Avraham Biran

I wish that I had the pleasure of knowing my great grandfather, I was less then 1 when he died. Now I'm doing research about him hoping to write a biographyabout him. I keep finding people who knew him, even if I never got to know him it's always nice to meet people who did.

I had the privilege to work under Avraham early in my career and he unlike others gave colleagues the freedom to publish, research, lecture without constraints. What was important was the advancement of the profession and not simply advancing one's personal career at the expense of the profession. He was somewhat unique in that respect and it was because of him and a handful of others that I continued in the field. He was sorely missed and lived life to its fullest.

My delay in signing the guest book in no way reflects my love for Avraham Biran z"l. If anything, it marks the opposite. In the first few days after his passing, I found it too challenging to try to summarize in a few words what Avraham's friendship meant to me, and then somehow, I let the time pass.
I first met Avraham as a child growing up in San Francisco, where he met and befriended my grandparents, my parents, and my aunt and uncle - a friendship that ultimately spanned four...

I will forever imagine my husband’s uncle Avraham as he appears in the stories told by the rest of the family who had seen him at work in Israel. They said he was tan and fit and would work all day on a dig, light-footed , bounding here and there in the sunshine, directing the work, never stopping for food or water until his American guests were ready to keel over and had to beg for a break.

When he visited us in Brooklyn, he was debonair and diplomatic, always perceptive and fun in a...

Although I met Dr. Biran almost 25 years ago at Tel Dan when I was 17 and never saw him again, I will always remember him for his love of life, his passion and his never ending supply of energy. My sincere condolences go out to his family. He will be missed. Peter Spencer

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/06/world/middleeast/06biran.html

October 6, 2008. Avraham Biran, Archaeologist Who Studied Biblical Sites, Is Dead at 98; By JEREMY PEARCE

My sincere condolences to the family
of Avraham Biran. I was privleged to know him at Hebrew Union College
and want to express my heartfelt sympathy to his family.
Jackiesue Singer, Library, HUC Jerusalem

I was blessed with the privilege and honor to work under the guidance of Dr. Biran for some two decades. He was my mentor whose legacy of love for the Land of Israel and the study and research of its history and most importantly love and respect for human beings I try my best to emulate. His memory and his spirit are forever with me.

I took part in the 1980 summer dig season at Tel Dan, the Cadillac of digs he called it, partly for its fresh spring water. That year, the main focus was on the Middle Bronze city gate find, the arch having been found at the end of the previous season.

That summer's experience was valuable for me in many ways. Thanks to Prof. Biran & al. for the opportunity.

God bless.
Rev. Arthur Shippee