Director
Rabbi Dr. David Moster
I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and now live in Yonkers, New York with my wife and two children. I received my PhD in Hebrew Bible (תנ״ך) from Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Before that, I spent two years in Israel and a decade in New York City, where I received a B.A., M.A., M.S. and Rabbinical Degree (סמיכה) from Yeshiva University, and an M.A. from New York University. In 2018, I authored Etrog: How a Chinese Fruit Became a Jewish Symbol (Palgrave Macmillan). In 2017, I turned down a university position because it would have meant uprooting myself from my family and friends. This led me to explore online and long-distance learning communities, which resulted in the creation of The Institute of Biblical Culture in 2018. In addition to my work at the IBC, I teach Biblical Hebrew at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.
Current and Past Instructors
Sung J. Cho, PhD
I am originally from South Korea and now live in the East Coast with my wife and our chocolate lab mix. I currently pastor in the Baltimore area. I received my PhD in New Testament from Catholic University of America, Washington DC, where my research focused on the reception history of Matthew. Prior to my doctorate, I completed a Master of Theology from Capital Bible Seminary and a Bachelor of Science from University of Maryland. I wish to continue my studies of the Gospels and its relevance throughout history and today.
J. Thomas Hewitt, PhD
I grew up in the southeast of the Unites States and now live in Scotland with my wife and children. In 2018 I received my PhD in New Testament and Christian Origins from the University of Edinburgh where my research focused on early scriptural interpretation, Jewish messiah texts, and the Pauline epistles. This project is now published as Messiah and Scripture: Paul’s “In Christ” Idiom in Its Ancient Jewish Context (Mohr Siebeck, 2020). I am currently the Kirby Laing Research Fellow in New Testament at the University of Aberdeen, and my ongoing research concerns reappropriations of Jewish scriptures in early Christian writings to conceptualize the activity of the ascended Christian messiah. For more information see: https://aberdeen.academia.edu/JThomasHewitt.
Sydney E. Tooth, PhD
I grew up in Texas but now live in Edinburgh, Scotland with my husband, with our first child on the way. I received my PhD in New Testament from the University of Edinburgh, where my research focused on eschatology in 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Before my PhD, I received my Master's in Biblical Studies at Edinburgh, and my undergrad degree in Theology and Biblical Studies at the University of St Andrews. I am currently adjunct Lecturer in New Testament at the Faith Mission Bible College in Edinburgh. My current research is focused on supernatural beings in Paul's letters and the role of the book of Daniel in early Christian eschatology.
Advisory Board
Steven Fine, PhD
Dean Pinkhos Churgin Professor of Jewish History
Director of the Center for Israel Studies
Yeshiva University
Yigal Levin, PhD
Associate Professor of Jewish History
Chair, Judaic Studies Multidisciplinary Program
Bar-Ilan University
R. Steven Notley, PhD
Distinguished Professor of New Testament & Christian Origins, Nyack College
President, Center for the Study of
Ancient Judaism & Christian Origins
