Sectarian Infighting and the Fall of Jerusalem: Tisha B’Av lecture for Sunday

Good morning fellow students of Jewish history. In a few hours we will begin Shabbat Hazon, marking the last transition to Tisha B’Av, the most tragic day in the Jewish calendar. As in previous years, I hope to lecture on the history of the Roman-Jewish war that resulted in the destruction of the Temple. ThisContinue reading “Sectarian Infighting and the Fall of Jerusalem: Tisha B’Av lecture for Sunday”

Banning critical race theory will gut the teaching of Jewish history

No responsible teacher wants to teach students to “hate each other” or “hate America.” But we all participate in a sacred covenant with our students: They expect us to tell them the truth.  Please click here to read this article on JTA.

Antisemitism: Mutations of the Eternal Virus (Sunday, 1pm ET)

Please join me on Sunday, July 11 for a panel discussion on the history of antisemitism, appropriate for the Nine Days. Discussants include Professor Adam Mendelsohn, director of the Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies & Research and Associate Professor of History at the University of Cape Town, Professor Karen Milner, Gauteng Chair of the SA Jewish Board ofContinue reading “Antisemitism: Mutations of the Eternal Virus (Sunday, 1pm ET)”

The Insults of Exile: Historical Reflections for the Three Weeks

A brief sampling of some of the humiliations of exile that the Jewish people endured over their millennial exile, shocking yet overshadowed by the far greater tragedies of violent massacres. Lecture delivered on the 17th of Tammuz, on Zoom and live at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. Premiere with live chat scheduled for Sunday, JulyContinue reading “The Insults of Exile: Historical Reflections for the Three Weeks”

Thirty-Six righteous Students now studying the history of Ashkenaz!

Hello students of Jewish history! I am very pleased to let you know that we now have a very auspicious number of students in this new experimental online course, A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz. I know some of them from earlier interactions on YouTube and in selected classes, and it promises to be a livelyContinue reading “Thirty-Six righteous Students now studying the history of Ashkenaz!”