Jerusalem as Modern City: A Virtual Tour of the German Colony and Baka

Eszter Koranyi - When people think of Jerusalem, they often picture its holy sites. Yet Jerusalem is also a living, modern city, with all its challenges and beauty. We invite you on a virtual walk that begins in the mid-19th century, when the first residents left the Old City's medieval alleys to settle outside the walls, and newcomers arrived, bringing with them a modern way of life. This process of modernization, shaped by shifting political landscapes and an ever-changing mosaic of religions, ethnic identities, and languages, continues to this day. We'll explore two iconic neighborhoods to examine this transformation more closely, through stories and personal impressions. Read more and register here

Names and Heritage: The origins of Ashkenazi Surnames

Evgenia Kempinski - Explore the fascinating history behind the family names of Ashkenazi Jews in Central and Eastern Europe. This virtual lecture delves into the origins, meanings, and cultural significance of these surnames. Together, we will discover how historical events, occupations, places of residence, and local languages shaped the naming conventions of Ashkenazi Jewish communities. Read more and sign up here

Echoes of the Past: Jewish Life in Venice's Ghetto and Beyond

Nina Wachsman - What is known about the Jews of Venice is that they were the first to be restricted to living in a small walled island known as a "ghetto." But though they were limited in where they could live, Jews were valued and their presence in Venice was seen as a benefit to the welfare of the city. This talk will describe Jewish life within and outside the Venetian Ghetto and the famous men and women from its Golden Age. Today, the smaller yet vibrant Jewish community in Venice preserves its heritage through synagogues, a museum, and cultural activities. You will come away with a better appreciation of the unique relationship between the city of Venice and its Jews. Read more and sign up here

The Jewish Metropolis: A tour of Jewish New York through Time and Space

Daniel Soyer - New York City is the greatest Jewish metropolis of all time. At its peak, Jews constituted nearly 30% of the city's population. Not surprisingly, Jews have influenced New York's culture, economy, and politics. But the Jewish presence is also very diverse. From the establishment of the first community in 1654 to the present, New York Jews have pioneered religious reform and led the resurgence of traditionalist orthodoxy; they have been among the richest financiers and poorest shop workers; they have provided the base for political radicalism and liberalism, and the intellectual power behind resurgent conservatism. This talk will offer a virtual tour of Jewish New York through time and space – from the 17th century to the 21st, and from tenements of the Lower East Side to leafy Riverdale. Read more and register here.

Past and Present of Jewish Romania, from Transylvania with love

Natalia Gross & Cristian Ezri - Before the Holocaust, the Romanian Jewish Community had a very interesting mix of cultures, traditions and languages, based on the three areas of the country: Transylvania, Moldavia & Wallachia. Find out some of the historical facts and legends of the community, and the eclecticism of the scenery where Judaism could have been long gone. Discover our life story, and our goal to keep Judaism alive in Romania, while being fully involved in the secular society. Read more and register here

Qesher Book Club:
On Her Own

Polish Jews: Warsaw Ghetto remains and Jewish revival

Jewish Tunisia: at a crossroads of civilizations

Rafram Chaddad - Tunisia, the former seat of Cartaghe's empire, has been home to different Jewish communities for more than 2000 years. Its central location at a crossroads of civilizations led to multiple influences on food, culture, language,  and identity. Rafram will take us through the different elements of the complex Jewish layer of Tunisia, which took a fateful turn in 1967 after the Six-Day War. Rafram will talk about how Jewish life looks today in Tunisia and about his work as a visual artist, which blends biography and Jewish identity in contemporary Tunisia. Read more and register here

Communities of the Past: A Virtual Tour of Ukrainian Shtetls

Evgenia Kempinski - After having visited the main cities of Ukraine, in this third part of our Jewish Ukraine series we will explore the shtetls of Berdichev, Chernowitz, Vizhnitsa, Hotin, Medzhibozh, Minkovtsy, Murapha, Husyatin, and Chortkiv, symbols of a bygone era in Jewish history. Join us on this virtual expedition to resurrect the past and honor the legacy of Jewish life in Ukrainian shtetls. Let us bridge the gap between generations and weave together the threads of a remarkable heritage. Read more and register here

The Karaite Jews of Egypt - A Hidden Chapter in Jewish History

Ranash (Ran Menashe) - In this lecture, we'll journey through the streets of Alexandria and the pages of my own family history to uncover the lesser-known legacy of Karaite Jews in Egypt. At their peak, they formed a distinct and active part of Jewish life in the region, with their own synagogues, customs, and scholars. We'll also explore how Karaites differ from Rabbanite Jews — in prayer, in Torah interpretation, in their approach to kashrut, gender roles, and more. Join us for this glimpse into a unique Jewish tradition that few have heard of, but that continues to survive and evolve to this day, though now in other parts of the globe. Read more and register here

Qesher Book Club: 

Songs for the Brokenhearted

Ayelet Tsabari - A young Yemeni Israeli woman uncovers her mother's hidden romance in a powerful journey through family history, revealing the deep bond between mother and daughter. In 1950, in an overcrowded immigrant camp in Rosh Ha'ayin, shy Yaqub meets Saida, a married woman with a child. Despite the social boundaries, they fall in love. In 1995, Saida's daughter Zohara is living in New York, having distanced herself from her Israeli roots and family. But when her sister Lizzie calls to say their mother has died, Zohara returns to Israel. There, she unearths long-buried family secrets, confronts the dangers facing vulnerable young men, and reevaluates everything she thought she knew about her parents, her heritage, and herself. Read more and register here for free

Jewish Life in China: Tales from the Far East

Pablo Faivel Levinton - For many people it is surprising to learn that there is a long and rich history of Jewish communities in China. In this talk we will explore the three places with the most relevant historical presence of Jews: Kaifeng (where a community was established in the Middle Ages and whose descendants still live today); Harbin (where a community from Russia thrived around the Trans-Siberian Railway), and Shanghai (where thousands of Jews came as refugees during WWII). We will also learn how Jewish life is today for those who currently live in China. Read more and register here

Jewish Life in Toronto's Global Mosaic

Sharoni Sibony - Toronto has been called the "most diverse city in the world" because half its population was born outside of Canada and because its residents represent 230 different nationalities. But at its founding, Toronto was the "City of Churches," a city where, it's been said that into the 1950s, "even the Jews were Presbyterian." Today, Toronto's Jewish community boasts a diverse range of synagogues and schools, social services, cultural festivals - and even filming locations for Adam Sandler!  Read more and register here

The Jews of Crimea and the story of the Karaites

Evgenia Kempinski - The peninsula of Crimea, on the northern shore of the Black Sea, has been historically a land of different peoples and contested borders. Two different Jewish communities also lived here side by side for a very long time: traditional Jews and Karaites. We are going to visit Crimea and learn the differences between traditional (Rabbinic) and Karaite (Non-rabbinic) Jews. We will also talk about Jewish agricultural settlements, Zionist training camps, and Soviet Jewish collective farms. Then we will discuss the history and traditions of the Karaites in the Russian Empire and we will look at the Synagogues, Karaite praying homes (Kenesas), and old Jewish cemeteries. Read more and register here

The Jews of London: One Thousand Years of History

Ian Fagelson - Join us on a journey through the streets and alleys of London to discover the history of the Jews in England. From the arrival of a Jewish community from Normandy in 1066/67 to the Kindertransport children of 1938/39, Jews have played essential roles in the unfolding drama of British history. On our journey, we will encounter many colourful characters and visit some of the most spectacular sites in the City, revealing the little-known Jewish associations of some of London's most famous landmarks. Read more and register here

From Nowogrodek to New York City and Beyond: The Music and History of Klezmer

Yale Strom - The word "klezmer" comes from the Hebrew "kli zemer" which means "instrument of the singing". Over time it came to signify the musicians themselves, and in current usage, it also refers to the musical genre of East European Jewish dance music. This lecture will look at the development of klezmer from medieval times through the 20th century, with the inclusion of photos, video, and musical examples (some from Yale Strom himself). Many of the locations that will be discussed have been personally visited by Strom, who has done ethnographic research there. Read more and register here

Stories of Jewish Budapest: From Affirmation to Persecution and Revival