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A meticulously arranged wooden study table covered with open facsimile editions of cuneiform tablets, a large Hebrew Bible, and a worn atlas of the ancient Near East, pages filled with maps of the Levant and Mesopotamia. A single clay tablet replica with wedge-shaped inscriptions sits on a linen cloth at the center. Behind, tall bookshelves lined with academic volumes on Second Temple literature and West Semitic religions fade softly out of focus. Late afternoon window light streams in from the left, casting warm, directional illumination that highlights the textures of paper, leather bindings, and clay, with gentle shadows enhancing depth. Photographic realism, eye-level composition with shallow depth of field, creating a contemplative, scholarly atmosphere appropriate for a serious research site.

Talks Overview

Browse upcoming lectures, seminars, and conference papers on ancient Near Eastern and biblical religions.

Upcoming Lectures

2025-09-18

University colloquium

Jerusalem IL

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2025-09-23

Regional symposium

Chicago IL

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2025-09-28

Historical society

London UK

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2025-09-20

Library forum

Toronto ON

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2025-09-24

Graduate seminar

Tinley Park IL

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2025-09-30

Conference panel

New Haven

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2025-09-21

Research institute

Online event

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2025-09-27

Scholarly workshop

Hershey PA

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2025-10-01

Public lecture

Bangor ME

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Speaking topics and formats

Yarah welcomes invitations for lectures, seminars, and workshops, both online and in person, tailored to academic or community audiences.

A dimly lit archival room featuring a large, flat conservation table where several high-quality photographs of Qumran-style scroll fragments and Second Temple period manuscripts are carefully laid out. Next to them lie magnifying lenses and soft-bristled brushes, along with a color calibration chart for accurate documentation. Cool, controlled overhead lighting and a focused side lamp create even, neutral illumination with minimal reflections, emphasizing the textures of aged parchment and ink flaking. The background shows blurred metal shelving filled with document cases, maintaining a strictly non-commercial, academic ambiance. Photographic realism, shot from a slightly elevated angle with moderate depth of field, conveys a quiet, methodical atmosphere ideal for scholarship on apocalyptic literature and textual traditions without including any human figures.
A meticulously staged tabletop scene illustrating cosmic geography in ancient Near Eastern thought: a circular bronze dish engraved with concentric rings representing heavens, earth, and underworld, placed at the center. Around it are arranged small stone models of ziggurats, miniature temple mounts, and stylized mountain forms carved from basalt and limestone. A large, unfolded map of the eastern Mediterranean and Near East, printed in muted sepia tones, serves as the background surface. Warm, directional desk-lamp light from the upper right produces pronounced but soft-edged shadows, accentuating relief on the metal and stone surfaces. Photographic realism with a slightly elevated, three-quarter angle and shallow depth of field creates a focused, meditative mood, visually supporting exploration of Afro-Asiatic cosmology and sacred geographies.
An interior shot of a climate-controlled museum gallery displaying a curated case of ancient Near Eastern cultic artifacts: a row of small clay incense burners, a basalt standing stone with faint iconography, and several terracotta figurative fragments deliberately headless to avoid recognizable human features. Each object rests on discreet acrylic mounts within a glass case. The walls behind are painted in muted, scholarly gray with minimal didactic panels blurred to avoid legible text. Neutral, carefully positioned spotlights within the case create soft highlights and gentle reflections on the glass, bringing out surface details while maintaining an academic, non-commercial mood. Photographic realism, eye-level perspective, and balanced composition underscore the seriousness of research into religious practice and material culture.