Dr. Ephraim Isaac: Director, Institute of Semitic Studies

Professor Ephraim Isaac is a pioneering Ethiopian-born scholar renowned for his contributions to academia, interfaith dialogue, and international peacebuilding. Born in 1936 to a Yemenite Jewish father and an Oromo Ethiopian mother, his multicultural heritage deeply influenced his lifelong commitment to fostering mutual understanding across religious and cultural divides.

Isaac became the first Ethiopian-born student to graduate from Harvard Divinity School and went on to earn his PhD from Harvard University, breaking significant ground for future African scholars. He was the inaugural professor of Afro-American Studies at Harvard, shaping the field and mentoring a generation of students. His expertise lies in ancient Ethiopian Semitic languages and African civilizations, and he has held teaching positions at institutions such as Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, the Hebrew University, and Bard College, among others.

Beyond academia, Professor Isaac has been a passionate advocate and practitioner of peace and reconciliation. He is a co-founder of Ethiopia’s Peace and Development Committee, using indigenous traditions of mediation and involving respected elders to bridge divides during times of national conflict. Isaac played a key role in negotiating and sustaining peace following Ethiopia’s tumultuous periods, demonstrating a unique ability to engage with leaders from all religious communities—Jewish, Christian, and Muslim—in pursuit of unity and non-violence.

An international lecturer and director of the Institute of Semitic Studies in Princeton, Isaac’s influence extends across continents, as he has worked with organizations in Ethiopia, North America, and beyond. He is celebrated not just for his academic achievements but also as a steadfast “bridge-builder” between cultures and faiths, embodying the ethos of interfaith collaboration and the transformative power of dialogue and educational leadership.