Really looking forward to meeting this community!

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




The Jewish History Lab lecture series resumes with live, in-person meetings at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst on Wednesday nights at 7:30 pm. Free and open to the community! Zoom link available to YILC members and their guests. YouTube Channel members (Colleagues): please check your Community Tab for the link.
Six brief videos chronicling the 2021 journey with Kosher Riverboat Cruises up the Douro River to Salamanca, Spain and back through Portugal. A wonderful fantastic look at the rich history of Jews in the Iberian Peninsula, from the earliest settlement in Roman colonies (possibly earlier!) through the Visigoths, then the brief but brilliant Golden Age……
A brief discussion of the sudden rise of Kabbalistic study in 16th century Safed (Tsfat, Tsfas).
Today at 12:30 pm ET: a brief discussion of the stage of Jewish religious/literary activity that began in the 16th century, collectively known as the period of the Aharonim (the latter ones, distinguishing them from the Rishonim, or earlier ones).
Good morning fellow students of Jewish history! Join me at 1pm today for a brief discussion of the medieval origins of the once large Jewish population of Poland and Eastern Europe.
Please join us for a brief (24m) discussion of the first century of the Sephardic diaspora. Wishing everyone a blessed New Year!
Is it possible that the classic works of the Jewish ethical tradition are literary reactions to personal crises? Can we approach the great works of Maimonides, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto and others as strong responses to devastating reversals in their personal lives? Please join me at 12pm (ET, New York Time) for……
GM–Join me today at 12 noon ET (New York Time) for a premiere and live chat on the origins of the Jews of India.

I was delighted to participate in this in-depth, far-reaching conversation with the talented and insightful editor of @DerVeker, who insisted on asking a lot of hard questions. How’s your Yiddish?
This is an absolutely fascinating topic, I really enjoyed the research! Please join me for a live chat and video of Jewish Migration Patterns, followed by a longer look at the remarkable history of the Jews of China. Starting at 1pm ET (New York Time).


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


