Black Jews: Their Place in History. A Conversation with Nissim Black and Henry Abramson

A conversation with Nissim Black and Henry Abramson, moderated by Mordechai Yosef ben Avraham. The panelists and moderator will explore the idea of race and color in Jewish history and culture, and discuss the African and African-American Jewish experience over the centuries and in contemporary America, Europe and Israel. Recognizing that the world is at a potential inflection point on issues of race, the participants hope to expose the audience to the broader perspective that comes from understanding the experience of Black Jews, both in their shared historical past as part of the Jewish people and in their future history as well.
Contents:
Introduction by Mordechai ben Avraham (8m)
Historical overview by Henry Abramson (15m)
Screening of Mothaland Bounce (4m, click here for a better experience: • Nissim Black - Mothala... )
Personal Experience and Thoughts by Nissim Black (20m)
Discussion and Q&A (40m)
Nissim Black has been a gangsta rapper, a gang member, and a faith seeker. But it is his current incarnation that is here to stay: an African American Hasidic Jew who brings sharp beats and hooked-filled rhymes to the masses.
Henry Abramson earned his PhD in History at the University of Toronto and held visiting and post-doctoral fellowships at Cornell, Harvard, Oxford and the Hebrew University of Toronto. The author of eight books and the Jewish History in Daf Yomi podcast on All Daf, his online lecture in Jewish History are viewed by thousands daily. He is currently working on a major multi-volume survey of Jewish History forthcoming from Koren Publishers Jerusalem.
Mordechai Yosef Ben Avraham Hazan is a Rabbinical student in Jerusalem. He grew up in Los Angeles, California, where he converted to Judaism. Before coming to Israel, Mordechai Yosef was an entertainment executive with companies such as Warner Brothers, Electus, and others. He was also was a writer for Vogue Japan, MyJewishLearning.com and most recently TheJ.Ca. Mordechai is currently co-host personality on Israel unwired hit show "Israel in black-and-white."