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PODCAST

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast

History for the Curious The most talked-about Jewish History Podcast History for the Curious features the dynamic historian and famous tour guide & lecturer: Rabbi Aubrey Hersh, live from the JLE in London, hosted by myself: Mena Reisner Join us as we cross continents, sail through the centuries, tracing lives, uncovering events and following epic journeys, to reveal the untold stories, the scandals, and the mysteries, that have impacted our history and shaped us into who we are today

religion & spirituality judaism

All Episodes

01:14:33

#163: Oral Law II - Who is Right? Who is a Scholar?

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/06/11

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 Disputes in Torah 24:10 The Concept of Eilu ve Eilu 29:57 Halacha in Practice 44:01 The Role of the

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53:31

#162: The Oral Law (Torah She'Baal Peh) I - Definitions

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/05/29

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 Law 09:00 The Role of Sages in Halacha 11:55 The Transmission of Torah 15:01 The Distinction Between

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57:39

#161 Mavericks II - Villains & Heroes

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/05/20

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 Agent Who Became a Legend 27:29 The Dangers of Prohibition and Jewish Identity 29:00 Jewish Gangsters and

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53:24

#160 - Mavericks I: Crime in the USA

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/05/10

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 00:00 The Rise of Jewish Gangsters in America 20:51 Prohibition: A Catalyst for Crime 24:00 The

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56:31

#159 - Eruv II : The Controversies

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/05/01

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 09:01 The Evolution of Eiruv in Toronto 11:45 Challenges of Eiruv in Yerushalayim 15:03 Halachic

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45:22

#158 - Eruv I : The History

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/04/27

Documents and Responsa from across the Jewish world reveal that for centuries Jews discussed, debated and disagreed over the Shabbos EruvWalled 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 Introduction to Erevin and Halacha 03:04 Understanding the Concept of Erevin 05:53 Historical Context of

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01:00:02

#157 – The Russian Empire V – Genius, Identity &...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/04/08

(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 Zion and the notorious Kishinev pogrom of 1903, which was followed by the abortive 1905 Revolution. As a

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56:29

#156 - The Russian Empire IV - Freedom, Poverty &...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/03/26

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 06:40 The Rise of Jewish Assimilation and National Pride 12:46 The Economic Divide Among Jews 18:02 The

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53:18

#155 - The Russian Empire III - Fight or Flight?

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/03/19

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 Struggle Against Forced Assimilation 02:55 The Role of Informants in Jewish Communities 05:47 The

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57:23

#154 - The Russian Empire II – Persecution, Heroism &...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/03/11

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 Russian Policies and Jewish Resettlement 06:05 Nicholas I and the Cantonist Decree 08:57 The Impact of

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55:16

#153 - The Russian Empire I - Origins, Conquest &...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/03/03

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 Policies 27:41 The Transformation of the Russian Empire 30:00 The Jewish Population in Eastern Europe 34:21

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56:23

#152 - Jewish Physicians III – Ottoman Vignettes and...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/02/13

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 Century Russia 02:55 The Role of Jewish Physicians in Europe 05:52 The Influence of Jewish Medical

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01:03:04

#151 - Jewish Physicians II - China & the Middle East...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/02/06

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 Conversion and Identity Among Jewish Physicians 18:59 The Role of Women in Jewish Medicine 27:55 Marco

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01:06:14

#150 - Jewish Physicians in History I - feat. Rabbi...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/01/29

‘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 Introduction to Jewish Medicine and History 02:47 The Role of Jewish Physicians in Europe 06:10 Historical

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52:33

#149 - Vienna III : Leading to Darkness

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/01/16

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 Rebbe in 1903 Chapters 00:00 The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Pre-War Austria 02:55 World War I: A Turning

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54:30

#148 - Vienna II - pre-WWI: Freud, Herzl & Rabbi Flesch

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/01/07

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 Spectrum of Reactions 09:00 Five Cultural Figures and Their Influence 11:51 Theodor Herzl: From Assimilation

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50:53

#147 - The BBC: Biased Broadcasting Corporation - The...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2024/12/26

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 to Rabbi Zev Leff, Rabbi Osher Weiss and others, to determine how we should

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56:48

#146 - 19th Century Vienna - Friends or Enemies?

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2024/12/18

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? Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jewish History Podcast 02:51 The Importance of Understanding Jewish

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50:17

#145 - Chanukah, the West & the ICC Judgement

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2024/12/05

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 complexities of Jewish identity, the historical context of anti-Semitism, and the current political

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53:54

#144 - The Rothschilds III - Five Brothers

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2024/11/27

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 & Thurn, the Duke of Wellington & Hersh Liebman all formed part of the enduring and memorable narrative

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183 results

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