Mira Balberg is Professor of History and Endowed Chair in Ancient Jewish Civilization at the University of California, San Diego. She is author of Purity, Body, and Self in Early Rabbinic Literature and Blood for Thought: The Reinvention of Sacrifice in Early Rabbinic Literature and coauthor of When Near Becomes Far: Old Age in Rabbinic Literature.
""Balberg’s book is clearly written and largely avoids burying the reader in lengthy footnotes and recursive arguments. . .It is important material for rabbinical students and will appeal to those wishing to study the debates, arguments, and practices of the Tannaim at a deeper level."" * Jewish Book Council *