Currently pursuing a PhD in Arabic Language and Literature, at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Eli began his Arabic endeavors while at Cornell, participating in the NES Department's Intensive Arabic Program in Jordan. He is most passionate about medieval Judeo-Arabic texts of Sefardic legal and theological thought.
The intersection of piety, law, and philosophy stands at the center of Eli's interests. Double majoring at Cornell in Near Eastern Studies and Philosophy, Eli wrote his Senior Thesis on "The Role of Law in Medieval Sefardic Piety." During his MA at Hebrew University, he further delved into the thought of R. Abraham Maimonides, writing his MA Thesis on "R. Abraham's Theory of Prophecy." In his opinion, the study of these profound thinkers can provide for a richer spiritual human experience today.
Accompanying his studies, Eli works in several research, editing, and translation positions. Currently, he is the Translation Editor of a new Hebrew translation and commentary of Maimonides' masterpiece, The Guide for the Perplexed. In addition, he is working with Professor Tzvi Langermann to publish a medieval Yemeni Judeo-Arabic commentary to Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed, as well as editing a new English translation and commentary of Maimonides' Sefer ha-Madda' by Professor Bernard Septimus. He is also a Teacher's Assistant at the Shalem Center, in a course on Qur'an, Hadith, and Fiqh, for Professor Yohanan Friedmann.
Since graduating Cornell in 2013, Eli moved to Israel and currently resides in Jerusalem with his wife Meital. He can be reached at shaubi.eli@gmail.com.
