Really looking forward to meeting this community!

Lectures in Jewish History and Thought. No hard questions, please.




After a brief overview placing the medieval period in historical context, we look more deeply at two especially noxious false charges: the Blood Libel and Desecration of the Host.

A look at the role of Jews in the medieval European economy, with emphasis on trade and finance. Premiering today at 1pm ET (New York Time) with live chat.

Please join us this Sunday for an outdoor gathering honoring our community’s heroic kidney donors.

After a discussion of Jewish communal structure in the medieval era, we will look at the devastation of the First Crusade and the Rhineland Massacres of 1096, follow up with some thoughts on the long-term impact on Ashkenazi Culture. Premiering today at 1 pm.
Yikes! This interview started out with a lot more personal material than I intended, but I had a lot of fun speaking with my colleague and friend Dr. Michael Chighel, Dean of Ashkenazium Jewish History MA in Budapest. Enjoy in good health!

Here’s the latest videos from the Jewish History Lab series.

Brief review of the troubled journey of Rabbi Moshe Hayim Luzzatto, a brilliant young scholar of the 18th century who was persecuted by opponents and hounded across Europe before finding his way to the more tolerant intellectual climate of Amsterdam.

//embed.chabad.org/multimedia/mediaplayer/embedded/embed.js.asp?aid=5035317&width=auto&height=auto&HideVideoInfo=false “Truth will Sprout from the Earth: Gutenberg, the Internet, and the New Uncertainty Principle.” Presentation at the XIII International Torah and Science Conference, Miami. Introductory remarks by Dr. Nathan Katz.

Runaway Yeshiva Bochur’s Work May Aid COVID Research The Jewish Star (March 24, 2021) Shortly after emigrating to Israel in 1901, this Telz-educated orphaned son of a rosh yeshiva earned an unlikely nickname: “the crazy fly-catcher.” Israel Aharoni’s odyssey into the world of middle eastern zoology, long recognized in the scientific world with over 30……

Really thrilled to be part of the inaugural visiting faculty of the Ashkenazium! Please check out this introductory video that beautifully captures the historic “vibe” of the school and its Dean, Dr. Michael Chigel.

A brief overview of the history of Jewish life in Egypt. After looking briefly at the Exodus itself, we look at some major population centers in Elephantine, Alexandria, and Cairo, to the present day. To avoid any possible confusion: this lecture does not argue for continuity between the Jewish population described in the account of……

A brief look at the social and economic background of the post-Talmudic era in Baghdad, with an important digression into the 8th-10th century revolution in information technology that helped propel the authority and influence of the Geonim. The following video will look at the early history of North Africa, an area influenced by their scholarship……


Very enthused to be speaking at the following Yeshivot in Israel! Contact their offices for details: Second lecture in the History of Ashkenazic Jewry series Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed 3. Blockheads are Gonna Block Please join me for these public lectures!

Enjoyed this conversation with President Kadish and Dr. Leiman! Who Were The Mysterious Radhanites? The Remarkable Shem Tov Bible With Dr. Sharon Liberman Mintz, Judaica curator for Southeby’s, at a private viewing of this amazing 14th century Spanish Bible. Eurafrican Jews of the Caribbean

Really looking forward to speaking to this amazing community! The Sephardic Diaspora: Safed and Rabbi Moshe Cordoeiro (Cordovero) New Series on Ashkenazic Jewry for Channel Members

Really looking forward seeing my friends at YILC! Meet the Intrepid Explorer-Rabbis of the 3rd Century Recap of last week’s Guide for the Perplexed Seminar Sephardic Jews in the New World

Hard to believe such beautiful places exist! Jewish Caribbean Migration Patterns Eurafrican Jews in the Caribbean The Sephardic Diaspora: Europe Want to learn more Jewish History? Try one of these online courses!
Jewish History Lab Report: Friday, January 3, 2025 Benjamin of Tudela, Great Jewish Explorer of the 12th Century! The Saga of Sephardic Jewry: New Course Now Online! Stunning new work of Torah Scholarship: The Koren Mikraot Hadorot Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed: Battle of the Translators

Really looking forward to meeting this community! Message recorded from Jerusalem last week Medieval Antisemitism and the Spanish Inquisition
Please join me at our First Annual Breakfast! Jews and Chocolate! Who knew? Disputations and the Pogroms of 1391

Really looking forward to speaking to the Or Avner community in Aurora, CO! The Maimonidean Controversy Save the Date: Shabbaton in Roslyn NY, December 20-21

Looking forward to a wonderful Shabbat in the Denver Jewish community! Our Itinerary of Discovery in the Western Caribbean Channel Members Premiering at 10am ET

Fantastic Voyage of Discovery with Kosher River Cruises A Difficult Conversation Recent Conference Presentation in Toronto

Surprised how much attention this got. Herod’s Tragic Reign The Fatal Conflict


