Really looking forward seeing my friends at YILC!

Lectures in Jewish History and Thought. No hard questions, please.




A brief overview of infectious disease in Jewish history from ancient times to the present COVID-19 era, and then some thoughts on how to prepare for the High Holidays based on Maimonides’ work on repentance. Join me today for a live chat and premiere of this lecture at 3PM EDT today.

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…
New class on Maimonides’ life, work and a mini-class on his Ways of Teshuvah for the month of Elul. Enjoy in good health! This video discusses the 8th edition of Maimonides on Teshuvah, with a commentary written during the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.

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…

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…

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…

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…


The Life of the original Nazi Hunter The Expulsion of the Jews from Medieval Ashkenaz The Roman-Jewish Wars, 66-135 CE Join me at the National Jewish Retreat! Really pleased to be joining a tremendous roster of speakers in Palm Springs this month for the National Jewish Retreat! Please click here for more information.

Surprisingly insightful look at the nature of Jewish humor At first I was concerned that this was released during the 9 Days, but it actually has a lot of relevance to this sad time of the year. Very proud–as always–to have had a small role in putting this together with the remarkable team at Unpacked.…

A Fascinating and Influential Movement in Medieval Ashkenaz Unpacked on a Morally Challenging Topic in American History

Latest Episode of the Jewish History Lab Join me this Shabbos in Manhattan at the extremely cool Altneu Synagogue! I just thought this was so fascinating. Season 2 Finale: Sara Schenirer! Click here to listen to Yael and Schwab discuss the life and work of this remarkable woman!

Who is a Jew? An Israelite? A Hebrew? Two New Podcasts from Yael and Schwab The Expulsion of Ashkenazi Jews and the Origins of Polish Jewry

Two 16th Century Protestant Thinkers on How to Deal with Jews The Amazing Talmud of the Land of Israel!

Click here for Yael and Schwab’s discussion of the heroic, poetic Hannah Szenes. New Episodes in the Jewish History Lab series

Always amazed with the great team at Unpacked Honored to have made a small contribution to this sophisticated yet humorous video. This is a really bizarre story: the tragic controversy over cantorial style in Amsterdam, 1709 New Videos in the Birth of Ashkenaz Series

Really impressed with the amazing team at Unpacked! Very proud to have a small share in putting this video together. Three New Videos on Medieval Ashkenaz View the whole playlist here: Wuhsha the Broker: An Amazing Story from the Cairo Geniza Yael and Schwab ar the ULTIMATE Jewish history Nerds! Very thrilled that the second…

Ever wonder why Havdalah Boxes look like little towers? Who was Carl Lutz? Another complex and powerful video from the team at Unpacked Meet this 20th c. Italian Villager who Invented Judaism from scratch The story of Danuto Manduzio and the Jews of San Nicandro, Italy.

While I was in Budapest with the Ashkenazium, two really amazing episodes of the Jewish History Nerds podcast dropped. Fantastic experience working with Yael, Schwab and Rivky at Jewish History Nerds! Click here for the latest episodes: Sara Copia Sullam and Johannes Eisenmenger, or wherever you get your free podcasts. Great Conversation with Jeff Cohen…

Join Dr. Daniel Reiser, Dr. Michael Chighel and myself for a discussion of the life and works of the holy Rabbi Kalonymus Kalmish Shapiro. The schedule of presentations and discussions is available here. Admission is free, but you have to be in Budapest: Duna utca 1, 18:00. For those of you who live elsewhere, we…