Upcoming events
Qesher is an independent initiative that introduces different Jewish communities from around the world. Your contributions to the talks allow us to continue with our mission. You can choose from three different admission fees according to your ability. We also donate 10% of the profits of every talk to different projects and institutions.
Learn more about us here. You can also read more about the projects supported thanks to your contribution here.
Thursday, April 24
USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET
UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm
The talk will last approximately 90 minutes
Moroccan Judaism: History and Culture
Dr. Vanessa Elbaz - Morocco is home to one of the oldest Jewish communities in the Diaspora, with a heritage spanning over 2,000 years. This rich history reflects an intersection of various civilizations and traditions, including Berber, Andalusian, and Arab influences. In this talk, we will explore the historical and contemporary context of Moroccan Judaism, tracing the migrations of Jewish communities to and from Morocco and their integration into the fabric of the country. We will discuss regional, linguistic, and cultural differences, as well as the unique characteristics of certain local traditions. Read more and sign up.
Sunday, April 27
USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET
UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm
The talk will last approximately 90 minutes
The Musical Traditions of Moroccan Jews
Dr. Vanessa Elbaz - Throughout the centuries, Moroccan Jews preserved and blended religious and secular musical traditions, improvising upon them and popularizing them. By frequently collaborating with Muslim musicians, they helped develop a musical style that was authentically Moroccan. This talk will explore the diverse musical traditions within Moroccan Jewish practice. The music of both men and women, including sacred, liturgical, and humorous traditions, forms part of a larger sonic world that has helped Moroccan Jews integrate different aspects of their identities. Read more and sign up.
FREE EVENT
Tuesday, April 29
USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET
UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm
The talk will last approximately 90 minutes
Read and Travel:
A Unique Trip to Poland
Ira Wesley Kitmacher and Daniel Gurevich - Join us to learn about the special trip based on Ira Wesley Kitmacher's book: Monsters and Miracles: Horror, Heroes, and the Holocaust (2022). In this unique talk, you will have the opportunity to meet Ira, who will share insights about his book in the form of a Qesher Book Club. In the second half of the event, you will meet Daniel Gurevich, leader of Jerulita and this one-of-a-kind trip to Poland, inspired by the novel. He will share with you the itinerary and details of this unique trip, in which participants will visit Warsaw, Otwock, Lublin, Krakow, Wieliczka, Auschwitz, Wroclaw, and Lodz in September 2025. Read more and sign up here for free.
Thursday, May 1
USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET
UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm
The talk will last approximately 90 minutes
The Jewish Journey Through Scotland
Michael Tobias - This talk explores the history of Scottish Jewry, starting with the first Jewish visitors in the late 17th century and the formation of early congregations in the 1800s. Over time, communities grew, influenced by waves of immigrants, particularly from Poland and Lithuania. At its height in the 1950s and 1960s, Scotland's Jewish population was at its peak, but in the decades since, it has gradually declined. This talk will cover the communities in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and smaller towns, highlighting notable individuals, including one well-known figure whose story ended tragically. Join us for a compelling exploration of migration and the enduring legacy of Scotland's Jewish community. Read more and sign up.
Sunday, May 4
USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET
UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm
The talk will last approximately 90 minutes
The Jews of Ukraine: A Virtual Tour of Kyiv and Odesa
Evgenia Kempinski
- We invite you to discover the heart of Ukraine through its key cities, Kyiv and Odesa, and explore their rich Jewish heritage. Jews have lived in Kyiv since the 8th century. Throughout the centuries, the city has been home to renowned Jewish scholars and rabbis, writers and Zionist thinkers, as well as influential figures in business, culture, and politics. Kyiv's Jewish community has known both great prosperity and profound tragedy. Odesa, on the other hand, is often regarded by many Russian-speaking Jews as the Jewish capital of the former USSR. Read more and sign up.
FREE EVENT
Tuesday, May 6
USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET
UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm
The talk will last approximately 60 minutes
Qesher Book Club: "Sacred Places Tell Tales: Jewish Life and Heritage in Modern Cairo"
Yoram Meital - Sacred Places Tell Tales explores the history of Egyptian Jewry through Cairo's synagogues, highlighting their role in Jewish social and cultural life. Historian Yoram Meital views these synagogues as storytellers, shedding light on Egypt's Jewish communities from 1875 to today. Examining their locations, artifacts, and activities, he uncovers the diversity within Cairo's Sephardi, Ashkenazi, and Karaite groups. Meital argues that synagogues reflect Jewish identity, customs, and class divisions, offering insights into social and economic life. This study reveals how these religious spaces shaped and reflected the broader cultural and political transformations in Egyptian society. Read more and sign up for free.
Thursday, May 8
USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET
UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm
The talk will last approximately 90 minutes
Jewish Barcelona: now you see it, now you don't
Dominique Tomasov Blinder-
Jewish presence in Barcelona can be traced back to the period between the mid-9th and the end of the 14th century. What are the clues to this Jewish past? Are there any artifacts from that time? Where are they kept? How do we connect with our history? What are our places of memory today? The early 20th century marks the beginning of a second chapter of Jewish life in the city. We will explore the irregular evolution of this community, the second largest in Spain, and discover how Jews contributed to some of the most characteristically "Spanish" creations.. Read more and sign up.
Sunday, May 11
USA 12:00 pm PT / 3:00 pm ET
UK 8:00 pm / France 9:00 pm / Israel 10:00 pm
The talk will last approximately 90 minutes
Jewish Amsterdam: A Small Community with a Giant History
Nachshon Rodrigues Pereira - Nachshon, one of the few remaining descendants of the original Portuguese Jews of Amsterdam, will describe what Jewish Amsterdam was like in the 17th century when the city was the center of the Jewish world: offering the best Jewish education, housing the biggest Rabbis and being home to the largest synagogue in the world. Find out how this community was shaped and how it shaped its environment; how much was lost during World War II, and what is left now. A compelling journey embellished with music, visuals, and anecdotes.