William G. Dever, professor emeritus of the Arizona Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Arizona, will deliver a Shaol Pozez memorial lecture, “The Lives of Ordinary People in Ancient Israel: Where the Bible and Archaeology Intersect” on Monday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
Dever is known for his keen intellect and engaging speaking style: “At the annual meetings of our learned society, Bill’s lectures always draw a capacity crowd. I even once had to stand in the hallway to hear him,” recalls J. Edward Wright, director of The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies.
Dever, now at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pa., was professor of Near Eastern archaeology and anthropology at the UA from 1975 to 2002. He led numerous excavations, most famously at Tel Gezer in Israel. He is the author of many articles and books, including “Who Were the Early Israelites and Where Did They Come From?” and “Did God Have a Wife?”
The free lecture will be preceded by a fundraising dinner at 5 p.m., at which Dever will also speak. Proceeds from the dinner, chaired by Howard J. Schwartz, M.D., will benefit Judaic Studies’ William G. Dever Fund for Excellence. The cost is $60 per person. For more information call 626-5759 or visit https://fp.arizona.edu/judaic.
