A conversation with Nissim Black and Henry Abramson, moderated by Mordechai Yosef ben Avraham. The panelists and moderator will explore the idea of race and color in Jewish history and culture, and discuss the African and African-American Jewish experience over the centuries and in contemporary America, Europe and Israel. Recognizing that the world is at a potential inflection point on issues of race, the participants hope to expose the audience to the broader perspective that comes from understanding the experience of Black Jews, both in their shared historical past as part of the Jewish people and in their future history as well. The discussion will be followed by a question and answer session.

Wednesday, August 26, at 1:00 PM EDT. To RSVP click here.

Nissim Black has been a gangsta rapper, a gang member, and a faith seeker. But it is his current incarnation that is here to stay: an African American Hasidic Jew who brings sharp beats and hooked-filled rhymes to the masses.

Mordechai Yosef Ben Avraham Hazan is a Rabbinical student in Jerusalem. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, where he converted to Judaism. Before coming to Israel, Mordechai Yosef was an entertainment executive with companies such as Warner Brothers, Electus, and others. He was also was a writer for Vogue Japan, MyJewishLearning.com and most recently TheJ.Ca. Mordechai is currently co-host personality on Israel unwired hit show “Israel in black-and-white.”

Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides, 1138-1204) was one of the towering figures of medieval Jewish thought, casting a long shadow even today. Renowned in his own day as a world-famous physician to royalty, he offered guidance both physical and spiritual in a time of pandemic. This lecture will review his life and work, including the  controversy that surrounded his writings for centuries, and reflect on his guidance for Elul, the month of preparation for the High Holidays.

Wednesday, August 19, 1PM EDT. Click here to RSVP.

Elul is not that far off. Here’s a brief video on Moses Maimonides, is life and work, with emphasis on his remarkable Ways of Teshuvah (repentance).

Judaea Capta: The Roman-Jewish Wars in History and Representation

Tisha B’Av: Thursday, July 30 at 12:45 PM EDT

The Shul via Zoom: 645 705 4016, password 699576

The Kishinev Pogrom and Jewish History

Young Israel of Fort Lee Webinar

Tisha B’av: 7.30.2020 2pm EDT

RSVP: bit.ly/cityofslaughter

Maimonides on Teshuvah, 8th edition revised during the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Forthcoming Elul 5780. Beautiful cover by Rachel Jackson.

Have to share this really sweet email from a student in the Jewish History in Daf Yomi podcast on the All Daf app (edited, and with permission) and his amazingly studious daughters. These kind of messages give me strength to continue!

Howdy Dr. Abramson! I just wanted to say a special thank you for your Daf videos as I know the last couple days you’ve been forced to record them at home under less than ideal conditions. Your wonderfulness still shines through! As part of the Jewish education of my 10 and 5 year olds, Tirzah and Nava, we watch your videos daily and Tirzah takes notes and then puts them up on our magnet board as you see here. Then when we finish we have a little siyum Masechta party with ice cream and review all her notes. We love you and you make us laugh and warm our hearts and I just wanted to let you know that and say thank you. You’re the kind of man I want my children to associate in their minds with Torah and Judaism. Keep up the great work. 

Please join me tonight @ 7pm EDT for a discussion of the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz in historical perspective, focusing on the disastrous 1st century and its implications for Jewish life in the Coronavirus era.

Introduction and concluding remarks by Rabbi Chaim Poupko, Congregation Ahavath Torah (Englewood, NJ). I am grateful to Rabbi Daniel Goldberg for graciously making the arrangements. Webinar is free and open to the community.

Please click here to register.

Please join me for a far-ranging discussion, rooted in the caustic sectarianism of First Century Judaea but with implications for our current Covid-19 reality. Register for the free webinar at www.ahavathtorah.org/Tammuz.