Shmuel Safrai

Shmuel Safrai (1919-2003) was a prominent Israeli scholar, professor, and historian who specialized in the history of Second Temple Judaism and early rabbinic Judaism. He served as a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and made groundbreaking contributions to the academic study of Jewish history, religious practices, and social structures in ancient times. Safrai conducted extensive research on the daily life, economic systems, and religious observances of Jews during the Second Temple period, significantly advancing scholarly understanding of this crucial era in Jewish history. His works have been translated into multiple languages and remain foundational texts in Jewish studies programs worldwide. Safrai was a Talmudic scholar of the first rank and contributed substantially to encyclopedic references about Jewish civilization. His research bridged academic scholarship with Jewish heritage, making ancient Jewish history accessible to both scholars and general readers, and his legacy continues to influence historical and religious studies.