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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Meet the Women who Made the Talmud Possible
Join us for a brief study of the lives and work of three very different women and their relationship to Talmud study.
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Upcoming Lectures in Toronto!
Hello friends and colleagues in Toronto! I am delighted to be coming back to visit the old stomping grounds this coming Friday, eh? I hope some of you will be able to join me for a Shabbaton at the Aish Thornhill Community Shul, followed by the David Shemtow Memorial Holocaust Lecture on Sunday night. Please…
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The Jews of Lyon, France
Brief visit to the Jewish community of Lyon, France. Considered the “capital of the resistance” during the Nazi occupation, the local population made much use of the so-called “traboule” passageways scattered throughout the old city.
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Meet Daniel Bomberg: The Non-Jew who put the “Daf” in “Daf Yomi”
Brief video on Daniel Bomberg and the early days of Talmudic printing in Venice. Lecture delivered at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst on November 13, 2019.
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The Jews of Avignon, France
The Jews of Avignon are often known as the Pope’s Jews because they found shelter in the old city during the tumultuous 14th century under the Popes who briefly made their home in France rather than Italy.
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The Mysterious Ball of Rats on the Cathedral in Carpentras
This strange sculpture above the “Jewish Door” of the Saint Siffrein Cathedral continues to mystify visitors to Carpentras, France. What does it mean?
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New Excavations under the Carpentras Synagogue
This was, for me personally, one of the highlights of my trip with Kosher River Cruises along the Rhone in the south of France. The President of the Carpentras synagogue, Mr. Meyer Benzecrit, graciously invited me to tour a section of the 14th century synagogue not yet open for public view. Excavations have revealed some…
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Little Known Episodes in the History of the Talmud: Three Lectures
Join me for three rather idiosyncratic, surprising lectures on the history of the Talmud and its transmission in the modern era. Three Wednesdays beginning November 13 at the Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst. Free and open to the community, no hard questions please.
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Descending into the 14th Century Mikvah in Carpentras, France
The remarkable 14th century Mikvah in the basement of the Carpentras Synagogue. Fed by an artesian well, the waters continue to fill the space, although in the 18th century a more modern Mikvah with heated, filtered water was constructed one floor above.
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Exploring the Interior of the Carpentras Synagogue
Part two of a series of videos on the amazing medieval synagogue in Carpentras, in the Provence region of France. This video looks at the 18th century representation in the Baroque style, with some remarkable features.
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Entering the 14th c. Synagogue in Carpentras, France
Today was an absolutely fascinating day of discovery of Jewish history, exploring the 14th century synagogue in Carpentras, France: the second-oldest currently functioning synagogue in Europe. There are so many amazing things to view, so I’ve decided to break it up into several small videos, starting with this one, which looks at the entrance to…
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Jewish History in Arles, France
Expelled 500 years ago, a traces of medieval Jewish life yet remain in this city on the Rhone river.
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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Black Jews: Their Place in History, A Conversation with Nissim Black
A conversation with Nissim Black and Henry Abramson, moderated by Mordechai Yosef ben Avraham. The panelists and moderator will explore the idea of race and color in Jewish history and culture, and discuss the African and African-American Jewish experience over the centuries and in contemporary America, Europe and Israel. Recognizing that the world is at…
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Maimonides: Wisdom for a Pandemic Season
Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides, 1138-1204) was one of the towering figures of medieval Jewish thought, casting a long shadow even today. Renowned in his own day as a world-famous physician to royalty, he offered guidance both physical and spiritual in a time of pandemic. This lecture will review his life and work, including the controversy…
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Maimonides: Life, Work, and The Ways of Teshuvah
Elul is not that far off. Here’s a brief video on Moses Maimonides, is life and work, with emphasis on his remarkable Ways of Teshuvah (repentance).
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Judaea Capta: A Tisha B’Av Lecture
Judaea Capta: The Roman-Jewish Wars in History and Representation Tisha B’Av: Thursday, July 30 at 12:45 PM EDT The Shul via Zoom: 645 705 4016, password 699576
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The Kishinev Pogrom and Jewish History
The Kishinev Pogrom and Jewish History Young Israel of Fort Lee Webinar Tisha B’av: 7.30.2020 2pm EDT RSVP: bit.ly/cityofslaughter
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Forthcoming in Elul
Maimonides on Teshuvah, 8th edition revised during the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Forthcoming Elul 5780. Beautiful cover by Rachel Jackson.
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Two Young Jewish History in Daf Yomi Scholars
Have to share this really sweet email from a student in the Jewish History in Daf Yomi podcast on the All Daf app (edited, and with permission) and his amazingly studious daughters. These kind of messages give me strength to continue! Howdy Dr. Abramson! I just wanted to say a special thank you for your…
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Tammuz-17 and Covid-19
Please join me tonight @ 7pm EDT for a discussion of the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz in historical perspective, focusing on the disastrous 1st century and its implications for Jewish life in the Coronavirus era. Introduction and concluding remarks by Rabbi Chaim Poupko, Congregation Ahavath Torah (Englewood, NJ). I am grateful to Rabbi…
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The First Roman-Jewish War as a Reflection on our Troubled Times
Please join me for a far-ranging discussion, rooted in the caustic sectarianism of First Century Judaea but with implications for our current Covid-19 reality. Register for the free webinar at http://www.ahavathtorah.org/Tammuz.
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Sectarianism and our Troubled Times: A Reflection for the 17th of Tammuz (Webinar)
The Humility of Rabbi Zecharyah: Jewish Sectarianism in the First Century, the Beginning of our Exile, and a Reflection of our Troubled Times. Webinar sponsored by Congregation Ahavath Torah (Englewood, NJ) in commemoration of the communal period of reflection and Teshuvah that begins on the 17th of Tammuz. Lecture by Dr. Henry Abramson, Dean and…
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200 Years of Chinuch Podcast
Enjoyed this far-reaching conversation with Rabbi Aaron Parnes on his innovative Chinuch Podcast. Enjoy in good health!
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Jewish history shows the consequences of tolerating police brutality
NEW YORK (JTA) — “Pray for the welfare of the state,” Rabbi Hanina writes, “for if it were not for the fear thereof, people would swallow each other alive.” As cities around the nation burn with righteous indignation over yet another horrific incident of police brutality directed against a black man, Jewish leaders must reflect on our…
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
