On Friday, I received word that my paper entitled, “A ‘Perfect’ Poem: The Use of the QATAL form in the Biblical Acrostics,” will appear in the fifty-first issue of Hebrew Studies, the annual journal of the National Association of Professors of Hebrew. The date of publication is usually November or December.

This is my first academic publication, and I’m very excited as you can imagine. Rather than viewing this honor as the end of a long project that started last summer, I hope that the article becomes a stepping stone to deeper work in the Book of Lamentations.

There really is no such thing as an individual achievement. At this relatively small but still important academic milestone, it is imperative that I express my gratitude to several people. First, I’d like thank those who have taught me Hebrew at several institutions over the years: my father (Ralph), Gary Schnittjer, Karyn Traphagen, Doug Green and Mike Kelly.

Second, Brian Toews was my advisor on this project last summer, and I am grateful to him for taking time away from his busy schedule as Provost to meet with me, as well as for encouraging me to pursue the question even when the answer might have been “no.”

Next, I’m grateful to Chuck Walton, a good friend who was the first to say to me last year, “You know, have you ever thought about presenting at a conference or submitting a paper for publication?”  No, I hadn’t really, Chuck–so, thanks.

Finally, my wife, Corrie, deserves “praise in the gates” and my heartfelt gratitude for supporting me financially, spiritually and emotionally while I pursue academic work. She understood that the months that I spent working on my projects between full-time master’s work and a doctoral program were not a waste. She believes in me, and the most gratifying aspect of these small successes is that they validate her faith in me. Corrie, you are truly’ an ‘ešet ĥayil.