Rabbi Firestone is professor of medieval Judaism and Islam at Hebrew Union College and founder and co-director of the Center for Muslim-Jewish Engagement (www.usc.edu/cmje). He has lived in Israel and Egypt and has traveled and lectured extensively in Europe, Asia and especially the Middle East. Firestone authored more than eighty scholarly articles and essays and seven books. Considered an entertaining lecturer and even humorous on occasion, he is known for his particular expertise in Jewish-Muslim relations.

Complete Curriculum Vitae in PDF format

http://www.huc.edu/faculty/faculty/CV/FIRESTONE-CV1.pdf

• Ph.D. 1988 New York University, Near East. Langs. & Lits. Islam, Arabic Lit.
• Rabbinic Ordination 1982 HUC-JIR, Bible, Rabbinics
• M.A. 1980 HUC-JIR, Hebrew Lit., History
• B.A. 1974 Antioch College, Sociology/Anthropolgy (Middle East area studies)
• 1972-73 Hebrew University in Jerusalem

• Early Islam and its relationship with Jews and Judaism
• Scriptural interpretation of the Bible and Qur'an
• The phenomenon of holy war
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• Jihad: its meaning, historical application, and influences on the Arab/Palestinian-Israeli conflict
• Inter-religious Polemic

• Whose Jerusalem? The Holy City in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
• Who are the Real "Chosen People"?
• Divine Authority and Mass Violence: Holy War in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
• What Does Islam Really Say About Jews and Judaism? A study of the classic texts.
• How Do We See Each Other? Classic and contemporary views of Jews and Muslims toward the other.
• Muhammad, the Qur'an, and the Question of Judaism.
• The Qur'an and the Bible: Scripture and Interpretation in Islam.
• Abraham: The First Jew, Christian or Muslim? A comparative study of the patriarch from the perspectives of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
• Antisemitism and Islamophobia: How are they Similar, and how Different?
• The Real History of Jewish-Muslim Relations: Golden Age or More of the Same?

• The Death and Resurrection of Jewish Holy War (forthcoming)
• Who Are the Real Chosen People? The Meaning of Chosenness in Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Available Fall 2008).
• An Introduction to Islam for Jews, Jewish Publication Society, 2008. Available from amazon.com. 
• Jews, Christians, Muslims in Dialogue: A Practical Handbook, with Leornard Swidler and Khalid Duran. White Cloud Press, 2007.
• Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism for Muslims New York: Ktav, 2001. (translated into Turkish, 2004, Arabic translation in process). Available from amazon.com. 
• Jihad: The Origin of Holy War in Islam New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. (Indonesian translation in process). (order online from amazon.com)
• Journeys in Holy Lands: The Evolution of the Abraham-Ishmael Legends in Islamic Exegesis Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1990. Available from amazon.com. 

• Divine Authority and Mass Violence: Economies Of Aggression In The Emergence Of Religions – Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies, Summer 2010 (http://jsri.ro/new/?Current_issue).
• Banning the Burka – The Jewish Journal of LA February 10, 2010 (http://www.jewishjournal.com/opinion/article/banning_the_burqa_20100209/)
• Contextualizing Antisemitism in Islam – International Journal for Psychoanalytic Studies 4/3 (2007) (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/116328525/issue)
• Religions Hold Mix of Justice and Mercy - The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, op-ed section, January 2, 2004 (http://www.jewishjournal.com/opinion/article/religions_hold_mix_of_justice_and_mercy_20040102/ )
• What Made Saddam Run? - The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, Op Ed section, December 19, 2003 (http://www.jewishjournal.com/opinion/article/what_made_saddam_run_20031219/)
• 'Leasing' of Peace Could Be Best Move - The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, May 9, 2003 (http://www.jewishjournal.com/power/article/leasing_of_peace_could_be_best_move_20030509/)
• Islam is the Answer - The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, December 14, 2001 (http://www.jewishjournal.com/world/article/islam_is_the_answer_20011214/)
• Islam Hijacked - The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles, September 28, 2001 (http://www.islamfortoday.com/firestone01.htm)