Dr. Esther Shkop is renowned for her dynamic and innovative approach to learning and teaching Tanach, which has fascinated and inspired audiences of varied ages and levels of biblical literacy. She served as Dean of the Blitstein Institute of Hebrew Theological College, where she was Professor of Bible for thirty-two years. Previously she taught in seminaries and high schools in Jerusalem, Pittsburgh, and Chicago.

A tenth-generation Yerushalmit, Dr. Shkop was educated in both Israel and the United States and is fluent in English, Hebrew, and Yiddish. She earned a BA in English literature and philosophy, an MA in biblical literature, and a Ph.D. in public policy analysis. Her eclectic background has broadened her horizons and enriched her classic study of the Torah. She has published numerous scholarly articles primarily related to Tanach but also dealing with educational theory and leadership styles.

Dr. Shkop currently is director of the Wisdom of Torah Institute and serves on the board of Shalva, a community organization supporting women experiencing domestic violence. She is the mother of seven and grandmother and great-grandmother of a growing family.