Jewish History lectures, recent and forthcoming. It’s been pretty busy.

Jews and Ukrainians in Revolutionary Times

Ukrainians and Jews forged an unusual partnership during the brief period that followed the collapse of the Russian Empire, creating a Ministry of Jewish Affairs in a short-lived independent Ukrainian state. The experiment was doomed, however, by the Russian invasion, civil war and wave of pogroms that submerged the region in violence.

Join us for a live chat at 12 noon ET (16 minutes, New York time), perhaps reflecting on what this history means for contemporary Jews and Ukrainians.

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Fortress Synagogue Architecture in Eastern Europe

Sixth video in the “What is a Synagogue?” series, in connection with the upcoming 41st Annual Dinner of the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst.

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Explaining Jewish Religious Practices to Buddhists

Live Zoom Conference: Wednesday, February 9, 8:30 am-11:30 AM EST (New York Time)

My colleague Professor Nathan Katz, a world expert on Judaism and eastern faiths, invited me to participate in this unusual conference hosted by the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka. What I know about Buddhism would fit into the sound of one hand clapping, but my role here will be to describe some of the basics of Jewish religious practice to Buddhist scholars (is there a word for “Jewsplaining”? “Yidsplaining”?). Honored to participate with Professor Alan Brill and Rebbetzin Blu Greenberg, both of whom are very knowledgable and reputable scholars in their respective fields.

Zoom ID: 885 0128 2754, Passcode 005234

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How a 13-Year Old Discovered the Oldest Text from the Torah

The Ketef Hinnom amulets are absolutely amazing–almost as amazing of the story of their discovery! This video deals with some philosophically challenging issues, not intended for broader distribution, so it’s available to members of my YouTube Channel (Researcher and Colleague levels) and students registered in my Biblical Jewish History online course. Click here for a longer explanation of why this video is not public.

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The Learning Revolution: How the Digital Age is Transforming Access to Torah and Torah-Adjacent Study

Live Zoom with Rabbi Moshe Schwed of AllDaf

FEBRUARY 22 @ 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET

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Online Courses

The remarkable story of the Ketef Hinnom Amulets, and their implications for Jewish History.

A Warning

This video deals with issues that some of my fellow students of Jewish history might find philosophically challenging. I have therefore restricted access to registered students in my online Biblical Jewish History course and members of my YouTube channel at the Researcher and Colleague level. Please don’t watch it if you feel it would make you uncomfortable.

A Partial Explanation of the Warning

I like to regard myself as a religious person (although not a Rabbi). I can reassure you that I have found personally satisfying approaches to deal with many troubling questions, but I don’t discuss them in this video. Besides, who says my personal strategies would be helpful to you or anyone else?

Still, the story of the discovery of the Ketef Hinnom Amulets is so remarkable, and the amulets themselves so fascinating, and bear such historical significance, I could not help myself: I had to put this video together and share the ideas with some of my more serious students.

This video is really only appropriate if you have already been exposed to some of the more critical approaches to Biblical study. This video does not present any challenges to the traditional viewpoint–on the contrary, I think the Ketef Hinnom Amulets are entirely consistent with a faith perspective–but it would be better for many people to skip this video.

Here’s a litmus test: if your favorite commentator on the Torah is Ibn Ezra or Ralbag, you will probably love this video. If your favorites are Rashi and Ramban, maybe not. If you don’t recognize any of those names, you’re good to go, enjoy the video in good health.

For a scholarly description of the amulets, please see Gabriel Barkay, A. Vaugn, M. J. Lundberg and B. Zuckerman, “The Amulets from Ketef Hinnom: A New Edition and Evaluation,” Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research No. 334 (May, 2004), pp. 41-71 https://doi.org/10.2307/4150106.

What’s with the Eternal Light of the Crypto-Jews of Portugal?

Online Classes

Please join this new online course on the History of the Holocaust, free and open to the public. YouTube lectures supplemented with self-testing quizzes and other materials.

Why was Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto Persecuted by Fellow Jews?

A discussion of the ubiquitous dedicatory plaques in Synagogue history. Fourth in the “What is a Synagogue?” series connected with the upcoming annual dinner at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst.

Why was the author of Mesilat Yesharim persecuted by fellow Jews?

Help Aryeh reach his goal of competing in the 2022 Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem!

Please click here for Aryeh’s fundraising page.

Online Courses Open to the Community

What is a Synagogue? 3. A Place of Rejoicing (Dura Europos and YILC)

Thank G-d, the hostages in Colleyville, Texas, have been released to safety. Jews all over the world breathe a sigh of relief, and express gratitude to the law enforcement officers for their protection. After the attacks on synagogues in Pittsburgh in 2018 and Poway in 2019, the need for Synagogue security is demonstrated once again. Many thanks to the guards at my Shul. These three videos on the topic of What is a Synagogue? are especially relevant at this moment. Four more are planned for coming weeks.

Moses Mendelssohn, Yaakov Emden, and the Assault on Jewish Funereal Custom

The Jewish Catacombs of Rome

Biblical Jewish History Students: New Draft Chapter now Online

Tomorrow is the tenth of Shvat, an important day of the calendar of Chabad Hasidim. On this day in 1950 the 6th Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, passed away; one year later his son-in-law Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson took over the leadership of Lubavitch Hasidim. His role at the helm of Chabad was truly transformational, not only for his immediate followers but also for the Jewish world as a whole.

Please join me at 12 noon tomorrow (New York time) for a retrospective look at the life and work of this remarkable Jewish leader.

Moses Maimonides was one of the greatest scholars of medieval Jewish history, yet his works were hardly without controversy in his day. This video (48m) surveys his life and work, with emphasis on the subsequent controversies and their resolution.

Good morning fellow students of Jewish History!

The Jews of Hungary (A Very Quick Survey!)

The Remarkable Wooden Synagogue of Gwoździec, Poland

Aryeh at 29%! Great Progress towards his Goal of Representing Team USA at the 2022 Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem!

My wife Ilana and I are proud to serve as the Guests of Honour (note the Canadian spelling, very considerate of them) at the time 41st Annual Dinner of the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, together with the Young Leadership Awardees Gila and Alan Goldberg.

We are enthusiastic participants in YILC, a wonderful community resource under the leadership of Rabbi Ya’akov Trump. Please click here or on the image below to participate!

New Series: What is a Synagogue?

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Birth of Modern Jewish Politics (Jewish History Lab)

Aryeh is Making Progress!

Our teenage son Aryeh is 27% of the way to his goal! We are proud that he is training to represent Team USA at the 2022 Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem. Got to love the youthful energy in his promo video. Click here to participate!

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Online Courses Open to All

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