Rabbis Getting Rich? The Ethics and Economy of Torah

Following the Roman destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, early rabbis gained prominence in Jewish communities by providing ritual, legal, and family guidance that enabled Torah observance within a new imperial context. Yet they faced a practical challenge: sustaining themselves while doing this sacred work. This talk explores early rabbinic narratives about the tension between earning a livelihood from Torah expertise and ensuring proper support for essential Torah study. We’ll examine how concerns about trust, credibility, and impartiality arise when financial support intersects with expert authority.

Dr. Krista Dalton is Associate Professor of Religious and Jewish Studies at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Her first book, entitled How Rabbis Became Experts (Princeton University Press, 2025) analyzes the process by which the rabbis of late ancient Roman Palestine became seen as religious experts in Jewish communities. Her second and current book project, entitled The Rabbi: a Cultural History (Princeton University Press), offers a broad survey of the vocation of rabbis from antiquity to modernity.

Cosponsors: Center for Premodern Studies, Department of Anthropology, Department of Classical & Near Eastern Religions & Cultures, Department of History