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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Jews and Crypto-Jews in Spain and Portugal (premiers at 12 noon ET)
Six brief videos chronicling the 2021 journey with Kosher Riverboat Cruises up the Douro River to Salamanca, Spain and back through Portugal. A wonderful fantastic look at the rich history of Jews in the Iberian Peninsula, from the earliest settlement in Roman colonies (possibly earlier!) through the Visigoths, then the brief but brilliant Golden Age…
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The Kabbalists of Safed (12 Noon ET)
A brief discussion of the sudden rise of Kabbalistic study in 16th century Safed (Tsfat, Tsfas).
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The Aharonim (12:30 pm ET)
Today at 12:30 pm ET: a brief discussion of the stage of Jewish religious/literary activity that began in the 16th century, collectively known as the period of the Aharonim (the latter ones, distinguishing them from the Rishonim, or earlier ones).
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Origins of the Jews of Poland and Eastern Europe (1pm ET)
Good morning fellow students of Jewish history! Join me at 1pm today for a brief discussion of the medieval origins of the once large Jewish population of Poland and Eastern Europe.
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The Sephardic Diaspora (today at 12 Noon ET)
Please join us for a brief (24m) discussion of the first century of the Sephardic diaspora. Wishing everyone a blessed New Year!
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Mussar in Jewish History: Crisis and Resurgence?
Is it possible that the classic works of the Jewish ethical tradition are literary reactions to personal crises? Can we approach the great works of Maimonides, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto and others as strong responses to devastating reversals in their personal lives? Please join me at 12pm (ET, New York Time) for…
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Origins of the Jews of India
GM–Join me today at 12 noon ET (New York Time) for a premiere and live chat on the origins of the Jews of India.
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Interview in Der Veker
I was delighted to participate in this in-depth, far-reaching conversation with the talented and insightful editor of @DerVeker, who insisted on asking a lot of hard questions. How’s your Yiddish?
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Origins of the Jews of China
This is an absolutely fascinating topic, I really enjoyed the research! Please join me for a live chat and video of Jewish Migration Patterns, followed by a longer look at the remarkable history of the Jews of China. Starting at 1pm ET (New York Time).
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The History of Jewish-Muslim Relations in the Medieval Period: A Discussion with Paul Williams of Blogging Theology
I enjoyed this conversation. Hope you find it meaningful as well!
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Jews in the Byzantine Empire, Elul in Jewish History
Good morning fellow students of Jewish History! In a few hours we’ll premiere a video on a topic that receives very little attention in Jewish history: the experience of Jews in the Byzantine Empire. Just a brief video for now (12m), but I hope to expand it in the print version. Join me for a…
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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Public Lectures in Jewish History Resume Wednesday Night
I am really enthusiastic about the Spring 2020 series of lectures in Jewish history, beginning Wednesday evening at 7:30 prompt at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. Our plan is to cover the entire, amazing story of the Jewish people from the earliest time to the present day in twelve lectures (click here for calendar and topics).…
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I SURVIVED JEWISH HISTORY Schedule of Spring 2020 Lectures
Good morning students of Jewish History! I’m really excited about the I SURVIVED JEWISH HISTORY Spring Semester of Jewish History Lectures beginning later this month. Please check the flyer for the live lectures with our New York audience (please join us if you’re in town!). Here’s a tentative syllabus of the online dates and times…
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I Survived Jewish History
Here’s the trailer for the Spring series of lectures in Jewish History @ YILC. There’s a free T-shirt, too.
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Learning Daf Yomi? Get a Great Study Partner
Thanks to Sandy Eller of Mishpacha Magazine for writing this piece about one of my best chevrusas ever, Rabbi Nati Gamedze. Here’s the link to the full piece, pasted in below. BETTER TOGETHER: LEARNING WITH THE SWAZI PRINCE By Sandy Eller | DECEMBER 25, 2019 It was the unlikeliest of pairings: a Swazi prince and a Toronto…
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Three Essential Skills to Learn the Entire Talmud. Yeah.
By now your social media feed (not to mention your news feed) should be filled with the phenomenal Siyum HaShas, the monumental gathering of Jews in celebration of the global study of the Babylonian Talmud. I was privileged to be among nearly 100,000 Jews gathered in Met Life stadium yesterday, along with tens of thousands…
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Begin the Daf Together
Friends, if the second best thing is to go to the Siyum Ha-Shas tomorrow morning, certainly the very best thing is to start Daf Yomi on Sunday. Let’s do it together at YILC! And for those of you who live too far away to enjoy the breakfast: be sure to download the free All Daf…
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“The Grinch Who Stole Chanukah”
Feedback on this lecture was very positive, but one person suggested I was “the Grinch who stole Chanukah.” Kind of an ironically Hellenistic comment. So viewer beware: this is a more historical treatment of the social, economic, and political roots of the Maccabean revolt. Happy Hannukah!
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Tonight: Beyond dreidels. A real look at the history of the Maccabean Revolt
Tonight at YILC: a deeper discussion of the Maccabean Revolt, from Antiochus’ inferiority complex to fissures between Jewish factions under Yehudah Maccabee’s role. Surprisingly (or not surprisingly) relevant issues for our own times. What else are you doing tonight? Join us at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst at 7:30 for a timely talk on Chanukah.…
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Confessions of a Poor Talmud Student
Always distracted but historical minutiae, I don’t think I was ever going to be a great Talmud student. Now, with the introduction of the amazing All Daf app (slated for launch on December 22), there’s finally a place for my approach to Talmud! Please enjoy this brief video from the recent Torah NY conference at…
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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
Jewish Resilience After October 7; American Jews, Post-Honeymoon; The Jews of Al-Andalus
Three Strategies
Jews under the Visigoths II; The Spanish Golden Age
Public at 10am ET (44 minutes)
Online Courses in Jewish History
Jewish Life in Visigothic Spain; Commemorating October 7
This is one of the most bizarre periods of Jewish history, and that’s saying a lot.
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
