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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Interwar Germany, Archaeological Forgeries and Biblical History, Upcoming Live Zoom and Book Updates
The Jewish history Lab begins a discussion of the Holocaust. Premieres today at 12 noon ET (New York Time) with live chat. Join us! Archaeological Forgeries and Biblical History Discussion of the difficulty of working with forged artifacts and the study of Biblical History. This video is available to YouTube Channel members at the Researcher…
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Jewish-Buddhist Conference in Sri Lanka
We got Zoombombed by Neo-Nazis in the middle of the conference, but I manage to deliver my presentation. Join us at 12 noon ET (New York time) for a premiere and live chat! 23 minutes, presentation is a little different than most of my lectures but still fun I think. I hope. Online Courses
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Exploring the Sub-basement of the Medieval Synagogue of Carpentras, France
Also: Origins of the Jewish People; Neo-Nazis Zoombomb the Sri Lankan Conference of Jews and Buddhists; Soviet Jews During the Interwar Period, and What’s with the Queen of Heaven Business? What is a Synagogue? 7. A Place of Community (Carpentras, France) Final installment in the What is a Synagogue? series. Amazing things in the basement…
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Jews, Ukrainians, Buddhists, Fortress Synagogues, Ancient Torah Amulets, and the Talmud on TikTok
Jewish History lectures, recent and forthcoming. It’s been pretty busy. Jews and Ukrainians in Revolutionary Times Ukrainians and Jews forged an unusual partnership during the brief period that followed the collapse of the Russian Empire, creating a Ministry of Jewish Affairs in a short-lived independent Ukrainian state. The experiment was doomed, however, by the Russian…
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How a 13-Year-Old Discovered the Oldest Copy of a Text from the Torah
Warning: this video deals with issues that some of my fellow students of Jewish history might find philosophically challenging.
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The Fall of the Russian Empire (Jewish History Lab)
Also: what’s with the Eternal Light in the Crypto-Jewish synagogue of Belmonte, Portugal?
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The History of the Holocaust (new online course, free and open to the public)
Please join this new online course on the History of the Holocaust, free and open to the public. YouTube lectures supplemented with self-testing quizzes and other materials. Why was Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto Persecuted by Fellow Jews?
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What is a Synagogue? A Place of Memory
A discussion of the ubiquitous dedicatory plaques in Synagogue history.
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What is a Synagogue? (3rd in a series). Also, The Premature Burial Crisis of 1772, and the Jewish Catacombs of Rome
What is a Synagogue? 3. A Place of Rejoicing (Dura Europos and YILC) Thank G-d, the hostages in Colleyville, Texas, have been released to safety. Jews all over the world breathe a sigh of relief, and express gratitude to the law enforcement officers for their protection. After the attacks on synagogues in Pittsburgh in 2018…
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Who was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson?
Tomorrow is the tenth of Shvat, an important day of the calendar of Chabad Hasidim. On this day in 1950 the 6th Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, passed away; one year later his son-in-law Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson took over the leadership of Lubavitch Hasidim. His role at the helm of Chabad was truly transformational,…
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Why were the Works of Maimonides burned in 1232?
Moses Maimonides was one of the greatest scholars of medieval Jewish history, yet his works were hardly without controversy in his day. This video (48m) surveys his life and work, with emphasis on the subsequent controversies and their resolution.
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The Jews of Hungary; Wooden Synagogue of Gwoździec; Aryeh at 29%!
Good morning fellow students of Jewish History! The Jews of Hungary (A Very Quick Survey!) The Remarkable Wooden Synagogue of Gwoździec, Poland Aryeh at 29%! Great Progress towards his Goal of Representing Team USA at the 2022 Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem!
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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What is Yud Shvat? This Week in Jewish History
Yud Shvat, the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Shvat, is an auspicious date for Chabad Hasidm, commemorating the passing of the 6th Rebbe in 1950 and the ascension to leadership of the 7th Rabbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, one year later on January 17, 1951.
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Jewish History in the Sixteenth Century (Essential Lectures in Jewish History)
The Jewish people experienced dramatic changes in the sixteenth century that reverberate to this day. This lecture discusses three aspects of this century in particular: 1) the demographic upheavals associated with the expulsions from Spain and Portugal as well as the Ashkenazic migration, 2) the impact of the disruptive technology of printing, and 3) the…
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Who Was Rabbi Shlomo Alkabets? Jewish Biography as History by Dr. Henry Abramson
Famed author of the Lecha Dodi hymn sung on the eve of the Jewish sabbath, Rabbi Alkabets was one of the founding members of the 16th-century school of Kabbalists based in Safed (Tsfat), Israel. Next week’s lecture: Gluckel of Hameln! Love Yiddish culture? Check out the new poster for the 2015 Kultur Festival in Boca…
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Who Were the Soncinos? Jews and the Gutenberg Revolution(s)
Early adopters of the newest disruptive technology, the Soncino family were the first Jewish printers in 15th century Europe. This lecture discusses some aspects of the early decades of Jewish printing, and meditates on the meaning of the current digital revolution for Jewish culture and society. Planning to attend Limmud Miami this year? I would…
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Who Was the Rashba? Jewish Biography as History by Dr. Henry Abramson
Rabbi Shlomo ben Adret, known to his student by the acronym of his name Rashba, was one of the most brilliant Talmudists of medieval Spain. Student of Nachmanides (Ramban) and teacher to the Ritva, his writings are studied to the present day. Here’s Dr. Abramson in print (because there are times and places where one…
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Thanks for not asking too many hard questions! Henry Abramson’s 2014 Lectures in Review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 31,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 11 sold-out performances for that many…
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The Septuagint (This Week in Jewish History) Dr. Henry Abramson
The Septuagint, an ancient translation of the Torah into Koine Greek, had a tremendous impact on the later Christian understanding of Jewish theology.
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Who Was Qasmunah? Jewish Biography as History
Preserved in a medieval anthology of women poets, Qasmunah’s unique voice stands out as one of the few surviving voices of the Jewish Golden Age in Spain. Recent Publications by Dr. Abramson (better in print than on video anyway):
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What is Chanukah, and How Do You Spell it? This Week in Jewish History
What, exactly is Chanukah (or is it Hanukah, or Hannukkah)? This short video describes the historical origins of the holiday, notes the ironic nature of its observance in the American context, and has a couple of jokes besides. Suggested Holiday Gifts (Maybe for people you don’t especially like). Many titles available…
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Who Was Ibn Ezra? Jewish Biography as History Dr. Henry Abramson
Hailed as one of the greatest commentators on the Torah, Abraham ibn Ezra lived a life of great scholarly accomplishment amidst great personal suffering.
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THIS YEAR IN JERUSALEM: Alexander Abramson Runs the Jerusalem Marathon for Crossroads
A MESSAGE FROM ALEXANDER ABRAMSON: Hey everybody, this year I have the good fortune to be in Israel and to be able to run the Jerusalem Marathon. The charity that I am going to be running for is called Crossroads and I believe it is an excellent cause. Their mission is to help teens who…
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
