Prof Stephen Berk: MORE Great Moments in Jewish History
Every country and every people have their moments, when events take place that alter the course of history. Jewish History is filled with such moments. In this series we shall discuss some of the most important events in the history of the Jewish people; their origins and their consequences. We shall begin with the post biblical period and proceed right up to the present. While this is a history program, there is a degree of subjectivity in choosing our topics – we can discuss other moments not listed here during the live moderated Q&A sessions after each lecture. This will be an interesting series and we invite you as we continue to explore the history of our people with Prof. Berk.
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS:
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- January 7 – Session 1:Ancient/Biblical History
Cyrus permits the Jews to Return to Israel
Judah Maccabee and the Revolt
The Story of Masada
The Establishment of the Babylonian Talmud
- January 7 – Session 1:Ancient/Biblical History
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- January 14 – Session 2: Middle Ages through the 19th Century
The Golden Age and the expulsion from Spain
The Jewish Emancipation in Europe (18th – 19th Century)
Henrietta Szold and the foundation of Hadassah
- January 14 – Session 2: Middle Ages through the 19th Century
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- January 21 – Session 3:Events from the Holocaust
The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
The decision to Exterminate European Jewry: Wannsee
Anne Frank’s Diary
- January 21 – Session 3:Events from the Holocaust
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- January 28 – Session 4: The Age of Modern Israel
Vatican II: The Catholic Church and the Jews (1962 – 1965)
Sadat Visits Israel (1977)
Operation Solomon: The Rescue of Ethiopian Jews (1991)
The Exodus of Soviet Jewry (1970s – 1990s)
- January 28 – Session 4: The Age of Modern Israel
DETAILS:
- Program Cost: $85 for ALL FOUR SESSIONS (Early Bird Through Dec 20: $75)
- Featuring Live moderated chat, and post-talk Q&A with Prof. Berk each session
- Sessions are recorded – view missed sessions via private link (youtube/google log-in required)
- All sessions begin at 7:30pm ET
- Session size is limited – register now…
REGISTER NOW!
Deep Dive Details:
About Prof. Stephen Berk:
Prof. Stephen M. Berk is a Professor of History at Union College in Schenectady, New York, Chair of the Department of History, Director of the Program in Comparative Communist Studies and Faculty Advisor to the Jewish Student Organization. He is author of Year of Crisis, Year of Hope: Russian Jewry and the Pogroms of 1881-1882 (Greenwood Press, 1985). At the present time Professor Berk is writing a book entitled, Our People Are Your People: American Jewry and the Struggle for Civil Rights 1854-1965. The book provides an interesting discussion of an extremely important chapter in the history of the civil rights movement and attempts to dispel the myths and misunderstandings that surround the Black-Jewish relationship. Professor Berk is also the author of many articles on Russian History, Russian Jewish History, anti-Semitism and American Policy in the Middle East. Professor Berk is frequently consulted by newspaper reporters and by television and radio stations including the BBC. He has lectured in numerous universities in countless cities and towns in the United States and Israel and is a primary speaker for the UJA, Israel Bonds and B’nai B’rith. Professor Berk is considered an absolutely superb lecturer and teacher. Touring with him has been compared to attending a “traveling university…his lectures are outstanding.” He is always informative, interesting and entertaining. He has lectured as scholar-in-residence for us on many trips to Russia, Spain, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Europe and Israel. It is a privilege to have him with us!
Feedback from the past series:
About Prof. Stephen Berk:
Prof. Stephen M. Berk is a Professor of History at Union College in Schenectady, New York, Chair of the Department of History, Director of the Program in Comparative Communist Studies and Faculty Advisor to the Jewish Student Organization. He is author of Year of Crisis, Year of Hope: Russian Jewry and the Pogroms of 1881-1882 (Greenwood Press, 1985). At the present time Professor Berk is writing a book entitled, Our People Are Your People: American Jewry and the Struggle for Civil Rights 1854-1965. The book provides an interesting discussion of an extremely important chapter in the history of the civil rights movement and attempts to dispel the myths and misunderstandings that surround the Black-Jewish relationship. Professor Berk is also the author of many articles on Russian History, Russian Jewish History, anti-Semitism and American Policy in the Middle East. Professor Berk is frequently consulted by newspaper reporters and by television and radio stations including the BBC. He has lectured in numerous universities in countless cities and towns in the United States and Israel and is a primary speaker for the UJA, Israel Bonds and B’nai B’rith. Professor Berk is considered an absolutely superb lecturer and teacher. Touring with him has been compared to attending a “traveling university…his lectures are outstanding.” He is always informative, interesting and entertaining. He has lectured as scholar-in-residence for us on many trips to Russia, Spain, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Europe and Israel. It is a privilege to have him with us!
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“I am totally enjoying the series and actually clap when he’s finished even though I’m sitting alone in my office.”
“Always interested to hear Professor Berk speak. The man is a walking encyclopedia, truly incredible. Would love to go on one of his trips someday”
“Love that man and his incredible knowledge and energy! I am ready for his brain sharing anytime! Thank you to you for organizing this and to Dr. Berk…”
“Tonight’s lecture was, as was the last one, so interesting.. “