The Jews of Mashhad (Meshed): Crypto-Judaism in an Islamic Context

The remarkable survival of Jews forcibly converted to Islam in 1839


NEW BOOK JUST RELEASED! Discovering the Crypto-Jews of Portugal

Very excited about this!

Tisha B’Av Livestream; The Survival of the Mir Yeshivah; New Book Release on Tuesday

Survival Strategies: Confronting Hate in Jewish History

Live at Congregation Ahavat Torah in Englewood at 9:30 am, Sunday August 3

Or join us via Zoom Webinar at 6:15 pm at Congregation Darchei Noam.



Release date: Tuesday, August 5

Working as a mining engineer in a remote part of northern Portugual, Samuel Schwarz made a remarkable discovery: despite four hundred years of persecution by the Inquisition, several thousand people secretly retained their allegiances to Judaism. Cut off from the world population of Jews, these Crypto-Jews initially refused to believe that this French-trained engineer from an Orthodox family in Poland could possibly share their faith, until he recited the Shema Yisraelprayer before the village elder, who pronounced him “one of ours.” This book, translated for the first time into English, is his account of how the Crypto-Jews maintained their faith in the face of overwhelming opposition, with a treatment of their rituals and a large selection of their prayers.

A Siyum in Lublin; Survival Strategies on Tisha B’Av (Englewood), New Book Release on August 5

Something for the 9 Days


Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/hNli4Id6wWA?feature=share

YouTube members: a second presentation is planned for 6:15 pm via Zoom (interactive). Please see your Community Tab for the link.


Release Scheduled for 11 Av/5 August

Jewish Poland and Lithuania; Hasidim, Mitnagdim and Maskilim; Strategies for Survival; The Crypto-Jews of Portugal

From a recent issue of the Queens Jewish Link

(click here to read the full article)


Hasidm, Mitnagdim and Maskilim (Lecture delivered at the JLI National Jewish Retreat)


Tisha B’Av at Congregation Ahavat Torah, Englewood NJ


Coming Soon: Discovering the Crypto-Jews of Portugal

Some Videos to Have in Mind for Passover

Here’s a few notes on the Exodus that you might find useful. Have a wonderful holiday!

Why I love My Job; The Magnificent 17th century Synagogue of Tiktin; The Jews of the Russian Empire; The Fruit of Haste is Regret

Our Annual Charity Campaign begins March 25!


The 1642 Synagogue of Tykocin (Tiktin)


A Lightning Survey of Russian Jewish History


The Guide for the Perplexed: The Fruit of Haste is Regret


The Jews of Ashkenaz Lectures

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