If you’re in the neighborhood of Shaarei Shomayim, please come by on Saturday or Sunday morning, would be nice to say hi.
Hello Toronto!
Shabbat in Toronto; Who are the Jews of Africa?; Kutach Tasting Event
Students of Daf Yomi! This one’s for you.
Who are the Jews of Africa?
Join me for Shabbat at Shaarei Shomayim, Toronto!
Shabbetai Tzvi Unpacked (now ranked #1 in Judaism Podcasts); Babylonian Kutach Tasting Event (!); How did Jews get to Africa (and beyond)?; Who was Benjamin of Tudela?; Aryeh Runs for ADI Negev in Israel
Proud parent: Aryeh running to support ADI Negev
Very proud of our son Aryeh, raising funds to support the Respiratory Therapy and Hydrotherapy programs at ADI Negev, an institute that celebrates Ability, promotes Diversity and insists on Inclusion. Join us in supporting his worthy efforts! Please click here for more information: https://adi-il.org/campaign/aryeh-abramson/
How did Jews get to Africa (and Beyond?)
Lecture II of the Jewish Communities of Color Series scheduled for Wednesday night at 7pm PT (10pm ET). Please join us! RSVP at www.bit.ly/JEWSOFCOLOR.
Shabbetai Tzvi Unpacked! And it really is BONKERS.
Yael and Schwab preserve the excitement of discovery in this fantastic podcast. Here’s the latest episode, on Shabbetai Tzvi, and it is REALLY GREAT. Click here to listen: https://jewishunpacked.com/shabbetai-tzvi-a-bonkers-false-messiah-story/
Who was Benjamin of Tudela?
Babylonian Kutach Tasting Event!
Jews of Africa; Does “Liberté, égalité, et fraternité” apply to Jews?; The Genetic History of Ashkenazi Jewry; The Jewish Community of Early Italy; Women in Ancient Israel: Chapter 11 of The Jewish People: A History now online
Ach, here we go again. Who is a Jew, anyway?
Join me for a discussion of the long history of Jewish communities of color, beginning with some historical observations relating to the current version of the perennial “Who is a Jew” debate. Register for free at https://bit.ly/JEWSOFCOLOR.
The Genetic History of Ashkenazi Jews
Related, strangely, but related.
Does “Liberté, égalité, et fraternité” apply to Jews?
Yael and Schwab knock the ball out of the park with this new episode of Jewish History Unpacked! Listen to it here (https://jewishunpacked.com/does-liberte-fraternite-egalite-include-jews/) and subscribe for free!
The Jewish Community of Early Italy
Join us for a Premiere with live chat at 11 am ET.
Women in Ancient Israel: Chapter 11 Now Online (In Progress)
Students registered for the Biblical Jewish History course: Please log in to see and comment on the newest chapter in my forthcoming The Jewish People: A History. Koren Publishers is now starting work on the book design, and I expect to submit the final manuscript (one more chapter and a bibliographic essay to go) shortly. I’m looking forward to reading your comments!
The Jesus Mary Synagogue of Mexico City; New Podcast on Jewish History Unpacked; Upcoming Lectures in Jewish History; Entrevista al Dr. Henry Abramson (in English)
What happens when two young Jewish history nerds start to schmooze? This.
Visiting the Jewish Community of Mexico City
Upcoming Lectures
Brief discussion with Dr. Daniel Fainstein, Dean of Jewish Studies at Universidad Hebraica (in English)
Interview with Dean of Universidad Ebraíca in Mexico City; Maimonides on Teshuvah quoted in the New Yorker; Encounter with Rome lectures resume Wednesday night!
Join us Wednesday Night (7:30 pm) at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhust
Interview with Dr. Daniel Fainstein of the Universidad Ebraíca, Mexico City
I recently spent several days in Mexico City getting to know this fascinating community (more video forthcoming!). Here’s a conversation I had with my colleague Daniel Fainstein, Dean of Jewish Studies at Universidad Ebraíca, explaining what makes the Jewish community of this city so unique.
Maimonides on Teshuvah Quoted in The New Yorker!
Very pleased to read that Jill Lapore quoted Maimonides on Teshuvah: The Way of Repentance in a recent piece in The New Yorker (The Case Against the Twitter Apology, online November 7, published in the print edition of the November 14, 2022, issue, with the headline “Sorry Spectacle.”). Here’s the relevant passage:
Favorite response from my family: son-in-law Chaim writes, “The New Yorker is no Der Veker, but still cool.”
Limmud Mexico Lectures (keynote with James Carroll, author of Constantine’s Sword); Did Jews Go Quietly to their Deaths in the Holocaust?; Jews in Padua, Ferrara and the Old Cemetery of Lido (Venice)
Explora tu Judaísmo at Limmud Mexico this Shabbat!
Very honored to share the stage with James Carroll, author of the National Book Award-winning Constantine’s Sword this coming Shabbat at Limmud Mexico. Our joint keynote address will focus on the topic of “Jews in the Christian Mind; Christians in the Jewish Mind.” I’ll be speaking on Shabbat day on the Spanish translation of The Kabbalah of Forgiveness and on Sunday looking at the history of the Jews of Ukraine. Kosher, Shabbat-observant friendly environment, of course! Click here for more information: https://limudmexico.org.
Powerful New Video from the Team at Unpacked
Brilliant, evocative script by Ali Elbaz and powerfully narrated by Becky Tahel. My small role was as educational consultant for the background research. This film is a great example of the great work done by the team at Unpacked, very proud to work with them.
The Jews of Padua, Ferrara, and the Old Lido Cemetery of Venice
Yahrzeit of the Piaseczno Rebbe; Meaningful People Podcast now on YouTube; Day 1 of Italy with Kosher Riverboat Cruises
Fascinating Jewish History in Venice!
Yahrzeit of the Piaseczno Rebbe (Aish Kodesh)
Meaningful People Podcast Interview
Thanks to all who have sent kind words about the podcast version of this interview. I thought it went well, here’s the YouTube version.
Meaningful People Interview; Niccolo Matas Grave Marker Confirmed in Florence, Italy
Had a great time speaking with Nachi and Momo of Meaningful People podcast. The conversation was a little personal, a little irreverent, but even a little deep. Hope I didn’t overshare!
Here’s the link: https://www.meaningfulpeoplepodcast.com/podcast/episode/3a28c3d3/dr-henry-abramson-or-uncovering-the-gems-of-our-past
Nicolo Matas grave marker confirmed
Last week I discussed the remarkable story of the Jewish architect Nicolo Matas (video below), who somehow got this Star of David prominently displayed on the Santa Croce church in Florence, Italy. Lots of important people are buried in the church (Michelangelo, Machiavelli, etc.) but given that Matas was unbaptized, he could only be laid to rest in a sarcophagus outside the church, immediately outside the front steps.
In a deeply ironic way, he is now buried in front of what appears to be the world’s largest Jewish tombstone.
Did a Jewish Architect Really Put a Star of David on this Important Church in Florence, Italy?
Henry Abramson 