Lectures in Jewish History and Thought. No hard questions, please.
Brief overview of the life and work of Rabbi Ovadiah of Bertinoro (Bartenura), best known for his commentary on the Mishnah but also an important communal leader in late 15th-early 16th century Jerusalem.
Read More Who Was Rabbi Ovadiah of Bertinoro?Hello everyone–here’s a brief historical article for this time of year that appeared in today’s JTA. Thanks to my daughter Raphaela and Laura Adkins at JTA for some amazing editing help. Enjoy in good health!
Read More The Romans Tried to Ban Wild Purim Parties in 408Connect yourself with the Rav for as long as there is an Internet.
Read More Looking for a Sponsor for Monday Night’s LectureThe remarkable story of two powerful Jewish women from Spain and Portugal and the challenge to Pope Paul IV for his maltreatment of Portuguese Jews in Italy.
Read More The Ancona Affair of 1555-56 (Jews of Italy Pt. VI)True, he wrote a dictionary, but cryptic hints in his autobiographical poem suggest a more complicated background.
Read More Who Was Natan of Rome? Jews of Italy Pt. VNot enough snow to cancel tonight’s class on Nathan of Rome!
Read More Tonight! Nathan of Rome. Also, some Torah on the Piaseczno Rebbe.A medieval historian recounts the remarkable story of four Rabbinic captives.
Read More The Legend of the Four Captives (Jews of Italy pt. IV)Please click here for a link to my recent article on a document I came across in the archives of the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. I’m really grateful to Laura Adkins, Opinion Editor, for shaping the piece. Also thanks to the incredibly helpful staff of YIVO for permission […]
Read More What a Bergen-Belsen prenup teaches us about resilienceA brief lecture providing an overview of the life and work of Josephus, a Jewish historian who lived through the first Roman-Jewish war of the first century.
Read More Who was Josephus, the Roman Jew?Josephus betrayed his people and watched the Romans destroy the Temple in Jerusalem. Did he ever regret his youthful decisions? Lecture begins promptly at 7.
Read More Monday Night in Brooklyn