Louis Feldman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Louis Feldman
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Courtesy of Yeshiva University
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| Born | October 29, 1926 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Died | March 25, 2017 (aged 90) New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Trinity College Harvard University |
| Occupation | Professor of Classics and Literature |
| Employer | Yeshiva University |
| Known for | Scholar of Hellenistic civilization |
Louis Harry Feldman (October 29, 1926 – March 25, 2017) was an American professor. He taught about classics and literature. Classics means studying the ancient Greek and Roman worlds.
Professor Feldman was known for his deep knowledge of Hellenistic civilization. This was a time when Greek culture spread widely after Alexander the Great. He especially focused on the writings of Josephus, a Jewish historian from ancient times. Many other experts respected Feldman's work on Josephus. He taught at Yeshiva University starting in 1955.
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Early Life and Education
Louis Feldman was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1926. He was a very bright student. He earned his first degree from Trinity College in 1946. He was the top student in his class.
The next year, he earned his master's degree. In 1951, he received his PhD from Harvard University. His PhD was in philology, which is the study of language and literature, especially in ancient texts.
Teaching Career
After finishing his studies, Feldman taught at Trinity College. He then moved to Hobart and William Smith Colleges. In 1955, he began teaching at Yeshiva University.
He quickly moved up the ranks there. He became an assistant professor in 1956 and a full professor of classics in 1966. In 1993, he was named the Abraham Wouk Family Professor of Classics and Literature. He taught at Yeshiva University for many years.
Awards and Honors
Professor Feldman received many important awards and fellowships during his career. These awards helped him continue his research.
Some of his honors include:
- A Ford Foundation Fellowship (1951-1952)
- A Guggenheim Fellowship (1963)
- A grant from the American Philosophical Association (1972)
- Being named a senior fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies (1971)
In 1981, he won an award for "Excellence in Teaching the Classics." This award recognized his great skill in teaching ancient subjects. He also helped lead special seminars for college teachers.
In 2014, he shared the National Jewish Book Award. He won it for editing a book called Outside the Bible.
His Studies and Books
Louis Feldman was a highly respected scholar of ancient times. Other experts called him "the dean of Josephan scholars." This means he was one of the most important experts on Josephus.
Focus on Josephus
As a historian, Feldman mainly studied the writings of Josephus. Josephus was a Jewish historian who lived in the first century CE. His writings tell us a lot about Jewish life during the Second Temple Period. This was a very important time in history.
Feldman's work looked at many things about Josephus. He checked how accurate Josephus's historical facts were. He also studied how Josephus understood and explained the Bible. Feldman believed that Josephus's writings were key to understanding Jewish life. They also showed how Jewish culture mixed with Greco-Roman (Greek and Roman) culture.
Other Writings
Besides Josephus, Feldman also wrote many books and articles about Philo. Philo was another important Jewish writer from ancient times. Feldman's work helped people understand Jewish life in the ancient world.
Some of his important books include:
- Jew and Gentile in the Ancient World: Attitudes and Interactions from Alexander to Justinian (1993)
- Josephus’ Interpretation of the Bible (1998)
He also translated several parts of a very important edition of Josephus's Jewish Antiquities. He wrote about 170 scholarly articles for different journals. He also helped edit the first edition of the Encyclopedia Judaica. He also wrote for the Encyclopædia Britannica.
