Jewish History

Sandwiched between the rabbinic period and the Enlightenment, the medieval period of Jewish history is often an afterthought. It shouldn’t be.

In this online course, the distinguished historian Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter will bring you on a journey through the events, debates, trends, and formative figures of medieval Jewish history. Over ten fascinating lectures, he’ll show you how the medieval period was a dramatic, vibrant, and significant time in the story of the Jews.

Journey back in history with Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik in his fascinating exploration of the role of Jews and Jewish ideas in America’s Civil War. As we ponder what it meant to be a Jew during this harrowing conflict, we will walk with the Jews expelled from Tennessee by General Grant, delve into the speeches and writings of Abraham Lincoln, and come to see how Lincoln learned from Hebraic sources to become the theologian of the American idea.

Join Rabbi Dr. Meir Soloveichik as he shows you how, from national symbolism to functional governance, Jewish ideas were at the very heart of the American founding. In a series of eight enlightening and entertaining lectures, you’ll meet the fascinating Jews who influenced America’s early leaders, you’ll see how Jewish ideas informed so much of the American intellectual debate, and you’ll learn why America has been such an exceptional home for Jews.