When did ancient Paleo-Hebrew script start to look like modern Hebrew letters? When did Judaism as we know it begin to take shape? Rabbi Simcha (Steven) Bob explores these and so many more questions in his new book When Judaism Began: Exploring the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. Join us at 8:30 am with our usual Morning Minyan link for a fascinating discussion between R’ Bob and R’ Lizzi. This conversation is for all wonks of history, linguistics, and/or Torah!

BIO: Rabbi Steven M. Bob was Senior Rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, IL for 35 years. Rabbi Bob serves as a Guest faculty member at Wheaton College and as an Instructor at the Hebrew Seminary for the Hearing and the Deaf. He is a leader of the faculty of Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute. He is a recipient of the Rabbi Mordecai Simon Award from the Chicago Board of Rabbis and Rabbi Samuel Cook Award from the CCAR. His newest book is When Judaism Began: Exploring the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah (2026). He is also the author of Go to Nineveh (2013) and Jonah and the Meaning of Our Lives (2016). Ha’aretz named Rabbi Bob as one of the 36 American Jews who helped shape the 2008 Presidential election. He also happens to be a renowned local rabbi and one of our own Mishkanites’ dads!

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