Public Speaking
"Historians have often felt that the discovery of facts (even true ones) is only a preliminary to a higher activity, that of understanding the facts. And at this point history becomes dangerous, because it disturbs the dust of the past"
--Oswyn Murray, Bread and Circuses, vii.
In my public speaking, I seek to make history dangerous. I bring history to life by telling stories about people and events long ago hidden from view, and by showing audiences how the past continues to shapes our lives.
My approach is indebted to the art of public speaking and my obsession with visual evidence of the past.
During the 2016-17 school year, I am one of the Distinguished Lecturers for the Association of Jewish Studies. I care deeply about presentation: in addition to teaching a course on the Art of Speech, I am an Area Director for Toastmasters. My goal is to make my talks engaging, accessible, and educational.
I commonly speak at synagogues, genealogical societies, and other public venues as well as in academic contexts.
Some recent and upcoming venues include:
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18th Annual Biderman Lecture, Princeton University, Princeton, NY (April 2018)
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The Art of the Jewish Family. Bard Graduate Center, NY, NY (March 2018)
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"Pieces of Silver" (March 14th, 2018). Respondent: Vivian Mann
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"Portrait in Ivory" (March 21, 2018). Respondent: Hasia Diner
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"Commonplace Things" (March 28, 2018). Respondent: Barbara Mann
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Keynote and Digital Humanities Workshop, Latin American Jewish Studies Association, Mexico City, Mexico (July 2017)
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Maayan Torah Day School, Portland, OR (May 2017)
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Oxford Chabad Soc. Slager Jewish Student Centre, Oxford, UK (March 2017)
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Clarendon Institute, Oxford, UK (March 2017)
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American History Research Seminar, Rothermere American Institute, Oxford, UK (March 2017)
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Congregation Bevis Marks, London, UK (January 2017)
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Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ (September 2016)
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American Jewish Historical Society, New York, NY (September 20, 2016)
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36th IAJGS International Conference on Jewish Genealogy, Seattle, WA (August 2016)
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Congregation Shearith Israel, New York, NY (June 2015)
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New York Public Library Celebrate 350 Lecture, New York, NY
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Women's Day of Jewish Learning, Portland, OR
Interested in having me speak? Contact me at leibman@reed.edu or the Distinguished Lectureship Program for AJS.
