Judith Hauptman is the E. Billi Ivry Professor of Talmud and Rabbinic Culture at the Jewish Theological Seminary (NY). Author of three books and many articles, she reads rabbinic texts in synchronic and diachronic context and traces the evolution over time of Jewish law, practice and ideas. Her book, Rereading the Mishnah: A New Approach to Ancient Jewish Texts (2005), rethinks the relationship of the Mishnah and the Tosefta, two early rabbinic works. She is well known for her feminist readings of Talmudic texts. Dr. Hauptman serves as rabbi of Ohel Ayalah, a free, walk-in High Holy Day service that she founded in 2004, aimed at people in their twenties and thirties and at intermarried couples.