51cg

Biography

I joined the Divinity Department as a lecturer in Second Temple Judaism in September 2022. Prior to this I was a post-doctoral fellow under the supervision of Prof. in the at Tel Aviv University. At that time, I lived in a Palestinian village near Ramallah, where I was studying local Spoken Arabic dialects. 

Even if the College of Interdisciplinary Individual Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Warsaw is my Alma Mater, starting a lectureship in Aberdeen feels like a homecoming - it is at the 51cg that I did my PhD in divinity with Prof. Joachim Schaper as my Doktorvater (2013-2019), during which time I spent two years on the campus and four years in off-campus travels from Germany (Tübingen), France (Paris), Austria (Salzburg), Israel (Haifa, Jerusalem) to Turkey (Tur Abdin).

Internal Memberships

Roles in the School of the Divinity, History, Philosophy and Art History:
[1] Enterprise & Innovation Champion (since September 2024)

Roles in the Divinity Department:
[1] Postgraduate Taught Programmes Lead (since September 2025)
[2] Theology Online Programme Coordinator (since September 2022)

Research Overview

At its core, my research concerns Second Temple Judaism, with a particular interest in the Hellenistic and Roman periods.  

In investigating Judaism of this era, I seriously take into account Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sources, as well as historical, linguistic, and cultural parallels, from Late Antiquity through the Umayyad and Abbasid periods up to the present day, since languages and cultures of modern speakers of Neo-Aramaic and Spoken Arabic dialects can teach us a great deal about antiquity.

I am highly interested in ambitious PhD students joining me in this multifaceted exploration across historical, cultural, linguistic, and religious boundaries, which is both challenging and fascinating.

Scroll down to learn more about my current research focused on how the Jewish and Christian Bibles in their pre-modern Arabic versions are understood by their devout Muslim readers in Palestine today, and how their modern 'reading' may illuminate these ancient texts.  

Current Research

Hexapla Arabica 

The Anthology of Local Arabic Readings of Biblical Traditions:
A Reading from the Countryside of al-Khalīl

Context

If hosted by Muslim friends, a non-Arab guest to Palestinian towns and villages of the rural areas of the West Bank will quickly notice that his or her hosts are deeply fond of and familiar with stories of the Bible, devotedly cherish biblical figures, and have Arabic translations of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, whose volumes are shown the same reverence as the Qurʾān.  

Aim

This project aims to explore and document how such ‘non-expert’ and yet ‘traditionally knowledgeable’ Muslim readers from rural areas of al-Khalīl / Hebron understand the Jewish and Christian Scriptures as preserved in the pre-modern Arabic Bible, which still awaits scholarly exploration. This sheds new light not just on the ancient text, but also on intercultural and interreligious Scriptural dynamic in the region and beyond.

Method

To this end, a trusted and closely befriended group of five siblings from the Khalili clan of al-Hroub (four sisters and their brother Ahmad) transcribe selected manuscripts of the pre-modern Arabic Bible, the fruit of Jewish and Christian Arab scholarship, uninfluenced by modern Western missionaries, and then render the transcribed text into their own rural Khalīlī dialect, exemplifying a popular reading of the biblical text. The rendition is subsequently translated into English.

Progress Update (January 2026)

^{[1] The Book of Genesis: 100% transcription from MS BnF Arabe 1 + 100% dialect rendition
[2] The Gospel according to Matthew: 100% transcription from MS Sinai Ar. 72 + 100% dialect rendition
[3] The First Letter of John: 100% transcription from MS Sinai Ar. 154 + 100% dialect rendition}

Next steps (winter and spring 2026)

^{[1] review of the transcriptions and dialect renditions towards their publication
[2] annotating the texts with parallel Qurʾānic passages 
[3] developing an online course in Khalili Arabic}

Research dissemination

^{[1] Research Seminar: "Al-Āmmīyah (Colloquial Arabic) and Generative AI - a snapshot of its emerging text-to-text abilities: experiments and evaluation results", Computing Science Department, 51cg, 4 February 2026, Aberdeen, UK
[2] Conference: (with A. Hroub) "Arabic Large Language Models: the Afterlife of Colonialism?", Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) International Workshop: Beyond Eurocentrism and Arabocentrism: Race, Ethnicity, and Knowledge Production in the Arabo-Islamic 'Golden Age', 51cg, 13 September 2025, Aberdeen, UK
[3] Research Seminar: (with A. Hroub) "(A) Reading (of) the Bible among Muslims of the rural West Bank: Initial Outcomes and Prospective Directions", Joint session of the Biblical Studies and Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh, 11 February 2025, Edinburgh, UK
[4] Conference: (with A. Hroub) "Pre-modern Arabic Translations of the Bible and their Value for a Modern Reader: experiments with MS BnF Arabe 1 and MS Sinai Ar. 72", International Conference "Translation and Multilingualism in the Premodern Islamic World(s)", Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA), 16 November 2024, Institute of Islamic Studies, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
[5] Symposium: (with W. Zhao) "From ancient Bible to modern AI-generated Colloquial Arabic", Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation Symposium, 51cg, 4 September 2024, Aberdeen, UK}

Notes

_{Note 1: This research project does not serve any political or religious agenda. None of its participants is involved in any form of “activism”: whether political or missionary.  The only aim of the project is to advance scholarship and mutual understanding between Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Its indirect impact beyond academe pertains to contributing towards the preservation and appreciation of rural dialects of Arabic. It also creates meaningful and safe work opportunities in the area of an extremely high unemployment, particularly among young educated women.}

_{Note 2: Six wooden panels: © Jakub Zbrzeżny. Based on photographs taken by Jakub Zbrzeżny at the Rockefeller Archaeological Museum in East Jerusalem in summer 2023. The photographs depict six wooden panels, which, according to the Museum, originate from al-Aqsa Mosque, are dated to the eight century CE, and represent Byzantine (Christian) artistic style. The panels on the image were arranged by Jakub Zbrzeżny (with no bearing on their original arrangement) and presented in black&white with high contrast and soft edges, with the use of Microsoft PowerPoint and without the use of Generative AI. This image may not be copied, redistributed, modified, or used in any form without prior written permission. Not licensed under Creative Commons.}

Collaborations

International Partners

Hexapla Arabica 

Local Partners: 
At the core of the project is our collaboration with five Khalili siblings from the south of the West Bank: four sisters and their brother, Ahmad. The siblings have been working as contractors for the 51cg on a series of individual projects since 2023. Their work includes transcribing selected Arabic manuscripts, creating dialect renditions of newly transcribed texts, and contributing expertise stemming from traditional knowledge of language, culture, and agriculture.   

Institutional Partners:
The project is supported by the at Cornell University through financial contributions and expertise of its members:

[1] Professor : advice on pre-modern Arabic cultures
[2] Professor : advice on ancient Judaism and Early Christianity
[3] Professor : advice on developing didactic materials  

Internal Interdisciplinary Partners

My research and teaching activities involve collaboration with the Computing Science Department at the 51cg. Our collaborative activities include:

[1] Royal Society of Edinburgh Collaboration Grant: “Al-ʿĀmmīyah (Colloquial Arabic) and Generative AI – a snapshot of its emerging text-to-text abilities” - with Professor Ehud Reiter and Dr Wei Zhao

[2] Co-supervision of CS Undergraduate and Postgraduate dissertation projects: 
^{[2.1] with Professor Ehud Reiter: Mr Luke Shaw, "Investigating Textual Affinities in Arabic Translations of the Bible using Machine Learning Methods, (BSc in Computing Science 2026 (expected))
[2.2] with Professor Ehud Reiter: Mr Ryosuke Nagata "Authorship Attribution of Peshitta, a Syriac Translation of the Old Testament" (MA in Computing 2025)
[2.3] with Dr Wei Zhao: Ms Utkalika Kuanar "Natural Language Processing for Written Arabic and Aramaic in Ancient Inscriptions and Papyri" (MSc in Artificial Intelligence 2024)}

Funding and Grants

Institutional Funding & Grants

External Funding

[1] The Al Tajir Trust, Grant, 2025
PI; project: "From Colloquial Arabic to Qur’anic Arabic: parallel verbal paradigms between Colloquial Khalili Arabic and Classical Arabic"; £3,000

[2] Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Donation, 2025
Contribution towards the project "Arabic Readings of Biblical Traditions";  $5,000

[3] Aberdeen Humanities Fund Staff Research Awards, 2024
PI; project: “From Egypt to Aberdeen: the Supposed Remnants of a Jewish Diaspora Temple in University Collections”; £1986.11

[4] Royal Society of Edinburgh Collaboration Grant, 2024
PI; co-applicants: Prof. Ehud Reiter and Dr Wei Zhao; project: “Al-ʿĀmmīyah (Colloquial Arabic) and Generative AI – a snapshot of its emerging text-to-text abilities”; £9,998.58

[5] British Academy Talent Development Award, 2024
PI; project: “The Bible in (actually) Spoken Arabic: Palestinian Genesis”; £9,889.00

Internal Funding

[1] SFC Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Fund (via UoA), 2026
PI; project: "Hand-in-Hand (EED-b-EED): Arabic Learners Online Network: Development of a Demonstration Product", £4,987

[2] UoA Internal Internship Funding, 2026
Supervisor, "Interdisciplinary Research Intern", c.£2,700 

[3] Aberdeen-Curtin-Calgary Research Catalyst Funds, 2026
PI; project: "Dark Skies across Alberta and Scotland: gazing at the sky with ancient eyes", £4,912

[4] UoA Impact & Engagement Accelerator Fund, 2026 (PI; project: "From Manuscript to Smartphone: Changing Paradigms of Digital Typing in Arabic through Ancient Handwriting"; £3,993.46)

[5] UoA School of Divinity, History, Philosophy, and Art History Conference Funding 2025 (Organiser; workshop: “Appreciating inner Linguistic Diversity of “Old Scots” and “New Scots” of Arabic Heritage”; £992.60)

[6] UoA Pump Prime Research Funding, 2023 (PI; project: “The Injeel in Spoken Arabic of Palestinian Women – towards Historical Ethnographic Theology”; £10,062.96)

Philanthropic Funding & Crowdfunding

Nearly £5,000 was raised through generous donations in 2025. If you consider contributing, please visit the University-linked JustGiving page or contact the Department of Development and Alumni Relations through our Development Officer Ms Louise Mackay. 

Teaching Responsibilities

Programme Coordination:

Master's Degree in Theology

:

• Undergraduate Certifcate in Theology [14V819R1]
• Undergraduate Diploma in Theology [14V829R2]
• Bachelor of Theology non-Honours Distance Learning [08V82088]
• Bachelor of Theology with Honours Distance Learning [08V82070]
• Individual Subject Study in Divinity [12V80699]

Course Coordination & Teaching:

2026/27:

• Exploring the Ancient "Holy Land" and its People (undergraduate, on-campus & online)
• From Creation to New Creation: the Great Themes of the Old Testament (postgraduate, on-campus; with Prof. Joachim Schaper)
• Theology and Aesthetics (postgraduate; online; co-taught with Divinity colleagues) 

2024/25:

• History and Religion(s) of Ancient Israel (undergraduate, on-campus & online)

2023/24:

• Hebrew of the Bible 1 (undergraduate, online)
• Hebrew of the Bible 2  (undergraduate, online)

2022/23:

• History and Religion of Ancient Israel (undergraduate online & on-campus)