Dr. Ora Horn Prouser serves as CEO and Academic Dean at AJR. Ora served as adjunct faculty in Bible at The Jewish Theological Seminary for twenty years and has consulted on the development of Bible curricula through the Matok Torah Curriculum Development Project and the Day School Hebrew Bible Curriculum Project creating Standards and Benchmarks for the Teaching of TaNaKH in Jewish Day Schools. Her recent research has been in the cross-section of Biblical Studies and Disability Studies, and in approaching the Bible through the arts, specifically through circus arts. She has been the recipient of fellowships and awards and has taught and spoken widely in formal and informal educational settings, synagogues, adult education programs, and camps. She has been at AJR for over 20 years and loves being part of a pluralistic community.

Professor, Full-Time, Hebrew Bible

Education:

PhD, BA, Bible, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America; BA, Columbia University. Undergraduate and graduate studies at Hebrew University, Jerusalem.

Publications:

Ora is the author of Esau’s Blessing: How The Bible Embraces Those With Special Needs (2011) and many articles about making the Bible speak to central existential concerns, specifically regarding ethical dilemmas and individual growth. She is also co-author of Under One Tent: Circus, Judaism, and Bible (2023).