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
-
Day 8: Asking for Forgiveness
Day 8: Asking for Forgiveness 4 Elul Tuesday, August 29, 2017 (English translation follows) 2.8 הַוִּדּוּי שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ בּוֹ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל “אֲבָל חָטָאנוּ וגו’”, וְהוּא עִיקַר הַוִּדּוּי. עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁהִתְוַדָּה עֲלֵיהֶן בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים זֶה חוֹזֵר וּמִתְוַדֶּה עֲלֵיהֶן בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אַחֵר, אַף עַל פִּי שְׁהוּא עוֹמֵד בִּתְשׁוּבָתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “כִּי-פְשָׁעַי, אֲנִי אֵדָע; וְחַטָּאתִי נֶגְדִּי תָמִיד” (תהילים נא,ה). The customary…
-
New Ukrainian translation of my first book
It’s nice to see that something I wrote nearly twenty years ago still has some value! Just received a proof of the Ukrainian translation of A Prayer for the Government: Ukrainians and Jews in Revolutionary Times, 1917-1920, published by Harvard in 1999. The original went out of print a while ago (there are used copies on…
-
Day 7: Elul and Yom Kippur
Day 7 ו׳ אלול Monday, August 28, 2017 English Translation follows 2.6 אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַתְּשׁוּבָה וְהַצְּעָקָה יָפָה לְעוֹלָם, בַּעֲשֶׂרֶת הַיָּמִים שֶׁבֵּין רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הִיא יָפָה בְּיוֹתֵר, וּמִיָּד הִיא מִתְקַבֶּלֶת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “דִּרְשׁוּ ה’, בְּהִמָּצְאוֹ; קְרָאֻהוּ, בִּהְיוֹתוֹ קָרוֹב” (ישעיהו נה,ו). בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים, בַּיָּחִיד; אֲבָל בַּצִּבּוּר–כָּל זְמָן שֶׁעוֹשִׂין תְּשׁוּבָה וְצוֹעֲקִין בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם הֶן נַעֲנִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “כַּה’…
-
Day 6: The Paths to Teshuvah
Day 6 Sunday August 27, 2017 Elul 5, 5777 (English Translation follows) 2.4 מִדַּרְכֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה לִהְיוֹת הַשָּׁב צוֹעֵק תָּמִיד לִפְנֵי ה’, בִּבְכִי וּבְתַחֲנוּנִים, וְעוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה כְּפִי כּוֹחוֹ, וּמִתְרַחֵק הַרְבֵּה מִן הַדָּבָר שֶׁחָטָא בּוֹ. וּמְשַׁנֶּה שְׁמוֹ, כְּלוֹמַר שֶׁאֲנִי אַחֵר וְאֵינִי אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ שֶׁעָשָׂה אוֹתָן הַמַּעֲשִׂים; וּמְשַׁנֶּה מַעֲשָׂיו כֻּלָּן לְטוֹבָה, וּלְדֶרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה. וְגוֹלֶה מִמְּקוֹמוֹ–שֶׁגָּלוּת מְכַפֶּרֶת עָווֹן, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁגּוֹרֶמֶת…
-
Day 4-5: The Ba’al Teshuvah
Day 4-5 Friday, August 25-Shabbos August 26, 2017 Elul 4-5, 5777 (English Translation follows) 2.1 אֵיזוֹ הִיא תְּשׁוּבָה גְּמוּרָה–זֶה שֶׁבָּא לְיָדוֹ דָּבָר שֶׁעָבַר בּוֹ, וְאפְשָׁר בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת, וּפֵרַשׁ וְלֹא עָשָׂה מִפְּנֵי הַתְּשׁוּבָה, לֹא מִיִּרְאָה וְלֹא מִכִּשְׁלוֹן כּוֹחַ. כֵּיצַד: הֲרֵי שֶׁבָּא עַל אִשָּׁה בַּעֲבֵרָה, וּלְאַחַר זְמָן נִתְיַחַד עִמָּהּ וְהוּא עוֹמֵד בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ בָּהּ וּבְכוֹחַ גּוּפוֹ, וּבַמְּדִינָה שֶׁעָבַר בָּהּ, וּפֵרַשׁ…
-
Day 3: When is Atonement Granted?
Day 3 Thursday, August 24, 2017 ב׳ אלול תשע׳׳ז 1.3 בִּזְמָן שְׁאֵין בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ קַיָּם, וְאֵין לָנוּ מִזְבַּח כַּפָּרָה—אֵין שָׁם אֵלָא תְּשׁוּבָה. הַתְּשׁוּבָה מְכַפֶּרֶת עַל כָּל הָעֲבֵרוֹת: אַפִלּוּ רָשָׁע כָּל יָמָיו, וְעָשָׂה תְּשׁוּבָה בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה—אֵין מַזְכִּירִין לוֹ שֵׁם רִשְׁעוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “וְרִשְׁעַת הָרָשָׁע לֹא–יִכָּשֶׁל בָּהּ, בְּיוֹם שׁוּבוֹ מֵרִשְׁעוֹ” (יחזקאל לג,יב). וְעַצְמוֹ שֶׁלְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מְכַפֵּר לַשָּׁבִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “כִּי–בַיּוֹם…
-
Day 2: The Scapegoat
Day 2: The Scapegoat א׳ אלול ראש חודש אלול Wednesday, August 23, 2017 1.2 שָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ–לְפִי שְׁהוּא כַּפָּרָה לְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל, כּוֹהֵן גָּדוֹל מִתְוַדֶּה עָלָיו עַל לְשׁוֹן כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל: שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “וְהִתְוַדָּה עָלָיו אֶת-כָּל-עֲוֹנֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל” (ויקרא טז,כא). שָׂעִיר הַמִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ מְכַפֵּר עַל כָּל עֲבֵרוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, הַקַּלּוֹת וְהַחֲמוּרוֹת, בֵּין שֶׁעָבַר בְּזָדוֹן בֵּין שֶׁעָבַר בִּשְׁגָגָה, בֵּין שֶׁהוֹדַע לוֹ בֵּין…
-
Day 1: Confession.
Day 1 ל׳ אב ראש חודש אלול Tuesday, August 22, 2017 כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה, בֵּין עֲשֵׂה בֵּין לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה—אִם עָבַר אָדָם עַל אַחַת מֵהֶן, בֵּין בְּזָדוֹן בֵּין בִּשְׁגָגָה—כְּשֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה תְּשׁוּבָה וְיָשׁוּב מֵחֶטְאוֹ, חַיָּב לְהִתְוַדּוֹת לִפְנֵי הָא–ל בָּרוּךְ הוּא: שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “אִישׁ אוֹ–אִשָּׁה כִּי יַעֲשׂוּ מִכָּל–חַטֹּאת הָאָדָם למעול מעל בה‘ ואשמה הנפש ההיא וְהִתְוַדּוּ, אֶת–חַטָּאתָם אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ” (במדבר ה,ו–ז), זֶה…
-
August 2017 Update
Please click here for the latest news: The Jews of Sepharad lecture series, our new Global Maimonides Project, and other cool things.
-
The Liturgy of Anguish
Hopefully this event will be cancelled with the arrival of Moshiach, but just in case, I am really looking forward to hearing Rabbi Goldberg speak about the Kinot.
-
New Series! How to Speak Like a Mensch
This is a little different: my Jewish take on SPLN 101: Fundamentals of Speech, our required undergraduate course at the mighty Avenue J campus of Touro College. Let me know what you think!
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
-
Haunting Images by Rebecca Odessa now On Kabbalah of Forgiveness Website
I am grateful to Rebecca Odessa, an exceptionally talented artist, who recently created thirteen startling and powerful illustrations of the Thirteen Levels of Mercy as described in Rabbi Moshe Cordovero’s Date Palm of Devorah. I am so pleased that my translation and commentary, entitled The Kabbalah of Forgiveness, helped her clarify her vision and translate it into these…
-
Rebecca Odessa on the Kabbalah of Forgiveness
Okay, if you enjoyed my translation and commentary of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero’s Tomer Devorah, you have got to check out Rebecca Odessa’s amazing 13-part series cataloging the Thirteen Levels of Mercy! Truly phenomenal. http://thewisdomdaily.com/kabbalah-forgiveness-artistic-journey/
-
What are you reading this Rosh Hashanah?
Maybe this you’ll like? Maimonides on Teshuvah: The Ways of Repentance Click here for the first chapter and some cool videos on the book. Here’s another book that’s super-appropriate for the High Holidays. Excellent personal reading, and if someone is really angry with you, makes a great gift! (I have given it to several of…
-
The Fall 2016 Schedule of Lectures is Complete!
Hello fellow students of Jewish history! I’m very proud to announce the Fall 2016 schedule of lectures in Jewish history, featuring the Jewish History @ J series at the Mighty Avenue J campus of Touro College! Please visit this link for the full calendar, with photos and descriptions: https://jewishhistorylectures.org/upcoming-public-lectures/ Last year, without even trying, we received…
-
Torah from the Years of Wrath, 1939-1943 (Draft 9 14 2016)
Fellow Scholars and Students of History! I’m busy working on my next book, and I’m really enjoying the writing process. I’ve been working on this research for over a decade, even wrote a 500-page manuscript before deciding to start over with an entirely new approach. This book is on the Holocaust writings of Rabbi Kalonymus…
-
Maimonides on Teshuvah: Chapter 4
MAIMONIDES ON TESHUVAH THE WAYS OF REPENTANCE Available now Paperback, 273 pages: $18 Ebook: $9
-
Interview on the Baal Teshuvah Show
Here’s an interview I gave on the Baal Teshuvah Show with Pesach Charney. I like what they did with the green screen–image of the Toronto skyline!
-
New Course: History of Antisemitism
A difficult course to teach, but a very important aspect of Jewish history. Tuesday nights on the mighty Avenue J campus, Fall 2016.
-
Maimonides on Teshuvah: Chapter Three
MAIMONIDES ON TESHUVAH THE WAYS OF REPENTANCE Available now Paperback, 273 pages: $18 Elul 5776 Special: $9 with discount code KCFLXGXU Ebook: $9 Elul 5776 Special: Free (!) with discount code CN84P
-
Thrilled to be Keynote Speaker at Jewish Rockville Outreach Center!
Very pleased to be invited to speak about Maimonides at the Tenth Anniversary Gala Dinner of the Jewish Rockville Outreach Center! If you are in Rockville, MD on September 25, would love to see you there! For more information please visit http://jewishroc.org/events/10thAnnual/.
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 