Really looking forward to meeting this community!

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




My father believed in the power of personal transformation. I wrote this book in his memory. My Father: A Tribute My father, Jack David Abramson of blessed memory, was a man of compassion and integrity. Born in 1928 to Jewish immigrants from Lithuania, he lived his entire life in the small milling community of Ansonville,……

New Course: The Jewish Encounter with Rome Begins Wednesday, September 7, with live in-person audience at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst and via Zoom. Details to follow. Join us! Jewish Self-Censorship in early Printing Recommended Reading for Rosh Hodesh Elul

Moneylending, Used Clothing, et cetera: The Strange Economy of the Venice Ghetto Tisha B’Av at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst with Rabbi Ya’akov Trump and Rabbi Ashi Schreier Maimonides on Teshuvah: 10th Edition Now Available, order in time for Elul Bonus video: my son Boaz, a marine science student at Stonybrook University, documents his summer research……

A remarkable self-portrait of an unusual Italian scholar This brief video is offered on the occasion of my father’s yahrzeit.

Sadly, another Tisha B’Av. Kinot with Rabbi Zev Goldberg in Fort Lee. The Roman Conquest of Jerusalem Why do we Mourn Today? Webinar with Rabbi Ya’akov Trump and Rabbi Ashie Schreier of YILC Monday: Rabbi Leone da Modena and the Struggle with Addiction in 17th c. Venice

Tisha B’Av webinar with Rabbi Ya’akov Trump and Rabbi Ashie Schreier of YILC Establishment of the Ghetto in Venice Tisha B’Av in Fort Lee, NJ

Proud to have worked with Unpacked on this complex topic. The Halbturn Amulet and what it means for the early history of Jews in central Europe Hopefully no Tisha B’av this year, but just in case.

Visiting French memorials to Jews who fell in World War I and II (11am ET) Tonight at 7pm: Josephus and Jewish Identity, With Rabbi Ya’akov Trump Experimental livestream for channel members.

Three Reflections on the Meaning of Judaea Capta in Jewish History Honored to be meeting the unique congregation I’ve heard so much about, led by Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt and Rebbitzen Avital Chizik-Goldschmidt. I plan to offer three lectures on aspects of captivity in Jewish history, looking at the very different biographies of Josephus, Rabbi Kalonymus……
Incredible experiences discovering Jewish history with Kosher Riverboat Cruises.

Rebel Hero or Roman Traitor? A brief (12m) video version of my recent article on Aish.com. The draft book chapters are in Biblical Jewish History course. A complex figure! I spend a lot of time thinking about him and his work.

What is the Meaning of Jewish History? I gave this series of talks last week in Teaneck and managed to duck most of the hard questions (phew). Not so sure I will get off so easily in Fair Lawn! Please join us. SCHOLAR-IN-RESIDENCE WITH DR. HENRY ABRAMSON Parshat Shlach, June 24-25Sponsored by:-Eve Thaler for the……


One of the strongest critics of early Hasidism, Joseph Perl was a fervent advocate of the Haskalah, or Jewish Enlightenment, in 19th century Galicia. Part of the Jewish Biography as History series by Dr. Henry Abramson, more available at http://www.henryabramson.com.

This is a more-or-less scholarly discussion of the origins of modern Jewish history in Enlightenment Europe. Warning: there are a few jokes in this video, but they only start around the 15 minute mark. The rest is more theoretical and historical. Part of the Essential Lectures in Jewish History series, more available at http://www.henryabramson.com. ****************……

Hello everyone! I’m excited and challenged to be taking a new position in New York this summer, but I’ll be very sorry to leave this community that has been my home for almost twenty years. One of the last rituals of departure will be a last series of classes for the Florence Melton School for……

Gluckel of Hameln, a Jewish woman who lived in late 17th-century Germany, left a remarkable memoir describing her life. Part of the Jewish Biography as History series by Dr. Henry Abramson, more available at http://www.henryabramson.com.

Yud Shvat, the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Shvat, is an auspicious date for Chabad Hasidm, commemorating the passing of the 6th Rebbe in 1950 and the ascension to leadership of the 7th Rabbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, one year later on January 17, 1951.

The Jewish people experienced dramatic changes in the sixteenth century that reverberate to this day. This lecture discusses three aspects of this century in particular: 1) the demographic upheavals associated with the expulsions from Spain and Portugal as well as the Ashkenazic migration, 2) the impact of the disruptive technology of printing, and 3) the……

Famed author of the Lecha Dodi hymn sung on the eve of the Jewish sabbath, Rabbi Alkabets was one of the founding members of the 16th-century school of Kabbalists based in Safed (Tsfat), Israel. Next week’s lecture: Gluckel of Hameln! Love Yiddish culture? Check out the new poster for the 2015 Kultur Festival in Boca……

Early adopters of the newest disruptive technology, the Soncino family were the first Jewish printers in 15th century Europe. This lecture discusses some aspects of the early decades of Jewish printing, and meditates on the meaning of the current digital revolution for Jewish culture and society. Planning to attend Limmud Miami this year? I would……
Sorry, folks. Laid low by the flu. See you next week?

Rabbi Shlomo ben Adret, known to his student by the acronym of his name Rashba, was one of the most brilliant Talmudists of medieval Spain. Student of Nachmanides (Ramban) and teacher to the Ritva, his writings are studied to the present day. Here’s Dr. Abramson in print (because there are times and places where one……

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 31,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 11 sold-out performances for that many……

The Septuagint, an ancient translation of the Torah into Koine Greek, had a tremendous impact on the later Christian understanding of Jewish theology.


