Messianism and Sephardic Hope in the New World
(May 17, 2026)
Preview: In our continued collaboration with the Jewish Heritage Alliance, join us for Part III of a four-part series, The Western Sephardic Atlantic: Renewal, Influence, and Legacy. This session, Messianism and Sephardic Hope in the New World, explores how Sephardic Jews transformed trauma, exile, and religious imagination into messianic expectations that connected Amsterdam, the Americas, and the wider Jewish world during a pivotal era of renewal.
The Fracturing Consensus: American Public Opinion on Israel After Gaza
(May 5, 2026)
Preview: For decades, support for Israel was a stable feature of U.S. policy, but that consensus is shifting. Drawing on recent polling, Dr. Mitchell Bard will examine why sympathy has fallen to a 25-year low, how the Gaza war deepened generational and partisan divides, what is happening on college campuses, and how these trends are affecting the American Jewish community. This webinar will assess what these changes mean and where public opinion is heading.
Jewish Privileges in the Atlantic World
(April 19, 2026)
Preview: In our continued collaboration with the Jewish Heritage Alliance, join us for Part II of a four-part series,The Western Sephardic Atlantic: Renewal, Influence, and Legacy. This session, Jewish Privileges in the Atlantic World, explores how Sephardic Jews negotiated legal status and communal rights across Brazil, the Caribbean, and North America—shaping early models of religious coexistence, economic participation, and Jewish life in the Atlantic world.
The End of the Arabist Doctrine in
U.S. Middle East Policy
(March 25, 2026)
Preview: For decades, U.S. strategy assumed that close ties with Israel would damage relations with Arab states and destabilize the region. Recent events, including confrontation with Iran and shifting regional alliances, have challenged that assumption. Drawing on history and current developments, Dr. Mitchell Bard examines how Iran’s role and evolving U.S.–Israel cooperation are reshaping strategic thinking in Washington and what this shift may mean for the future of American policy in the Middle East.
The Western Sepharadic Atlantic -
From Amsterdam to the Americas
(March 8, 2026)
Preview: The webinar examines how early Jewish communities formed in the West in the 17th century after expulsions and Inquisitions. Part 1: The Sephardic Atlantic - From Amsterdam to the Americas, traces the journey of Iberian Jews to Europe and the New World and sets the groundwork for the vibrant new communities that were established.
The Day Media Credibility Died
(February 17, 2026)
Preview: For decades, major news organizations were widely viewed as trusted arbiters of fact, committed to objectivity, verification, and ethical reporting. Yet public trust in the media has steadily eroded. Drawing on documented case studies from leading outlets, Dr. Mitchell Bard will examine how the abandonment of journalistic standards, the rise of ideological framing, and the uncritical amplification of propaganda transformed news coverage into narrative-driven advocacy. This webinar will explore how that shift reshaped public understanding of the Israel–Hamas war, undermined media credibility, and contributed to the most severe crisis of trust in journalism in modern history.
From Arab-Israeli Conflict to Holy War
(January 14, 2026)
Preview: For decades, the Arab–Israeli conflict was widely viewed as a political and territorial dispute that could be resolved through diplomacy and compromise. Yet peace has remained elusive. Drawing on his book, Death to the Infidels: Radical Islam's War Against the Jews, Dr. Mitchell Bard will examine how the rise of radical Islamist ideology transformed the conflict into a religious war, rejecting Jewish self-determination on what is defined as Islamic land. This webinar will explore how that ideological shift reshaped the conflict, undermined peace efforts, and expanded its impact far beyond the Middle East.
The Return of Jewish Sovereignty in the Land of Israel (December 11, 2025)
Preview: Join us for our first collaborative webinar with CAMERA Education: The Return of Jewish Sovereignty in the Land of Israel. Part of CAMERA’s History of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel series, this session explores the founding of the State of Israel, the debates over partitioning the British Mandate, and the varied reactions of Jews and Arabs to these events. This joint program offers a clear, fact-based context to help audiences better understand Israel’s modern history and recognize common misconceptions that continue to shape public discourse.
Myths and Facts: Understanding the Arab–Israeli Conflict (December 3, 2025)
Preview: For decades, public debate about the Middle East has been clouded by misinformation and historical distortion. From claims that “Palestine was always an Arab country” to accusations that “Zionism is racism”, myths about Israel’s history and legitimacy continue to fuel hostility worldwide. Drawing on Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Dr. Mitchell Bard clarifies enduring misconceptions about Israel and the Middle East, providing a clear and accessible framework for understanding the complex history of this conflict.
From Persecution to Renewal - From the Iberian Inquisitions to the U.S. Constitution (November 16, 2025)
Preview: This final session traces the legacy of Sephardic exile and resilience into the American context. We’ll explore how experiences of forced conversion, inquisitorial repression, and transatlantic migration influenced foundational ideas about religious liberty in the early United States. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in 2025, this session highlights the relevance of Sephardic memory to enduring constitutional values.
Bridging the Divide: Fracturing Relations Between U.S. and Israeli Jews (October 29, 2025)
Preview: There is growing discussion today about the divisions between the views of American and Israeli Jews. Both feel the other does not understand their concerns. Americans believe Israelis fail to appreciate their anger over the treatment of non-Orthodox Jewish movements, pluralism, and political decisions unpopular in the United States. Israelis, meanwhile, feel that American Jews do not understand or appreciate the dangers they face and the fact that their children serve in the army to defend the state, while American children are enjoying college. Dr. Mitchell Bard will explore how these divisions developed, what they reveal about the evolving relationship between the world’s two largest Jewish communities, and the possible paths toward mutual understanding and unity.
From Persecution to Renewal - Nação Business Law and Practices (October 19, 2025)
Preview: This session explores how the Sephardic “Portuguese Nation” built thriving legal and commercial networks grounded in halakha and shaped by their Iberian past. From Amsterdam to the Ottoman Empire, these communities fused tradition and innovation to create self-governance, dispute resolution, and global trade systems. Rabbi Dr. Yehonatan Elazar-DeMota will illuminate how Sephardic law, resilience, and intellect influenced early modern Jewish life and legal thought.
The Invisible Alliance that Undermines America’s Middle East Interests (September 30, 2025)
Preview: While the “Israel Lobby” has often been loudly scrutinized, Dr. Mitchell Bard reveals how the far more powerful Arab Lobby—comprising oil interests, missionaries, diplomats, and Arabist officials—has shaped U.S. policy for decades, pressuring Washington to appease authoritarian regimes with poor human-rights records while undermining America’s alliance with Israel. Learn how this hidden influence took root, its ongoing impact, and what it means for U.S. values and interests today.
From Persecution to Renewal - New Christians and Reverts: Inquisitors and Rabbis (September 14, 2025)
Preview: In our first collaboration with the Jewish Heritage Alliance, this program will explore the gripping story of Iberian conversos—Jews forced into Christianity—and the rabbis who debated their return to Judaism. Drawing on history, law, and faith, Rabbi Dr. Elazar-DeMota will highlight how Sephardic resilience shaped Jewish identity and even influenced modern concepts of freedom. Don’t miss this eye-opening presentation on the enduring legacy of the Sephardic experience.
Forgotten Victims: The Abandonment of Americans in Hitler’s Camps (September 3, 2025)
Preview: Join us for an eye-opening webinar uncovering a little-known chapter of Holocaust history: the fate of Americans caught in Hitler’s camps. Drawing on extensive archival research, Dr. Mitchell Bard will reveal how U.S. civilians and soldiers, including Jewish GIs, were imprisoned, brutalized, and in some cases murdered, while their government failed to act. From the Warsaw Ghetto to Auschwitz, and POW camps to the infamous Berga labor camp, this presentation exposes a neglected story of abandonment and resilience. Don’t miss this powerful exploration that challenges assumptions about American immunity during World War II and honors the memory of the forgotten victims.
Follow the Money: Arab Funding’s Grip on U.S. Campuses (May 14, 2025)
Preview: Join us for a compelling webinar unpacking the findings of our recent report: Arab Funding of American Universities: Donors, Recipients, and Impact. Discover how billions in foreign contributions—often opaque and underreported—influence campus discourse, academic programs, and administrative decisions at leading U.S. institutions. We’ll explore the key players, the universities involved, and the broader implications for academic freedom, transparency, and U.S. foreign policy. Don’t miss this deep dive into one of higher education’s most controversial and consequential funding pipelines.
Inventing Palestine? Mapping the Myths and Realities of a Contested Land (April 23, 2025)
Preview: While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is often framed as a struggle over land, few delve into the historical and geographical complexities that define the territory in question. This webinar, led by Dr. Mitchell Bard—Executive Director of the Jewish Virtual Library and a recognized authority on U.S.-Israel relations— explores the evolution of the land known to Palestinians as “Palestine” and to Jews as the “Land of Israel” through a series of maps that trace its shifting boundaries over centuries. Topics will include the region’s identity before it was named Palestine, how British policies—such as Winston Churchill’s decision to carve out Transjordan—reshaped the land, and the 1947 UN partition plan that sought to establish both Jewish and Arab states. The webinar will also examine the territorial consequences of the Arab-Israeli wars, the development of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and the repeated Palestinian rejections of statehood proposals. Finally, it will address how different ideological and religious perspectives influence claims to the land and consider what the maps reveal about the future prospects for peace.
Diplomacy at the UN - An Israeli Insider’s Perspective (April 9, 2025)
Preview: What does Israel’s engagement with the United Nations really look like? Join Or Shaked, Deputy Director of the Jewish Virtual Library and former policy adviser at Israel’s Permanent Mission to the UN, for an insider’s perspective. In this compelling presentation, Or will delve into Israel’s contributions to human rights initiatives, the challenges of navigating UN bias, and the aftermath of October 7. Learn how diplomacy shapes Israel’s global standing and gain a deeper understanding of the complexities behind the headlines. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from someone who has represented Israel on the world stage.
Iran’s Race for the Bomb: Israel, the U.S., and the Path Forward (February 19, 2025)
Preview: An exclusive webinar on the escalating Iranian nuclear threat and its impact on Israel. In light of recent back-and-forth attacks, the weakening of Iranian proxies, and rising tensions, Dr. Bard will explore the complex dynamics between Iran and Israel and how the Trump administration’s contrasting approaches of maximum pressure versus diplomacy could shape the future. With discussions on the possibility of a pre-emptive strike, this session will provide critical insights into the evolving security landscape. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the leading experts on the topic.
The Jewish Vote in the 2024 U.S. Elections (October 31, 2024)
Preview: An engaging webinar on the impact of the Jewish vote in the upcoming 2024 U.S. elections. With Jewish Americans playing a crucial role in key swing states, this discussion explores how issues like U.S.-Israel relations, anti-Semitism, and domestic policy are shaping voter preferences. Dr. Bard, Executive Director of AICE, will delve into the historical voting patterns of the Jewish community, the rise of conservative trends, and how both major parties are vying for this influential bloc. Whether you’re interested in politics, Jewish affairs, or the broader election landscape, this webinar will provide valuable insights into one of the most significant voter demographics this election season.