[Blogs on Resume?]

If I have a blog that does not relate directly to the area of the Graduate program I would be applying to (Jewish Studies/OT/Targum), should I include it on my CV?

Just wondering what everyone thought.

[Those of you in or applying to a biblical studies PhD program.]

Hi bYg. Thanks for your reply and helpful references. I considered taking the Syriac sequence at U of Chicago, which will use Coakley, but I am not able to fit it into my schedule. Therefore, I will need to study on my own for the present time. Most of the documents I have seen use Estrangela, as does Thackston. How do you think Thackston compares to other Syriac grammars? I would like to purchase one and am considering the options. Thank you!

I have not looked through Thackston, and thus haven't been able to form an opinion regarding his work, but according to S. Shoemaker, it is much better than that of either Coakley or Muraoka. If cost is an issue, it seems that Thackston is the way to go.

Yes, Estrangela is more common, but generally Serta is used in older texts (e.g. Walton's 1654-7 Polyglott. Some older texts use Nestorian, which is even more angular than Estrangela).

Good luck!

[Those of you in or applying to a biblical studies PhD program.]

BYg, where did you learn Syriac, and where or using what texts would you recommend studying it? Thank you!

I took 201 (after doing 101 and 102 on my own) with Dr. R. White at YU, who uses Coakley. I used Noldeke as a reference grammar. For reading material, I would recommend using the chrestomathy in Muraoka's Classical Syriac, (which uses Estrangela, which, having first learned Serta, is a little annoying. Kind of like learning Hebrew using modern script, and then shifting to square print. But I guess a little variety is good) if you can get a copy, or any of CAL's texts (which are quite numerous). Peshitta is good practice, but (IMHO) won't prepare you well for reading the likes of Aphrem (as would using the Vulgate to prepare you for Cicero. Not entirely analogous, but hey).

I don't really know about Syriac programs elsewhere. I know that here at YU a large portion of the Bible faculty is very competent in Syriac, but Syriac courses are only offered once every five years or so.

Best of luck to you.

What is your standing plan of action to learn Syriac?

[Those of you in or applying to a biblical studies PhD program.]

I'll be applying to PhD programs in biblical studies, NES, and Jewish studies this fall, but I am curious what other folks have done to prep for admission?

Please list what courses you have taken in languages, exegesis courses, or other related prep work. Also list your area of proposed study.

thanks ya'll

I'm going into my final year (UG), applying to PhD programs (UCL, CUA, and a few others) in Jewish Studies/Bible this Fall.

Languages:

Arabic - Elementary

Aramaic - Babylonian, Palestinian, Geonic - Advanced

Hebrew - Biblical, Mishnaic, Medieval, Modern - Fluent

Latin - Intermediate

Syriac - Advanced

Ugaritic - Elementary

This summer I am working on French (using Sandberg's French for Reading, which is excellent).

I would like to add to my list German and French on an intermediate level and Akkadian on at least an elementary level before I graduate.

I don't think that my list is usual though, as I have been exposed to Hebrew and Aramaic since childhood, and have a "thing" for languages.

[US vs UK PhD]

My situation is not quite the same, but I assume I could give and get some advice nonetheless.

I am a Senior UG at a uni in Manhattan Majoring in Bible. I have already decided and begun preliminary work on my Dissertation. I am interested in UCL in particular because of the presence of a prof who informally invited me to do a PhD there. My academic adviser (and Bible prof) is somewhat reticent (but by not openly opposed) to my attending a British uni. He expressed the fear that others in this thread have, that finding a faculty position in the US with a UK PhD would be very difficult. Personally, if the only downsides are lack of teaching experience and lack of roundness of knowledge (what with no coursework), why can't one just spend one or two years TAing/lecturing and working on syllabi AFTER finishing the UK PhD, which would still put one on par with an early (and ahead of a 6 or 7 year) US PhD?

Question about funding and citizenship: I currently only have a US citizenship, but can easily become an EU citizen. Would this be more financially expedient (visa, grants, etc.), or should I remain solely a US citizen?

thanks!