Resurfacing

Getting back to it after dissertation writing

If you have been around here for a while, you may have noticed that I’ve been publishing less frequently. This was almost entirely due to my dissertation research. Over the last few years, I found it very difficult to engage with any other writing projects. Stepping away from the dissertation always meant that I had to invest substantial extra time to find momentum after I reengaged.

I’m sending this short note to say that, while I won’t complete my PhD for at least several months, I am near the end of the heavy lifting and excited to start investing here again with more regularity. Going forward, you may see a shift in format and timing. My eventual goal is to publish shorter posts more frequently, with perhaps a longer one each month. In the meantime, I wanted to pass along a few additional ways to engage with my work if you’re interested.

Fall Online Course

This fall semester, I will be teaching the online semester course Biblical Jerusalem and Its Explorations through Jerusalem University College. This class is a survey of Jerusalem’s history from its earliest days as an urban entity, ending with the city’s destruction in 70 CE by the Romans. I emphasize the local geography and a variety of sources, including photos and maps. We also discuss some big shifts in scholarly discussions over the last 150 years and what influenced them.

There are credit and audit rates, and the classes will be recorded for those who cannot attend. See more details here. Respond to this email or contact me at approachingjerusalem@gmail.com, and I’ll be happy to send a syllabus.

New Feature: Substack Chat

I am now using Substack’s chat feature to engage directly with paid subscribers, where I will share content as I am inspired: a new publication, historic photograph, breaking archaeological news, or just an observation. Paid subscribers will be able to comment and discuss. This is my way of trying to create a less formal space where I can share what I’m processing aside from the main newsletter posts.

Paid subscribers of any payment tier will get access, beginning as low as $2.50/month. You can visit the settings in your web browser or Substack app and decide if you want to receive email or push notifications when I share in the chat (“settings” → “notifications” → “messaging”). You can also mute the chat.

You received an email on Friday when I made the initial chat post. I want to emphasize that this should be the only time that all subscribers to this newsletter will be notified of a new post in the chat. I’m trying to be mindful of overloading your inboxes.

Paid Subscriber Livestream

The next livestream for paid subscribers has been rescheduled to Monday September 14 from 8:00-9:30 PM. This is a change from the original date.

During these events, I discuss excavations, publications, pop media articles, and developments related to historical Jerusalem. I also share resources and occasionally present original research. Participants have the opportunity to ask questions.

Paid subscribers get access to livestreams, as well as the archive of recordings, which is currently about 16 hours of watch time.