Really looking forward to meeting this community!

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




Free for the High Holiday Season: a free download of The Kabbalah of Forgiveness, a translation and commentary of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero’s Tomer Devorah. Especially valuable reading in preparation for Yom Kippur! To download, visit https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/464044 and enter coupon code BQ57Y, valid through October 7, 2015. If you really must have a hard copy, visit Amazon……

Brief discussion of the anniversary of Tisha B’Av, the onset of World War I, and its implications for Jewish History.

In July of 1942 (coinciding with Av 5702), the Nazis began a major deportation of Jews from the Warsaw ghetto to the Treblinka concentration camp. By September, 235,000 Warsaw Jews were murdered in the gas chambers.

Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitshak) was a great 11th century commentator on the Torah. This brief video outlines his major scholarly contribution within historical context.

Viktor Frankl was a noted psychologist whose experience in the Holocaust formed the basis of logotherapy, his therapeutic approach to help people find meaning in suffering and in life.

A brief biography of Sigmund Freud, with emphasis on his Jewish background and identity. Part of the Jewish Biography as History Series, more available at http://www.henryabramson.com.

An introduction to the major themes in modern antisemitic ideology (1880-present). Warning: not quite as nasty as the lecture on medieval antisemitism, but disturbing nevertheless. Part of the Essential Lectures in Jewish History series, more available at http://www.henryabramson.com.

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, also known as “Der Frierdiker Rebbe” (The Earlier Rebbe) to distinguish him from his successor, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, was the sixth leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. Living in tumultuous times, he shifted the center of the movement from its Eastern European origins to its current headquarters in the United States.

Heinrich Graetz (1817-1891) was the first encyclopedic historian of the Jewish people, and his massive 10-volume History of the Jews had a phenomenal impact on the way Jews saw themselves as a nation living in the diaspora. Looking forward to seeing you at Limmud this Sunday! Click the image below to learn more about my……

Imagine that, while browsing in the library, you come across one book unlike the rest, which catches your eye because on its spine is written the name of your family. Intrigued, you open it and see many pages written by different hands in many languages. You start reading it, and gradually you begin to understand……

One of the most creative, unusual, and controversial Hasidic leaders at the turn of the 19th century, Rabbi Nahman of Bratzlav (Nachman of Breslov) continues to inspire generations of disciples. Part of the Jewish Biography as History series, more available at http://www.henryabramson.com.


An amazing encounter between two 18th century Jewish geniuses Not 100% accurate (e.g. I’m not a Rabbi) but I’m flattered by the attention Joanne Palmer devoted to my story. Can’t believe she included my Bar Mitzvah picture.

I am honored, and also humbled, by this promotion. Lander College for Men is a remarkable division of Touro University, ably led for 25 years by its founding Dean, Rabbi Dr. Moshe Sokol. (Courtesy of Touro University) Dr. Henry Abramson was named dean of Touro’s Lander College for Men, Touro President Dr. Alan Kadish announced. Most……

Surprising parallels to our contemporary situation Please join me for an all-night learning session on Shavuot!

International Conference with Bar-Ilan University Please join us for a day-long conference on the subject of what has been called “The Jewish Nakba”: the mass displacement of Jews living in Arab and Muslim lands after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Part II of the Project Witness Webinar, premieres at 10am ET……

Good morning fellow students of Jewish History! Renewal for Kidney Transplants Several years ago my wife read a notice about a woman in our neighborhood who was seeking a life-saving kidney donation. My wife didn’t know her, but she swabbed anyway with the Renewal organization. Initially she was matched, but secondary testing suggested not, so……

Join me for a live, in-person lecture at the Queens Jewish Center. Premieres at 10am ET: Last week’s Project Witness webinar (Part I) Join me for Part II of the Project Witness Webinar on The Rise of Antisemitism in the United States after October 7

This one is for the serious Jewish History Nerds Love working with the team at Unpacked! Lecture from Dallas on the Eclipse (click on link) https://torahanytime.com/lectures/293151 Stages of Antisemitism (Jewish Learning Institute) Upcoming Live Lecture in Queens

Event begins at 3:00 pm, my slot is 5:00-5:30 CDT (6PM ET). Join us! Please click here for livestream

Really looking forward to the Eclipse Shabbaton in Dallas! Here’s some information. Even though this was a mock trial, I was nervous to testify! Jews of Israel before Modern Zionism

Love working with the team at Unpacked! What’s with this Bizarre 14th century Hebrew Stone from Porto? Getting Ready for Dallas! Happy Purim Everyone!!! This Persian video is either true (and good news), or it’s Purim Torah. Either way, appropriate for today…

Video version of one of the lectures delivered in Vancouver last week, live chat at 10am ET Looking forward to speaking in Dallas, Shabbos and Yom Iyun before the Eclipse!


