Vita Daphna Arbel is Professor Emerita in the Department of Classical, Near Eastern, and Religious Studies at the University of British Columbia, where she taught for over two decades. A specialist in biblical and early Jewish literature and mysticism, her research explores themes of gender, mythology, apocalypticism, and esotericism in texts such as the Hekhalot literature and the Greek Life of Adam and Eve. She holds a PhD in Religious Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is internationally recognized for her contributions to the study of early Jewish mysticism and cultural transformations of biblical figures, particularly Eve. Arbel has authored and edited numerous influential books, including Forming Femininity in Antiquity and Beholders of Divine Secrets, and has served on editorial boards and in scholarly societies such as the Society of Biblical Literature and the Enoch Seminar. Her work often bridges ancient traditions with feminist and literary perspectives, offering fresh insights into the roles of women, angels, and divine figures in religious imagination. Arbel has presented widely at international conferences and led interdisciplinary initiatives on mysticism and angelology. Her current projects focus on femininities in the Song of Songs and visionary traditions in antiquity. As a teacher and scholar, she is admired for her ability to illuminate the mystical and mythic dimensions of ancient texts while engaging critically with modern interpretations. Through her extensive scholarship and mentorship, Arbel has shaped contemporary understandings of early Jewish mysticism and gendered religious narratives.