Bio


Steven J. Zipperstein is the Daniel E. Koshland Professor in Jewish Culture and History at Stanford University. He has also taught at universities in Russia, Poland, France, and Israel; for six years, he taught at Oxford University. For sixteen years he was Director of the Taube Center for Jewish Studies at Stanford.

He is the author and editor of nine books including The Jews of Odessa: A Cultural History (1986, winner of the Smilen Prize for the Outstanding book in Jewish history); Elusive Prophet: Ahad Ha’am and the Origins of Zionism (1993, winner of the National Jewish Book Award); Imagining Russian Jewry (1999); and Rosenfeld’s Lives: Fame, Oblivion, and the Furies of Writing (2008, shortlisted for the National Jewish Book Award in Biography, Autobiography and Memoir). His work has been translated into Russian, Hebrew, and French. His most recent book, Pogrom: Kishinev and the Tilt of History, published by Liveright/WW Norton, (2018 ) was shortlisted as the best non-fiction book of the year by the Mark Lytton Prize, named as a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, and a Book of the Year by "The Economist, "Ha-Aretz" and "Mosaic Magazine. Widely reviewed, Pogrom inspired the 2019 novel The Adventures of the Peculiar Protocols by Nicolas Meyer, and several plays now in production. He is currently at work on a biography of Philip Roth for Yale's Jewish Lives. Zipperstein’s articles have appeared in The New York Times Sunday Book Review, the Washington Post, The New Republic, the Jewish Review of Books, Chronicle of Higher Education and elsewhere.

Zipperstein has served as editor of the journal Jewish Social Studies for twenty years, and the book series Stanford Studies in Jewish History and Culture for a quarter of a century. Currently, together with Anita Shapira, he is series editor of the award-winning Yale University Press/Leon Black Foundation Jewish Lives series which has, to date, published nearly sixty books. Zipperstein is the immediate past Chair of the Academic Advisory Council of the Center for Jewish History. His PhD students now teach at dozens of universities here, and abroad, including the University of Chicago, UCLA, Queens College, CUNY, Yeshiva College, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Northwestern, University of Florida, Gainsville, and elsewhere.

Zipperstein's contributions to the field have been recognized by the Leviant Prize of the Modern Language Association, the Judah Magnes Gold Medal of the American Friends of the Hebrew University, and the Koret Prize for Outstanding Contributions to the American Jewish community. He has held fellowships at the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University, the Institute for Advanced Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the Yitzhak Rabin Institute in Tel Aviv, and has twice been a Visiting Professor at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes Sciences Sociales. In spring 2014, he was the first Jacob Kronhill Scholar at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, in New York.

In 2022, he won the Humanities and Sciences Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Education. In 2023, Zipperstein was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Academic Appointments


  • Professor, History

Administrative Appointments


  • Chancellor's Intern Fellowship, University of California, Los Angeles (1973 - 1978)
  • Fellowship, Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture (1978 - 1980)
  • Fellowship, National Foundation for Jewish Culture (1978 - 1980)
  • Marta Sutton Weeks Fellow, Stanford Humanities Center (1990 - 1991)
  • Short-term Fellowship, International Research Exchange (IREX) (1993 - 1993)
  • Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies, Hebrew University (1993 - 1994)
  • Fellowship, Stanford Humanities Center (1997 - 1998)
  • Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies, Yitzhak Rabin Center (2000 - 2000)
  • Fellow, American Academy for Jewish Research (2002 - Present)
  • Shapiro Senior Scholar in Residence, US Holocaust Memorial Museum (2002 - 2003)
  • Research Associate, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard (2003 - 2008)
  • Weinstein Visiting Professor in Jewish Studies, Harvard University (2008 - 2008)
  • Vera M. Schuyler Fellow, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study (2008 - 2009)
  • Visiting Professor, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (2013 - 2013)
  • Visiting Senior Scholar in Jewish Civilization, Moansh University (2014 - 2014)
  • Teaching Associate, Department of History, University of California, Los Angeles (1976 - 1977)
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University (1980 - 1981)
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of California, Los Angeles (1983 - 1983)
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of California, Los Angeles (1985 - 1985)
  • Fellow, Oxford Centre for Postgraduate Hebrew Studies (1981 - 1987)
  • Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University College London (1983 - 1987)
  • Research Fellow, Wolfson College, Oxford University (1983 - 1987)
  • Faculty Member, Oriental Institute, Oxford University (1983 - 1987)
  • Associate Professor, History Department, University of California, Los Angeles (1987 - 1991)
  • Professor, History Department, Stanford University (1991 - Present)
  • Visiting Professor, Russian State Humanities University (1993 - 1993)
  • Visiting Professor, Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1993 - 1994)
  • Visiting Professor, Jagiellonian University (1995 - 1996)
  • Visiting Professor, New York University (1995 - 1996)
  • Visiting Professor, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (1995 - 1995)
  • Daniel E. Koshland Professor in Jewish Culture and History, Stanford University (1994 - Present)
  • Gerald Weinstock Visiting Professor in Jewish History, Harvard University (2007 - 2008)
  • Research Fellow, Max Weinreich Center, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research (1977 - 1980)

Honors & Awards


  • Kenneth B. Smilen/Present Tense Literary Award, American Jewish Committee and Present Tense magazine (1985)
  • National Jewish Book Award, Jewish Book Council (1994)
  • Judah L. Magnes Gold Medal, American Friends of the Hebrew University (1997)
  • Koret Prize, Koret Foundation (1998)
  • Leviant Prize in Yiddish Studies, Modern Language Association (2008)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Series editor (with Anita Shapira), "Jewish Lives" published by Yale University Press (2006 - Present)
  • Editorial Consultant, Schocken Books (1979 - 1980)
  • Assistant Archivist, Bund Archives of the Jewish Labour Movement (1977 - 1978)
  • Editor, Jewish Student Press Service (1975 - 1976)
  • Chair, Academic Council, Center for Jewish History (2011 - Present)
  • Chair, Graduate Admissions Committee, History Department, Stanford University (2009 - 2011)
  • Member, Humanities Curriculum Committee, H&S, Stanford University (2010 - Present)
  • Chair, Schnitzler Book Prize, Association for Jewish Studies (2010 - 2011)
  • Publications Committee Member, Forward Newspaper (2010 - Present)
  • Editorial board member, Jewish Review of Books (2010 - Present)
  • Academic Advisory Board Member, Frankel Center for Judaic Studies University of Michigan (2007 - Present)
  • Director, Taube Center for Jewish Studies, Stanford University (2005 - 2007)
  • Faculty Director, Undergraduate Advising Program, Stanford University (2003 - 2005)
  • International Editorial Board member, Posen Library of Jewish Civilization (2003 - Present)
  • Advisory Board member, Yearbook Simon-Dubnow Institute (2003 - Present)
  • Co-Director, Taube Center for Jewish Studies, Stanford University (2001 - 2005)
  • Vice-President, Association for Jewish Studies (2000 - 2007)
  • Chair, Graduate Studies Committee, Stanford Faculty Senate (2000 - 2002)
  • Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Israel Studies (2000 - Present)
  • Member, Four-member commission on Jewish culture in Russia, Israeli Ministry of Education (1999 - Present)
  • Member, Academic Advisory Board, Center for Jewish History (1999 - Present)
  • Member, Academic Advisory Board, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research (1999 - Present)
  • Editorial Board Member, East European Jewish Affairs (1999 - Present)
  • Editorial Board Member, Vestnik Evreiskogo Universiteta (1999 - Present)
  • Board member, Jewish Film Festival (1998 - Present)
  • Academic Board Member, Jewish University of Moscow (1998 - Present)
  • Chair, Advisory Board, Koret Book Awards (1998 - 2005)
  • Director, Koret Institute (1996 - 2005)
  • Editorial Board Member, Shvut (1995 - Present)
  • Member, Board of Directors, Association for Jewish Studies (1994 - 2008)
  • Chair, Conference on Jewish Social Studies (1993 - Present)
  • Editor (with Aron Rodrigue), Jewish Social Studies: History, Culture and Society (1993 - Present)
  • Editor (with Aron Rodrigue), “Studies in Jewish History and Culture”, a series of books published by Stanford University Press (1993 - Present)
  • Director, Program in Jewish Studies, Stanford University (1991 - 2001)
  • Editorial Board Member, The Journal of Jewish Thought and Philosophy (1990 - 1997)
  • Editorial Board Member, POLIN: A Journal of Polish-Jewish Studies (1987 - Present)
  • Judge of History Category, Los Angeles Times Book Prize (1987 - 1989)
  • Chair of History Category, Los Angeles Book Prize (1988 - 1989)
  • Senior member, Brasenose College (2008 - 2008)
  • Executive board member, American Academy for Jewish Research (2006 - Present)
  • Manuscript Assessor, Princeton University Press
  • Manuscript Assessor, Indiana University Press
  • Manuscript Assessor, John Hopkins University Press
  • Manuscript Assessor, Harvard University Press
  • Manuscript Assessor, Basil Blackwell
  • Manuscript Assessor, Oxford University Press
  • Manuscript Assessor, Stanford University Press
  • Manuscript Assessor, Jewish Publication Society
  • Manuscript Assessor, W.W. Norton
  • Manuscript Assessor, Houghton Mifflin
  • Manuscript Assessor, Yale University Press
  • Manuscript Assessor, Rutgers University Press
  • Manuscript Assessor, University of Pennsylvania Press
  • Manuscript Assessor, University of California Press

Professional Education


  • Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, Russian and Jewish History (1980)
  • M.A., University of California, Los Angeles, History (1975)
  • B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, Sociology (1973)

2024-25 Courses


Stanford Advisees


All Publications


  • Rosenfeld's Lives: Fame, Oblivion, and the Furies of Writing Zipperstein, S. J. Yale University Press. 2009
  • Odessa YIVO Encyclopedia of East European Jewry Zipperstein, S. J. Yale University Press. 2008
  • Ahad Ha'am YIVO Encyclopedia of East European Jewry Zipperstein, S. J. Yale University Press. 2008
  • Introduction: An-sky and the guises of modern Jewish culture International Conference Between Two Worlds of S Ansky - A Russian Jewish Intellectual at the Turn of the Century Zipperstein, S. J. STANFORD UNIV PRESS. 2006: 1-?
  • On Reading Mordecai Kaplan Read Ahad Ha'am Jewish Social Studies Zipperstein, S. J. 2006; 12 (2): 30-38
  • The Worlds of S. An-sky: A Russian Jewish Intellectual at the End of the Century edited by Safran, G., Zipperstein, S. J. Stanford University Press. 2006
  • Historical Reflections on Contemporary Antisemitism CONTEMPORARY ANTISEMITISM: CANADA AND THE WORLD Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Marrus, M. R., Penslar, D. J., Gross, J. University of Toronto Press. 2005
  • Assimilation and Community: The Jews in Nineteenth-Century Europe edited by Frankel, J., Zipperstein, S. J. Cambridge University Press. 2005
  • American Jews and the European gaze AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY Zipperstein, S. J. 2003; 91 (3-4): 379-386
  • On the Secrets of Isaac Babel Dissent Zipperstein, S. 2003
  • On the Secrets of Isaac Babel Dissent Zipperstein, S. J. 2003
  • Reflecting on the Writing of Odessa Jewry's History Simon Dubnow Institute Yearbook Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Diner, D. Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt. 2003
  • Isaac Rosenfeld and Literary Biography Partisan Review Zipperstein, S. 2002
  • Isaac Rosenfeld's Dybbuk and rethinking literary biography PARTISAN REVIEW Zipperstein, S. J. 2002; 69 (1): 102-117
  • Death in a Furnished Room: Rereading Isaac Rosenfeld's Obituaries History and Literature, New Readings of Jewish Texts in Honor of Arnold J. Band Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Cutter, W., Jacobson, D. C. Brown Judaic Studies. 2002
  • Good-bye to all that? Elegies for the book DISSENT Zipperstein, S. J. 2000; 47 (3): 76-82
  • Zionism and the Liberal Imagination Zionism, Liberalism, and the Future of the Jewish State Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Zipperstein, S. J., Freirichs, E. Dorot Foundation. 2000
  • Zionism, Liberalism, and the Future of the Jewish State edited by Zipperstein, S. J., Freirichs, E. Dorot Foundation. 2000
  • Remembering Amos Jewish Social Studies Zipperstein, S. J. 1999; 6 (1)
  • Imagining Russian Jewry: Memory, History, Identity Zipperstein, S. J. University of Washington Press. 1999
  • The First Loves of Isaac Rosenfeld Jewish Social Studies: History, Culture, and Society Zipperstein, S. J. 1999; 5 (1-2)
  • The Jewish Diaspora, Israel, and Jewish identities: A dialogue SOUTH ATLANTIC QUARTERLY Mudimbe, V. Y., Golan, D., Rodrigue, A., Zipperstein, S. J. 1999; 98 (1-2): 95-116
  • Remapping Odessa, Rewriting Cultural History Cahiers du Judaisme Zipperstein, S. J. 1998
  • Elusive Prophet: Ahad Ha'am and the Origins of Zionism Zipperstein, S. J. Am Oved. 1998
  • Between Tribalism and Utopia: Ahad Ha'am and the Makings of Jewish Cultural Politics Transmission et Passages en Monde Juif Zipperstein, S. J. 1997
  • Commentary and American Jewish Culture in the 1940's and '50's Jewish Social Studies: History, Culture, and Society Zipperstein, S. J. 1997; 3 (2)
  • Remapping Odessa, Rewriting Cultural History Jewish Social Studies: History, Culture, and Society Zipperstein, S. J. 1996; 2 (2)
  • Representations of Leadership (and Failure) in Russian Zionism: Picturing Leon Pinsker Essential Papers in Zionism Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Reinharz, J., Shapira, A. New York University Press. 1996
  • HOME AGAIN + A RETURN TO JEWISH STUDIES WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEOLOGICAL JUDAISM JUDAISM Zipperstein, S. J. 1995; 44 (4): 435-436
  • The Jews of Odessa: A Cultural History, 1794-1881 Zipperstein, S. J. Gesharim Press of the Jewish University of Moscow. 1995
  • Symbolic Politics, Religion and the Origins of the Jewish Nationalist Movement Zionism and Religion Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Reinharz, J., Shapira, A. University of New England Press. 1994
  • Symbolic Politics, Religion and the Origins of the Jewish Nationalist Movement Zionism and Religion Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Reinharz, J., Shapira, A. Merkaz Shazar. 1994
  • BETWEEN TRIBALISM AND UTOPIA - HAAM,AHAD AND THE MAKING OF JEWISH CULTURAL POLITICS MODERN JUDAISM Zipperstein, S. J. 1993; 13 (3): 231-247
  • Elusive Prophet: Ahad Ha'am and the Origins of Zionism Zipperstein, S. J. University of California Press. 1993
  • Jewish Enlightenment in Odessa: Cultural Characteristics, 1794-1871 Ha-Dat Ve-Ha-Hayyim Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Etkes, I. Merkaz Shazar. 1993
  • Ahad Ha'am and the Politics of Assimilation Assimilation and Community in Nineteenth-Century Europe Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Frankel, J., Zipperstein, S. J. Cambridge University Press. 1992
  • Assimilation and Community: The Jews in Nineteenth-Century Europe edited by Frankel, J., Zipperstein, S. J. Cambridge University Press. 1992
  • The Jews of Odessa: A Cultural History, 1794-1881 Zipperstein, S. J. Stanford University Press. 1991
  • Ahad Ha'am's Politics Jewish History Zipperstein, S. J. 1990; 4 (2)
  • The Politics of Relief: The Transformation of Russian-Jewish Communal Life during the First World War Studies in Contemporary Jewry Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Frankel, J., Medding, P. Y., Meddlesohn, E. Oxford University Press. 1988
  • Jewish History: Essays in Honour of Chimen Abramsky edited by Rappoport-Albert, A., Zipperstein, S. J. Peter Halban/Weidenfeld. 1988
  • Transforming the Heder: Maskilic Politics in Imperial Russia Jewish History: Essays in Honour of Chimen Abramsky Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Rappoport-Albert, A., Zipperstein, S. J. Peter Halban/Weidenfeld. 1988
  • Heresy, Apostasy and the Transformation of Joseph Rabinovich Jewish Apostasy in the Modern World; Converts and Missionaries in Historical Perspective Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Endelman, T. Holmes and Meier. 1987
  • Jewish Historiography and the Modern City Jewish History Zipperstein, S. J. 1987; 2
  • Assimilated Nineteenth-Century Odessa Jews in Polemical Literature The Great Transition: The Recovery of Lost Centers of Modern Hebrew Literature Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Abramson, G., Parfitt, T. Rowman and Allanheld Company. 1986
  • The Jews of Odessa: A Cultural History, 1794-1881 Zipperstein, S. J. Stanford University Press. 1986
  • The Jews of Northern, Central and Eastern Europe since 1500 Encyclopedia of Religion Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Eliade, M. Macmillian Publishing Company. 1986
  • Ashkenazic Jewry and Catastrophe: A Review Essay POLIN: A Journal of Polish-Jewish Studies Zipperstein, S. J. 1986; 1
  • HASKALAH, CULTURAL-CHANGE, AND 19TH-CENTURY RUSSIAN JEWRY - A REASSESSMENT JOURNAL OF JEWISH STUDIES Zipperstein, S. J. 1983; 34 (2): 191-207
  • Russian Maskilim and the City The Legacy of Mass Migration: 1881 and its Impact Zipperstein, S. J. edited by Berger, D. Columbia University Press. 1983
  • JEWISH ENLIGHTENMENT IN ODESSA - CULTURAL-CHARACTERISTICS, 1794-1871 JEWISH SOCIAL STUDIES Zipperstein, S. J. 1982; 44 (1): 19-36