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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Tonight: Uriel da Costa, 7 pm
Tonight’s Jewish History lecture will focus on the life and thought of Uriel da Costa, a tragic figure whose brief autobiography, “Example of a Human Life,” describes the psychic pain and spiritual loss felt by Jewish victims of the Spanish Inquisition, even generations after the expulsion of 1492. His thought had a major impact on…
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Heinrich Graetz, History of the Jews
Hey! I even got my picture in the paper with this article. Enjoy in good health! http://5tjt.com/history-of-the-jews/
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Who Was Dona Gracia Nasi?
Lecture on the life and work of Dona Gracia Nasi (also known as Beatrice de Luna Mendes), a heroic Jewish woman of the 16th century. Fleeing the Inquisition in Portugal, she used her considerable wealth and courage to spirit converso Jews out of Europe to refuge in Ottoman lands. Here’s the Prezi for this lecture:http://prezi.com/ezegvhtrjraf/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
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Tonight! Doña Gracia Nasi, heroic Jewish leader of the 16th Century
Jewish History @ Avenue J, 7:00-8:00 pm. A community project of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences, 1602 Avenue J, Brooklyn NY 11230. Admission is free.
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Avraham ben haRambam: Milhamot HaShem
Please enjoy this week’s People of the Book column in the Five Towns Jewish Times! http://5tjt.com/milchamot-hashem/
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Reminder: No Class Tonight!
Celebrating Hanukkah! We are scheduled to resume on Monday, December 14 at 7 pm with a presentation on Dona Gracia Nasi.
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Who was Avraham Maimuni?
Lecture on Avraham ben HaRambam, an important Jewish leader and scholar of 13th century Egypt. Best known as the son of the illustrious Maimonides, Avraham Maimuni was a brilliant thinker whose descendants led the Jewish community of Egypt for nearly 200 years. Here’s the link to the Prezi: http://prezi.com/3apfvk1ctjkg/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
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Alexander Runs for Team Friendship
My son Alexander is once again running for Team Friendship in the Miami Marathon this January. Please enjoy this video that features his effort for this worthy cause, and support him at http://www.miami.teamfriendship.org/Alex!
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Jewish History in Christian Context
By popular demand, I’ve set up a new playlist of my lectures that cater to students of the Jewish roots of Christianity and selected lectures on the experience of Jews living in Christian lands. Enjoy in good health!
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The Memoirs of Gluckel of Hameln
Please enjoy this week’s column in the Five Towns Jewish Times, a discussion of the memoirs of Gluckel of Hameln, a remarkable woman from 17th-century Germany.
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TONIGHT! The History of Chanukah
Live in Boca Raton! Looking forward to speaking at the Chabad of West Boca. Click here to RSVP!
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The Chofetz Chaim
Please enjoy this week’s article in the Five Towns Jewish Times. http://5tjt.com/chofetz-chaim/
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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Sephardic Jewry and the Islamic Conquest of 711
Brief overview of the Jews in Spain during the two centuries following the Muslim conquest of 711.
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Sephardic Jewry and the Muslim Conquest of 711
September 18: SEPHARDIC JEWRY AND THE MUSLIM CONQUEST OF 711 Sponsored by Katherine and Vick Crespin, in gratitude to Hashem for protecting their family from harm during Hurricane Irma. Monday, September 18 @ 7pm at the Mighty Avenue J Campus of Touro College 1602 Avenue J Brooklyn NY 11230 Free and Open to the…
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The Ancient Origins of Sephardic Jewry
A brief overview of the earliest history of Sephardic Jewry, from earliest settlement through the Visigothic period to the Muslim conquest of 711. For the Fall Schedule of Lectures, please click here. To sponsor a lecture, please click here.
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Day 20: Corrosive Habits
Day 20:Corrosive Habits Sunday, September 10, 2017 English Translation Follows י״ט אלול 4.4 וּמֵהֶן חֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים הָעוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָן אֵין חֶזְקָתוֹ לָשׁוּב מֵהֶן, לְפִי שְׁהֶן דְּבָרִים קַלִּים בְּעֵינֵי רֹב הָאָדָם, וְנִמְצָא חוֹטֶא וְהוּא יְדַמֶּה שְׁאֵין זֶה חֵטְא; וְאֵלּוּ הֶן: (א) הָאוֹכֵל מִסְּעוֹדָה שְׁאֵינָהּ מַסְפֶּקֶת לִבְעָלֶיהָ–שֶׁזֶּה אֲבַק גָּזֵל, וְהוּא מְדַמֶּה שֶׁלֹּא חָטָא וְיֹאמַר כְּלוּם אָכַלְתִּי אֵלָא בִּרְשׁוּתָן.…
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Day 17-18-19: Impediments to Teshuvah
Day 17-18-19: Impediments to Teshuvah English Translation Follows 4.1 עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה דְּבָרִים מְעַכְּבִין אֶת הַתְּשׁוּבָה. אַרְבָּעָה מֵהֶן עָווֹן גָּדוֹל; וְהָעוֹשֶׂה אֶחָד מֵאַרְבַּעְתָּן–אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַסְפִּיק בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה, לְפִי גֹּדֶל חֶטְאוֹ. וְאֵלּוּ הֶן: (א) הַמַּחְטִיא אֶת הָרַבִּים; וּבִכְלַל עָווֹן זֶה, הַמְּעַכֵּב אֶת הָרַבִּים מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת מִצְוָה. (ב) וְהַמַּטֶּה חֲבֵרוֹ מִדֶּרֶךְ טוֹבָה לְדֶרֶךְ רָעָה, כְּגוֹן מַסִּית…
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Day 16: Sticks and Stones
Day 16: Sticks and Stones Wednesday, September 6, 2017 English Translation Follows 3:14 כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵאַרְבָּעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים אֲנָשִׁים אֵלּוּ שֶׁמָּנִינוּ–אַף עַל פִּי שְׁהֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵין לָהֶן חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וְיֵשׁ עֲבֵרוֹת קַלּוֹת מֵאֵלּוּ, וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁהָרָגִיל בָּהֶן אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, כְּדֵי לְהִתְרַחַק מֵהֶן וּלְהִזָּהֵר מֵהֶן. וְאֵלּוּ הֶן: הַמְּכַנֶּה…
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Day 15: More Cautionary Tales
Day 15: More Cautionary Tales Tuesday, September 5, 2017 English Translation Follows 3.10 מַחְטִיאֵי הָרַבִּים: אֶחָד שֶׁהִחְטִיא בְּדָבָר גָּדוֹל, כְּיָרָבְעָם וְצַדּוּק וּבַיְתּוֹס; וְאֶחָד שֶׁהִחְטִיא בְּדָבָר קַל, אַפִלּוּ לְבַטַּל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה. וְאֶחָד הָאוֹנֵס אֲחֵרִים עַד שֶׁיֶּחֶטְאוּ כִּמְנַשֶּׁה, שֶׁהָיָה הוֹרֵג יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד שֶׁיַּעַבְדוּ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה; אוֹ שֶׁהִטְעָה אֲחֵרִים וְהִדִּיחָם כְּיֵשׁוּעַ. Those who cause others to sin: it…
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Day 14: Heresy, Part 2
Day 14: Heresy, Part 2 Monday, September 4, 2017 English Translation Follows 3.8 שְׁלוֹשָׁה הֶן הַנִּקְרָאִין אֲפֵיקוֹרוֹסִים: הָאוֹמֵר שְׁאֵין שָׁם נְבוּאָה כְּלָל, וְאֵין שָׁם מַדָּע שֶׁמַּגִּיעַ מֵהַבּוֹרֵא לְלֵב בְּנֵי הָאָדָם; וְהַמַּכְחִישׁ נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ; וְהָאוֹמֵר שְׁאֵין הַבּוֹרֵא יוֹדֵעַ מַעֲשֵׂה בְּנֵי הָאָדָם. כָּל אֶחָד מִשְּׁלוֹשָׁה אֵלּוּ אֲפֵיקוֹרוֹס. שְׁלוֹשָׁה הֶן הַכּוֹפְרִים בַּתּוֹרָה: הָאוֹמֵר שְׁאֵין הַתּוֹרָה מֵעִם…
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Day 13: Apostasy, Part I
Day 13 Apostasy, Part I Sunday, September 3, 2017 English Translation Follows 3.6 וְאֵלּוּ שְׁאֵין לָהֶן חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, אֵלָא נִכְרָתִין וְאוֹבְדִין, וְנִדּוֹנִין עַל גֹּדֶל רִשְׁעָם וְחַטָּאתָם, לְעוֹלָם וּלְעוֹלְמֵי עוֹלָמִים: הַמִּינִים, וְהָאֲפֵיקוֹרוֹסִים, וְהַכּוֹפְרִים בַּתּוֹרָה, וְהַכּוֹפְרִים בִּתְחָיַת הַמֵּתִים, וְהַכּוֹפְרִים בְּבִיאַת הַגּוֹאֵל, וְהַמְּשֻׁמָּדִים, וּמַחְטִיאֵי הָרַבִּים, וְהַפּוֹרְשִׁים מִדַּרְכֵי צִבּוּר, וְהָעוֹשֶׂה עֲבֵרוֹת בְּיָד רָמָה בְּפַרְהֶסְיָה כִּיהוֹיָקִים, וְהַמּוֹסְרִים, וּמַטִּילֵי אֵימָה…
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Day 11-12: Never Regret Doing the Right Thing
Day 11-12: Never Regret Doing the Right Thing Friday-Saturday September 1-2, 2017. English translation follows. 3.3 2017כָּל מִי שֶׁנִּחַם עַל הַמִּצְווֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה, וְתָהָה עַל הַזָּכויּוֹת, וְאָמַר בְּלִבּוֹ וּמַה הוֹעַלְתִּי בַּעֲשִׂיָּתָן, אוּלַי לֹא עָשִׂיתִי אוֹתָן–הֲרֵי זֶה אִבַּד אֶת כֻּלָּן, וְאֵין מַזְכִּירִין לוֹ שֵׁם זְכוּת בָּעוֹלָם: שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “וְצִדְקַת הַצַּדִּיק לֹא תַצִּילֶנּוּ בְּיוֹם רִשְׁעוֹ” (ראה יחזקאל לג,יב), אֵין…
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Day 10: Change the World
Day 10 Elul 9 Thursday, August 31, 2017 English Translation follows כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִבְּנֵי הָאָדָם, יֵשׁ לוֹ זָכויּוֹת וַעֲווֹנוֹת. מִי שֶׁזָּכויּוֹתָיו יְתֵרוֹת עַל עֲווֹנוֹתָיו, צַדִּיק; וּמִי שֶׁעֲווֹנוֹתָיו יְתֵרוֹת עַל זָכויּוֹתָיו, רָשָׁע; מֶחְצָה לְמֶחְצָה, בֵּינוֹנִי. וְכֵן הַמְּדִינָה–אִם הָיוּ זָכויּוֹת כָּל יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ מְרֻבּוֹת עַל עֲווֹנוֹתֵיהֶם, הֲרֵי זוֹ צַדֶּקֶת; וְאִם הָיוּ עֲווֹנוֹתֵיהֶם מְרֻבִּין, הֲרֵי זוֹ רְשָׁעָה. וְכֵן…
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Day 9: Accepting an Apology
Day 9: Accepting an Apology Wednesday August 30, 2017 English Translation follows 2.10 אָסוּר לָאָדָם שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אַכְזָרִי וְלֹא יִתְפַּיַּס, אֵלָא יִהְיֶה נוֹחַ לְרַצּוֹת וְקָשֶׁה לִכְעֹס, וּבְשָׁעָה שֶׁמְּבַקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ הַחוֹטֶא לִמְחֹל, מוֹחֵל בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם וּבְנֶפֶשׁ חֲפֵצָה; וְאַפִלּוּ הֵצֵר לוֹ הַרְבֵּה וְחָטָא לוֹ הַרְבֵּה, לֹא יִקֹּם וְיִטֹּר. וְזֶה הוּא דַּרְכָּם שֶׁלְּזֶרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלִבָּם הַנָּכוֹן. אֲבָל הַגּוֹיִים עַרְלֵי…
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 