Really looking forward seeing my friends at YILC!
RESURGENCE in Jewish History (Shabbaton at YILC, 5 Towns); Intrepid Rabbi-Explorers of the 3rd Century; Sephardic Diaspora in the New World
Eurafrican Jews in the Caribbean; Jewish Caribbean Migration Patterns; and a retrospective mini-documentary
Hard to believe such beautiful places exist!
Jewish Caribbean Migration Patterns
Eurafrican Jews in the Caribbean
The Sephardic Diaspora: Europe
Want to learn more Jewish History? Try one of these online courses!
Saga of Sephardic Jewry (New Online Course!); Volume II:Chapter 2 now online; Benjamin of Tudela; Guide for the Perplexed; Review of Koren’s New Mikraot Hadorot
Jewish History Lab Report: Friday, January 3, 2025
Benjamin of Tudela, Great Jewish Explorer of the 12th Century!
The Saga of Sephardic Jewry: New Course Now Online!
Stunning new work of Torah Scholarship: The Koren Mikraot Hadorot
Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed: Battle of the Translators
Shabbat in Rosyln, NY; Hello from Jerusalem;
Really looking forward to meeting this community!
Message recorded from Jerusalem last week
Medieval Antisemitism and the Spanish Inquisition
Invitation to LCM Breakfast; Caribbean Jews and the History of Chocolate; Spanish Disputations and the Pogroms of 1391
Please join me at our First Annual Breakfast!
Jews and Chocolate! Who knew?
Disputations and the Pogroms of 1391
The Jews of Bukhara (Sunday in Denver); the Maimonidean Controversy; Save the Date for Roslyn NY
Really looking forward to speaking to the Or Avner community in Aurora, CO!
The Maimonidean Controversy
Save the Date: Shabbaton in Roslyn NY, December 20-21
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“The Grinch Who Stole Chanukah”
Feedback on this lecture was very positive, but one person suggested I was “the Grinch who stole Chanukah.” Kind of an ironically Hellenistic comment. So viewer beware: this is a more historical treatment of the social, economic, and political roots of the Maccabean revolt. Happy Hannukah!
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Tonight: Beyond dreidels. A real look at the history of the Maccabean Revolt
Tonight at YILC: a deeper discussion of the Maccabean Revolt, from Antiochus’ inferiority complex to fissures between Jewish factions under Yehudah Maccabee’s role. Surprisingly (or not surprisingly) relevant issues for our own times. What else are you doing tonight? Join us at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst at 7:30 for a timely talk on Chanukah.…
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Confessions of a Poor Talmud Student
Always distracted but historical minutiae, I don’t think I was ever going to be a great Talmud student. Now, with the introduction of the amazing All Daf app (slated for launch on December 22), there’s finally a place for my approach to Talmud! Please enjoy this brief video from the recent Torah NY conference at…
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Truth Will Spring from the Earth: Gutenberg, the Internet, and the New Uncertainty Principle
Conference theme: Sustainability, Resilience, and the Torah.
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Free copy of The Sea of Talmud, and Warm Thanks to Theodore Sternberg
The Internet is a strange and often wonderful place. Here’s a personal story from last week. When I first wrote The Sea of Talmud: A Brief and Personal Introduction seven years ago, Theodore Sternberg wrote one of the sharpest Amazon reviews of the first edition: “Too much about Henry Abramson, not enough about the Talmud.”…
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Free Ebook: The Sea of Talmud
Hello fellow students of Jewish history! I’m pleased to announce that the second edition of The Sea of Talmud: A Brief and Personal Introduction is now available in a second, revised edition, in commemoration of the upcoming Siyum ha-Shas! From Sunday December 8 through Thursday December 12 the Kindle ebook edition will be available for…
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Astonishing Document from Bergen-Belsen Bet Din up for Auction
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.
The Jews of Bukhara (Denver, CO); The Jews of the Lesser Antilles; Varieties of Crypto-Jewish Identity; Wait, Alexander Hamilton was Jewish?
Looking forward to a wonderful Shabbat in the Denver Jewish community!
Our Itinerary of Discovery in the Western Caribbean
Channel Members
Premiering at 10am ET
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Shabbat at the Queens Jewish Center! Mapping the Land of Israel; Next Shabbat in Edmonton
Really thrilled to meet the Queens Jewish Center community! Please come by and say hello if you’re in town. Very honored by this invitation from the History, Classics and Religion Graduate Students Association of the University of Alberta! Please join us in person (if you’re in Edmonton, eh?) or via Zoom (RSVP at http://www.bit.ly/JEWISHUK1000). Channel…
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Who Was Lopo Ramirez? Was there a Jewish Dark Age? Shabbos in Queens
The Ambassador warned the King: “Pay Lopo Ramirez on time.” Was there a Jewish Dark Age? Exploring some Fascinating Archaeological Finds Welcome New Students! Draft Text of Volume 1 Included in the Biblical Jewish History course: please send me your feedback! Shabbos in Queens! Come by and say hello.
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The Jewish People: A History Volume I Completed!
Forthcoming from Koren Publishers, Jerusalem The Jewish People A History Second Draft February 5, 2023 Forthcoming from Koren Publishers, Jerusalem Henry Abramson DRAFT: Please do not reproduce or circulate. Copyright Henry Abramson 2023 Volume One: Biblical Israel (1760 BCE to 200 CE) Introduction Bibliographic Essay: On Covenantal History Photo Credits Acknowledgments Imagine that, while browsing…
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Was there a Jewish Dark Age, and Are the Lemba of South Africa Genetically Jewish?
This is a really fascinating topic. Here’s a brief follow-up presentation related to The Jews of Africa lecture. Enjoy in good health! Was there a Jewish Dark Age? A “studio” version–meaning a recording of me talking into my iMac–is forthcoming, once I have a few moments to concentrate. For now, here’s the unedited/uncensored recording of…
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Jewish Life in the (not so) Dark Ages; Is Printing a Jewish Invention? Babatha: The Jewish Mom of Ancient Times
Final Episode of Season One, and it’s PHENOMENAL. I feel so honored to have worked with this amazing team at Unpacked on the Jewish History Unpacked podcast. We are thrilled that it has received such a positive response, ranking #1 in Judaism podcasts for the first few weeks and remaining in the top ten ever…
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Jewish Life in the (Not So) Dark Ages (New Series begins January 25); Eternal Outsider: The Uriel D’Acosta Story; The Saga of Dutch Jewry premieres today at 12pm ET
Can’t wait to discuss this fascinating but little-studied period of Jewish history! Yael and Schwab discuss the tragic story of Uriel D’acosta in this amazing episode of Jewish History Unpacked The Saga of Dutch Jewry Really pleased to speak to some of my amazing Touro University students at the Yeshiva of South Florida last week!…
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Paul of Tarsus; Shabbos in Miami; Webinar Today on The Saga of Dutch Jewry!
Join us for this free webinar! Speaking in Miami this Shabbos: Please drop by and say hello if you’re on Williams Island! Paul of Tarsus (aka St. Paul) Schwab and Yael explore this fascinating topic that is, believe it or not, a big part of Jewish history!
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The Saga of Dutch Jewry; First and Second Temple Judaism; Tribute to Professor Michael Marrus; The Synagogue and the Church Emergent
The Saga of Dutch Jewry (live webinar: please join us!) Premiering at Noon ET. Class delivered to The Habura in London A Tribute to Professor Michael Marrus ע׳׳ה from a Student
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Professor Michael Marrus (1941-2022): A Tribute from a Student
Some personal memories and appreciation of Professor Michael Marrus, a master instructor who taught at the University of Toronto for 49 years.
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The Jews of India and China; Radhanites as the First Kosher Cruisers; The Hebrew Hammer; The Synagogue and the Church Emergent
What an amazing history! Who Were the Radhanites? The Hebrew Hammer: The True Story of Hanukkah The Synagogue and the Church Emergent (Jewish Encounter with Rome series)
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Hello Toronto!
If you’re in the neighborhood of Shaarei Shomayim, please come by on Saturday or Sunday morning, would be nice to say hi.
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Shabbat in Toronto; Who are the Jews of Africa?; Kutach Tasting Event
Students of Daf Yomi! This one’s for you. Who are the Jews of Africa? Join me for Shabbat at Shaarei Shomayim, Toronto!
Visits to Synagogues in Bordeaux and Libourne (France); Another Open Letter to Jewish Participants in anti-Israel Protests re: Amsterdam; Conference Presentation on Sheptytsky and WW II
Fantastic Voyage of Discovery with Kosher River Cruises
A Difficult Conversation
Recent Conference Presentation in Toronto
Wait, Christopher Columbus was Jewish? Documentary on Roman-Jewish War now Online
Surprised how much attention this got.
Herod’s Tragic Reign
The Fatal Conflict
How Jewish Culture will Thrive after October 7; The Jews of Al-Andalus Part II
Henry Abramson 