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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Meaningful People Interview; Niccolo Matas Grave Marker Confirmed in Florence, Italy
Had a great time speaking with Nachi and Momo of Meaningful People podcast. The conversation was a little personal, a little irreverent, but even a little deep. Hope I didn’t overshare! Here’s the link: https://www.meaningfulpeoplepodcast.com/podcast/episode/3a28c3d3/dr-henry-abramson-or-uncovering-the-gems-of-our-past Nicolo Matas grave marker confirmed Last week I discussed the remarkable story of the Jewish architect Nicolo Matas (video below),…
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Did a Jewish Architect Really Put a Star of David on this Important Church in Florence, Italy?
Amazing but true: Niccolò Matas and the Santa Croce Basilica
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How Did Jewish Tombstones end up in an Italian Monument?; Jews and Italian Unification; Draft Chapter 10: The Roman-Jewish Wars now online
Read and Comment on this Draft Chapter of Volume One of The Jewish People: A History Jews and the Risorgimento New Piece in Aish.com Wishing all fellow students of Jewish History a G’mar ve-Hatimah Tovah; a successful completion to the end of the penitential season! May you and all your loved ones be blessed with…
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Jewish Medical Students at the University of Padua
A tolerant admissions policy led to an explosion of Jewish students at this prestigious 13th century school. Premieres at 12 Noon ET with Live Chat Wishing all students of Jewish history and their loved ones a sweet new year! Members-only Videos Now Available in Online Course The following three videos tend to attract a lot…
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Jesus in Jewish Historical Context
This topic, so important for the experience of Jews in European history, tends to attract a lot of unwanted attention. For now I prefer to offer them to Channel Members only, part of The Jewish Encounter with Rome series. I hope you find them useful.
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What happened to the Sephardic Grave Markers in Ferrara, Italy?; The Rabbi Who Ended a 1300-year Humiliation; Sectarianism in 1st Century Judea
Sadducees, Pharisees, and more. What Happened to the Sephardic Tombstones of Ferrara, Italy? Recommended Reading for Rosh Hashanah
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The Birth of Christianity in its Early Judean Context; King Herod the Idumean
King Herod Comes to Power Part One of The Jewish Encounter with Rome series Chapter 9: The Birth of Christianity Students registered for the Biblical Jewish history course: please note that the draft text of Chapter 8 (Judea under Rome) is now complete and ready for your comments. The introduction to Chapter 9: The Birth…
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DNA confirms Ashkenazic identity of bodies at bottom of 12th c. well; The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara; The Birth of Christianity; Lectures resume this week
The Jewish Encounter with Rome Lectures resume Wednesday, September 7 at 7:30 pm ET, at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. Free and open to the community. The live Zoom webcast will be available to YILC members and members of my YouTube Channel at the Colleague level (sorry, some of material is a little too challenging…
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The Jewish Encounter with Rome; A 15th c. Madonna and the Jews of Mantua, Italy
“The Defeat of the Temerity of the Jews” A closer look at a remarkable painting that depicts the persecution of a specific Jewish family in post-Expulsion Italy. New Lecture Series Begins September 7 Chapter 8: Judaea Under Roman Rule updated
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My Father and Maimonides: A Personal Message for Rosh Hodesh Elul
My father believed in the power of personal transformation. I wrote this book in his memory. My Father: A Tribute My father, Jack David Abramson of blessed memory, was a man of compassion and integrity. Born in 1928 to Jewish immigrants from Lithuania, he lived his entire life in the small milling community of Ansonville,…
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Jewish Self-Censorship; Texts for Rosh Hodesh Elul; Fall Semester of Lectures begin September 7
New Course: The Jewish Encounter with Rome Begins Wednesday, September 7, with live in-person audience at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst and via Zoom. Details to follow. Join us! Jewish Self-Censorship in early Printing Recommended Reading for Rosh Hodesh Elul
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The Strange Economy of the Venice Ghetto; The Destruction of the Temple in History and the Talmud; Maimonides on Teshuvah (10th ed.)
Moneylending, Used Clothing, et cetera: The Strange Economy of the Venice Ghetto Tisha B’Av at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst with Rabbi Ya’akov Trump and Rabbi Ashi Schreier Maimonides on Teshuvah: 10th Edition Now Available, order in time for Elul Bonus video: my son Boaz, a marine science student at Stonybrook University, documents his summer research…
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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Aryeh Abramson competing for Team USA at the 2022 Maccabiah Games in Israel!
Really proud of my son Aryeh for his upcoming competition at the 2022 Maccabiah games in Shotokan Karate. Please consider support his mission by clicking here: https://secure2.convio.net/musa/site/TR;jsessionid=00000000.app208a?px=1099195&fr_id=1160&pg=personal&NONCE_TOKEN=E0AB7F850711AC3D5904F77E36715460 Well done Aryeh! Thank you all!
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Origins of Ashkenazi Jewry; Jews and D-Day
The first in a series of twelve lectures delivered at The Ashkenazium of Budapest. Join us at 11:00 am (New York time) for a premiere and live chat. The last four lectures will be delivered on Monday and Tuesday: sign up for free registration at http://www.bit.ly/ASHKENAZ2022. The Jews and D-Day Did you know that some…
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Ukrainians, Jews, and the 17th century Cossack Uprising
Join me for a discussion of the economic, social, political and religious background of the violent Khmel’nyts’kyi Uprising of 1648-49. Trigger warning: some cherished, yet incorrect, stereotypes may be challenged. Video with live chat.
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Register (free) for Twelve Live Lectures on the Jews of Ashkenaz
With gratitude to The Ashkenazium and its Dean, Dr. Michael Chighel, I am pleased to offer twelve lectures on the history of Jews in Ashkenaz to the global audience. Please visit http://www.bit.ly/ASHKENAZ2022 to register for free! Can’t make the live classes? No problem. Sign up for the course I put together to prepare my Hungarian…
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The Ashkenazium Lectures (Free Registration); Historically Significant Ukrainian Jews; New Material in Biblical Jewish History Course
Twelve Lectures on the Jews of Ashkenaz (Free Registration) With gratitude to Dean Michael Chighel of The Ashkenazium of Budapest, my new series of lectures on the history of the Jews of Ashkenaz will be open to the global community of students of Jewish history via webinar. Please visit http://www.bit.ly/ASHKENAZ2022 for details and registration. Lectures…
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Volodomyr Zelensky: His Presidency in the Context of Ukrainian-Jewish History
A brief discussion of the election of Volodomyr Zelensky in the larger context of Ukrainian-Jewish history. Recorded on March 4, 2022 with hope for a speedy return to peace for Ukraine and its people.
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The Elusive Yahrzeit of Henry Ravvin: A Personal Commemoration
My grandfather died, suddenly, on the rarest date of the year: March 3, 1957, which coincides with today, the 30th of Adar Rishon. It’s a leap year date that only appears seven times in the nineteen-year cycle of the Hebrew calendar. Following our Lithuanian Jewish custom, we observe his death anniversary on the 1st of…
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Jewish History in Ukrainian Maps; WWII Ghettos; When was the Book of Esther written?; Judaism Demystified
I recorded this video just hours before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, motivated by Mr. Putin’s bizarre speech denying the historical legacy of the Ukrainian people.
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Jewish History in Ukrainian Maps
This brief video provides a survey of the long Jewish presence in the region, framed in the context of maps: political, ethnolinguistic, military and social.
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Welcome 100th Student in the Online Holocaust Class
Very pleased to welcome the 100th student to my new online class on the Holocaust, free and open to the community. When Was the Book of Esther Written? New video available to students registered for the Biblical Jewish History course, and YouTube channel members at the Researcher and Colleague level.
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Discussing Digital Torah Learning with Rabbi Moshe Schwed of All Daf
Join us today at 11:00 am ET (New York Time) for a discussion of the implications of Digital Learning for Torah and Torah-adjacent study. Rabbi Schwed is the visionary director of multiple initiatives for the Orthodox Union, including the revolutionary All Daf app, also All Mishnah and All Parsha. Click here to RSVP for the…
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
Remarks at Lander College for Men
Maimonides and the Controversy over His Work
Jews under the Visigoths II; The Spanish Golden Age
Public at 10am ET (44 minutes)
Online Courses in Jewish History



New Lecture Series: The Sweep of Sephardic History; Faith in Times of Crisis: Commemorating the Tragedy of October 7
New Lecture Series: The History of Sephardic Jewry


