Dad, dog & cat parent, gardener, baker. BAs in Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies & Jewish Studies. Current M.A. student in Ancient Mediterranean Studies.https://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3mm7ga4ctas2pLucky enough to see this photogenic bear yesterday.19 May 2026 12:45 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mm7ga4ctas2phttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3mhbbu7cq7s2kTonight! [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Mar 2026 15:26 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhbbu7cq7s2khttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3mh7zhorslc2qTomorrow!17 Mar 2026 03:23 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh7zhorslc2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3mh4xxg4eik2fAfter years of reading and studying the Dead Sea Scrolls in school, I finally had the opportunity to see a few in person. A very cool experience. Pictured: Fragments of the Psalms, me and my daughter.15 Mar 2026 22:18 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3mh4xxg4eik2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3matetp77i22qAnother great Christmas addition to my collection. I’m excited to give these a read/look over during the break.25 Dec 2025 18:11 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3matetp77i22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3m6cy5ymdzs2sב[רי] אל תל[ו]ט יומא עד תחזה[ לי]לה “My son, do not c[u]rse the day until you see night.” With the sun currently setting prior to 5pm, I guess one can curse the day early! —TAD C1.1 Ahiqar from the Judean Elephantine Community Late 5th c. BCE Image credit: Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung23 Nov 2025 18:51 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6cy5ymdzs2shttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3m5fmjyfpj22hMid to northern latitude people, northern lights are out right now!12 Nov 2025 02:35 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5fmjyfpj22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3lxy3uisook2aA fun quote from an Aramaic Letter between siblings 6/5th c. BCE: “(7)But what is this, that you have not sent a letter (1)to me?! [For] me, a serpent bit me and I was dying. Yet, you did not send [word to inquire] (2)if I was living or dead! I have sent this letter about your welfare!” — TAD2.504 Sep 2025 02:27 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3lxy3uisook2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3lvtaynwigc26Marking my calendar for this. I also highly recommend The Origins of Judaism. [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 Aug 2025 17:25 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3lvtaynwigc26https://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3lo6wrksl7k2nThis is an incredibly well written book with an interesting and compelling analysis of the evidence for the rise of widespread Torah observance. I highly recommend it. [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 May 2025 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3lo6wrksl7k2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3lmfvdpiork2zThe Pout-Pout Fish is my 10 month old’s go to bedtime series but perhaps the Iliad will be her current daytime listen? She’ll probably enjoy it more than when I read her excerpts from the Oxford Handbook on the DSS. #classicsbluesky #ancientbluesky09 Apr 2025 21:05 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmfvdpiork2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3lmdfcdgpkk2oOne year ago today, I was lucky enough to witness a total solar eclipse. It’s easy to see why these events held such fascination to the ancients.08 Apr 2025 21:12 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmdfcdgpkk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3lktrqtapoc2fIt’s a shame the anti-intellectual movement has gained so much ground in America. They’re sacrificing our children’s future for profit and power. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/20/trump-executive-order-education-department20 Mar 2025 22:47 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3lktrqtapoc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3ljbakbx2us22What a mockery these weak men have made of the USA.28 Feb 2025 20:26 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljbakbx2us22https://bsky.app/profile/bqalisam.bsky.social/post/3limhjvfwvk2yI have been admitted into an M.A. program in Ancient Mediterranean Studies. I cannot wait to continue my studies.20 Feb 2025 14:06 +0000at://did:plc:yy56wopt4l5emmnn5eecf47p/app.bsky.feed.post/3limhjvfwvk2y