MIAMI Students! Last chance for me to teach a Melton class in Florida.

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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 Adult Jewish Learning.

Here’s a nice email from my colleague and friend Efrat Zarren-Zohar, with a link to registration information. I’m especially proud that’s she’s going to be joining the class (we have some great arguments, all l’shem shomayim) and I would love to have the opportunity to learn with you all one last time! If you’re free Tuesday nights, please consider registering.

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Nice email from Efrat:

I’m writing to you because my friend and teacher, Dr. Hillel Abramson, will be moving to New York at the end of this school year for a well-deserved promotion at Touro College.

But before he leaves, he’s agreed to teach one last course on his new book, The Kabbalah of Forgiveness, a translation, commentary and thought-provoking conversation about Rabbi Moshe Cordovero’s classic work (see description below).

Not only is this an important text to study (who doesn’t need to learn more about forgiveness of others and sometimes– even more importantly– ourself?!?!?)…

but it’s our final opportunity to study regularly with our own Hillel (and he’s not going to make you do it on one foot either 😉

Please consider registering for and/or sampling this class 7:30-9pm on Tuesday nights, starting February 10th at Temple Beth Sholom, Miami Beach.  

I will be signing up as well and am hoping to see you there too–I know you’ll love it!

Call me if you have any questions or hesitations.

Xxxooo,

Efrat

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Who was Gluckel of Hameln? Jewish Biography as History by Dr. Henry Abramson

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.

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What is Yud Shvat? This Week in Jewish History

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.

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Jewish History in the Sixteenth Century (Essential Lectures in Jewish History)

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 ramifications of the Safed circle.

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Who Was Rabbi Shlomo Alkabets? Jewish Biography as History by Dr. Henry Abramson

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 Raton! I’m really proud to be doing a book reading (The Kabbalah of Forgiveness) there on March 6. Main event, as always, will be Maestro Aaron Kula’s phenomenal Klezmer Company Orchestra concert on March 1!

KULTUR 2015

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Who Were the Soncinos? Jews and the Gutenberg Revolution(s)

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 love to see you at the session on The Kabbalah of Forgiveness! Register here.

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Who Was the Rashba? Jewish Biography as History by Dr. Henry Abramson

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 just can’t enjoy a video).  Check out the eBook versions as well.  

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Rambam Cover

The Sea of Talmud

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Thanks for not asking too many hard questions! Henry Abramson’s 2014 Lectures in Review

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 people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

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The Septuagint (This Week in Jewish History) Dr. Henry Abramson

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

 

 

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