Hello students of Jewish history!

I’m really thrilled to inform you that the Jewish History in Daf Yomi podcast is now online! Part of the OU Daf Yomi Initiative, the podcasts feature brief (2-5 minute) videos discussing some historical aspect of the daily page of Talmud (Daf Yomi). Obviously most relevant to those actually studying the Daf, but strangely fascinating for those who are not as well (at least I think so).

Mini-lectures are available online at ou.org/dafyomi (email and feedburner subscriptions available) and of course on the podcast.

Enjoy in good health!

HMA

My latest Op-ed in Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Thanks to Opinion Editor Laura E. Adkins for her phenomenal work on this appetizing piece of post-Passover writing. Enjoy in good health!

Dear fellow students of the Daf Yomi cycle of Talmud! I am extremely proud to announce that a new series, Jewish History in Daf Yomi, is scheduled for launch as part of the Orthodox Union Daf Yomi Initiative, spearheaded by the incomparable Rabbi Moshe Schwed.

My small part in the overall plan is to spend just a few minutes on every single daf (folio) of the Talmud discussing some aspect of Jewish history that appears on the page: biographies, culture, geography, numismatics and other realia. Our goal is to cover the entire seven-and-a-half year cycle, 2,711 videos in all!

Jewish History in Daf Yomi begins this Friday, with the beginning of Tractate Bechoros. Please visit the special Beyond the Daf page for some really cool Passover articles and videos, and sign up for updates as Rabbi Schwed brings us all together in time for the beginning of the Daf Yomi restart in January 2020.

Click here to visit the first page of Tractate Bechoros, which starts this Friday, and sign up for the podcast!

Wishing you all a kosher and joyous Passover,

HMA

A brief look at one of the most bizarre Haggadahs ever produced: the so-called “Red Haggadah” from the Soviet Union, which was propaganda designed to undermine the essential message of Passover itself.

Remarkable story of how the villagers of San Nicandro followed their leader Donato Manduzio to convert en masse to Judaism and then immigrate to Israel.

Good morning students of Jewish History!

I am proud to announce a new pilot project: Jewish History in Daf Yomi, part of the Orthodox Union Daf Yomi Initiative under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Schwed.

Here’s the basic idea: brief (5-minute) videos discussing a historical issue raised in the world cycle of daily Talmud study known as Daf Yomi. Topics to be discussed include biographies of Talmudic figures, historical events, archaeological discoveries, numismatics, geography, and more.

It’s a huge project–2,711 videos over seven years–but we think it has the potential to really enhance the study of Daf Yomi world wide. We’re going to start with tractate Bechoros on April 9 (starting a few days before it actually begins in Daf Yomi so the videos for Passover will all be available before the holiday begins). Please visit https://pesach.oudafyomi.org/ for a hint of what’s to come!

Comments on this pilot project are more than welcome: please direct them to myself at abramson@touro.edu or to Rabbi Schwed at schwedm@ou.org.

Good morning everyone–

Here’s the latest piece from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Thanks to my daughter for editing the first draft, and the amazing Laura Adkins for making it ready for world-class JTA readers!

Shabbat Shalom,

HMA

Can’t see the link? Try this: https://www.jta.org/2019/03/29/opinion/how-an-italian-earthquake-in-1570-created-the-first-modern-orthodox-jew

The remarkable, amazing story of the glorious Sarajevo Haggadah.

Brief overview of the life and work of Shmuel David Luzzatto (ShaDaL), an important 19th-century Italian-Jewish thinker.