Really looking forward to meeting this community!
Shabbat in Rosyln, NY; Hello from Jerusalem;
Invitation to LCM Breakfast; Caribbean Jews and the History of Chocolate; Spanish Disputations and the Pogroms of 1391
Please join me at our First Annual Breakfast!
Jews and Chocolate! Who knew?
Disputations and the Pogroms of 1391
The Jews of Bukhara (Sunday in Denver); the Maimonidean Controversy; Save the Date for Roslyn NY
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
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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, July……
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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 lively……
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A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz: New Online Course!
Hello fellow students of Jewish history! Here’s a new experimental online course. Please click here for a look at what’s going on: A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz.
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Today at 1pm: The Threat of Haskalah
Last of a three-part series looking at the major Jewish intellectual movements of the 18th century.
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Hasidim, Mitnagdim, Maskilim Pt 2: The Challenge of Hasidism (12 Noon ET)
Premiering today, hopefully with live chat, at 12pm ET (New York time). Here’s part 1 if you want to catch up or even review.
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Hasidim, Mitnagdim, Maskilim: Part 1 premieres today at 12 noon ET
First in a three-part series looking at the major Jewish intellectual movements of the 18th century. Guest lecture at Beth Jacob Congregation, Beverly Hills CA, delivered April 21, 2021.
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Jews in the Land of Israel, 132-1492 and How did the Jews Survive the Medieval Period?
Two brief discussions, concluding the second of three semesters of the Jewish History Lab series of lectures. Premiering at 12 pm ET, hopefully with live chat. Enjoy in good health!
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The Purpose of Atheism
The Purpose of Atheism: A brief thought from my Rabbi relevant to Renewal: A Comprehensive Resource for Kidney Donors and Recipients, which is in the last day of its major fundraising drive. Please contribute! https://campaigns.causematch.com/renewal/8464
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Jews in Catholic Spain, Conversos, and the Inquisition
Brief overview of the experience of Jews in Catholic Spain from the 13th century through the expulsion of 1492. Premieres at 12pm ET (New York time) today. Join us for a live chat!
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Kidneys in Jewish Thought and History
Some background to my wife’s altruistic kidney donation two years ago on Erev Yom Kippur. You can help! Click here to support kidney donation through Renewal.
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Can we use the word “pogrom” in Israel?
Some historical thoughts on recent usage of the word “pogrom” to describe the current situation in some Israeli cities. Thanks to JTA Editors Philissa Cramer and Andrew Silow-Carroll for shaping the article.
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Women in Medieval Jewish History
Two brief discussions of the history of women in the Medieval period, 12 pm ET (New York Time) with live chat. Join us!
The Jews of Bukhara (Denver, CO); The Jews of the Lesser Antilles; Varieties of Crypto-Jewish Identity; Wait, Alexander Hamilton was Jewish?
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
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Who Was Primo Levi?
Primo Levi died in Auschwitz–forty years later. (Elie Wiesel)
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Announcing Jewish History in Daf Yomi
Good morning students of Jewish History! I am proud to announce a new pilot project: Jewish History in Daf Yomi, part of the Orthodox Union Daf Yomi Initiative under the leadership of Rabbi Moshe Schwed. Here’s the basic idea: brief (5-minute) videos discussing a historical issue raised in the world cycle of daily Talmud study……
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How an Italian earthquake in 1570 created the first Modern Orthodox Jew
“The Light of the Eyes” caused an intellectually seismic event whose aftershocks reverberate in the Jewish world 500 years later.
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Who Was the Dark-Skinned Woman in the Sarajevo Haggadah?
Who was the mysterious dark-skinned woman in the Sarajevo Haggadah?
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Who Was Shmuel David Luzzatto (ShaDaL)?
Brief overview of the life and work of Shmuel David Luzzatto (ShaDaL), an important 19th-century Italian-Jewish thinker.
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The Mystery of the Birds’ Head Haggadah
Brief description of the world’s oldest illuminated Hebrew manuscript–and a 700-hundred year mystery, solved recently by a 10-year old boy.
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Who Was Azariah de’ Rossi?
He survived the 1570 earthquake in Ferrara–and became the world’s first Modern Orthodox Jew.
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Who Was Rabbi Ovadiah of Bertinoro?
Brief overview of the life and work of Rabbi Ovadiah of Bertinoro (Bartenura), best known for his commentary on the Mishnah but also an important communal leader in late 15th-early 16th century Jerusalem.
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The Romans Tried to Ban Wild Purim Parties in 408
Hello everyone–here’s a brief historical article for this time of year that appeared in today’s JTA. Thanks to my daughter Raphaela and Laura Adkins at JTA for some amazing editing help. Enjoy in good health!
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Looking for a Sponsor for Monday Night’s Lecture
Connect yourself with the Rav for as long as there is an Internet.
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The Ancona Affair of 1555-56 (Jews of Italy Pt. VI)
The remarkable story of two powerful Jewish women from Spain and Portugal and the challenge to Pope Paul IV for his maltreatment of Portuguese Jews in Italy.
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Who Was Natan of Rome? Jews of Italy Pt. V
True, he wrote a dictionary, but cryptic hints in his autobiographical poem suggest a more complicated background.
Visits to Synagogues in Bordeaux and Libourne (France); Another Open Letter to Jewish Participants in anti-Israel Protests re: Amsterdam; Conference Presentation on Sheptytsky and WW II
Fantastic Voyage of Discovery with Kosher River Cruises
A Difficult Conversation
Recent Conference Presentation in Toronto
Wait, Christopher Columbus was Jewish? Documentary on Roman-Jewish War now Online
Surprised how much attention this got.
Herod’s Tragic Reign
The Fatal Conflict
How Jewish Culture will Thrive after October 7; The Jews of Al-Andalus Part II
Remarks at Lander College for Men
Maimonides and the Controversy over His Work
Jewish Resilience After October 7; American Jews, Post-Honeymoon; The Jews of Al-Andalus
Three Strategies
Jews under the Visigoths II; The Spanish Golden Age
Public at 10am ET (44 minutes)
Online Courses in Jewish History
Jewish Life in Visigothic Spain; Commemorating October 7
This is one of the most bizarre periods of Jewish history, and that’s saying a lot.
Henry Abramson 