Mitchell First has a J.D. from Columbia Law School and an M.A. in Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University. He has published articles on Jewish history and liturgy in periodicals such as Biblical Archaeology Review, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Hakirah and AJS Review. He resides in Teaneck, New Jersey, and is an attorney practicing in New York City. His first book, Jewish History in Conflict, about rabbinic chronology and the Second Temple period, was selected book of the month by the Jewish Book Club (August 1997).