Rabbi Yoel Ben-Nun Honors Mother Dr. Shoshana Ben-Nun's Legacy Bridging Torah and Science
On the anniversary of Dr. Shoshana Ben-Nun's passing, her son Rabbi Yoel Ben-Nun reflects on her life as a devoted researcher who harmonized Torah faith with academic study. Despite studying biblical texts at the Hebrew University and Tel Aviv University and completing a doctorate on the Hittite kingdom at Oxford, she rejected common biblical criticism theories, viewing them as serious errors in objective Torah scholarship. She actively challenged professors and defended the authenticity and antiquity of the Torah narratives, emphasizing the Torah’s portrayal of biblical figures as imperfect and human, which contrasted with other ancient religions' depictions of flawless heroes.
Dr. Ben-Nun’s expertise in ancient languages such as Greek, Akkadian, and Hittite was rare in Israel, and she hoped to teach at the Hebrew University. However, she was rejected for being "too old" and "too religious." Instead, she studied at Merkaz Harav Yeshiva and co-founded the Har Etzion Yeshiva. Rabbi Ben-Nun credits her with deepening his understanding of the Bible and ancient Near Eastern cultures, which he integrates into his own academic and teaching work.
He also recounts the archaeological discoveries of Adam Zertal, who identified an ancient Israelite altar on Mount Ebal, referenced in Deuteronomy and Joshua but hidden since the Judges period. Zertal’s findings challenged previous assumptions about the location of biblical sites, distinguishing Mount Kabir as the biblical Gerizim rather than the Samaritan Mount Gerizim. The altar’s characteristics and artifacts confirmed its Israelite origin, aligning with biblical descriptions and traditions. Rabbi Ben-Nun highlights how these discoveries reinforce the authenticity of the biblical text and would have deeply pleased his mother.
Rabbi Ben-Nun continues to teach and write about the unique connections between Torah and science, inspired by his mother’s legacy of faith and scholarship. He stresses that the Torah’s truthful depiction of human imperfection and divine covenant is foundational and irreplaceable in biblical studies.
