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


I enjoyed this conversation at the recent JLI Retreat. I thought this turned out okay. Looking forward to setting up the next one! Review of Ilan Pappe, A History of Modern Palestine

Grateful to Beth Israel and the Jewish National Fund for the Invitation. Invitation-only lectures for students at the University of British Columbia and elsewhere: please contact Hillel BC for details. Jewish Prayer under the Inquisition The Strange Inscriptions of Trancoso, Portugal With Pyotr Kurzin of The Global Gambit New Episodes of Jewish History Nerds Podcast!……

Part III of a lecture series delivered at Beth Jacob Synagogue in Beverly Hills, CA; What does “From the River to the Sea” Really Mean?; What is Judaism without Rabbis or Books? Crypto-Jewish Prayer in Portugal Very Proud to work with Unpacked on this sensitive topic What would Judaism be like without Rabbis and Texts?

Captain Artur de Barros Basto, Apostle to the Marranos Unfortunately necessary discussion. Reflections on Social Media and Academia on YouTube (Part I) Proud to work with Unpacked on these difficult topics. Three New Episodes of Jewish History Nerds! Devorah Romm, The Maiden of Ludmir, and Hillel Ba’al Shem Click here to listen, or download from……

Burned at the stake in 1603. Channel Members: Researchers HaShomer HaChadash: I personally support this organization for Israeli and Diaspora Youth
Hello Fellow Students of Jewish History! Because so many of you are interested in Jewish History, I was honored by YouTube with the Silver Play Creator Award. Thank you so much! Here’s a short thank-you video, going over a bit of the history of this channel. I am very grateful, and look forward to learning……

Some words of comfort and consolation from Jewish history for our challenging time. Part III of the Series on The Shaping of the Jewish Mind Review of Yossi Klein Halevi, Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor

The Medieval Akedah: The Crusades and the Shaping of the Ashkenazic Mind The Crucible of Spain: The Inquisition and the Shaping of the Sephardic Mind Moses Mendelsohn on Jewish History Nerds! Click here or visit your favorite podcast provider for the first two seasons and the beginning of the third!

With all this talk about Genocide, let’s look at the Jewish person who actually invented the word. The Jewish History Nerds are Back for Season Three! Yael and Schwab are back! Go to your favorite podcast provider to catch Episode 1: Heinrich Graetz. Enjoy in good health!

Who Wrote the Ve-Hu Rahum Prayer? Please join me this week at the Young Israel of Plainview Gaza in Jewish History and the Future of American Jewish Youth Between Ashkenaz and Sefarad: The Shaping of the Jewish Mind Zoom link available to members of the YouTube Channel at Colleague Level, please check Community Notes

Please join me in Long Island this Shabbos! Gaza, Israel, and the Future of American Jewish Youth

Livestream at youtube.com/@YOFHS


