‘Does Paganism Persist in Our Midst?’
One of the key texts to ponder is “Happy the man who makes the Lrd his trust, who turns not to pagan idols or to fraudulent images.” (Psalms 40:5)

Bio
One of the world’s leading Torah scholars, Hakham Isaac Sassoon synthesizes rigorous
traditional study with scrupulous academic and historical scholarship. A prolific writer for
TheTorah.com, Hakham Sassoon is the author of several critically acclaimed books including:
An Adventure in Torah – A Fresh Look Through a Traditional Lens (2023); Conflicting Attitudes
to Conversion in Judaism, Past and Present (2017); The Status of Women in Jewish Tradition
(2011); Uriel da Costa, Examination of Pharisaic Traditions, edited and translated from 1623
original with Herman Prins Salomon (1993); The Marrano Factory: The Portuguese Inquisition
and Its New Christians 1536-1765, translation of Antonio Jose Sariava with Herman Prins
Salomon (2001).

Hakham Sassoon’s initial education was under the tutelage of his father, the renowned scholar
Rabbi Solomon David Sassoon, Hakham Yosef Doury, and others. He continued his studies at
the prestigious Gateshead Yeshiva and various yeshivot in Israel. Hakham Sassoon received his
semikhah from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and holds a Ph.D. in Literature from the University
of Lisbon.

Continuing his family’s tradition of academic achievement, Hakham Sassoon has published on
topics ranging from Scriptural commentary and history, to issues of current concern to the Jewish
community.