87. Origins of the Jews of Poland and Eastern Europe (Jewish History Lab)

A brief overview of the migration of Jews to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the medieval period.
For further reading:
Antony Polonsky, The Jews in Poland and Russia www.google.com/books/edition/...
Bernard Weinryb, The Jews of Poland: A Social and Economic History of the Jewish Community in Poland from 1100 to 1800 www.google.com/books/edition/...
Interested in studying more deeply with our Membership perks?
Join our learning community of students, researchers and colleagues: / @henryabramsonphd
New online course: A Thousand Years of Ashkenaz!
Selected videos, quizzes, discussion groups. Register here: henryabramson.com/course/a-th...

[@dr.janusztanas2956]

Depth of knowledge, easiness of delivery and warm jokes, love it.

[@cocoscabana]

I'm just starting my genealogy and I am fascinated by my families southern polish Jewish ancestors. I adore your humor by the way ! Thank you so much

[@erikaxchristine]

I have the same thing. I was shocked

[@brigittebeltran6701]

Me too!!!! Baruch Ha Shem!!! 🕎

[@brigittebeltran6701]

@@erikaxchristine ME too! And I always had something in me that gravitated towards the plight of the Jews! I now keep the true Sabbath and am a Messianic Jew! 🕎

[@plrc4593]

@@brigittebeltran6701 A Messianic Jew? Very nice to read it. Greetings from Poland.

[@suzanpanijel8850]

Massianic Jew? There is no such a think... Jews don't except Jesus as the " Mashiah" İf you do so, you still remain Jew, but just in paper.

[@yelenahafisov9409]

Thank you so much Dr. Abramson, it is such a pleasure to listen to your lectures. Your vast knowledge of Jewish history, your sense of humor, and your pleasant demeanour are the reasons I look make forward to watching your videos.

[@nigelkennedy3427]

Thank you for such an unostentatious, stimulating and informative overview based on useful factual information. Fascinating.

[@carolinekoen2414]

I just discovered your videos this evening and have already listened to two. I just love that there is a wealth of knowledge here for me to immerse myself in!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Welcome aboard! Thank you for the kind feedback!

[@blakewilley2754]

Thank you. Great presentation and highly informative. Keep up the good work!

[@TheNummatus]

Thanks Henry for that instructive lecture. As a Polish judeophile, I am well aware of our bonds, mental and material, and all the more sad, because of modern history.

[@konradnsa]

Same here. I'm very ashamed of what Israel become. Colonial, military and apartheid state.

[@molivson]

@@konradnsa lol....so you're a "Judeophile" who has bought into the Soviet-created lie that is "palestine"? With friends like that, who needs enemies?

[@lordemed1]

@@konradnsa We do not need you and your shame.

[@konradnsa]

@@lordemed1 - apartheid state is internationally recognized fact. One needs v.special brain wash to be proud of it.

[@jfalk35]

Jacek, Never met a "judeophile", but thank you! My wife is a Polish/Christian from Chicago and we both have a love for scripture and G-d.

[@jazzguitarcollege]

Thank you so much and God bless you for these history lessons. Please keep them coming in is very important.

[@ciaoitalo]

thank you for posting these, these are very educational!

[@davidjay4373]

Incredible listen. Very casual and informative style, thank you professor!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Glad you liked it!

[@kasiakondracki5171]

Thank you. As a non Jew, I found this informative and learned a lot!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

You're welcome! Thank you for being a public subscriber!

[@hasanar5618]

Can I talk to you on Facebook?

[@karolw.5208]

Thank you, dr. Abramson. I learned something about the country where I was born.

[@collegesuccess]

04:38 min. mark: Worthwhile detail on the emergence of design, workmanship and the foundation of the complete production of royal coinage generated in Poland, very early on. Great episode, Dr. Abramson. Cheers! 😃

[@Epsteinrican]

Outstanding Professor!

[@seanjohnkotris4981]

Thanks for your history lesson and free education. My father taught me a very small piece of this, from there we ended up in bohemia (czechoslovakia )and All fled in 1946 almost every member of our family

[@Jsmith2024]

Thank you very much for this. I'm not particularly interested in Jewish history, but I am interested in medieval and early medieval European history and find your presentation style (including your jokes) so good I am drawn to pay attention to your lectures.

[@adielbenjudah1360]

E1B1A is the real Israelite Hebrew(Jew) DNA haplogroup(Lemba, Bantu, Igbo, Negros). There were many invaders that occupied the land after the Israelite had been exiled/dispersed. Ashkenazi are a mix of Scythian, Khazar, and the bastard children from Turkish harems under the Ottoman empire. History and DNA shows the Ashkenazi originated in the Caucus Mountains, not Israel. See: "Lemba tribe", "Bantu", "Dr Eran Elhaik", "Arthur Koestler", "Dante Fortson".

[@davissae]

Thank you for posting this great explanation. I was wondering why we have so many Lithuanian/Polish/Belarusian jews with German surnames! The Yiddish thing makes sense now too.

[@jeffmax2941]

Ok so I guess there not true jews

[@davidcrandall4958]

davisee you have it reversed,The Jews were therehfitst

[@OxFromPhilly]

I loved the calorie joke in the beginning lol. Great video Rabbi, thanks for sharing.

[@sajordan3428]

Wow, factual, obviously well versed, easy to listen to. I like Profe’s humor. Thank you, can’t wait to watch more, and I’m not a Jewish person.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Glad you find it useful!

[@pgrnighttrash1026]

@@HenryAbramsonPhDKaraimi (Jews) Tatars(Muslims) , Ormians, Gypsy's, Łemkowie(orthodox, Rome)Poles... MULTI CULTURAL Lands ♥️

[@adielbenjudah1360]

E1B1A is the real Israelite Hebrew(Jew) DNA haplogroup(Lemba, Bantu, Igbo, Negros). There were many invaders that occupied the land after the Israelite had been exiled/dispersed. Ashkenazi are a mix of Scythian, Khazar, and the bastard children from Turkish harems under the Ottoman empire. History and DNA shows the Ashkenazi originated in the Caucus Mountains, not Israel. See: "Lemba tribe", "Bantu", "Dr Eran Elhaik", "Arthur Koestler", "Dante Fortson".

[@henryterranauta9100]

Many thanks for such rich lecture. The coinage is very interesting for me, with Hebrew letters all over. My suggestion is that you develop it further by mentioning, if possible, its metal content and geographical circulation. Possibly, if such money was only for trade among Jewish communities. For example, the golden florin lasted of 300 years and most of its 3.5 grams. Looking forward for your clear explanations. Mazeltov. 👏🏽

[@efstratiosfilis2290]

Wow: how mind blowing to see those coins! This is not only Jewish history but Polish & Lithuanian history as well. Thank you Dr. Abramson.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

You are most welcome!

[@GK_Imagimotion]

He just mixed everything together. So it sounds like Jews began to get their privileges during Lithuanian- Polish Commonwealth, while in fact, the Statute of Kalisz(mentioned in the vid) happened long before the Commonwealth even existed.

[@MatejVcelka]

Yeah, the coins and King Mieszko were long before Polish-Lithuanian "union" - in the time of true Kingdom of Poland

[@elkiness]

Thank you; this is very interesting to me-- All my grandparents came from the Ukraine, towns near the Russian-Polish border, and the family name (Liebersohn)--shows German orgins before that (I think--perhaps descendants of a Rabbi Lieber.) They came to the USA in the early part of the last century. My parents were born in the US, their brothers and sisters in Europe. Yiddish was the language spoken at home, although my grandfather spoke 5 languages. I left America to live in Israel 50 years ago. Here, of course, is an amazing mixture of Jews from so many countries; my own family is now mixed Askanazi/Sphardi. I'm very glad to find your site! Looking forward to more of your lectures.

[@Artur_M.]

I'm always glad to see the knowledge of our shared history being spreaded. Greetings from Poland!

[@nicoleallio204]

Thank you very much for this informative video. Well done.

[@ant4935]

I have for a long time enjoyed your teachings. Was wondering do you have a top ten of your jokes video?

[@pheebsbee1280]

Good idea!😀

[@krisjustin3884]

Really enjoyed this interesting lecture! New subscriber here. My family were German Evangelicals in East Prussia and I read the Lutherans, Catholics and Jews lived harmoniously together for many years and many had mixed German, Slavic and Jewish ancestry. Look forward to more of your lectures on our common homeland. My family weren’t Jewish, yet I feel honored to be part of a nation that welcomed these people.

[@smileylady485]

Thank you, I enjoyed your history. It's good to know about other cultures.

[@cfchh1905]

Very well made video of you, Henry. You know, what you talk about. I will follow you now.

[@archraskal]

Considering that Ukraine as a place plays an especially significant part in Jewish history, people in the media and elsewhere seem to not treat as noteworthy that Ukraine's current president, Volodymyr Zelensky is Jewish. The man got 73% of Ukraine's vote in his election. All of this, in its historical perspective, deserves much more attention it would seem.

[@orrinschwab9521]

yes, especially since the Ukrainians have a centuries old history of virulent anti-Semitism which culminated in Ukrainian complicity with the SS in the murder of large numbers of Ukrainian Jews.

[@henryterranauta9100]

Very noteworthy, considering how Jewish communities were ravished by the Cossacks in the 1800’s.

[@larryjackson6075]

@@orrinschwab9521 Jesuits.

[@lordemed1]

@@larryjackson6075 ???

[@xaviermccloud4586]

@@lordemed1 Any caucasian person claiming Jewish ancestry is the same as any white person claiming to be native American.

[@luiscarlosbarragan]

Fantastic lecture profesor!

[@robertklose2140]

Very informative presentation. Thank you.

[@stevenjackson6360]

Hi Dr Abramson, I'm not Jewish but am fascinated by your lectures. I'm from Northern Ireland, would it be possible to do a lecture on Jewish culture /Judaism in Ireland? I know we don't have much of a Jewish community, but there must be some history there

[@formulaone07]

The current President of Israel had a grandfather who was Chief Rabbi of Ireland.

[@KameaMedia]

Dublin has had two Jewish mayors, a father and son, -named Briscoe. James Joyce made his protagonists Leopold and Molly Bloom Jewish in the mind-bending, tour-de-force novel, “Ulysses.”

[@jezalb2710]

Poles are more popular in Éire than Jews. They sure will have left their mark on Ireland.

[@Owen741.]

Lost tribes

[@Headhunter_212]

Another informative and engaging lecture. How much of this material is covered in tour dissertation and other publications ?

[@grayj7441]

Knowledge is the faith i live by.

[@elzbietahadjali6547]

Great history details 👌 👏 👍 🙌 😀...thank you so much...!!!

[@mjungwir]

Dr. Abramson, thank you for another wonderful lecture. I appreciate your cheezy jokes. I can't believe that you have already done 87 of these lectures!

[@Dovid2000]

Very informative.

[@gerdturidlohneolsen5057]

Very interesting! Thank you!

[@menachemsalomon]

Do you have a video on the topic of R' Shaul Wahl of the Katzenelenbogen family, the legendary King of Poland for a day? I'm not sure of the scale of events you're discussing in this lecture merits his mention, but I'm hoping you discuss the story somewhere.

[@serenaisaacson1037]

I have in my genealogical tree at Meir Katzenelenbogen (1482-1565) and Hana Mintz ( died in 1564) in Padova. Italia . Their son Samuel Judah (1545-1617) moved to Poland and his son was Shaul Wahl , king for a night , after the king of Poland Sigismund the third ? died and the new king was proclaimed!

[@menachemsalomon]

@@serenaisaacson1037 You share parts of your genealogical tree with a great many leading rabbis and rebbes. (Any relation to the Isaacson family of rabbis, in Philadelphia and NYC?)

[@serenaisaacson1037]

@@menachemsalomon I know about the great rabbinical families, my husband was Isaacson, my maiden name is Klein, I leave in Israel, from Transylvania Romania. Rav Levy Itzhak from Berdicev had a daughter Eszter Rachel and a son Meir ( the ancestor of Menahem Mendel Ben Levy Itzhak z”l! My great grandmother was Rachel Ester Rossler, buried in Bisztritz Romania! I don’t know about the ancestry of my late husband , Sheldon Isaacson. Part of my family survived the Holocaust and leave in Israel. I wish you all the best and thanks for your kind words!

[@menachemsalomon]

@@serenaisaacson1037 You seem to have very illustrious _yichus,_ indeed. Be well, and best wishes to you, too.

[@serenaisaacson1037]

@@menachemsalomon I believe most of our people are the descendants of the Judah, Benjamin Levites and Kohanim from the Temple and we are all related , but a lot of information was lost in the Holocaust. I wish you all the best, “ Am Israel Chai”🙏🇮🇱

[@plumeria9990]

Very good. I am a retired professor of sociology, and very familiar with Jewish migration. Thank you. Susan Stein Mills

[@Psychiatrick]

Are you familiar with the etymology of the word "Jew"? It ain't Torahical!

[@Lagolop]

@@Psychiatrick Jew=Hebrew=Israelite. Different terms, same people.

[@malgorzatamiroslawakim7187]

Shalom from Tokyo thank you very much for video, dziękuję bardzo I pozdrawiam serdecznie,

[@giovanniloubetancourt3829]

Hello Rabbi, I loved the explanation, I practice messianism and we are with joy studying the Torah and the origins of the wonderful Jewish people ... thank you

[@sirexcellent5310]

As long as you believe in one god

[@brigittebeltran6701]

@@sirexcellent5310 Amen....and they keep Holy the true Shabbat as well! 🕎

[@brigittebeltran6701]

I always gravitated towards Jewish people and culture...began the first Messianic Congregation in Tucson AZ in the early 1990's..now discovered my Jewish roots! ✡️ Still keep the true Sabbath...SABADO! 🕎

[@pierrekiroule2827]

I'm a Southern French and northern Italian Catholic, but i'm very fascinated by the history of Eastern jewry. . And do my researches on the topic since months...as a Medditerrean, and even in the ancestors family, i feel deep links and interest with the whole History of Mediterrean lands and people, whatever the religions. Thank you so much for the Masterclass!

[@irekd76]

Thank you Henry or the video

[@flowerchild777]

Very interesting/informative. Thank you for taking time to educate, sir. I'm sorry you were being disrespected in chat😔 Class isn't what it used to be, sadly.

[@viz12345]

Enjoyed so far and looking forward for next installment.

[@chaughten]

Had no idea about the council of lands would love to hear more! Thanks!!

[@ellenbalgley9985]

Great Job 🤗 easy to understand !!!

[@gzonus]

Thank you Henry Thank you for your enlightening videos. I have been very surprised to learn that jews from Poland came from western Europe. So the missing link is how did they get there after the destruction of the second temple ? Thank you

[@DiegoVaz3]

The Holy Roman Emperor invited 80 Jewish families from Italy. Those are the origins of the European Jewry.

[@negationf6973]

Jews arrived in Europe in different ways. Some were slaves taken by the Romans after their wars with the Jews. But others arrived as merchants and mercenaries who settled in Europe willingly. DNA evidence shows European Jews have European ancestry as well as Middle Eastern ancestry, so some of their ancestors were Europeans who converted to Judaism and joined those Jewish diaspora communities.

[@KampGallery]

Ok,Thanks rabbi. My mom's parents were from Poland and Ukraine and I was raised Catholic, in an Irish-German parrish. I always felt since being a child, this strong attraction to Judaism as a philosophy. But growing up there were no Jewish kids in my neighborhood so I didn't get to interact with Jews my own age, just older "authority figure" jewish people, e.i, our pediatrician, my dad's business associate, and the "bubbie" down the block. That was until we moved and I changed high schools. There I finally met my people! At 16, I met people who who looked like me, talked like me and held the same values. Mostly jewish students of Polish and Russian heritage. Well, there were German Jews too but that's another story. It came to no surprise to my dad when I told him I was only interested in going out with Jewish women and having Jewish friends. My mom's reaction, well that was another story too. I think she embraced the church because here parents, for all practical purposes, were atheists. But I also feel my ancestry somehow inclined me to my jewish-phile. I converted a year after my marriage, had my bar-mitzvah when my oldest daughter had her bat-m. Our family is crazy in love with our faith and yiddishkeit. And my mom, she got used to the idea and loved her grandchildren.

[@lauras2519]

Great story

[@rogerlephoque3704]

Amen

[@jimtwisted1984]

You need help.

[@molivson]

What a journey!

[@danielvanbelgie5807]

Thank you Professor and also all the best to you! Stay inquisitive and keep fit - and concerning the calories: may your diet be as well balanced as your lectures😀

[@robertkruchell5534]

Thank you I love my Jewish roots you are making it fun and understanding for me thank you

[@jeffmax2941]

So really there not from middle east

[@erectilereptile7383]

@@jeffmax2941 genetic evidence says otherwise. So you’re wrong.

[@skeletonkeysproductionskp]

Thank you very much for this video, subscribed! Even as a Gentile I find Jewish history fascinating!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Enjoy in good health!

[@skeletonkeysproductionskp]

@@HenryAbramsonPhD Mazel Tov!

[@jimhurt3224]

An interesting question which I am eager to learn more about, but the author's story essentially begins rather abruptly in the tenth century Rheinland, with a dash of the Byzantines and Kahzars. Shouldn't we start in the first century and the Levant and go from there?

[@dibanani8826]

coz nothing happened for 1 000 years

[@gfriedman99]

@@dibanani8826 lol

[@marciem2498]

Hello, I'm doing family genealogical research. Is there a link for the maps in this clip? Was Bessarabia part of the Ukraine in the mid-late 1800's? I'm also trying to reconcile family origins from both Belarus and Warsaw. Was there movement between these places?

[@18roselover]

Bessarabia is part of romania ??

[@tzikronanimofagen8741]

Ukraina did not exist as a country in the 19th century. It would have all been a part of Russia. What is Belarus today would have been closely linked to Eastern Poland (where Warsaw is). I know that there is a big genealogy research going on in Warsaw and Poland (Western Ukraine used to be a part of Poland)and i think you might have good chances of finding ancestors through them. For the southern parts might be more difficult

[@marciem2498]

@@tzikronanimofagen8741 do you have a website to link to?

[@AlexanderBassinIam]

@@tzikronanimofagen8741 That is not correct. Poland was the part of Russia at 19 century either. Poland did not exist as a country at that time also. Poland got independence from Russia in 1918 only. So, Belarus, Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania where in same country and there are no borders between. They just spoke different Yiddish dialects.

[@marciem2498]

@@AlexanderBassinIam question. If I were to research Belarus in the late 1800's what country today should I start looking in?

[@bobbi5523]

Thanks. Bobbi (from TCS... ) I'm curious on how Mtn Jews/Mizrachi Persian on MyHeritage classifications mixed into so many "Eastern European Jewish" families. It's a constant strain in some femilies genetically who ended up in Plunge Lithuania as well as Belarus. We've been trying to track it down but beyond possibly Georgian Jewish areas, no one in the related families can track down the demographics of where and when they would have migrated into European Jewish families connected to various Rebbes. I know the Silk Road families had many connections to some Persian families. When you get around to it, it would be interesting. If you have, please point me in that direction. Thanks, love your lectures. Be well and have a good year.

[@jeffreywalsby4878]

Good point. Many Jews from certain communities of the the Ukraine (East of Galicia) look remarkably non-European and very Middle Eastern even though they are culturally Ashkenazi. In fact, I come from a family like this. We basically look Persian from both sides of the family who spoke Yiddish but we didn't always. There are Jewish historians (not this one) who have connected some Rhadanite vestigial presence in Ashkenazi comminities from France all the way to China (Including present day Iraq) due to Rhadanite trade and the fact that some Middle Eastern rabbis and their families ocasionally sojourned and settled in many European lands. Eastern Europe was thus a place of both Eastern and Western Jewish genetics, with a strong Ashkenazi Jewish cultural influence.

[@janglestick]

there were some 'recent' documentaries on the connection between the genetics of 300 to 380 (iirc) families found in ancient schtetl , i believe in the extreme south east of Austria in the area around Vienna, and more anciently, a bit farther east along the southern border of Hungary ending in the mountains before the black sea. And the inference is that not all the jews went west, up (germany basically) and then back down and east. Instead some of them seem to have rather predictably trickled up from the area of the Levant and slowly across the mountains, eventually emerging and possibly re-consolidating from groups emerging from the Romanian area and also trickling up through the Swiss area. Again, iirc this evidence also came with some good reports from the non-jews in the area. And a slight indication that people were allowed to leave and re-join the jewish community in their way of life. I wish I had the documentary link for you but it was late at night and I was watching a ton of jewish stuff and it wasnt until later that I realized the relevence of what I watched. I suppose "ancient schtetl" is the key search lately. Im sorta curious what 'TCS" is, do you jewish cultural / genetic studies?

[@janglestick]

@@jeffreywalsby4878 interesting jeffrey, as far as i understand im from that same area, however im barely able to take a tan and have blue eyes maternally. I'd be curious in whatever either of you come up with. Certainly quite a lot culturally seems to have happened for the jews in that area. You site some interesting sources, I can see how the Rhadanites certainly passed through there, to me that probably supports the area being already jewish-friendly, rather that being initially settled by Rhadanites during trade journeys, which doesnt seem probable given there were already major centers of modern commerce by then and no need for the jews to establish relatively remote villages, especially as they had a fair amount of wealth and a need to trade constantly and on a high level, so, why go there or even go through that slightly less-taken route, unless it was already somewhat jewish friendly at the least. I like the list of genetic and cultural influences you site. The "ancient schtetl" are found along the southern mountainous border of that area, apparently, as I said in prev msg to OP, trickling up through the mountains, and from the east. Anyway, sorry im so lazy, I'd be interested if you end up with some more concrete data than I have. Happy new year all

[@janglestick]

@@shainazion4073 That's very interesting, I am surprised to see something of such certainty stated by Nature. I cannot imagine how they would determine at that age of antiquity that someone was an Israelite, given that we only have a smattering of things like dual small / large pillars in homes and remnants of the time when ashera was included, for example, some symbols that seem to pre-cursors to the shape of early menorah. And I thought those indicators were almost entirely in the southern levant. I will try to decode that article, although it's implications might be beyond me. Thank you very much for the link.

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

MyHeritageDNA isn't the most reliable test but, on the other hand, it isn't wrong for them to suggest a small Mizrahi Jewish component in some Ashkenazic individuals -- and, yes, specific lineages very close to or exactly shared with Mountain Jews such as R2a-FGC132117 (page 185 in the book "The Jews of Khazaria, Third Edition") and HV1b2 (page 58 in the book "The Maternal Genetic Lineages of Ashkenazic Jews"), so, genetic contributions from both men and women, that would have formed part of the Jewish communities in Khazaria and Kyivan Rus'.

[@ARenewedmind]

In the light of developments at present, I find this lecture very instructive and enlightening as to why there are so many Jews in Ukraine (and also other eastern European countries). Thank you

[@NACHALCHAIM]

The fact that zero words or terms from the Khazar language were incorporated in "Yiddish" that is, the lingua franca of Eastern European Jews, completely disproves the antisemitic canard that they come from gentile Khazars. Exactly as Dr. Abramson stated, Eastern European Jews came from Germany, Yiddish is German. Here is a quote from the world renown linguist (of Slavic and Turkic languages), Prof. Victor Friedman, U of C. “I agree wholeheartedly that Yiddish-speaking Jews in East Europe came from Germanic territory, just as surely as Ladino-speaking Jews came to the Balkans from Spain in 1492… However, it is absolutely true that we know that Khazar was a Turkic language belonging to the l/r-branch (like Hunnic, Bulgar, and Avar, but unlike all the living Turkic languages [which belong to the s/z branch] except Chuvash, cf. Chuvash təxər = Turkish dokuz ‘nine’) and indeed there is not a trace of Khazar in Yiddish that any serious linguist has identified."

[@jeffreywalsby4878]

'Yamulka' is a Turkic word although I don't know if it's Khazar. There is some Khazar influence of course there'd be

[@NACHALCHAIM]

@@jeffreywalsby4878 There is no such word in Yiddish, "Yamulka". I guess you believe in the 13th tribe canard. Not a shred of evidence.

[@zafirjoe18]

@@jeffreywalsby4878 “Yamulka” better pronounced Yarmulke is a Yiddishised word from the Hebrew ירא מקל which means fear of heaven. For that is the reason for one to done a head covering , shows fear and humility from the one above .

[@jeffreywalsby4878]

@@zafirjoe18 What is your source for that? Just curious. 'Makel" means 'cain' doesn't? I lived in Israel 10 years, so I do know my Hebrew, \

[@zafirjoe18]

@@jeffreywalsby4878 Ashkenazi Jews don’t say El when referring to Hashem only in prayer and litiurgy or bible study . Unlike the Sefardim that are only scrupulous in this regard with the substitute of the Tetragrammaton A-D-O-NA-I by saying Hashem ( the [holy] name). But for an Ashkenazi Jew any reference to Hashem even using כנויים it would be modified in mundane speech . Hence for El we say Kel . ירא fear m’ kel from Hashem. Hope this clarifies

[@plrc4593]

Excellent wideo! Such videos are very needed because folks know nothing about history of Jews in Poland. All they know is only Holocasut, and "antisemitism". They don't know how Jews got to Poland and why there was so many Jews in Poland. If all you know about history of Polish Jews is Holocaust and antisemitism, then you know nothing about history of Polish Jews. Especially congatulations go for the Council of Four Lands. A very obscure fact I think. Greetings from Poland.

[@benn7973]

Very interesting stuff!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ramalammagramma2888]

Our family migrated from Spain and France into Holland and then Poland-at least that’s the family story on my mom’s side.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

interesting

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

From my article "Sephardic Jews in Central and Northern Poland" -- "A number of Sephardic businessmen moved from Amsterdam, Netherlands and Hamburg, Germany to Gdańsk, a city along the Baltic coast in northern Poland. Some stayed and raised families there, while others moved back west." But some of these Sephardim in Poland originated in Portugal. Sometimes the migration path involved Spain to Portugal to Holland, without France as an intermediary.

[@rahim4602]

I love you Henry. Amazing insightful lectures. Please do kindly keep them up. I hope we can meet someday.

[@bonbon5418]

Thanks for an interesting lesson

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Glad you liked it!

[@kingcobra7565]

Great lectures

[@kazmierzglinny6728]

Thank you that was interesting ✌🏻.

[@HeroTimeManufacturing]

I love the lectures, thank you very much.

[@MrMikkyn]

This is super interesting

[@marypinkerton3290]

Thank you!

[@karlschreiber9286]

Exciting! What was the role of jews after the 11. century between "germany" and poland means east from Elbe to Wisla and in the "Lübsches Recht" in the baltic sea? I want to write about that subjects. Thanks Rabbi. (I m thin thou eating a lot) 😃

[@Psychiatrick]

What is the etymology for the word "Jew"?

[@sumofighter]

subscribed, thumb up... very good history overview.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Thank you

[@agnesfrandsen1599]

I'm Polish. I recently found out that I have Jewish ancestry.

[@y2kabilov]

Why no mention of the Sephardic Jewry in Poland?

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

For that you can read my articles online with the titles "Sephardic Jews in Central and Northern Poland" and "Sephardic Jews in Galitzian Poland and Environs".

[@user-yz8pw9dv2n]

There were indeed Sephardi jewish refugees in Poland and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe.As well as here in Western and northern Europe.My own deported Sephardi family relatives had to come from.Spain and Portugal to to France Italy and the Ottoman Empire where my own particular family branch settled in what later became Greece.Where I came from in Salonika/Thessaloniki.My parents and I later moved to London England.Where I still live.

[@Jewish_Israeli_Zionist]

I really love Poland ❤ super interesting country. Beautiful culture. And for the ignorants among us Jews, they saved the most Jews during ww2 and gave us a shelter after the pogrom of the black plague.

[@roundknittles]

Were coins minted w yiddish letters also to make counter fitting more difficult?

[@michaelferto6588]

....I studied this for years, years ago....I was amazed...Then my ant told me, my grand parents spoke Polish and Yiddish...My mom said they were Galiziana....Today that's western Ukraine... My father's side came from Hungary and Slovakia...This area was the Austrian Hungarian empire, at one time as well... The more I study this, the more I want to learn.....The council of four lands was interesting to learn of, in the Poland Lithuanian Empire.... I was saddened to learn, when it ended... Thanks for sharing....

[@plrc4593]

Greetings from Poland.

[@LisaRichards_123]

My real last name is Pollack, but my father’s family was from Lithuania, so I look forward to hearing this. My late father always said his father’s side’s lineage goes back to the exile from Spain during the Inquisition.

[@eddihaskell]

Borders changed several times in the area between Eastern Prussia, Russia, Poland, the USSR, Lithuania, Latvia, and Belorussia and Russia after the break-up of the USSR. The majority in Europe lived in the Pale of Settlement (Russian Empire) before the first world war. So saying you come from Poland or Lithuania really is the same thing if your ancestors migrated before the first world war to the USA or anywhere else. Your ancestors came from the Russian Empire if they came from the general area.

[@ef2718]

@@eddihaskell A friend of mine was born in the same house as her mother and grandmother, yet each was born in a different "country"...

[@Lagolop]

@@ef2718 Borders shifted a lot. There is a saying that a Jew is born in one country, lived in another and died in a this ... but never left the same village.

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

Search for the free article "Sephardic Jews in Lithuania and Latvia" by Kevin Alan Brook.

[@Hakolology]

What does the rest of the coin's inscription read?

[@saxonstacker7269]

Fascinating history. Khazar history is mysterious.

[@MrPickledede]

Shalom from Be'er Sheva Israel! I have enjoyed your videos for years. I have noticed that you have covered the length and breadth of the Jewish World from the Ashkenazi Jews to the Sephardic Jews even to the Ethiopian Jews. As a Yemenite Jew as far as I can see you haven't yet covered the history of the Yemenite Jews except in passing with the history of the Jews of Arabia. I would love it if you can make a video on the history of the Yemenite Jews I would really appreciate it. As an aside we Yemenite Jews do not consider ourselves to be Sepharadi nor Mizrahi. The early Yemenite Jewish settlers in Israel in the late 19th century fought and won the right to have their own Beit Din after initialy being forced to accept the authority of the Sepharadi Beit Din. Our Hebrew pronunciation is uninteligible to Sepharadim and our Baladi Nusach is seperate and distinct. Though we have a Shami Sepharadi influenced nusach accepted largely because of the lack of a printing press in Yemen and the destruction by the Muslims of our handwritten Siddurim and Sefarim in the 17th century.

[@rogerlephoque3704]

G-d bless you and our proud brothers and sisters in the Yemenite community. A few years ago, I had a fascinating discussion with a gentleman who was originally from Aden. As a Jew, he told me that Adeni Jews consider themselves distinct from their co-religionists to the north...

[@xaviermccloud4586]

The man never even looked at your comment.

[@xaviermccloud4586]

@@shainazion4073 They get a notification for every comment made.

[@xaviermccloud4586]

@@shainazion4073 Stop please. You're comment is pointless really.

[@philliparieff7862]

B”H married into an Israeli Teimani family 40+ years ago and love the Baladi Nusahh

[@robertomorales8286]

Greetings from Puerto Rico.Great lecture.

[@johncordbooks593]

Wonderful, sir, and I shall watch more. French-Catholic family (my mother's side) from San Francisco are of Jewish ancestry, I find out after mother passes in 2016. She was w/USSS 22 yrs and, I see, could keep a secret. Her ancestors from Pau, of the "Segals" (iterated to Segalas), in an area once "the land of the Segals" I saw in a documentary years ago. Had reason to study since 15. The abuses in that Catholic School in Japan (I was the only nonreligious child) would lead me to study the Bible (5X) & Quran (3X). Had no intent to write books, and I don't sell them anymore since the Publ Co closed. I don't see how there shall ever be an end to the anti-Jew, racism, holy wars, oppressions until the meaning of the 1st Law of Moses is taught, along with what the Jew, Gentile, Circumcision (of the heart) & "dead letter" means. It's all there in Scripture, but remains silenced. I was raised in Yokohama for over 5 years, leaving in 1969. Father was #2 Seniority Pilot with JAL until he retired. Wasn't till moving back to The States that I started hearing this vile blaming of "The Jews." Why? Our dearest friends in Japan (and after we returned the US) were Jewish. My folks also had wonderful Catholic & Protestant friends. They didn't hate our family because we were nonreligious. We all know that Life is about your Good Character. The rest is hoopla if it's not serving Law #1 and actually building the Wisdom & Integrity of Character that keeps the holy land holy. The land is only as holy as the character of those upon it. Thank you, kindly. Love, from Reno NV.

[@pamelaleibowitz3019]

Thank you, so enlightening and informative.

[@yodorob]

I didn't notice any mention of the mysterious, ancient, pre-Ashkenazic Jewish language known as Judeo-Slavic or Knaanic/Cnaanic that was spoken by Jews in Eastern Europe before the huge Ashkenazic tide. Perhaps speakers of that language were the same ones who had migrated to Eastern Europe directly from the Byzantine Empire and/or Khazaria!

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

I'm going to partially agree with you. Have you read the study "Genome-wide data from medieval German Jews show that the Ashkenazi founder event pre-dated the 14th century"? The Turkic-Mongolic haplogroup N9a3a1b1 was found in a member of the Judeo-Slavic subpopulation in Erfurt, Germany in the 14th century which had recently migrated there from Slavic lands. Also found in the Judeo-Slavic subpopulation in Erfurt was HV1b2, a haplogroup that is shared with Romaniote Jews in Greece, perhaps because of a migration from Byzantium into Eastern Europe (that's one of the possibilities).

[@janb2996]

Which Mieszko you are talking about. The most famous one was a prince and not a king. He ruled in the 10th century?

[@Artur_M.]

It is dated to be a coin of Mieszko III the Old (c. 1127 - 1202), also not a King, so it's interesting that the inscription uses the Slavic word for "king" (presumably as a general term for "ruler") with disregard for the proper titulature. BTW the inscription is considered by some to be one of the few remaining examples of the extinct Knaanic language (Judeo-Slavic).

[@janb2996]

@@Artur_M. Thanks a lot.

[@corneliacarden4344]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I love the Jewish people, they have been a great blessing to the world and mankind. I love and support Israel. Shalom

[@user-rv6bo5ce7j]

I dont support Israël but i love jews people

[@Kikap6001]

There has been nothing but war since the State of Israel was Founded How is that a blessing for the World The Victims in the Middle East have been ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS the FOUNDING CHURCH OF KRISTO🌿☦️🌹🙏 and PALESTINIANS

[@louisschloss9768]

I love Israel too

[@davidcrandall4958]

the Jews ARE Israel!

[@davidcrandall4958]

😊😊The Jews of Europe were also Israel!

[@dawmster]

11:52 Little oral typo: Jewish Karczma (karchma not krechma) 😀 Greetings from Poland!

[@suzis5767]

That is how it is pronounced in Yiddish, so not a typo. Just not in Polish.

[@dawmster]

@@suzis5767 ah, ok!

[@bernarddanny2023]

Always wondered how Israelites migrated to Europe. Thanks for the infor , just love history. 🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬👍👍👍

[@johnlansing2902]

Thank you.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

You're welcome!

[@attilatasciko4817]

3:00= That's "Pale of settlement"

[@grimmmunro2279]

Love listening to your talk's professor. Could you tell me if dna shows up Jewish ancestors if you have eastern European ,Belarus etc.dna I would love to know.

[@user-jr4kc6lu9q]

Most DNA tests easily detect Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. What would you like to learn specifically?

[@richardglady3009]

I miss your jokes. I find it amazing that “Poland” goes from being the largest nation in Europe to disappearing into its neighbors. A wonderful lecture. Thank you.

[@jezalb2710]

It was the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. Not only Poland.

[@jaycee30865]

Poland. Fieldland in Slavic languages. I thought.

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

thank you! I'm glad that you enjoyed the video.

[@jezalb2710]

@@HenryAbramsonPhD I sure did

[@zackmano]

Interpreting "Poland" as "פה לין" is a beautiful idea. I remember being a young man in Yeshiva and meeting an old mekubal in Yerushalayim. When I told him I was from America he said: "Ah! עם ריקה!", meaning "empty nation".

[@dovoppenheim3106]

some even said - פולניה - "here rest god!" meaning God chose Polan as a resting place for the Jews

[@davidfranklin2975]

Also, there is some speculation that Brit ish, meaning man of the covenant, is possibly Jewish. I personally do not subscribe to that etymology, but it is irrelevant since all of us humans are of one species.

[@Mala_Li]

@@dovoppenheim3106 in You dreams - Poland belongs to Polish nation not jews

[@dovoppenheim3106]

@@Mala_Li can you understand English? I said “resting” place. A place where traveling person can rest before he continues his journey…

[@agataparczewska7259]

@@dovoppenheim3106 Please, read The New Testament and you will find out what does it mean;)

[@rolandtours8404]

Excellent lecture!

[@tagbarzeev8283]

Hello I am looking for a link that would indicate the Jewish population of Poland between the 1100's and 1300's

[@dougthegreat1808]

Thank you rabbi. Having "Groseltren" who were born in Obertyn Galicia with an Austrian last name, this enlightenment is appreciated...

[@williammiller3175]

Hi Dr. Abramson, been busy reading Tevye's daughters. Saw Fiddler on the Roof several times

[@lilianawebb8687]

Gracias...

[@husq48]

Did the writings of Martin Luther have anything to do with the Jews migrating east?

[@clarkewi]

Awesome history.

[@kensilverstone1656]

Thanks!

[@HenryAbramsonPhD]

Thank you for supporting the research!

[@tomaszcichanski809]

I am Polish I didn't listen to the end. But i have a question about dutchy of prussia on this map and Rus signature. It wasn't Russian at this time it was baltic tribe of Prussians which was germinized. Also it was vasal to Poland and after swedish war it was under rule of brandenburg.

[@tomaszcichanski809]

All right I thought it over it always ends bad when you put todays borders and another borders from early 17 century,

[@KristinaTurnerAquarius]

My mother's side of the family from Poland and Czechoslovakia that fought in the Resistance against the Nazis.