Really looking forward to meeting this community!

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




Join us Wednesday Night (7:30 pm) at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhust Interview with Dr. Daniel Fainstein of the Universidad Ebraíca, Mexico City I recently spent several days in Mexico City getting to know this fascinating community (more video forthcoming!). Here’s a conversation I had with my colleague Daniel Fainstein, Dean of Jewish Studies at Universidad……

Explora tu Judaísmo at Limmud Mexico this Shabbat! Very honored to share the stage with James Carroll, author of the National Book Award-winning Constantine’s Sword this coming Shabbat at Limmud Mexico. Our joint keynote address will focus on the topic of “Jews in the Christian Mind; Christians in the Jewish Mind.” I’ll be speaking on……

Fascinating Jewish History in Venice! Yahrzeit of the Piaseczno Rebbe (Aish Kodesh) Meaningful People Podcast Interview Thanks to all who have sent kind words about the podcast version of this interview. I thought it went well, here’s the YouTube version.

Had a great time speaking with Nachi and Momo of Meaningful People podcast. The conversation was a little personal, a little irreverent, but even a little deep. Hope I didn’t overshare! Here’s the link: https://www.meaningfulpeoplepodcast.com/podcast/episode/3a28c3d3/dr-henry-abramson-or-uncovering-the-gems-of-our-past Nicolo Matas grave marker confirmed Last week I discussed the remarkable story of the Jewish architect Nicolo Matas (video below),……

Amazing but true: Niccolò Matas and the Santa Croce Basilica

Read and Comment on this Draft Chapter of Volume One of The Jewish People: A History Jews and the Risorgimento New Piece in Aish.com Wishing all fellow students of Jewish History a G’mar ve-Hatimah Tovah; a successful completion to the end of the penitential season! May you and all your loved ones be blessed with……

A tolerant admissions policy led to an explosion of Jewish students at this prestigious 13th century school. Premieres at 12 Noon ET with Live Chat Wishing all students of Jewish history and their loved ones a sweet new year! Members-only Videos Now Available in Online Course The following three videos tend to attract a lot……

This topic, so important for the experience of Jews in European history, tends to attract a lot of unwanted attention. For now I prefer to offer them to Channel Members only, part of The Jewish Encounter with Rome series. I hope you find them useful.

Sadducees, Pharisees, and more. What Happened to the Sephardic Tombstones of Ferrara, Italy? Recommended Reading for Rosh Hashanah

King Herod Comes to Power Part One of The Jewish Encounter with Rome series Chapter 9: The Birth of Christianity Students registered for the Biblical Jewish history course: please note that the draft text of Chapter 8 (Judea under Rome) is now complete and ready for your comments. The introduction to Chapter 9: The Birth……

The Jewish Encounter with Rome Lectures resume Wednesday, September 7 at 7:30 pm ET, at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. Free and open to the community. The live Zoom webcast will be available to YILC members and members of my YouTube Channel at the Colleague level (sorry, some of material is a little too challenging……

“The Defeat of the Temerity of the Jews” A closer look at a remarkable painting that depicts the persecution of a specific Jewish family in post-Expulsion Italy. New Lecture Series Begins September 7 Chapter 8: Judaea Under Roman Rule updated


OPRAH SPONSORS JEWISH HISTORY LECTURE! Well, almost, not exactly, sort of actually even better–Dr. Gary Neuman and his wife Michal have sponsored the lecture on Elie Wiesel, scheduled for December 19. As I’m sure you are aware, Dr. Neuman is a world-renowned psychologist who has appeared on Oprah many times, so that’s almost like Oprah……

I really got a lot out of researching Korczak’s life and work. Personal recommendation! Heroic pioneer of modern educational theory, Henryk Goldszmit (who wrote under the pen name Janusz Korzcak) ran an orphanage in the beleaguered Warsaw Ghetto, ultimately accompanying his youthful charges to the gas chambers of Treblinka. Part of the Jewish History @……

https://livestream.com/accounts/18514275/events/6706730/videos/143129283/player?width=640&height=360&enableInfo=true&defaultDrawer=&autoPlay=true&mute=false Unfortunately, my usual recording setup failed the night I gave this lecture last week, but b”H we have a backup from the Young Israel’s livestream account! Enjoy in good health.

From Betty Jean Lifton’s biography, citing Korczak’s memoirs of his years working in the Jewish Orphanage of Warsaw (How to Love a Child): An eight-year old boy woke with a toothache. Grabbing Korczak’s hand, he spilled out his anguish: “…then my mother died. Then I was sent to my grandmother, but she also died. Then……
“Korczak felt that within each child there burned a moral spark that could vanquish the darkness at the core of human nature.” (Betty Jean Lifton) https://www.crowdrise.com/friends-of-jewish-history/fundraiser/avenuej

If so, here’s two great causes to add to your list. Jewish History @ Avenue J Scholarship Fund goes directly to support undergraduate students at the Mighty Avenue J campus of Touro College. Friends of Jewish History supports the public Jewish history lecture series. Nu? Make your Bubbie proud, do something good. Thanks! (Can’t see the……
Here’s an experimental introductory video–let me know what you think! https://www.crowdrise.com/friends-of-jewish-history/fundraiser/avenuej

Friends and colleagues! One of our core values is that high-quality, academic information on Jewish history should be FREE. We’re very proud of our altruistic approach, and we don’t want to change. At the same time, we have a Jewish History student intern to support, a shoestring advertising budget to spread the word, and of……

“If I can’t dance to it, it isn’t my revolution!” A fiery orator and fearless iconoclast, Emma Goldman was one of the most notorious and controversial left-wing thinkers of turn-of-the 20th century America. Sponsor a lecture in the Jewish History @ J Series! https://www.crowdrise.com/friends-of-jewish-history/fundraiser/avenuej

Good morning fans of Jewish History! Really pleased to have positive response on the beautiful Jewish History bookmarks we’ve been sending out (send your mailing address if you’d like one)! Thanks to donors Max Sklar and Suzanne Parella who recently contributed to the Jewish History Scholarship Fund for our students. Meanwhile, we’re still looking for……

Brief overview of the controversy that surrounded the writings of Rabbi Moses Maimonides. Lecture delivered at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst.


