Rebel Hero or Roman Traitor? A brief (12m) video version of my recent article on Aish.com. The draft book chapters are in Biblical Jewish History course. A complex figure! I spend a lot of time thinking about him and his work.

What is the Meaning of Jewish History? I gave this series of talks last week in Teaneck and managed to duck most of the hard questions (phew). Not so sure I will get off so easily in Fair Lawn! Please join us. SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE WITH DR. HENRY ABRAMSON Parshat Shlach, June 24-25Sponsored by:-Eve Thaler for the…

A brief overview of his courageous scholarship. I spoke about him at a recent Shabbaton in Teaneck, and someone from the UK was in the audience: Dr. Roth pronounced his first name SEH-sil, not SEE-sil. If I had realized this when I made the video I would have used the English pronunciation rather than the…

What is the Meaning of Jewish History? Very honored to be serving as a Scholar-in-Residence at Congregation B’nai Yeshurun. Three new lectures on “What is the Meaning of Jewish History?” will examine at the Ancient, Medieval and Modern periods with a view to understanding some of the complexities of interpreting the fascinating, profound history of…

Are you in the Five Towns over Shavuot? Please join us at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst for a remarkable series of classes in Jewish history! We’re starting at midnight and learning all night till dawn prayers. In keeping with our theme this year of “Transformation: Personal, Communal, Global,” I’ve chosen to look at the…

The final Ashkenazium lecture is now online! With this lecture, the online course A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz is now complete! Twelve Modules and 56 lessons in length (mostly videos). Enjoy in good health! Chapter Six of The Jewish People: A History Now Online! Over 200 pages of draft text are now available to students…

Formally emancipated in 1790-91, the rights of Jews as citizens were challenged a decade later. In his typically grandiose fashion, Napoleon addressed the question by reconvening the ancient Great Sanhedrin and asked the Jews of France twelve basic questions. The Holocaust in Ashkenaz Part 11 of The Ashkenazium Lectures, premieres today at 12:00 noon ET.…

Proud to work with Unpacked on this brief yet sophisticated discussion of a complex topic. New Draft Chapter in Biblical Jewish History now Online Very pleased to be receiving comments on the draft chapters in my forthcoming book with Koren Publishers! Students registered in the Biblical Jewish History course are welcome to read and critique.…

My friends, it’s almost Shabbos. Will you participate? Inscribe your name in the Book of Life by joining the list of donors to Renewal. Your contribution, large or small, will help them find a kidney for someone in desperate need. We can’t all be heroic altruistic kidney donors. But we can certainly be altruistic dollar…

900 years later, a document from the Cairo Geniza describes the tragic story of a French convert to Judaism during the Crusades Three years ago, my wife donated a kidney. Here’s why. Three years ago, on erev Yom Kippur, my wife Ilana donated a kidney to a total stranger. Although she literally gave someone the…

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

Fantastic Voyage of Discovery with Kosher River Cruises A Difficult Conversation Recent Conference Presentation in Toronto

Surprised how much attention this got. Herod’s Tragic Reign The Fatal Conflict

Remarks at Lander College for Men Maimonides and the Controversy over His Work

Three Strategies

Public at 10am ET (44 minutes) Online Courses in Jewish History

This is one of the most bizarre periods of Jewish history, and that’s saying a lot.

New Lecture Series: The History of Sephardic Jewry

Stories of Personal Transformation for Elul Napoleon’s 1808 Imperial Decree on Jewish Names The History of Sephardic Jewry (Lecture, 75 minutes) Jews, Wine, and Bordeaux (7 minutes)

Jewish Resilience after the Bar Kochba Rebellion New Series! Cool Things I Read in the Encyclopedia Judaica YouTube Colleagues: Volume II of The Jewish People: A History now appearing online

Revised with several more videos, new online quizzes to test your knowledge of Biblical Jewish History! Napoleon’s 12 Questions and the Fateful Jewish Answers Depictions of Jewish Women in the Tripartite Mahzor

I can’t believe the audience stayed for almost two hours. Tisha B’Av lecture at Congregation Ahavat Torah in Englewood, New Jersey Tu B’Av in Jewish History Shabbaton in Washington, September 13-14