History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast
History for the Curious is a Jewish history podcast featuring historian and tour guide Rabbi Aubrey Hersh, hosted by Mena Reisner and produced by JLE in London. Each episode explores 2,000 years of Jewish heritage, crossing continents and centuries to uncover untold stories, scandals, and mysteries. Topics range from the Temple in Jerusalem and Holocaust dilemmas to Jewish life in cities like Paris, Prague, and New York, introducing leaders, visionaries, spies, heroes, and traitors.
Episodes
#197: Tisha B'av: Two Harrowing Letters - Two Powerful Testimonies
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Be Courageous, be Honest, be a Jew. Those were the words with which a parent took leave of his son during the Holocaust.
However much we are aware of the terrible years that befell our People, the words and testimonies shake us and make us rethink Faith & Suffering
#196: The WWII Hero who Rescued Budapest's Jews
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George Mandel-Mantello was one man on his own, a Jew living in Switzerland, who ignited an international outcry against the destruction of Hungary’s Jewish community and stopped the deportation of the last 250,000 Jews. Mantello’s weapon was not a gun or an army — it was in
#195: The Holocaust - An Unprecedented Crime and an American Betrayal?
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This two-part podcast explores what sets the Holocaust apart from other atrocities in history, focusing on its intent and ideological foundations and providing two unsettling responses.
It then turns to the United States. By 1942, news of the genocide had reached America
#194: Three Extraordinary 20th Century Lives feat. Dr Yossi Adler & Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz
Exploring the lives of three Jewish doctors. Living in very different settings, yet linked by a common thread: compassion. They left a lasting mark on medicine and Jewish history and were dedicated to the strong belief that every fragile life matters.
In New York, Dr Martin Couney helped save thousands of babies. His sideshow displays were controversial, but at a time when incubator technology was
#193: Vaccines, Potions & Charlatans - Jewish Medicine in the 19th Century.
The 1800s was an era when medicine sat at the crossroads of science, ruses and discoveries. New vaccines and medical impostors competed for public trust. People broke with tradition and created a new landscape.
Mordecai Wolff Haffkine Haffkine stood out as an almost legendary figure. A Jewish bacteriologist, he developed and tested vaccines against cholera and bubonic plague, putting his life repe
#192: Reform vs Orthodoxy: The Battle of 19th Century Europe
With the advent of Napoleon and emancipation, Jews were given an offer they found hard to refuse and the Reform movement made significant inroads.
Across many countries a war was waged for the soul of the Jew and many voluntarily even converted to Christianity. Shuls, marriage, Shabbos and Bris Mila were all subjected to question.
How did the Chasam Sofer Rav Samson Refoel Hirsch and others de
#191: Moses Mendelssohn - Father of Reform?
Moses Mendelssohn was raised in an orthodox family, attended yeshiva for a decade of his life and was involved in Kehilla life for many years afterwards. But he is remembered for his translation of Chumash, defined as a philosopher and linked to the beginning of the German Reform movement.
What did he do to create a storm of controversy? And how did the Chasam Sofer relate to his writings?
T
Hesped: Mrs Fernande Hersh a''h (1930 - 2026)
Born in 1930, she lived through many challenging events. Raised a family and was a regal figure. Yehi zichroh boruch
Baruch Dayan HaEmes: The Passing of Rabbi Aubrey Hersh’s Mother
Rabbi Aubrey Hersh’s mother was niftar on Tuesday 27 Nissan, aged 95.
Rabbi Hersh is sitting shiva at Eagle Lodge, Golders Green Road.
Messages can be sent via WhatsApp to +44 7973 178 236, or by email to historyforthecurious@gmail.com.
We wish him chayim aruchim and send our collective nechama.
#190: Bread of Defiance: Matzah and Pesach in the Soviet Union
For Soviet Jews, matzah represented a longing for freedom – one we take for granted. This episode tells the hidden story of those heroes who risked everything to keep Pesach alive behind the Iron Curtain, and of the global networks that brought matzah into the USSR by every means, under the watchful eyes of the NKVD.
Jewish life in the USSR was strongly policed. Starting with Stalin in 1925, Judai
#189: Chida: 40 Years of Danger, Journeys & Discovery
Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai traversed Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa on behalf of his brethren in Eretz Yisrael. His missions raised vital funds, to keep the Jews from being driven out of town, whilst facing bandits, maritime disasters, and oppressive authorities along the way. With the aid of his diary, this episode gives a vivid first-hand account of his challenges, deprivation, tr
#188: Journey through Music's Mysticism, Sound & History - featuring Alex Clare
What makes music such a powerful medium? How was music used to attain prophecy? Has AI destroyed pure music? Did Beethoven use our Kol Nidrei? How do you create a 'hit' song?
How influenced is our music by non-Jewish musical patterns and culture? Is music art, emotion or transcendant? And how did Italian Jews start a music revolution 500 years ago?
Timestamps:
0:00:46 — Podcast intro
0:01:22
#187: Wine in the Modern Era: feat. Nathan Herzog (President of Kedem Wines) & Rabbi Akiva Padwa (International Kashrus expert)
In the 19th century, the Herzog family supplied wine to the Emperor, while the 20th ushered in the era and risks of Prohibition in America and the profound transformation of the humble grape juice.
Contemporary technology has enabled the wine industry to flourish, yet the intricate halachos makes kosher wine production, a uniquely complex product
Meanwhile in the mid-1500s, Moravia was fertile
#186: Wine - Romans to the Rishonim in History & Halacha
Tracing the journey of Wine, from Roman times and the laws of Yayin Nesech, to Lead Poisoning, wine dilution and Rashi's momentous ruling.
Spanning medieval France, Italy's Rishonim, Provencal responsa and Egyptian challenges, the podcast reveals the halachic debate in times of evolving technology, commerce and travel.
As well as instructions for a Seder night without wine.
Timestamps:
- 00:
#185: Spanish Inquisition - 350 Years of Jewish Defiance
The Church was determined to wipe out any vestige of Judaism from Spain, any custom, any law, any practice, and thousands of Jews would pay the price.
Spain was not just one country, however; it spread to the Americas and the Indies, and the stories of individual heroism, ingenuity, and courage are breathtaking.
Timestamps:
0:00:01 Crypto-Judaism vs. Crusades — constant oversight in Spain
0:0
#184: Spanish Jewry II - 1460 - 1492: The Walls Close In
Post-1391 there was a period of uncertainty but many Conversos still found it possible to maintain a level of observance - sometimes even openly. It appeared that a Modus Vivendi could be achieved. But in 1477 the Church persuaded Ferdinand & Isabella to institute the Inquisition; aimed not at Jews but at the 'heretical' New Christians.
The 1480s became a decade of hiding, yet scholarship w
#183: Spanish Jewry 1348-1460: Into the Abyss
The date of the Expulsion in 1492 is infamous. Less known or understood is the historical context that led there. How did a 1,000-year-old community lose its status and power?
The answer lies in the ferocious and sudden impact of 1391. With 100,000 conversions to Christianity, Jewish kehillos were left reeling and families were torn apart. Rebuilding became virtually impossible, and a new way of l
#182: 10th Teves: Our History - The Message - Our Future
We know from both Jewish and secular sources, that 2,500 years ago the Babylonians led by Nevuchadnezar, besieged Jerusalem on this day. Two years later the Temple was destroyed. But what events led to this moment? And why was the path of the prophet Yirmiyahu's life so dangerous?
As importantly how do we, in our days, feel a connection to the message and the narrative?
10th Teves is also design
#181: The Menorah - History's Greatest Jewish Mystery
The Menorah was the most adopted symbol in the Jewish world. But where is the original?
We know of a Menorah in Rome in 70CE. The Talmud tells us it was examined. But what follows is centuries of silence
What does History tell us? What do eyewitnesses report? What has the Church said? And what role does the 2nd Temple Menorah have, in the redemption of the Jewish People?
This episode is the
#180: Chanukah - Celebrating the War We Didn't Win?
Chanukah is central to our Jewish Calendar and way of life, but there are many unanswered questions: Why celebrate defeat? What was the real role of Kohanim during the Second Temple? Why was this Yomtov chosen to reflect the ultimate ideal ?
Tracing the story from Alexander the Great and Shimon HaTzaddik through the corruption of the Second Temple and the rise of Hellenism, the podcast redefines t
#179: The Most Unbelievable Story in Modern History
Yitzchak Trebitsch was an active participant - under various names - in some of the twentieth century’s most important events: mass immigration, WWI wartime espionage, radical right-wing Germany, Chinese civil war and the Japanese invasion during WWII. But in the end he was a nobody.
His death was attributed variously to Nazi poison, Allied vengeance, Buddhist enemies, or enraged Jews.
His story i
#178: The Vanished Jews of England II: 1290-1650
Small groups of crypto-Jews are known to have made their way to England. We know the names and occasionally the stories of some. But no one had a greater impact on England’s history or on Queen Elizabeth I, than Roger Lopez: Physician, Double Agent, Diplomat & Court Jew.
Jews were News even during the period of their supposed forced absence.
And what is the real story behind Henry VIII’s s
#177: The Vanished Jews of England: 1290-1650
For centuries there were none left; The Jews had been driven out of England en-masse by Edward I...
But the records tell us a different story.
Henry VIII went searching for them and English literature betrays a fascination with them. From Shakespeare's controversial Shylock to dictionary & biblical definitions, the Jew continued to feature throughout.
#176: Yishmael vs Yisrael X: Echoes of Conflict - feat. Rabbi Zev Leff & Lord David Wolfson
In the wake of the return of the hostages that survived, challenges abound and life cannot return to normal. Israel confronts the unknown with hope, and across the world the ripples of anti-semitism continue to echo.
The UK experienced Jews being killed on Yom Kippur, New York has elected a pro-Hamas mayor, yet various Arab countries have expressed an interest in closer ties with Israel. Rabbi H
What is Jewish History?
We have produced 175 episodes over the past 4 years BH.
But what makes Jewish History special? And what does the future hold?
This short clip will give you some insights - https://vimeo.com/1130639528
The link is: www.charityextra.com/jle/hftc
#175: David Friedman - The Ambassador Who Reshaped the Middle East
To watch This Podcast, click here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBpgg1wcQKw&t=2760s
A wide-ranging and personal discussion with former U.S. Ambassador David Friedman, describing how his Sledgehammer of Diplomacy shattered old conventions to achieve the historic U.S. Embassy move and usher in the Abraham Accords, exploring the deeply personal balance between his religious conviction and
#174: Disputations II - 1263-1414 / Rav Meir Arik 100th Yarzeit
25 years after Paris the Talmud was being cross-examined again. This time the Christians intended to prove the truth of their faith from within Judaism !
In 1413, the Jews chose silence as their response but many were pressured into conversion.
100 years ago the world lost a halachic genius; Rav Arik created a generation of rabbis. His numerous students include Rav Meir Shapiro & the Tcheb
#173: Disputations I - Paris 1240
During the 13th century, Europe was controlled by a militant church, and France was ruled by Louis IX - a bitter enemy of the Jews.
All copies of the Talmud were seized and four Baalei Tosfos were interrogated in public.
How did Jewry recover from this calamity?
Was this tragedy related to the burning of the Rambam’s writings?
Chapters
00:00 Divine Retribution and Historical Context
04:38 Ra
#172: Ramban II - The Church & Eretz Yisrael (feat. Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz)
In 1263 the Ramban was forced to attend a public Disputation and defend the truths of the Talmud against attacks by the Dominicans, who were led by an apostate Jew.
The Ramban would be exiled from Spain as a result and settle in Eretz Yisrael where he described with both pride and pain of the state of the Jewish community.
Using his medical knowledge, the Ramban also authored a central hal
#171: Ramban I - The Early Conflicts (1194-1270)
By the 13th century, Spain was becoming a more uncomfortable place for Jews, partly due to communal structure. Ramban will engage in dampening the flames of controversy both about the Rambam and regarding power and authority. But he will face strong personal attacks in the process.
The Ramban was also a prolific author of sefarim. They range from Halacha to Chumash, Kabbala & Talmud. R' Shm
#170: Holocaust Shadows IV - Survivors, Liberators & Rescuers
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Many Jews were reluctant first-hand witnesses to Nazi cruelty and suffering.
For many Hungarian survivors, often deliberately misled about the truth of Auschwitz's existence, betrayal only added to their pain. Risa Shayowitz - aged a young 95 years old - relays that t
#169: Holocaust Shadows III - The Survivor
We speak of 'Holocaust Survivors' without understanding what they survived, without knowing the trauma and guilt they carried.
A young 16-year-old girl (now 97 years old) was taken through the cruelty of Auschwitz - and asked by Mengele to decide the fate of her own mother.
How did she find the strength of mind? How did she become a beacon to others, learn to redefine freedom and turn her wou
#168: Holocaust Shadows II - The Forgeries
Despite being a Western country, Holland almost equalled the East in its destructiveness during the Holocaust.
2 non-Jews created their own narrative by bypassing the system. One took great risks, the other received great reward. Their unusual stories, extend forgery into new territory.
And a mention of Mein Kampf - one hundred years later.
Chapters
00:00 The Journey into Danger
01:40 The Contex
#167: Holocaust Shadows I: The Forger
Hidden away in a tiny attic in Paris, a Jew created freedom for thousands by forging Identity cards, ration books and travel passes.
Hunted by Nazis, his genius and dedication came with enormous risk. And his experiences left him with a sense of guilt that would never leave him.
Email giana.elav@gmail.com for the Prague trip...
Chapters
00:00 Trapped in History: The Beginning of a Journey
01:
#166: Jerusalem III : 1099-1568
In the Medieval period, Jerusalem was repeatedly fought over and at times only 2 Jews lived there. Yet there were always those who braved making Aliya including Ramban, Bartenura and Rav Yechiel of Paris - all recording accounts of their journey. But who were the Mamluks? Where is the Holy Toothpick? And who built the Sultan's Pool?
To book a place on the Maharal Prague trip 8th-11th September:
#165: Jerusalem II: 638-1098
How do we relate to the most recent events in the Middle-East?
In 638 the Moslems transformed the city; but what was their motivation? What created the divisions of Jewish observance in the 10th century? Why was the Golden Gate sealed off? How did the Christian East-West Schism of 1054 affect Jewish lives in Jerusalem?
To register for the Maharal - Prague Tour 8th-11th September contact: giana.e
#164: Jerusalem I: 70-636CE
What does Yerushalayim represent? How does the current conflict with Iran impact upon that?
Were the Jews expelled from Jerusalem after the Temple was destroyed?
Why did the Romans rebuild the city? Who were the Byzantines who occupied Eretz Yisrael for 300 years? How did the Jews get permission to start rebuilding the Temple and why was it ultimately unsuccessful?
Chapters
00:00 The Historic
#163: Oral Law II - Who is Right? Who is a Scholar?
The existence of an Oral Law brought about debate and argument. So why not preserve it all in the Written text alone? And how do we decide who is right? Who makes that decision?
Are all Rabbis equally qualified? Can any Jew contribute to Torah?
Chapters
01:51 The Importance of Oral Law
06:06 Understanding Halacha and Truth
11:50 The Role of Teacher and Student in Torah
17:59 The Nature of Dis
#162: Oral Law I (Torah She'Baal Peh) - Definitions
How do we classify the various sections of the Oral Law (Torah She'Baal Peh)? Is the Oral Law Rabbinic or Biblical? Why do we need an Oral Law? How was it transmitted through the generations?
Why do we record all the arguments in the Talmud and not just the conclusions?
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Reflections on Jewish Heritage
03:11 Understanding the Oral Law
05:58 Categories of Oral La
#161 - Mavericks II : Villains & Heroes
Was the 1919 Baseball series really determined by hardline gamblers?
Why did a Rabbi give the eulogy at a gangster’s funeral?
How did Issy Einstein become the greatest Prohibition Agent?
What were the Nazis trying to achieve in America in 1939?
Chapters
00:00 The Dark Side of Baseball: The 1919 World Series Fix
16:54 The Rise and Fall of Arnold Rothstein
26:07 Izzy Einstein: The Prohibition Agen
#160 - Mavericks I: Crime in the USA
Between the wars - due mainly to Prohibition - crime flourished in America and Jews were not immune to the effects.
Gangs of irreligious working class Jews, made their fortunes and met their untimely ends during the 20s & 30s. But the narrative is not without a number of surprising twists, particularly in Chicago - the home of Al Capone.
And why did one notorious thief do Teshuva?
Chapters
#159 - Eruv II : The Controversies
In the last 150 years, few things have created disputes in Jewish communities, in the way Eruvin has.
Why? What makes an Eruv so very different to Kashrus? And in hindsight can we now work out who was right? Could Yerushalayim hold the key?
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Eiruv and Jewish Heritage
02:53 The Historical Context of Eiruv in Toronto
05:47 Rabbi Graubart's Contributions to Eiruv
#158 - Eruv I : The History
Documents and Responsa from across the Jewish world reveal that for centuries Jews discussed, debated and disagreed over the Shabbos Eruv
Walled cities, canals, telegraph poles, Kabbala, fires and powerful secular rulers all played their role and affected entire communities. And from the 19th century onwards, strong personalities would influence and colour the narrative.
Chapters
00:00 Introduct
#157 - The Russian Empire V – Genius, Identity & Revolution
(To book the Provence trip with Rabbi Tatz & Rabbi Hersh - email giana.elav@gmail.com)
Jewish leadership found itself in a crisis post-1881, affecting not only their options but their identity. In response, Rabbis turned to the international community for help, especially from non-Jewish politicians.
This period was exacerbated by the publication of the infamous Protocols of the Elders of Zio
#156 - The Russian Empire IV - Freedom, Poverty & Pogroms
1855 brought a new dawn to Russia, and was embraced by many, although poverty remained a constant.
When the Czar was assassinated, all hell broke loose and the Jews were given a stark reminder of their status. By 1897 Socialism, Zionism & Emigration seemed to offer the only routes out.
Chapters
00:00 The Shift in Jewish Education and Identity
01:46 The Impact of Tsar Alexander II's Reforms
0
#155 - The Russian Empire III - Fight or Flight?
Given the extreme circumstances, orders went out to remove informers using all available means; which led to arrests, interrogations and harsh sentences.
Meanwhile in 1844, the government issued a new decree forbidding traditional Jewish clothing and head coverings, with dire consequences.
Would Sir Moses Montefiore’s visit alleviate any of these difficult challenges?
Chapters
00:00 The Str
#154 - The Russian Empire II – Persecution, Heroism & Informers
Czar Nicholas hated Jews and Judaism in equal measure. He initiated 600 decrees against them over a 30 year period, and destroyed community life in Russia. The terror of his reign is relieved only by the faith and courage of families across the Pale of Settlement, carried out in defiance of the secret police and of Jewish informants.
Chapters
00:00 The Jewish Plight in the Russian Empire
02:54
#153 - The Russian Empire I - Origins, Conquest & Confinement
For centuries, Russia was home to the largest Jewish community in the world. But why did Jews choose to move to a country that never wanted them?
Understanding this complex history is at the heart of Jewish Modern history.
And was Kiev or Moscow the capital of the Empire.
Chapters
00:00 Political Intrigue
11:01 The History of Russian Jewry
25:48 Catherine the Great's Reign and Jewish Polici
#152 - Jewish Physicians III – Ottoman Vignettes and Halachic Questions feat. Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz
In Eastern Europe quacks and soothsayers were in abundance, as were invented remedies whilst the Ottoman Empire provided refuge from Spain but came with its own risk.
But do the best doctors end up in Hell according to Jewish tradition? Can one give a vaccine that also kills people? And may one smoke on Shabbos to perform better surgery?
Chapters
00:00 The Landscape of Medical Practice in 18th C
#151 - Jewish Physicians II - China & the Middle East feat. Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz
Why did Jewish doctors in the Middle East get involved in Politics?
How should modern day doctors combine ethics and law? How many Jewish women medics were there in Europe? Who were the Chinese Jewish physicians? How do we define sanctity of Life?
And should everyone own a copy of Pu Ji Fang?
Chapters
02:34 Jewish Doctors in the Islamic World
09:50 Cultural Interactions and Medical Ethics
15:04
#150 - Jewish Physicians I - European Challenges feat. Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz
‘My son-in-law the Doctor’ may be a cliche, but it is based on the very real narrative of thousands of Jewish physicians who practiced through the ages.
What was their environment during the Middle Ages in Christian Europe? How did Jewish doctors gain their knowledge? Why did the Popes always have a Jewish physician? And how are the Rambam’s medical writings viewed today?
Chapters
00:00 Introduct
#149 - Vienna III : Leading to Darkness
WWI was a catastrophic event for the Austrian Empire, and the Jews immediately became unwelcome residents.
When the Chancellor was assassinated it seemed that time was running out. However, Vienna still played host to important people and events in the inter-war years.
The Chortkover Rebbe, the founding of Daf Yomi and a Zionist Congress. And then there was the unusual visit of the Lubavitcher R
#148 - Vienna II - pre-WWI: Freud, Herzl & Rabbi Flesch
Why did Vienna produce so many revolutionary Jews?
How Jewish was Freud? Was Herzl always a Zionist? Did the Beis Yakov movement actually start in Vienna rather than Krakow?
Nathan Birnbaum created the term Zionism - why don’t we know more about him? What was Gustav Mahler’s epitaph on his tombstone?
Chapters
03:12 Jewish Identity vs Jewish Society
06:04 Responses to Antisemitism: A Spectr
#147 - The BBC: Biased Broadcasting Corporation - The Insiders View feat. Trevor Asserson
It has long been suspected that the BBC is anti-Israel and employs pro-Palestinian reporters and editors. But how do you prove suspicion? And how far does the betrayal go?
Using objective forensic methodology and scientific analysis, a year long report was created by a team of researchers, spear-headed by Trevor Assesrson, that makes shocking reading and listening.
Post-interview we then spoke
#146 - Vienna I -19th Century: Friends or Enemies?
In the 1800s Vienna was one of the world's major cities, yet does not seem to have produced religious leadership? It nevertheless underwent a metamorphosis, which left it the victim of strong prejudice.
Why did it experience such phenomenal growth in numbers and how - in just 4 decades - did Vienna become the centre of Jewish culture and science. What role did Rabbi Shmuel Yosef Bloch play?
Cha
#145 - Chanukah, the West & the ICC Judgement
Unlike militant Islam, our enemies in the West don't want the Jews wiped out. But what they are aiming for is far more sinister. It is a battle between Sheker and Emess, that goes back to Biblical times and encompasses Politics, Art & Science.
The quest for peace may seem elusive, but in certain ways, we hold the keys to changing the narrative.
Summary
This conversation delves into the comp
#144 - The Rothschilds III - Five Brothers
The ghetto walls were slowly coming down, but Mayer Anschel and Gutele refused to leave the Judengasse.
Unusual opportunities arose for the Rothschilds when Napoleon opened a port for smuggling gold, although all was not plain sailing. The result was an international network based on Mayer Amschel's instruction, where unity and the Jewish Nation reigned supreme.
Along the way,Taxis & Thu
#143 - The Rothschilds II - Mayer Amschel: Founder of a Dynasty
Denmark’s bankruptcy gave Rothschild the opportunity he had been pursuing for 30 years, leaving a wake of furious Christian bankers behind him.
A branch opens in London and the founder now changes to Family Rothschild, but Judaism remains uppermost. Napoleon’s invasion forces the Rothschilds underground and secrecy, diplomacy and speed become the bywords of the dynasty.
Trip Details:
Join us in
#142 - The Rothschilds I - Mayer Amschel: Unusual Origins
The very name conjures up images of immense wealth, of banks and private government deals. It is accompanied by numerous conspiracy theories and unlikely legends. But the beginnings of the dynasty occurred in the overcrowded and isolated confines of the uninhabitable ghetto of Frankfurt.
He rose to become the wealthiest Jew in Germany whilst remaining a Jew enclosed in a ghetto. It is a story that
#141 - Why History?
The question behind all our podcasts? What can we learn? How does it change us.
Our matched funds campaign is now live. If you enjoy History for the Curious, Please sponsor our continued podcasts:
www.charityextra.com/jle/podcast
The link will be live all of this week
#140 - The Greatest Fundraisers in History
During the 20th century, a number of individuals devoted their lives to helping the Jewish People; determined, courageous and innovative. Their fundraising efforts had an enormous impact on the Jewish world. Their stories need to be heard.
Charity also raises Halachic dilemmas for donors and recipients alike. And then there is a unique opportunity to introduce a History for the Curious podcast
#139 - Dayan Yechezkel Abramsky II – Clashes, Victories & Losses
His arrival to England was accompanied both by miracles and threats. Soon thereafter he was elected as the Av Beis Din in London, where he faced many battles: the non-religious lay leadership, the dangers of the Blitz during WWII and a family that was becoming fragmented. His tenacity and resilience saw him succeed and his influence on British Jewry extends to the present day.
Moving to Eretz Yisr
#138 - Dayan Yechezkel Abramsky I - Rosh Hashana Episode
Brought up in a village which did not have a minyan of Jews; a self-taught child genius.
His life was shattered by the Russian civil war and the new anti-religious communist Soviet Union. He was hounded, arrested and eventually imprisoned in Siberia, but his faith remained untouched.
His thoughts and writings on Prayer emerge through this period of his life.
Summary
This conversation delv
#137 - Medieval England II - Apostates, Criminals & Leaders
Jews paid the Crown for the privilege of getting married, divorced or converted. London ran into politics with its synagogues, Norwich became the first city for blood libels, yet the priests of Canterbury were fully supported by the Jews.
Despite these difficulties, Torah scholarship and even Kabbalah flourished in England. And that’s besides the 6,000 herrings….
Summary
This conversation
#136 - Medieval England I - Promise, Opportunity & Betrayal
Invited to settle by William the Conqueror, when Winchester was the capital city, the 220 year history of Jews in England is seen as a narrative of money-lending and expulsion.
But the real story is far more gripping. Jews settled across the Land, becoming the wealthiest in the process. Women were advisors to the royal court and an ancient Roman gold coin ended up in Britain, along with its invade
#135 - Understanding Halacha, History & Change: Taking Interest on a Loan (feat. Dayan Y. Posen)
The Torah explicitly forbids lending money at interest, yet the Hetter Iska document seems to allow it.
Is it legal? Should we all have one? Did the 17th century create a watershed moment?
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview
02:26 The Historical Context of Money in Jewish History
08:11 The Role of the Vaad Arba Arotzos in Creating the Hetter Iska Document
11:29 Navigating Financial Transact
#134 - Tisha B'Av Episode - The Hideout in Slovakia
Rabbi Yossi Steiner spent the war years on the run - as a child - and survived through a series of miracles.
He found himself alone in a ghetto, needing to take care of his 5 year old brother. He hid in a bunker for 9 months, whilst Nazis came searching with trained dogs. He crossed borders through forests and fields and spent months pretending to be a mute child.
His story and that of the non
#133 - Holocaust Identities IV - The Church, The Red Cross & Nuremberg
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1945. The war is over and Germany is in chaos. But now the church has to explain its silence. And two other groups emerge.
There are thousands of Jewish orphans scattered across Europe. At the same time there are thousands of Nazis on the run. Will justice prev
#132 - Holocaust Identities III - Hitler’s Olympics, Nation & Church
Berlin 1936 saw Germany win more Gold medals than any other country, while the world looked on. But at what price?
How aware was the Church of Jewish persecution? What role did the ordinary German play in Hitler’s regime? And what motivated those who saved Jews?
Chapters
00:00 The Berlin Olympics of 1936: Hitler's Showcase
05:04 Calls to Boycott or Relocate the Olympics
09:42 Why Did Ordinary Ger
#131 - Holocaust Identities II – Secret Soldiers Part 2
In 1944 X-troop were fighting in France.
With heavy losses and secret identities, some of them would tragically be buried under a cross.
By 1945 they had made their way to Germany, always searching for family members who may have survived, even if this required driving across no-man’s land into enemy territory.
When the war ends, they begin a new mission, rooting out Nazis in Germany & Austri
#130 - Holocaust Identities I - Secret Soldiers Part 1
To donate tefillin for the soldiers, please click - https://bit.ly/historyforthecurioustefillin
Forged through adversity and fuelled by the fate of their families who were trapped in Nazi Europe, a ragtag crew of Jewish refugees volunteered to become an elite army unit and significantly impact the enemy during WWII.
Initially interned as enemy aliens they risked their lives time and time again
#129 - Rabbi Akiva Eger II - Rulings, Plague & Portrait
To appreciate Rabbi Akiva Eger we need to understand his era;
The cholera epidemic he lived through, the personalities of his generation as well as his rulings and how they were set out.
Who was he really and what did he look like?
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Rabbi Akiva Eger
13:46 Rabbi Akiva Eger's Role During the Cholera Epidemic
27:09 Conflict with the Community and the Hospital Man
#128 - Rabbi Akiva Eger I - Genius, Battles & Compassion
Famous as a scholar and lamdan, his life was beset by challenges and setbacks, all of which he faced with remarkable fortitude.
As the leader of Central Europe's Jewry, the impact of his writings and personality re-wrote the history of the 19th century for the Jews
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Government Intervention
08:01 Reb Akiva Eger's Scholarship and Influence
16:10 Reb Akiva Eger's Relu
#127 - Kabbalah II - Heresy : Spain 1290-1350
Unraveling the Mystery - Who was Moshe de Leon? How did the Zohar impact Jewish history? Is there a deep divide between Academics & Kabbalists. What did Rav Yaakov Emden write? And how was Marriage seen in 13th century Spain?
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: The Mystery of the Zohar
13:09 The Historical Context of Spain in the 13th and 14th Centuries
30:42 The Impact of the Zohar on Jewish Hist
#126 - Kabbalah I - Controversy : Spain 1250-1295
In the 1200s Spanish Jewry faced great challenges within the community including Murder, Immorality & Defection.
This was exacerbated by dangerous teachings within Kabbalah which had to be rooted out by the Rashba and banned.
But 700 years later a pathway was found to Redemption.
Chapters
00:00 Challenges of 13th-Century Spain: Tensions, Wealth, and Power
03:06 Controversies in Jewish Sch
#125 - Spanish Jewry III - Targets of Resentment: Prominent Jewish Figures in Spain
The Golden Age was over but what drove Jews to settle in Christian Spain?
What is the true story of the pirates in Cordoba?
Why was the commentary of the Rif so vital and why did the Ba’al HaMaor critique it?
Who controlled the Jews: The Church or The Kings?
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:05 Legends and Stories in Jewish History
08:50 Prominent Jewish Scholars and Physicians
16:
#124 - Spanish Jewry II - The Golden Age : Poetry, Power and Politics
A unique world existed for two centuries in which a Jewish general lead Moslem armies into battle and authored 1,500 poems while Chasdai, the most famous Jew, discovered the antidote to poison and oversaw the creation of Jewish grammar.
Was Yosef Hannagid responsible for the death of an Arab prince? And how did Spain over-rule Babylonia?
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Golden Age of Spanish
#123 - Spanish Jewry I - The Dark Ages: The Forced Conversion of the Jews
The history of the Jews in Spain has always been part of our collective memory. But the real story starts 1,000 years earlier.
Long before the Rishonim, flourishing communities existed. What were their lives like? Why do we not know more about them? And what happened in 711CE?
For the trip, please email: giana.elav@gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 The Visigothic Period: Anti-Jewish Legislation and
#122 - Responsa in History III
Do synagogues have rights over membership?
Why did a Chazan risk excommunication in Perpignan?
Why were responsa printed in defiance of the author’s wishes?
And the 1708 Chametz glue on a Pesach document…
Chapters
00:00 Excommunication and Imposing Bans
06:18 Excommunication and Scholarly Disputes
13:28 The Role of the Chazan in the Synagogue
26:04 Insights from Historical Responsa
#121 - Financial Responsa in History II - Shuls, Politics & Power (feat. Dayan Y Posen)
For centuries Jews faced restrictions building their shuls.
Halachic questions arose across Europe concerning rights, ownership and use. And closer to our day, when communities split, the assets would often be fought over.
For the trip, please email: giana.elav@gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview
07:41 Shul as a Place of Assembly and Governance
14:13 Challenges in Shul Ex
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