Lectures in Jewish History and Thought. No hard questions, please.
Experimental livestream for channel members.
Three Reflections on the Meaning of Judaea Capta in Jewish History
Honored to be meeting the unique congregation I’ve heard so much about, led by Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt and Rebbitzen Avital Chizik-Goldschmidt. I plan to offer three lectures on aspects of captivity in Jewish history, looking at the very different biographies of Josephus, Rabbi Kalonymus Kalmish Shapiro, and Uriel D’Acosta. RSVP is required, please visit https://thealtneu.org/home for details.
Incredible experiences discovering Jewish history with Kosher Riverboat Cruises.
A brief (12m) video version of my recent article on Aish.com. The draft book chapters are in Biblical Jewish History course. A complex figure! I spend a lot of time thinking about him and his work.
I gave this series of talks last week in Teaneck and managed to duck most of the hard questions (phew). Not so sure I will get off so easily in Fair Lawn! Please join us.
SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE WITH DR. HENRY ABRAMSON
Parshat Shlach, June 24-25
Sponsored by:
-Eve Thaler for the yarzheit of her husband, David Thaler z”l
-Jon and Ahuva Lamm for the yahrzeit of Jon’s grandfather, Rabbi Maurice Lamm Rav Moshe ben Meir Shmuel
-Chavi and Ari Diamond
Theme: “What is the Meaning of Jewish History?”
All lectures are cumulative in nature, but can be appreciated on their own.
Friday Night Lecture at 9:15 p.m.: “Wrong Answers Only- Josephus and the Roots of Jewish History”
Shabbat Morning Drasha
Shabbat Afternoon at 5:15 p.m.: “Probably Not What You Think- David Gans and the Idea of Parallel History”
Shabbat Evening between Mincha and Maariv: “Now We’re Getting Somewhere- Cecil Roth and Covenantal History”
I spoke about him at a recent Shabbaton in Teaneck, and someone from the UK was in the audience: Dr. Roth pronounced his first name SEH-sil, not SEE-sil. If I had realized this when I made the video I would have used the English pronunciation rather than the American.
Very honored to be serving as a Scholar-in-Residence at Congregation B’nai Yeshurun. Three new lectures on “What is the Meaning of Jewish History?” will examine at the Ancient, Medieval and Modern periods with a view to understanding some of the complexities of interpreting the fascinating, profound history of the Jewish people.
Judging from past experience in Teaneck, I’m preparing myself for some hard questions (yikes). Here’s a fun trailer and details on the lectures.
A tragedy that is still remembered a thousand years later by French communities.
Students in the online Biblical Jewish History course: please log in to access a new module that includes the draft of the Introduction to Volume 1. Chapter Seven is also updated. I’m looking forward to reading your comments!
New students welcomed!
Please join us at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst for a remarkable series of classes in Jewish history! We’re starting at midnight and learning all night till dawn prayers.
In keeping with our theme this year of “Transformation: Personal, Communal, Global,” I’ve chosen to look at the biographies of several key figures in Jewish history and thought whose lives revolved around moments of dramatic transformation: the biblical King Josiah, the Roman-Jewish historian Josephus, the 13th century Rabbenu Yonah, and the 20th-century philosopher Franz Rosenzweig.
Rabbi Ya’akov Trump is teaching a fantastic series of classes alongside my own, and we’re getting together in the middle of the night to team-teach an examination of the Barcelona Disputation and its impact on the personal transformation of Nachmanides. Here’s the schedule:
This promises to be a fantastic night of discussion and ideas–I’m looking forward to my own personal transformation, culminating in dawn prayers! If you’re in town, please feel free to join us.
Very excited to be receiving comments and feedback on the first volume of The Jewish People: A History as it appears, draft chapter by draft chapter, in the Biblical Jewish history course. We are nearing the crucial first century, so dramatic in the millennial history of the Jewish people. If you’d like to read these early chapters and contribute to the success of the overall project, please consider joining us in the course!
June 17-18: B’nei Yeshurun, Teaneck NJ
June 24-25: Congregation Darchei Noam, Fair Lawn NJ
Henry Abramson 