Shabbat in Rosyln, NY; Hello from Jerusalem;
Really looking forward to meeting this community!
Message recorded from Jerusalem last week
Medieval Antisemitism and the Spanish Inquisition
Invitation to LCM Breakfast; Caribbean Jews and the History of Chocolate; Spanish Disputations and the Pogroms of 1391
Please join me at our First Annual Breakfast!
Jews and Chocolate! Who knew?
Disputations and the Pogroms of 1391
The Jews of Bukhara (Sunday in Denver); the Maimonidean Controversy; Save the Date for Roslyn NY
Really looking forward to speaking to the Or Avner community in Aurora, CO!
The Maimonidean Controversy
Save the Date: Shabbaton in Roslyn NY, December 20-21
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The Kabbalah of Forgiveness Coming in Time for Rosh Hashanah
New for the Season of Repentance: a translation and modern commentary on Rabbi Moshe Cordovero’s classic of Jewish ethics, the Date Palm of Devorah (Tomer Devorah). Learn the Thirteen Levels of Mercy and discover how to forgive others (and yourself). Please visit http://www.jewishhistorylectures.org and click on “The Kabbalah of Forgiveness” for excerpts and videos. Publication date:…
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Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (This Week in Jewish History)
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888) articulated a strategy to allow Jews their traditional observances while participating actively in the modern world. Criticized from both the left and the right, his thought remains highly influential into the 21st century.
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Rabbi Hayim of Volozhin (This Week in Jewish History)
Founder of the famous Yeshiva of Volozhin, Rabbi Hayim ben Yitshad was one of the most influential proponents of traditional Talmudic study of the early 19th century. The author of Nefesh haHayim, he articulated a cogent response to the growing Hasidic movement.
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Nicholas Donin and the Disputation of 1240 (This Week in Jewish History)
In 1240 Nicholas Donin, a Jewish convert to Christianity, engaged in a public debate with his former teacher, Rabbi Yechiel of Paris. Donin charged that the Talmud was a noxious document that prevented the Jews from embracing Christianity, and brought a total of 35 distinct accusations against this ancient holy text. Ultimately, 24 carriage loads…
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Jerusalem Day (This Week in Jewish History)
Jerusalem Day (Yom Yerushalayim) celebrates the unification of Jerusalem in the context of the Six-Day War of June 1967. This dramatic military achievement represented a victory that was both political and symbolic, giving Jews control over the the Old City and the Temple Mount after nearly 2000 years of exile.
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Alexander’s Learnathon for Israel: Last Week to Participate!
Alexander has done well with his fundraising efforts to participate in the Boys Israel Leadership Training (BILT) program run by the National Council of Synagogue Youth. He’s already raised $858 toward his goal of $3,000! To all of you who participated, thanks very much. If you haven’t yet had a chance, please do so quickly,…
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Rabbi Moshe Isserles (The Rema) This Week in Jewish History
Rabbi Moshe Isserles was an exceptionally important Polish Jew of the 16th century. His commentary on the Code of Jewish Law brought Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jewry together to an unprecedented degree, and established the ascendancy of Polish Jewry over the older German community.
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Rabbi Dr. Yosef Baer (J.D.) Soloveitchik (The Rav) Jewish Biography as History
Known as simply “The Rav,” Rabbi Dr. Yosef Baer (J.D.) Soloveitchik was arguably the most influential figure shaping the Orthodox Rabbinate in the United States in the 20th century. From his position at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Rabbinical Seminary at Yeshiva University, he ordained some 2,000 Rabbis over four decades. To view the Prezi associated…
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Rabbi Kalonymus Kalmish Shapiro, The Esh Kodesh (Jewish Biography as History)
Discovered in the rubble of the Warsaw Ghetto, the wartime writings of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalmish Shapiro (1889-1943) offer a unique and powerful perspective on the life and suffering of religious Jews during the horrific years of the Nazi occupation. By Dr. Henry Abramson According to my knowledge of the words of the Sages and the…
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Help a Teen Visit Israel (Special Guest Post by Alexander Abramson)
I’m a runner. I’ve been running as long as I can remember, including my first half-marathon at age 12 and my first full marathon at 14. Running gives me energy, and makes me feel like I can accomplish anything. I’m proud of my finishes, and even more proud that over the years I’ve raised almost…
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Rabbi Israel Meir Kahan, The Chofetz Chaim (Jewish Biography as History)
Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan, better known as the Chofetz Chaim for his classic work on the sanctity of speech, was one of the major Rabbinic leaders of the late 19th and early 20th century. To view the Prezi associated with this lecture, click on the image below or here.
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Classes Resume Tonight at Young Israel
Hello students– We are scheduled to resume our lecture series this evening with a presentation on the Chofetz Chaim,one of the most influential Rabbinic thinkers of the late 19th and early 20th century. Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan is known principally for his dramatically creative analysis of the topic of forbidden speech (lashon ha-ra), and rose…
The Jews of Bukhara (Denver, CO); The Jews of the Lesser Antilles; Varieties of Crypto-Jewish Identity; Wait, Alexander Hamilton was Jewish?
Looking forward to a wonderful Shabbat in the Denver Jewish community!
Our Itinerary of Discovery in the Western Caribbean
Channel Members
Premiering at 10am ET
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What is the Extra-biblical Historical Evidence for the Exodus?; A Conversation on Jewish Identity with the Harts
Episode #1 of Talk Jewish To Me What is the Extra-biblical Historical Evidence for the Exodus?
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Three Jewish Roman Soldiers? In Germany? In the FIRST CENTURY BCE???; The Birth of Ashkenaz in Budapest; New Unpacked Videos
This is just an amazing find. The Birth of Ashkenaz: Graduate Seminar in Budapest this May Thrilled to be returning to the Ashkenazium later this summer to spend time with some really brilliant European students looking at the Birth of Ashkenaz. Here’s the course description, please visit https://www.ashkenazium.eu for more information: A survey of the…
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Jewish History Lab Now Available as a Podcast! (I think); Jews under Byzantine Rule
YouTube recently made it easy to transform my playlists into Podcast format, which has long been a demand from fellow students of Jewish history. I just uploaded one list to start: the Jewish History Lab (114 videos). Should be populating on Google Play and (I think) Apple Podcasts, but for now it’s available on my…
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The Amazing Story of Rabbi Izak “the Convert” Graanboom of Amsterdam; Ukrainian Jewish History Video Online
Really enjoyed visiting Edmonton last week for this conference, very intelligent and receptive audiences. My keynote was preceded by a general welcome to the conference from Dr. Ryan Dunch, and starts with something that is widespread at the University of Alberta: an acknowledgment that the University is situated on land that originally belonged to First…
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Celebrating the Chevra Kadisha in Riverdale; Ukrainians and Jews in Edmonton; Book Sale; Byzantine Era Synagogues
I am deeply honored to address the Chevra Kadisha at the Riverdale Jewish Center at their annual 7 Adar celebration. The “Holy Association” is a group of men and women who undertake, usually on a volunteer basis, the difficult task of preparing our deceased loved ones for burial. If you are in the neighborhood, please…
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Shabbos at the Queens Jewish Center! 7 Adar at the Riverdale Jewish Center, celebrating the Chevra Kadisha
Please come by and say hello!
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The Genetic History of Ashkenazi Jewry
Please join us for the final lecture in the Jewish Life in the (Not So) Dark Ages series! Wednesday night at 7:30 ET. RSVP at https://bit.ly/YILCNotSoDark. Welcome!
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Shabbat at the Queens Jewish Center! Mapping the Land of Israel; Next Shabbat in Edmonton
Really thrilled to meet the Queens Jewish Center community! Please come by and say hello if you’re in town. Very honored by this invitation from the History, Classics and Religion Graduate Students Association of the University of Alberta! Please join us in person (if you’re in Edmonton, eh?) or via Zoom (RSVP at http://www.bit.ly/JEWISHUK1000). Channel…
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Who Was Lopo Ramirez? Was there a Jewish Dark Age? Shabbos in Queens
The Ambassador warned the King: “Pay Lopo Ramirez on time.” Was there a Jewish Dark Age? Exploring some Fascinating Archaeological Finds Welcome New Students! Draft Text of Volume 1 Included in the Biblical Jewish History course: please send me your feedback! Shabbos in Queens! Come by and say hello.
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The Jewish People: A History Volume I Completed!
Forthcoming from Koren Publishers, Jerusalem The Jewish People A History Second Draft February 5, 2023 Forthcoming from Koren Publishers, Jerusalem Henry Abramson DRAFT: Please do not reproduce or circulate. Copyright Henry Abramson 2023 Volume One: Biblical Israel (1760 BCE to 200 CE) Introduction The Land of Israel The Biblical Narrative The Archaeological Record Daily Life…
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Was there a Jewish Dark Age, and Are the Lemba of South Africa Genetically Jewish?
This is a really fascinating topic. Here’s a brief follow-up presentation related to The Jews of Africa lecture. Enjoy in good health! Was there a Jewish Dark Age? A “studio” version–meaning a recording of me talking into my iMac–is forthcoming, once I have a few moments to concentrate. For now, here’s the unedited/uncensored recording of…
Visits to Synagogues in Bordeaux and Libourne (France); Another Open Letter to Jewish Participants in anti-Israel Protests re: Amsterdam; Conference Presentation on Sheptytsky and WW II
Fantastic Voyage of Discovery with Kosher River Cruises
A Difficult Conversation
Recent Conference Presentation in Toronto
Wait, Christopher Columbus was Jewish? Documentary on Roman-Jewish War now Online
Surprised how much attention this got.
Herod’s Tragic Reign
The Fatal Conflict
How Jewish Culture will Thrive after October 7; The Jews of Al-Andalus Part II
Remarks at Lander College for Men
Maimonides and the Controversy over His Work
Jewish Resilience After October 7; American Jews, Post-Honeymoon; The Jews of Al-Andalus
Three Strategies
Jews under the Visigoths II; The Spanish Golden Age
Public at 10am ET (44 minutes)
Online Courses in Jewish History
