Krista Dalton

Krista N. Dalton, an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Kenyon College, explores how early rabbis emerged as experts in Jewish Late Antiquity. She discusses the significant role of social relationships and donor networks that shaped rabbinic authority beyond mere scholarship. Dalton reveals how everyday interactions, like dinner parties, bolstered their status and expertise. She also humorously examines the complex hospitality practices that intertwined financial support with rabbinic integrity, shedding light on the enduring dynamics of trust and recognition.