Comparative Literature Program

A native of Natania Israel, Dr. Yoel Wachtel has taught at Georgetown since 2001. He has taught all levels of Hebrew language, as well as lectured on topics related to Israeli culture. According to Dr. Wachtel, Georgetown’s multicultural student body, together with its pluralistic academic approach, enhances the learning experiences of Hebrew and related Israeli studies to campus learners. Consequently, in 2005, together with the support of Dr. Dallal, Chair of the Arabic Dept., he developed the course “Hebrew Literature” in translation which draws many students from diverse backgrounds. Yoel Wachtel’s PhD dissertation, “Le’umiyyut (Nationhood) in Jewish Thought Four Models: Halevi, Maharal, Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook and Zvi Yehuda HaCohen Kook,” was conducted under the supervision of Professor Shimon Shokek of Baltimore Hebrew University, and touches upon the ideas of Jewish nationhood, mysticism, religious Zionism and modern Israeli political thought. Yoel Wachtel resides in Baltimore, is married to Lee Elizabeth Wachtel, MD and has two children.