Jewish Justification of Diaspora Life

with David Kraemer (JTS)

The majority of Jews have lived in exile from the time of the Babylonian Exile in the early sixth century BCE until the present day, and though exile has often been accompanied by difficulties, it has also provided Jews with peace in homes where they had the opportunity to flourish. By virtue of this reality, Jews have often defended and even lauded their diaspora experiences, in teachings and expressions that in recent generations have been too little recognized. In this session, Prof. Kraemer will introduce you to some of these teachings, asking what they may mean for the future of Jewish identity.

David Kraemer is Joseph J. and Dora Abbell Librarian (=Director of The Library) at The Jewish Theological Seminary, where he has also served as Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics for many years. As Librarian, Prof. Kraemer is at the helm of the most extensive collection of Judaica—rare and contemporary—in the Western hemisphere.  On account of the size and importance of the collection, Prof. Kraemer is instrumental in setting policy and establishing vision for projects of international importance.

Prof. Kraemer is a prolific author and commentator.  His books include The Mind of the Talmud (1990), Responses to Suffering in Classical Rabbinic Literature (1995), The Meanings of Death in Rabbinic Judaism (2000), and Jewish Eating and Identity Through the Ages (Routledge, 2007, 2009), among others. His most recent book is A History of the Talmud (Cambridge U. Press, 2019). His most recent book is Embracing Exile: The Case for Jewish Diaspora, (Oxford U. Press, 2025).

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