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The Story of the Jews with Simon Schama

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On March 19, Simon Schama was joined onstage by Adam Hochschild to talk about The Story of the Jews, Mr. Schama's multimedia account of Jewish history from 1000 BCE to present times. He also showed clips from the five-part PBS documentary series. Although Judaism is the only religion that commands us to remember for future generations, Mr. Schama is determined to portray Jewish history not as a history of suffering or Jews as a people apart. It was an entertaining evening with two charming intellectuals on subjects usually discussed reverentially.

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20 Comments

@jocelynconvery3462 2 years ago

He is sooo engaging and is able to make history accessible

@merccadoosis8847 6 years ago

34:40 - 35:55 ~ a very interesting segment in which Professor Schama refers to historic Sefardic Jewish longing for beauty - "beauty can be a mitzvah". I believe that is a very good statement and one that reflects biblical teaching as beauty is life enhancing.

@HeyBruGJ 6 years ago

Such a beautifully intelligent man. His choice of words are just so well appointed. The subject, book and movie are totally for me.

@mishapurser7542 5 years ago

The siren for the memorial day is bone-chilling, it's so very powerful and moving you can't help but weep.

@B.BadrinarayanSharma 7 months ago

He is my favorite historian not only of history per se but also of art history.

@unoriented_x4957 9 years ago

Interesting evening talk; well worth taking notes; good to watch with friends.

@smilingdalia111 5 years ago (edited)

Thank you for this fascinating interview. Could you add a full transcript, please?

@jondybrodie5912 3 years ago

I'm deaf and subtitles would be a HELP ! . An admirer ! Jonathan.

@aecc10 3 years ago

I tried to view this documentary series on PBS but it has very recently been removed from their programming.

@mollystreames7369 9 years ago

I thought it was going to be the documentary itself schama has done some great ones which was the reason I clicked on the thumbnail

@Silly.old.Sisyphus 4 years ago

in his intro chitchat, he takes scholarly pain to separate myth from archaeology - so we turn to the Elephantine clip with great expectations, only to hear him immediately mix them up !

@rmwein1948 9 years ago

Professor Schama-You make being a Jewish a Privilege and a Honor. God Bless You in making our Jewish Heritage Come Alive

@kittykatzcenteno7160 7 years ago

I LOVED YOUR BOOK , I LOVE YOUR SENSE OF HUMOUR. BUT I COMPLAIN ABOUT THE EDITION "VINTAGE" (?) WITH SO SMALL LETTERS, LACH OF PARAGRAPHS , CHAPTERS, ETC. WOULD LOVE A BOOK WITH A BETTER GRAFFIC ARTIST, MORE PICTURES AND SO ON. EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE.

@MaoRuiqi 11 years ago

Great invitation to view further history of the Jews. Good work.

@markrichter2053 2 years ago

Thanks for this enthralling introduction to the work of Simon Schama.

To my intense shame I have lived over fifty years calling myself a Christian and it is only in the last three years that I have understood where ant-semitism originates from.

It is for this reason amongst others that I no longer call myself a Christian.

Any Abrahamic faith that so completely turns upon it’s parent faith to commit such fanatical and unremittingly brutal patricide throughout its long and ignominious history as that of Christianity no longer has the right to say that it is the representative of a good god, let along the God of love.