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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

67:05

#187: Wine in the Modern Era: feat. Nathan Herzog...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2026/02/23

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 ground for both the Maharal's views and the Rama's rulings of yayin stam, which resonate to this day.

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47:37

#186: Wine - Romans to the Rishonim in History & Halacha

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2026/02/15

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: - 00:00:33 — Podcast intro - 00:01:09 — Sponsor dedication (Five Towns Central) and contact info. -

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67:19

#185: Spanish Inquisition - 350 Years of Jewish Defiance

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2026/02/03

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 0:00:27 Podcast intro 0:01:16 Series context — part 3 importance 0:02:58 Post-1492 groups — emigrants,

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62:47

#184: Spanish Jewry II - 1460 - 1492: The Walls Close In

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2026/01/27

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 was increased and Spain became a centre of Jewish printing until the axe fell for the remaining Jews in

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63:19

#183: Spanish Jewry 1348-1460: Into the Abyss

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2026/01/14

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 life was created for the Jews in Spain. Jews were still part of society, but rising Church pressure

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53:25

#182: 10th Teves: Our History - The Message - Our Future

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/12/30

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 designated as a day of mourning, for all those who do not know the date or the fate of their family's passing

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74:22

#181: The Menorah - History's Greatest Jewish Mystery

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/12/21

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 outcome of the most up-to-date research and analysis and includes a recently recorded conversation with

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51:01

#180: Chanukah - Celebrating the War We Didn't Win?

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/12/11

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 the central idea of Chanukah - the only festival established by the Sages post-prophecy Connecting the

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63:12

#179: The Most Unbelievable Story in Modern History

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/12/04

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 is stranger than fiction, but there are important lessons we can take from it. Timestamps [0:03:07]

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48:55

#178: The Vanished Jews of England II: 1290-1650

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/11/25

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 set of Talmud? Chapters 00:00:00 Doctor Lopez and the Earl of Leicester 00:00:26 Podcast Introduction

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48:12

#177: The Vanished Jews of England: 1290-1650

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/11/17

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.

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66:19

#176: Yishmael vs Yisrael X: Echoes of Conflict -...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/11/06

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 Hersh, Rabbi Leff & Lord Wolfson discuss the global situation for Jews and where we are headed.

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1:27

What is Jewish History?

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/10/26

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

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48:49

#175: David Friedman - The Ambassador Who Reshaped...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/10/23

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 political power in crafting high-stakes foreign policy, laying out his forceful argument for Israeli

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55:27

#174: Disputations II - 1263-1414 / Rav Meir Arik...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/09/29

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 Tchebiner Rov, while his rulings influence financial law to this day. For information about the Poland

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46:03

#173: The Disputations I - Paris 1240

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/09/21

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 Rambam and Rabbeinu Yonah's Controversy 12:07 The Role of Hillel of Verona 18:45 Yom Kippur and the Nature

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63:25

#172: Ramban II - The Church & Eretz Yisrael (feat....

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/09/10

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 halachic work on healing and consulting doctors for refuah. Chapters 00:00 The Downfall of Edom and

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70:19

#171: Ramban I - The Early Conflicts (1194-1270)

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/09/04

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' Shmuli Levison joins us to introduce us to these various works and the distinction between Philosophy &

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01:02:39

#170: Holocaust Shadows IV - Survivors, Liberators &...

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/08/02

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 tragedy, even as she looks only to move forward. An American chaplain in the US Army in April 1945 - Rabbi Hershel Schachter - opened up the gates of Hell. In a little known recording, we hear him describe the piles of bodies, the

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57:54

#169: Holocaust Shadows III - The Survivor

History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast ·

2025/07/30

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 wounds into a source of hope? And how should Tisha B'Av redefine our understanding of

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