Alex Tseitlin hosts a YouTube channel called “Global Insights by Alex Tseitlin,” featuring interviews with scholars on topics related to the ancient Near East.
His research interests for the channel seem to focus on the history, archaeology, culture, and languages of the ancient Near East, particularly Canaan and Ancient Israel.
Alex Tseitlin is also associated with the YouTube channel באים אל הפרופסורים, Ba’im al profesorim, which presents discussions on archaeology and the history of Israel. The “COMING TO the Professors” (the English translation of its name) “has clocked hundreds of thousands of views, in spite of it being broadcast in Hebrew.” as The Jerusalem Post has it.
Tseitlins YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/AlexTseitlin
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Alex Tseitlin: Bridging the Academic Divide in Jewish History
Driven by a lifelong fascination with history and archaeology that ignited in his childhood, Tseitlin’s passion intensified after his family’s immigration to Israel in the 1990s. This enduring interest culminated in the creation of his podcast, “Coming to the Professors,” a platform that connects a broad audience with leading academic minds in the field of Jewish and Israeli history.
“Coming to the Professors” has rapidly become a valuable repository of knowledge, meticulously exploring virtually every facet of Jewish and Israeli history. From the depths of the ancient world, delving into the potential role of King David in the demise of Saul or the authorship of the Garden of Eden narrative, the podcast seamlessly transitions to contemporary issues, featuring insights from figures like Mordechai Kedar on the motivations behind Arab peace treaties with Israel.
Described by many as a “treasure trove of Jewish history,” Tseitlin’s podcast offers a unique window into the region’s past and present. It provides fresh perspectives on the ancient language and culture of the Israelites, while also engaging with more recent historical developments, such as the history of the Israel Defense Forces’ 101 Unit.
A key element of Tseitlin’s approach is his deliberate inclusion of academics from diverse schools of thought. As he explains, the podcast has featured prominent scholars such as Igal Bin Nun, Israel Finkelstein, Edy Cohen, Osnat Bartour, Amihai Mazar, David Shapira, Yaira Amit, and Yosef Garfinkel, among others. Despite their varying perspectives, these experts share a profound passion for their work. For them, the history and culture of ancient Israel are not merely professions but deeply held vocations.
Tseitlin’s motivation stems from a concern over the inaccessibility of academic knowledge to the general public. Witnessing the proliferation of misinformation and pseudo-scholarly content online, this hi-tech industry executive questioned why the fascinating research produced within academia remained largely confined to university walls. He saw a critical gap in the active engagement of academics with popular platforms like Wikipedia.
“The vast amounts of papers produced by academia stay within its circle,” Tseitlin observes. His podcast directly addresses this issue by bringing professors to YouTube, encouraging them to communicate in an accessible manner, thus making profound insights available to everyone.
Tseitlin’s own research has also unearthed instances of historical injustice, particularly concerning the erasure or minimization of “figures from the past, often ones of monumental importance,” due to the ideological or political agendas of biblical authors and editors.
He cites the Battle of Karkar as a striking example. This massive ancient conflict, involving a coalition of twelve Levant kings led by the Israelite Ahab and King Benhadad II of Aram Damascus, is estimated by Assyrian records to have involved a staggering 100,000 participants, potentially making it the largest battle of its time. Tseitlin argues that this battle’s significance is immense, crediting it with halting Assyrian expansion into the Levant for the subsequent century, thereby arguably creating the conditions under which Israelite identity and, eventually, the Bible itself could develop.
The astonishing omission, according to Tseitlin, is that this pivotal battle is never mentioned in the Bible. Ahab, a powerful king who led a significant military force and displayed political acumen, receives only brief mentions, primarily focused on his perceived sins. Tseitlin draws a compelling parallel, stating that this historical downplaying is akin to reducing former prime minister David Ben-Gurion’s role in the creation of Israel to a mere mention of his leisure activities.
Tseitlin points out that the majority of the biblical texts underwent writing and editing processes after the fall of the kingdom of Israel. He emphasizes the nuanced and politically charged nature of the Bible, noting that it is not simply a hagiographic account blindly praising leaders. Instead, it incorporates significant political commentary and varying perspectives, assembled in Jerusalem with the aim of unifying the nations of Judea and Israel.
While acknowledging scientific debates about chronological order, Tseitlin underscores the importance for the people of that era to transmit their ideology and document history according to their own understanding and opinions. He highlights the Song of Deborah in Judges, the earliest text available, as an example of this, where Deborah openly praises certain tribes for their participation in battle while criticizing others for their absence, offering a distinctly subjective viewpoint.
“We know the interest is there,” Tseitlin concludes, referencing the positive feedback from viewers who express their enthusiasm for accessing firsthand academic findings and discovering the richness, sophistication, and enduring impact of the Bible on contemporary life.
“The ideas and even the literary structure have lasted to this day,” Tseitlin elaborates. He cites the Sabbath as an integral part of modern culture and the concept of charity as examples of lasting biblical influence. Even the notion of limiting a leader’s power, found in Deuteronomy, where the king is instructed to know his place, was revolutionary in an era of deified monarchs and forms a basis for modern democracies.
Tseitlin further illustrates the Bible’s enduring legacy with a thought-provoking question: “Do you know why a condemned person gets a last request?” He connects this seemingly universal practice to the biblical story of Jephthah, who, despite his decision to sacrifice his daughter, granted her a final wish. Tseitlin emphasizes the remarkable reach of such ancient narratives, suggesting that a tradition originating thousands of years ago in the region of Shechem continues to influence legal and ethical considerations in places as far-flung as Arizona today.
Alex Tseitlin’s remarkable academic outreach project underscores the vital importance of accessible information. By bringing academic rigor to the accessible platform of YouTube, he has opened new avenues for understanding the lives of our ancestors and the evolution of our culture, making what was once confined to academic circles a right, not a privilege, for all. His viewers consistently express their gratitude for the opportunity to learn directly from prominent scholars, a testament to the profound impact of Tseitlin’s work.
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