Essential Lectures in Jewish History

Welcome!

The Essential Lectures in Jewish History series is designed to be short and to the point, serving as basic introductions to larger themes in Jewish history that are explored in the Jewish Biographies series.  Enjoy in good health!

1.“They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat.”
2. “Two Jews, three opinions:” Jews and Judaism in the Year Zero
3. The Fox in the Ruins: The Roman-Jewish Wars
4. Judaism and the Origins of Christianity
5. The Mishnah: Creating a Portable Judaism
6. Jewish Communal Structure: The Kehilla
7. The Talmud
8. Jews in the Early Muslim Period
9. The Jewish Kingdom of Khazaria
10. The Golden Age of Spanish Jewry
11. The Rishonim
12. Jews in the Medieval Economy
13. The Eastern European Center
14. Medieval Antisemitism
15. Introduction to Modern Jewish History
16. Incipient Revival and Divergence: The Sixteenth Century
17. The Haskalah
18. Origins of Modern Jewish Humor
19. Mass Jewish Politics in the Modern Era
20. Modern Antisemitism
21. Women in Jewish History
22. The Holocaust
23. The Borders of the State of Israel

24. American Jewish History

25. Soviet Jewish History

23 Comments

  1. Pingback: Course Trailer for HIS 155: History of the Jewish People I « Henry Abramson, PhD
  2. Pingback: “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat.” (HIS 155 Lecture 1.1) « Henry Abramson, PhD
  3. Pingback: Two Jews, Three Opinions: Jews and Judaism in the Year Zero (HIS 155 Lecture 1.2) « Henry Abramson, PhD
  4. Pingback: Mass Jewish Politics in the Modern Era (Essential Lectures in Jewish History) « Henry Abramson, PhD
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  6. Pingback: The Eastern European Center (Essential Lectures in Jewish History) « Henry Abramson, PhD
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  8. Pingback: Women in Jewish History (Essential Lectures in Jewish History) by Dr. Henry Abramson « Henry Abramson, PhD
  9. Stephen Lamb says:
    October 3, 2014 at 12:46 am

    Even as a gentile I find some of these lectures amazing. As a history teacher I’m just astounded by the fluency you have discussing so many eras. Your students are very lucky to have a resource like you. Do keep up the good work with the videos – I love the biographical ones.

    Reply
    1. Henry Abramson says:
      October 3, 2014 at 5:52 am

      Thank you for the very kind words, Mr. Lamb! More biographical lectures planned for this semester. HMA

      Reply
  10. chalom says:
    November 12, 2015 at 7:31 pm

    Hi
    I just want to give a suggestion
    I see That part of you dévotion to the comunauty is by uploading your class on te web
    It would be a good idea to pût all of you lectures into a google drive wich Will be accessible for thos wich want to Know about your class
    And its very good because That could be download and be listen in a ipod or other mp3 player ( i am a yeshiva bochur…)
    I am ready to help in this important job

    Reply
  11. Pingback: Audio Roundup Special - Torah Musings
  12. Anonymous says:
    July 19, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    Thank you!

    Reply
  13. ira wexler says:
    October 17, 2016 at 10:22 pm

    How to order the 25 videos “Essential Lectures….” ?

    Reply
  14. Lucille Halfon Dan says:
    June 27, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    I read the recent email about the upcoming lectures on the Jews of Sepharad. What caught my attention were the statistics of Israel’s ‘Sephardic’ demographics, being that they were so high. Perhaps I’m in error, so please correct this notion if I am wrong.. but.. I do believe that, in Israel, the term Sepharadim refers to most any Jew who is not Ashkenazic. However – at least, according to my family’s (proprietary) feelings, being Sephardic is defined by language, that is, by speaking Ladino. Therefore, for example, the Syrians who lived next to us were considered a different type of Jew, one spoke Arabic and French. So, this is just a thought, a feeling.
    Just one more thing: In Israeli schools – at least in the late 50’s – the teaching was, that All Jews decended from the Sephardic migrations of the Inquisition (and, I capitalize that word out of custom, not respect). Your turn.
    (Of course, you don’t have to answer me directily, but I will follow your lectures this fall with much interest.) Lucille

    Reply
    1. Henry Abramson says:
      July 16, 2017 at 10:35 am

      Hello Lucille!

      You’re absolutely right. I would certainly like to include some 19th and 20th century figures who are more accurately described as Mizrahi, so I’m going to emend the title.

      HMA

      Reply
  15. Barney says:
    June 30, 2017 at 3:00 pm

    Skype has established its online-centered client beta
    for the entire world, following introducing it largely within the U.S.
    and U.K. previous this four weeks. Skype for Online also now facilitates Chromebook and Linux for
    instant messaging communication (no video and voice yet, individuals require a plug-in installment).

    The expansion of the beta brings assist for a
    longer listing of spoken languages to help reinforce that
    global functionality

    Reply
  16. Bogdan K. says:
    July 17, 2018 at 11:26 pm

    very enlightening,

    Reply
  17. Paul Reynolds says:
    September 27, 2018 at 8:01 pm

    Dr. Abramson:

    It just occurred to me that you are my longest llived Youtube subscription. I periodically unsubscribe from all sorts of interesting channels, but it would never cross my mind to forego your wonderful insights and pleasant demeanor. Thank you so much for sharing your erudition, wisdom and questionable comedic sense (:-) with us.

    Reply
    1. Henry Abramson says:
      September 27, 2018 at 8:02 pm

      Hey, thank you! I’ll share this comment with my wife.

      Reply
  18. Brian says:
    December 10, 2018 at 11:08 pm

    Dr. Abramson,

    Baruch Hashem! I am so glad I discovered your videos about 6 months ago. I am a teacher myself, but I truly love the lectures you have posted online. I have learned so much about both our people and history in a way that is interesting and interactive. Your vast knowledge, mixed with your humor really adds so much to making it a fun experience to watch and learn various topics. I thought I knew a lot, but boy was I mistaken. Thank you for helping to make me and thousands of other viewers more well rounded people. I have already shared your videos with others in the Baltimore Jewish community so they can broaden their knowledge as well.

    Best wishes!
    Respectfully
    Brian

    Reply
  19. John B Brooks says:
    December 13, 2019 at 12:07 pm

    Just stumbled across the links to the video lectures and fond myself watching the essentials in one day . they to be both informative and entertaining . and look forward to watching more of the lectures .
    respectfully
    John B Brooks

    Reply
  20. Kathryn J Hayden says:
    June 30, 2020 at 11:12 pm

    I recently went through your crash course in Jewish history and I survived Jewish history and now I am going through the essentials series. I feel like I have learned a lot. I am looking forward to watching the biography series next where I’m sure I’ll learn a lot more.

    Reply

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