The Week Ahead in Jewish History
OPRAH SPONSORS JEWISH HISTORY LECTURE!
OPRAH SPONSORS JEWISH HISTORY LECTURE!
Well, almost, not exactly, sort of actually even better–Dr. Gary Neuman and his wife Michal have sponsored the lecture on Elie Wiesel, scheduled for December 19. As I’m sure you are aware, Dr. Neuman is a world-renowned psychologist who has appeared on Oprah many times, so that’s almost like Oprah sponsoring by extension, right?
The Neumans are sponsoring the December 19 lecture on Elie Wiesel in honor of my “tireless efforts to educate our community” (nice thing to say, really appreciated it). We have one lecture left for sponsorship this Fall: The Chazon Ish on December 12. Sponsorships for Spring lectures are also welcome, but I haven’t released the schedule yet. Join our project! You’ll be in really excellent company.
Dr. Neuman is especially well-known for his pioneering work on relationships, which he has built into the entire Neuman Method. Here’s a link to one of his Oprah appearances.
Thank you Dr. Gary and Michal Neuman! And sort of Oprah too!
https://www.crowdrise.com/friends-of-jewish-history/fundraiser/avenuej
Who Was Janusz Korczak?
I really got a lot out of researching Korczak’s life and work. Personal recommendation!
Heroic pioneer of modern educational theory, Henryk Goldszmit (who wrote under the pen name Janusz Korzcak) ran an orphanage in the beleaguered Warsaw Ghetto, ultimately accompanying his youthful charges to the gas chambers of Treblinka.
Part of the Jewish History @ J series. Free and open to the community as a public service of the Mighty Avenue J Campus of Touro College.
Rabbi Moshe Hayim Luzzatto and the Sabbatean Legacy
Unfortunately, my usual recording setup failed the night I gave this lecture last week, but b”H we have a backup from the Young Israel’s livestream account! Enjoy in good health.
Janusz Korczak: Monday Night!
From Betty Jean Lifton’s biography, citing Korczak’s memoirs of his years working in the Jewish Orphanage of Warsaw (How to Love a Child):
An eight-year old boy woke with a toothache. Grabbing Korczak’s hand, he spilled out his anguish: “…then my mother died. Then I was sent to my grandmother, but she also died. Then I was taken to my aunt’s but she wasn’t home. It was cold. My uncle took me in. Very poor. I was hungry. His children were sick. He put me in the storage room so I wouldn’t catch anything. My teeth always hurt at night. Then a woman took me for a short time, but she walked me to a square and left me. It was dark. I was afraid. Boys started to push me. The a policeman took me to the station. Everyone was Poles. They sent me to my aunt. She shouted at me, and made me swear not to tell you everything that’s happened to me. Can I stay here? I can? Aren’t you cross with me for throwing the ball on the grass? I didn’t know it was forbidden.”
“He fell asleep,” Korczak noted. “It was strange, but for a brief moment I definitely saw an aura of light around his tired eight-year old head. I had seen such a phenomenon only once before.” And he added: “Even as I write this, I know that no one will understand. It is impossible unless one has been in large orphanage dormitory in the still of the night.”
******
Last chance to sponsor this lecture: Please visit https://www.crowdrise.com/friends-of-jewish-history/fundraiser/avenuej to show your support.
Janusz Korczak, Heroic Defender of Children
“Korczak felt that within each child there burned a moral spark that could vanquish the darkness at the core of human nature.” (Betty Jean Lifton)
https://www.crowdrise.com/friends-of-jewish-history/fundraiser/avenuej
So is #givingtuesday a thing, or what?
If so, here’s two great causes to add to your list.
Jewish History @ Avenue J Scholarship Fund goes directly to support undergraduate students at the Mighty Avenue J campus of Touro College.
Friends of Jewish History supports the public Jewish history lecture series.
Nu? Make your Bubbie proud, do something good.
Thanks!
(Can’t see the links? Try these:)
https://www.crowdrise.com/dashboard/avenuej/avenuejawesomestudentscholarshipfund
https://www.crowdrise.com/dashboard/avenuej/friends-of-jewish-history
Franz Kafka and the Ramchal: The Week Ahead in Jewish History
Here’s an experimental introductory video–let me know what you think!
https://www.crowdrise.com/friends-of-jewish-history/fundraiser/avenuej
Here’s Your Chance to Be a Mentsch!
Friends and colleagues!
One of our core values is that high-quality, academic information on Jewish history should be FREE. We’re very proud of our altruistic approach, and we don’t want to change. At the same time, we have a Jewish History student intern to support, a shoestring advertising budget to spread the word, and of course hours invested in researching, delivering, filming and editing the videos for the world at large.
Help us out by joining the Friends of Jewish History! Sponsor a lecture for $250 or partially sponsor for whatever makes sense for your budget–we will include a message of thanks in the lecture. You can then forward the link to all your former friends to show them what a mentsch you are!
P.S. The hero picture above is of me (left) and the great Jewish historian Rabbi Berel Wein. I didn’t ask him if I could shamelessly use his photo to promote Jewish history. I figured he would approve.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Henry Abramson 