Lecture Topics
Lectures - 1 & 2:
The war in Iraq & Prospects for war with Iran
History of Iraq and its many names. Islamic Iraq and the Ottoman Empire. Iraq between the 2 World wars under British
Mandate. The rise of dictatorship and the end of the monarchy. The first invasions of Iraq: Kuwait and the oil factor. The second
invasion of Iraq: End of Saddam’s rule. The great military success and administrative failure. The illusive democracy: Sunnis vs.
Shiites. Colossal mistake: The dismantling of the Iraqi Army. America forces as invaders, not liberators: How long? Prospects for
war with Iran: The Israel factor.
OUTLOOK AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Lecture – 3 :
The History Of Islam And The Middle-East
Muhammad, his life, wives and children. The genesis of the Sunnis and Shia’ahs. What followed Muhammad’s death?
Who authored the Koran and when? What is Jihad? Who are the Infidels? The Crusaders and Saladin. Iraq and it’s many
occupying powers: The Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Mongols, the Ottomans, the
British, the Americans.
OUTLOOK AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Lecture – 4
Jewish life in Arab Countries:
Exile to Babylon: 597 BCE. The destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple 586 BCE. Jewish life in Babylon and the
Middle-East. Cyrus the Great: He frees the Babylonian Jews, 538 BCE. Return to Jerusalem and rebuilding the Second
Temple. Jewish life under Islamic rule. Ottoman Empire (1299-1922). The Balfour Declaration: 1917. My life and childhood
in Baghdad. Krystallnacht in Baghdad (Farhood) June 1, 1941. Israel War of Independence: 1948. Escape from Baghdad to
Israel.
OUTLOOK AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Lecture – 5
Current (International) Affairs:
A COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION OF THE WORLD’S TROUBLE SPOTS: Afghanistan, Pakistan, North Korea, Iran, Iraq,
Yemen, Israel and Palestine… A unique perspective will be given on the history of the conflicts and possible solution to each.
Substantial participation during Q&A is encouraged.
OUTLOOK AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Lecture – 6 :
Cosmology: The Big Bang, Black Holes and UFO’S
The Big Bang: The beginning and age of the universe. Super Novas, Black holes and Singularity. Birth and death of the stars.
How many black holes are there? How are they detected? UFO’S: Is there life on other stars, moons and planets? Our moon:
Where did it come from? Dinosaurs and other extinct animals: Why? Extra-terrestrial travel: Manned or robotics? How far are
the planets, the moon and the sun; the closest stars? What is a Light-Year? Future explorations and the Space Station. How fast
is the speed of light? Can anything travel faster? Catastrophic Collisions: Meteorites and Asteroids. Dark (invisible) Matter:
What is it and how much of it? Einstein’s Theory of Relativity: E=MC² (squared). Gravity, Space, Light & Time. Quantum
Mechanics and Super-String theory. Global warming, Ice Age and natural disasters. The future of our earth, sun and planets:
Scientific Life and death predictions
OUTLOOK AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Lecture – 7 :
Saladin and the Crusades
Who were the crusaders? When did they begin their mission and how long did it last? Who were the Knights Templar? What was
their code? Who was Saladin and how he defeated the Christian armies and the Crusades? The outcome for Christians and Muslims.
Who instigated the Crusades and what was the Pope’s and King’s involvement? What was their purpose, their strength and
their motivation? Cruelty and bloodshed. What spelled their final demise and when? The fate of Jerusalem and the Holy Land!
OUTLOOK AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Lecture – 8 :
Full Circle: Escape from Baghdad and the return
(A biography of a Sephardic Jew born in Baghdad, Iraq)
Early childhood in Baghdad. My father, a high government official, educated At Bombay University by the British. Surviving the "Farhood" of June 1, 1941, the first Pogrom in 2,600 years for the Jews of Babylonia. The escape to the State of Israel during the War of Independence, and life as a youth in a Kibbutz. Reuniting with the family. Travel to Europe and hitch-hiking to Brazil, where I nearly starved to death. Arriving in New York on a Student-Exchange Visa and volunteering to serve in the U.S. Army, ending up in South Korea. Marriage and family life, business ventures, inventions and extensive travel to the Orient. Tragic deaths and pain of separation.
OUTLOOK AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Lecture – 9 :
Biblical Stories, from Abraham to Jesus
Adam & Eve in Paradise. Cain kills Abel. Noah & The Great flood. Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah. Abraham & Monotheism. Ishmael, Isaac & Jacob. Joseph, interpreter of dreams. Hebrews, slaves in Egypt. Moses & the Exodus. Joshua, first general of the Israelites. Conquest of the Promised Land. Emergence of Prophets. Kingdoms of Saul, David & Solomon. Queen of Sheba. Exile to Babylonia and destruction of the first Temple (586 BCE). Return of the Babylonians and building of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (536 BCE). Jesus of Nazareth. Stand & suicide at Masada.The Jewish revolt (66 ACE) & Roman's destruction of the Second Temple (70 ACE). Exile of the Jews, a second Diaspora lasting 2,000 years. The Sephardic & Ashkenazi Jews. The establishment of the State of Israel.
OUTLOOK AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Lecture – 10 :
Great women in world history
- Sarah, Abraham's wife (founder of Judaism)
- Mary, mother of Jesus (founder of Christianity)
- Cleopatra, mistress of Julius Caesar (queen of Egypt)
- Khadijah, Muhammad's first wife (founder of Islam)
- Joan of Arc (warrior and protector of France)
- Queen Victoria (queen of England)
- Catherine the Great (queen of Russia)
- Indira Gandhi (Prime Minister of India)
- Golda Meir (Prime Minister of Israel)
OUTLOOK AND PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE
Lecture – 11 :
Nostradamus (1503-1566)
Publisher of the famous collection of prophecies, who captivated the world for nearly 600 years. Much of the press credits him with Predicting many major world events. His place of birth, religious background, and medical training. His prophetic prediction of his own death the night before; Author of reliable Almanacs. In his 1,000 quatrains he is said to have predicted the Great Fire of London, The rise of Napoleon, Adolf Hitler, the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, and the Mayan world's end of December 21, 2012.
Lecture – 12 :
Armageddon (The End Times)
Megido (Israel) was the location for ancient battles, going back to the 15th Century B.C. According to the New Testament Revelation 16:16 the Messiah will return to earth and defeat The Antichrist and Satan The Devil in the battle of Armageddon. Satan will be put into the "abyss" for 1,000 years, known as The Millenium. Fire will come down from God, and devour
Gog and Magog. The Devil, death, hell and those not found written in the Book of Life are then thrown into Gehenna (The Lake Of Fire). The prospects of "End Times" (Judgment Day) are believed by Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Baha'ism, etc.
No agreement between them as to when it will take place...
Saul Silas Fathi
27 Broadlawn Drive,
Central Islip, NY 11722
Fathi@optonline.net
www.saulsilasfathi.com
Tel (631)-232-1638
