Dr. Simcha Gross

Associate Professor

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Biography

Simcha Gross specializes in ancient early medieval Jewish history, with a particular focus on the contextual study of rabbis and rabbinic literature in Persian and Islamic contexts. His research emphasizes the intersection of Jews during the millennium of the common era within Roman, Sasanian, and Islamicate contexts. His monograph, 'Babylonian Jews and Sasanian Imperialism in Late Antiquity,' published by Cambridge University Press in 2024, centers on the formative aspects of Sasanian imperialism and its impact on Babylonian Jewish society and culture. He is also the co-author of a translation and comprehensive introduction to the Syriac martyr act featuring a Jewish convert, entitled 'History of the Slave Christ: Jewish Child Christian Martyr' (PMAS 6; Gorgias Press, 2016), and an edited volume titled 'Jews and Syriac Christians: Intersections of a Millennium' (Mohr Siebeck, 2020). Gross teaches courses on Jewish history, ancient Jewish literature, Syriac Christianity, Jewish magic, and the dynamics of ancient empires and violence. He has held prestigious fellowships, including the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Study, and is currently a fellow at the Center for Jewish Studies at Harvard University.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor

— Present

University of Pennsylvania • Philadelphia, PA

Teaching courses focused on Jewish history, ancient Jewish literature, and Syriac Christianity.

Instructor

— Present

University of California, Irvine • Irvine, CA

Taught courses related to Jewish history and culture.

Instructor

— Present

Stanford University • Stanford, CA

Taught courses in the Religious Studies Department.

Requirements for University of Pennsylvania

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.6
GRE General
Verbal
Required:162
Quantitative
Required:162
Overall
Required:162
GMAT
Total Score
Required:728
Overall
Required:728
TOEFL
Total
Required:115
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent Strong quantitative background
Application Checklist
  • Academic Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation (2-3)
  • Resume/CV
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Essays
Specialization Notes

Wharton Doctoral programs cover fields like Finance, Marketing, Management, and Operations, Information and Decisions.