Third Lecture in the Episodes in Talmudic History series offered at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst.

I got chills reading pages from this record book of Bet Din decisions from Bergen Belsen. Read this great piece of journalism by Molly Boigon at The Forward. Proud to have been asked for some background information.

Tonight at YILC: the third and final lecture in the series on Talmudic history. I know it’s erev Thanksgiving, but I am especially looking forward to delivering this talk! Planning to discuss two bizarre stories related to the ambiguities of authenticity and authority: the appearance of the “lost” tractates of the Jerusalem Talmud at the turn of the 20th century, and Johannes Eisenmenger’s notorious antisemitic screed of the 17th century. While the previous two lectures focused on the tremendous potential democratization of Talmud learning in the Internet era, this lecture will examine how these two strange incidents shed light on the dangers of postmodernism in a time of almost unlimited connectivity.

7:30 pm prompt, free and open to the community. Maybe we will even put this lecture on the web later.

Hello fellow students of Jewish history! I’m so glad to have met many of you over the past Shabbos in the Aish Thornhill Community Shul. For those of you who don’t live in walking distance, please join us tonight for the First Annual David Shentow Memorial Holocaust Lecture. Mr. Eli Rubenstein of March of the Living Canada will deliver introductory remarks, and we will hear a moving personal recollection from Holocaust Survivor Lea Hochman.

My lecture is “Torah from the Years of Wrath: The Warsaw Ghetto Writings of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalmish Shapira (the Aish Kodesh),” based on my recent book which discusses the spiritual heroism of this incomparable leader.

Please join us–I anticipate that his will be a moving and meaningful event.

Stories You Never Learned in Yeshivah: Three Surprising Lectures in Talmudic History. Please come by and say hello!

A brief overview of three categories of exceptional women who made the Talmud possible: supporters, enablers, and even teachers. Lecture delivered at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst on November 20, 2019.

Have a look at the evocative illustration that accompanies Sandy Eller’s September 2019 article in Mishpacha magazine. I’m looking forward to continuing the discussion with a lecture Wednesday night at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst at 7:30 pm: “Meet the Women who Made the Talmud Possible.” Join us for a brief study of the lives and work of three very different women and their relationship to Talmud study: Sara Schenirer, Devorah Romm, and Asnat Barazani.

Hello friends and colleagues in Toronto! I am delighted to be coming back to visit the old stomping grounds this coming Friday, eh? I hope some of you will be able to join me for a Shabbaton at the Aish Thornhill Community Shul, followed by the David Shemtow Memorial Holocaust Lecture on Sunday night. Please stop by and say hello!