Really looking forward to meeting this community!
Shabbat in Rosyln, NY; Hello from Jerusalem;
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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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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The Moral Transformation of Isaac Cardoso; All-night learning on Shavuot at Darchei Noam in Fair Lawn
Surprising parallels to our contemporary situation Please join me for an all-night learning session on Shavuot!
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Conference on the Jewish Nakba Tomorrow; The Rise of Antisemitism in the US since October 7; Unpacked on “From the River to the Sea”
International Conference with Bar-Ilan University Please join us for a day-long conference on the subject of what has been called “The Jewish Nakba”: the mass displacement of Jews living in Arab and Muslim lands after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Part II of the Project Witness Webinar, premieres at 10am ET…
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Please pause and learn about these two causes dear to my family
Good morning fellow students of Jewish History! Renewal for Kidney Transplants Several years ago my wife read a notice about a woman in our neighborhood who was seeking a life-saving kidney donation. My wife didn’t know her, but she swabbed anyway with the Renewal organization. Initially she was matched, but secondary testing suggested not, so…
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Jewish Resilience in Queens; Historical Background to the Current Conflict; A New Form of Antisemitism?; Conference on the “Jewish Nakba”
Join me for a live, in-person lecture at the Queens Jewish Center. Premieres at 10am ET: Last week’s Project Witness webinar (Part I) Join me for Part II of the Project Witness Webinar on The Rise of Antisemitism in the United States after October 7
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Was the Bordeaux Pilgrim Jewish? Six Jewish States before Israel; Jews and Astronomy; Stages of Antisemitism; Live Lecture in Queens
This one is for the serious Jewish History Nerds Love working with the team at Unpacked! Lecture from Dallas on the Eclipse (click on link) https://torahanytime.com/lectures/293151 Stages of Antisemitism (Jewish Learning Institute) Upcoming Live Lecture in Queens
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The Jews and Their Stars: Solar Eclipse Lecture Livestream at 5:00 pm CDT (6pm ET)
Event begins at 3:00 pm, my slot is 5:00-5:30 CDT (6PM ET). Join us! Please click here for livestream
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The Jews in Israel before Modern Zionism; The Trial of the Masada Rebels; Shabbaton in Dallas
Really looking forward to the Eclipse Shabbaton in Dallas! Here’s some information. Even though this was a mock trial, I was nervous to testify! Jews of Israel before Modern Zionism
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Are All Jews Genetically Related?; The 14th century Foundation Stone of a Porto Synagogue; Astronomy, Astrology and Jewish History from Ibn Ezra to Einstein; Some Purim Torah? Maybe?
Love working with the team at Unpacked! What’s with this Bizarre 14th century Hebrew Stone from Porto? Getting Ready for Dallas! Happy Purim Everyone!!! This Persian video is either true (and good news), or it’s Purim Torah. Either way, appropriate for today…
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The Origins of the Jewish People (History of Ancient Israel in 36 minutes); Lectures on Jews and Astronomy in Dallas for the Eclipse in April
Video version of one of the lectures delivered in Vancouver last week, live chat at 10am ET Looking forward to speaking in Dallas, Shabbos and Yom Iyun before the Eclipse!
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Interview with JLI on COLIVE; First Live Ask Hard Questions Session; First Live Ask Hard Questions Session; Review of Ilan Pappe’s History of Modern Palestine
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
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Israel and its People: Three Lectures in Vancouver, BC; Jewish Prayer during the Inquisition; The Strange Crypto-Jewish Inscriptions of Trancoso, Portugal; Competing Narratives in the Israel-Hamas War
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!…
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
Jewish Life in Visigothic Spain; Commemorating October 7
This is one of the most bizarre periods of Jewish history, and that’s saying a lot.
