of the coronavirus with evidence, yet conspiracy theories still abound. Also, some religious leaders have suggested that the virus is God’s message for people. Whether the conspiracy theory is attributed to political manoeuvring or divine intervention, these theories propose that science does not explain disasters sufficiently for many people. Throughout history people have believed that disasters carry otherworldly messages. Often these messages propose that people have some responsibility for their present suffering. Such a belief may encourage one to understand the causes of catastrophes so that they can be avoided in the future. Understanding these messages required interpretation and they asked for specific ritual treatment. As a researcher of biblical studies, I study the techniques people used to consult God about the future. Such methods allowed people to prepare themselves for possible calamities held for them in the future.
