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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Ethical Literature (Mussar) in Jewish History: A Personal Reading List
Good morning fellow students of Jewish history! Today is the Rosh Hodesh Elul, the beginning of the month of Elul, initiating the annual season of introspection leading up to the High Holidays. I’ve prepared this brief video that surveys some of the most important works of the literary tradition that make up the loosely-organized Mussar…
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My lecture on the History of Antisemitism, censored by YouTube, is now back online. Here’s the takeaways.
Join me at 12 noon (ET) for a live chat on this topic. Here’s the link to the controversial video (my part starts around 41:00).
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My Father and Maimonides: A Personal Message
My father passed away on the 11th of Av, seven years ago. I miss him.
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Sectarian Infighting and the Fall of Jerusalem: Today at 1pm, 7pm ET
1pm on YouTube (pre-recorded with live chat), 7pm live presentation at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst.
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Sectarian Infighting and the Fall of Jerusalem: Tisha B’Av lecture for Sunday
Good morning fellow students of Jewish history. In a few hours we will begin Shabbat Hazon, marking the last transition to Tisha B’Av, the most tragic day in the Jewish calendar. As in previous years, I hope to lecture on the history of the Roman-Jewish war that resulted in the destruction of the Temple. This…
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Regarding my recently censored video on the history of antisemitism
I wasn’t surprised that YouTube censored my recent video as “Hate Speech.” It’s happened before.
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Antisemitism: Mutations of the Eternal Virus (Recording of Webinar)
Recording of today’s webinar; the introduction begins at 36:00 and the presentation begins at 42:00. Difficult topic.
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Banning critical race theory will gut the teaching of Jewish history
No responsible teacher wants to teach students to “hate each other” or “hate America.” But we all participate in a sacred covenant with our students: They expect us to tell them the truth. Please click here to read this article on JTA.
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Antisemitism: Mutations of the Eternal Virus (Sunday, 1pm ET)
Please join me on Sunday, July 11 for a panel discussion on the history of antisemitism, appropriate for the Nine Days. Discussants include Professor Adam Mendelsohn, director of the Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies & Research and Associate Professor of History at the University of Cape Town, Professor Karen Milner, Gauteng Chair of the SA Jewish Board of…
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The Insults of Exile: Historical Reflections for the Three Weeks
A brief sampling of some of the humiliations of exile that the Jewish people endured over their millennial exile, shocking yet overshadowed by the far greater tragedies of violent massacres. Lecture delivered on the 17th of Tammuz, on Zoom and live at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. Premiere with live chat scheduled for Sunday, July…
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Thirty-Six righteous Students now studying the history of Ashkenaz!
Hello students of Jewish history! I am very pleased to let you know that we now have a very auspicious number of students in this new experimental online course, A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz. I know some of them from earlier interactions on YouTube and in selected classes, and it promises to be a lively…
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A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz: New Online Course!
Hello fellow students of Jewish history! Here’s a new experimental online course. Please click here for a look at what’s going on: A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz.
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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Truth Will Spring from the Earth: Gutenberg, the Internet, and the New Uncertainty Principle
Conference theme: Sustainability, Resilience, and the Torah.
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Free copy of The Sea of Talmud, and Warm Thanks to Theodore Sternberg
The Internet is a strange and often wonderful place. Here’s a personal story from last week. When I first wrote The Sea of Talmud: A Brief and Personal Introduction seven years ago, Theodore Sternberg wrote one of the sharpest Amazon reviews of the first edition: “Too much about Henry Abramson, not enough about the Talmud.”…
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Free Ebook: The Sea of Talmud
Hello fellow students of Jewish history! I’m pleased to announce that the second edition of The Sea of Talmud: A Brief and Personal Introduction is now available in a second, revised edition, in commemoration of the upcoming Siyum ha-Shas! From Sunday December 8 through Thursday December 12 the Kindle ebook edition will be available for…
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Astonishing Document from Bergen-Belsen Bet Din up for Auction
I got chills reading pages from this record book of Bet Din decisions from Bergen Belsen. Read this great piece of journalism by Molly Boigon at The Forward. Proud to have been asked for some background information.
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Authenticity and Authority in the Internet Era
Postmodernism and the Talmud in an era of unlimited connectivity.
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David Shentow Annual Memorial Holocaust Lecture Tonight
Torah from the Years of Wrath: The Warsaw Ghetto Writings of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalmish Shapira
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Shabbaton at Aish Thornhill, Canada
Stories You Never Learned in Yeshivah: Three Surprising Lectures in Talmudic History. Please come by and say hello!
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Meet the Exceptional Women who Made the Talmud Possible
A brief overview of three categories of exceptional women who made the Talmud possible: supporters, enablers, and even teachers. Lecture delivered at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst on November 20, 2019.
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Meet the Women who Made the Talmud Possible
Join us for a brief study of the lives and work of three very different women and their relationship to Talmud study.
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Upcoming Lectures in Toronto!
Hello friends and colleagues in Toronto! I am delighted to be coming back to visit the old stomping grounds this coming Friday, eh? I hope some of you will be able to join me for a Shabbaton at the Aish Thornhill Community Shul, followed by the David Shemtow Memorial Holocaust Lecture on Sunday night. Please…
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
