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

  • “Give me Yavne and its Sages!” Lectures resume this week with a presentation on Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai

    “Give me Yavne and its Sages!” Lectures resume this week with a presentation on Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai

    The Jewish Biography as History series at the Young Israel of Bal Harbour continues this week with a presentation on Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, a major figure whose bold and heroic leadership rescued the Jewish people from the threat of national oblivion in the wake of the destruction of Jerusalem in the first century. Lectures…

  • Jews in the Medieval Economy (Essential Lectures in Jewish History)

    Jews in the Medieval Economy (Essential Lectures in Jewish History)

    An introductory lecture on the role of Jews in the medieval economy. Part of the Essential Lectures in Jewish History series.

  • Liked the Free Download of The Kabbalah of Forgiveness? How about writing a review?

    Liked the Free Download of The Kabbalah of Forgiveness? How about writing a review?

    I’m so glad that so many of you decided to download my latest book, “The Kabbalah of Forgiveness: The Thirteen Levels of Mercy in Rabbi Moshe Cordovero’s Date Palm of Devorah (Tomer Devorah).”  I’m also very grateful that many of you have found this work meaningful, especially in the rare moment of the season of…

  • The Rishonim (Essential Lectures in Jewish History)

    The Rishonim (Essential Lectures in Jewish History)

    This lecture serves as an introduction to the Rishonim, a body of Rabbinic scholars associated with the 9th through the 15th centuries of the common era. Part of the Essential Lectures in Jewish History series. Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

  • Fall 2014 Lectures in Jewish History at Young Israel

    Fall 2014 Lectures in Jewish History at Young Israel

      Wednesday Nights at 8:00 pm   October 22: Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai October 29: Salome November 5: Bar Kokhba November 12: Shimon bar Yochai November 19: Abaye’s Mother November 26: Eldad the Danite December 3: Aaron of Lincoln December 10: Amnon of Mayence December 17: Abraham ibn Ezra December 24: Qasmunah   All lectures…

  • The Chofetz Chaim (This Week in Jewish History)

    The Chofetz Chaim (This Week in Jewish History)

    Brief video highlighting the life and work of Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan (1838-1936), one of the most influential Rabbis of the 20th century.  Better known as the Chofetz Chaim (*one who desires life,” taken from Psalm 34).    

  • The Kabbalah of Forgiveness: Conclusion

    The Kabbalah of Forgiveness: Conclusion

    Conclusion “The Insulted King,” Illustration of Level 1 by Rebecca Odessa, Courtesy The Wisdom Daily Rabbi Cordovero’s Conclusion עַד כַּאן הִגִּיעַ שְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִדּוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶן יִהְיֶה הָאָדָם דּוֹמֶה אֶל קוֹנוֹ שֶׁהֵן מִדּוֹת שֶׁל רַחֲמִים עֶלְיוֹנוֹת וּסְגֻלָּתָן כי כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָאָדָם מִתְנַהֵג לְמַטָּה כָּךְ יִּזְכֶּה לִפְתֹּחַ לוֹ מִדָּה עֶלְיוֹנָה מִלְמַעְלָה מַמָּשׁ כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁיִּתְנַהֵג כָּךְ מַשְׁפִּיעַ מִלְמַעְלָה…

  • The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Level Thirteen: The Moment of Innocence

    The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Level Thirteen: The Moment of Innocence

    The Thirteenth Level: The Moment of Innocence “The Moment of Innocence,” illustration of Level 13 by Rebecca Odessa, Courtesy The Wisdom Daily The Thirteenth Level: The Moment of Innocence Translator’s Introduction The Thirteenth and final Level of mercy carries an absolute guarantee: one who masters this level can forgive anyone. The Thirteenth Level renders all…

  • The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Level Twelve: Remember Where They Came From

    The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Level Twelve: Remember Where They Came From

    The Twelfth Level: Remember Where They Came From “Family Tree (Remember Where They Came From),” illustration of Level 12 by Rebecca Odessa, Courtesy The Wisdom Daily The Twelfth Level: Remember Where They Came From Translator’s Introduction              The final element of the triad is Level Twelve.  In Level Ten we…

  • The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Level Eleven: Do More for Those Who Do More

    The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Level Eleven: Do More for Those Who Do More

    The Eleventh Level: Do More for Those Who Do More “Serve and Protect (Do More for Those Who Do More),” illustration of Level 11 by Rebecca Odessa, Courtesy The Wisdom Daily The Eleventh Level: Do More for Those Who Do More Translator’s Introduction  The second part of the triad of Levels Ten, Eleven and Twelve…

  • The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Level Ten: Do the Right Thing Anyway

    The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Level Ten: Do the Right Thing Anyway

    The Tenth Level: Do the Right Thing Anyway “The Hook (Do the Right Thing Anyway),” illustration of Level 10 by Rebecca Odessa, Courtesy The Wisdom Daily The Tenth Level: Do the Right Thing Anyway Translator’s Introduction  The Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Levels together comprise a triad of strategies for forgiving others, particularly people with whom…

  • The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Level Nine: Bury the Past

    The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Level Nine: Bury the Past

    The Ninth Level: Bury the Past “The Scapegoat (Bury the Past),” illustration of Level 9 by Rebecca Odessa, Courtesy The Wisdom Daily The Ninth Level: Bury the Past Translator’s Introduction  The Ninth Level of Mercy addresses a principal common to both Kabbalah and physics: energy never dissipates of its own accord; rather it is redirected…

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


  • The Rebbe’s Work in Amazon’s Top 100!

    The Rebbe’s Work in Amazon’s Top 100!

      Wow—I checked the site this morning, and discovered that the book on the Piaseczno Rebbe made it to the top 100 in its category on Amazon! Just behind classics by Elie Wiesel, Viktor Frankl, and Simon Wiesenthal! Really proud that people are finding this book meaningful. Thank you! Bit.ly\aishkodesh

  • Advance Copies Arrived!

    Advance Copies Arrived!

    Woo-hoo! Visit bit.ly/aishkodesh or click here for the 20% discount, or to RSVP for the book launch on the 30th (free and open to the community!)

  • Advance Copies Now Available (20% Discount)

    Advance Copies Now Available (20% Discount)

    I am delighted to inform you that advance copies of my new book are now available from Amazon (this is really advance–I won’t even get my own copy until next week!). I hope to have sufficient copies available for sale and signature at the Book Launch on October 30, but if you want to have…

  • Who Was Shmuel Ha-Nagid?

    Who Was Shmuel Ha-Nagid?

    Brief lecture on the life and work of Shmuel ha-Nagid, an important 11th century Spanish Jewish leader. Also: please join me for the launch of my new book, Torah from the Years of Wrath 1939-1943: The Historical Context of the Aish Kodesh (click here for more information). The launch is scheduled for Monday, October 30 at 7:00 pm…

  • Who Was Hasdai ibn Shaprut?

    Who Was Hasdai ibn Shaprut?

    Brief lecture on the life of Hasdai ibn Shaprut, an important 10th century Jewish leader in Andalusia, who set the foundations for the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry. Part of the Jews of Sepharad series, visit jewishhistorylectures.org for more information.  

  • Sephardic Jewry and the Islamic Conquest of 711

    Sephardic Jewry and the Islamic Conquest of 711

    Brief overview of the Jews in Spain during the two centuries following the Muslim conquest of 711.

  • Sephardic Jewry and the Muslim Conquest of 711

    Sephardic Jewry and the Muslim Conquest of 711

      September 18: SEPHARDIC JEWRY AND THE MUSLIM CONQUEST OF 711 Sponsored by Katherine and Vick Crespin, in gratitude to Hashem for protecting their family from harm during Hurricane Irma. Monday, September 18 @ 7pm at the Mighty Avenue J Campus of Touro College 1602 Avenue J Brooklyn NY 11230 Free and Open to the…

  • The Ancient Origins of Sephardic Jewry

    The Ancient Origins of Sephardic Jewry

    A brief overview of the earliest history of Sephardic Jewry, from earliest settlement through the Visigothic period to the Muslim conquest of 711. For the Fall Schedule of Lectures, please click here. To sponsor a lecture, please click here.

  • Day 20: Corrosive Habits

    Day 20: Corrosive Habits

    Day 20:Corrosive Habits Sunday, September 10, 2017 English Translation Follows י״ט אלול 4.4 וּמֵהֶן חֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים הָעוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָן אֵין חֶזְקָתוֹ לָשׁוּב מֵהֶן, לְפִי שְׁהֶן דְּבָרִים קַלִּים בְּעֵינֵי רֹב הָאָדָם, וְנִמְצָא חוֹטֶא וְהוּא יְדַמֶּה שְׁאֵין זֶה חֵטְא; וְאֵלּוּ הֶן: (א) הָאוֹכֵל מִסְּעוֹדָה שְׁאֵינָהּ מַסְפֶּקֶת לִבְעָלֶיהָ–שֶׁזֶּה אֲבַק גָּזֵל, וְהוּא מְדַמֶּה שֶׁלֹּא חָטָא וְיֹאמַר כְּלוּם אָכַלְתִּי אֵלָא בִּרְשׁוּתָן.…

  • Day 17-18-19: Impediments to Teshuvah

    Day 17-18-19: Impediments to Teshuvah

    Day 17-18-19: Impediments to Teshuvah English Translation Follows 4.1 עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה דְּבָרִים מְעַכְּבִין אֶת הַתְּשׁוּבָה.  אַרְבָּעָה מֵהֶן עָווֹן גָּדוֹל; וְהָעוֹשֶׂה אֶחָד מֵאַרְבַּעְתָּן–אֵין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַסְפִּיק בְּיָדוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה, לְפִי גֹּדֶל חֶטְאוֹ.  וְאֵלּוּ הֶן:  (א) הַמַּחְטִיא אֶת הָרַבִּים; וּבִכְלַל עָווֹן זֶה, הַמְּעַכֵּב אֶת הָרַבִּים מִלַּעֲשׂוֹת מִצְוָה.  (ב) וְהַמַּטֶּה חֲבֵרוֹ מִדֶּרֶךְ טוֹבָה לְדֶרֶךְ רָעָה, כְּגוֹן מַסִּית…

  • Day 16: Sticks and Stones

    Day 16: Sticks and Stones

    Day 16: Sticks and Stones Wednesday, September 6, 2017 English Translation Follows 3:14 כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵאַרְבָּעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים אֲנָשִׁים אֵלּוּ שֶׁמָּנִינוּ–אַף עַל פִּי שְׁהֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֵין לָהֶן חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.  וְיֵשׁ עֲבֵרוֹת קַלּוֹת מֵאֵלּוּ, וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁהָרָגִיל בָּהֶן אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, כְּדֵי לְהִתְרַחַק מֵהֶן וּלְהִזָּהֵר מֵהֶן. וְאֵלּוּ הֶן:  הַמְּכַנֶּה…

  • Day 15: More Cautionary Tales

    Day 15: More Cautionary Tales

    Day 15: More Cautionary Tales Tuesday, September 5, 2017 English Translation Follows 3.10 מַחְטִיאֵי הָרַבִּים:  אֶחָד שֶׁהִחְטִיא בְּדָבָר גָּדוֹל, כְּיָרָבְעָם וְצַדּוּק וּבַיְתּוֹס; וְאֶחָד שֶׁהִחְטִיא בְּדָבָר קַל, אַפִלּוּ לְבַטַּל מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה.  וְאֶחָד הָאוֹנֵס אֲחֵרִים עַד שֶׁיֶּחֶטְאוּ כִּמְנַשֶּׁה, שֶׁהָיָה הוֹרֵג יִשְׂרָאֵל עַד שֶׁיַּעַבְדוּ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה; אוֹ שֶׁהִטְעָה אֲחֵרִים וְהִדִּיחָם כְּיֵשׁוּעַ. Those who cause others to sin: it…

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


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.

Dropping on Sunday, September 22 at 10am ET. 70 minutes.


A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz

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

Public at 10 am ET. Duration: 72 minutes.
Channel Members: Duration 70 minutes.
Channel members: 44 minutes.

Shabbat in Silver Spring; The History of Sephardic Jewry; Jews, Wine, and Bordeaux; Napoleon’s 1808 Decree on Jewish Names

Stories of Personal Transformation for Elul


Napoleon’s 1808 Imperial Decree on Jewish Names


The History of Sephardic Jewry (Lecture, 75 minutes)

Jews, Wine, and Bordeaux (7 minutes)


A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

Up ↑