History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast

#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, triumphs and breadth of travel.
Beyond his journeys, the Chida's genius is seen through his prolific writings. Author of 100 different sefarim on Halacha, Tanach, Kabbala & Talmud, they continue to guide Judaism today. Shem HaGedolim, remains a monumental encyclopedia of rabbinic authors and works, which reflect his incredible memory and knowledge. Birkei Yosef and Yosef Ometz are cornerstones of psak, written as he travelled thousands of miles over many decades.
But the final act was written in 1960.
 
Timestamps:
- 0:00 — Intro mention of Shem ha‑Gdolim editions  
- 0:21 — Podcast intro by Mena Reisner  
- 1:00 — Hosts reconnect; travel note and dedication  
- 2:32 — Episode topic: life & travels of Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (the Chida)  
- 3:01 — Family origins; great‑grandfather and signature story  
- 4:13 — Birth in Jerusalem, early life, prodigy and writings  
- 7:53 — Teachers, Kabbalistic training, reason for emissary mission  
- 10:26 — Language issues, letters of recommendation, mixed receptions in Europe  
- 15:04 — Collection logistics, contacts with non‑Jewish authorities, successes  
- 18:46 — Travel hazards and accidents; manuscript research in libraries  
- 22:32 — England/France encounters and sightseeing  
- 26:29 — Return to Eretz Yisrael (1758), political troubles, five‑year stay in Egypt  
- 31:05 — Tunis episode, personal losses, diary entries  
- 35:49 — Second mission, Livorno quarantine, composing Shem ha‑Gdolim  
- 39:05 — Scope of travels, settlement in Livorno, later life and death (1806)  
- 42:23 — Burial details, estate instructions, study practices, halachic/Kabbalistic approach  
- 48:55 — Stories/legends (attempts to hasten redemption, miracles)  
- 55:07 — Reburial efforts to Jerusalem; episode closing and contact info

#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 — Topic setup: music in Torah and Levites.  
0:02:58 — Music’s role in prophecy, Kabbalah, Vilna Gaon.  
0:05:00 — Historical examples of music’s influence/appropriation.  
0:10:00 — Music’s emotional power, simcha, halachic issues.  
0:15:44 — Western (Renaissance/Baroque) and medieval Jewish music.  
0:19:07 — 16th–17thC Italian controversy over Hebrew polyphony.  
0:24:00 — Choirs, organs, cross-cultural musical borrowing.  
0:30:00 — 19thC Jerusalem ban on wedding instruments (reasons).  
0:35:19 — Interview with Alex Clare begins.  
0:36:41 — Alex on nature of music, AI, sincerity.  
1:00:00 — Music, memory, spirituality, and timelessness.  
1:15:00 — Jewish vs. secular music, cultural influences.  
1:25:00 — Alex on his music, kids’ songs, audience.  
1:35:19 — Closing and contact info.

#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 ground for both the Maharal's views and the Rama's rulings of yayin stam, which resonate to this day.   
 
Timestamps:
00:00 — Opening anecdote  
00:00:36 — Intro & episode overview  
00:01:12 — Listener feedback (medieval England)  
00:02:02 — History: Bohemia & Moravia (1500s)  
00:04:54 — Maharal: philosophy of wine  
00:08:43 — Nicholsburg controversy (1600s)  
00:15:00 — Prohibition & bootlegging (Bronfmans)  
00:16:25 — Sacramental wine loophole & abuses  
00:25:00 — 1926 regulations & grape juice debate  
00:29:30 — Interview: Nathan (Yogi) Herzog  
00:35:00 — Herzog: kosher production practices  
00:40:00 — Kedem grape juice & market evolution  
00:50:00 — Harvest logistics & mashgichim  
00:51:54 — Production issues & quality control  
00:52:02 — Interview: Rabbi Padva (kashrus expert)  
00:53:15 — Halacha: non-Jew involvement, mevushal, transport  
01:04:24 — Practical challenges (pumping/maceration)  
01:06:06 — Closing & sign-off

#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:
- 00:00:33 — Podcast intro 
- 00:01:09 — Sponsor dedication (Five Towns Central) and contact info.  
- 00:01:50 — Series announcement: new multi-part “wine” series; guests planned for week two.  
- 00:03:34 — Origins: Georgia and ancient Egyptian wine (Tutankhamun jars).  
- 00:05:33 — Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans: amphorae, dilution, and wine practices.  
- 00:08:44 — Roman recipes/additives, Posca/Eora, and medicinal uses; Gemara liability notes.  
- 00:16:00 — Lead/metal use in wine, health risks, and later glass bottles enabling long aging.  
- 00:17:30 — Halachic introduction: yayin nesech and stam yeinam explained.  
- 00:20:00 — Ashkenaz/France: cash shortages, wine-as-debt, Rashi’s leniencies and barrel-sealing debate.  
- 00:30:00 — Provence/Languedoc: stringencies, piquet (second-press), and transport sealing practices.  
- 00:32:47 — England: wine shortages and instructions for Kiddush/Seder without wine.  
- 00:36:04 — Muslim/Ottoman lands: limited production, taxes/bans, and examples of covert trade.  
- 00:42:09 — Italy: Teshuvot hesitancy, later Padua rulings, and varied local customs.  
- 00:46:32 — Closing: recap of wine’s household role, upcoming guests (Nathan “Yochi” Herzog + halachic expert), and call for listener questions.

#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  
0:00:27 Podcast intro
0:01:16 Series context — part 3 importance  
0:02:58 Post-1492 groups — emigrants, later emigrants, those who stayed  
0:03:36 Sephardic diaspora — destinations & trades (Ottoman lands, North Africa, textiles, medicine)  
0:04:41 Jewish diplomacy under Ottomans — translators/negotiators, ties to Spain  
0:07:14 Crypto-Judaism basics — loss of rabbis, books, reliance on oral tradition & Old Testament  
0:09:42 Decline of living memory — mid-1500s generational loss  
0:11:40 Core beliefs retained — monotheism, Moses, Torah; examples from Inquisition confessions  
0:14:02 Observance statistics from trials — fasting, kashrut, Shabbat, Yom Kippur prevalence  
0:15:59 Passing faith to next generation — secrecy, double lives, limited transmission  
0:17:32 Inquisition edicts as inadvertent guides to practice  
0:19:26 End-of-life rituals — refusal of crucifix, tahara, burial customs  
0:23:41 Shabbat practices — hidden candles, inward sweeping, blessings  
0:26:31 Church attendance — outward conformity, internal belief strategies  
0:27:25 New World/Inquisition — arrival in Americas; Inquisition established in Mexico, Peru, Brazil  
0:31:00 Dutch Brazil exception — temporary open practice under Dutch rule, later expulsion 1654  
0:32:40 Louis de Carvajal & notable trials — arrests, preserved writings used as evidence  
0:36:22 Secret communication/code — phrases, walks, covert declarations of faith  
0:39:04 Dangers of disclosure — denunciations even by family; psychological terror of arrest  
0:42:40 Arrest/interrogation process — isolation, written records, potential torture  
0:45:00 Auto-da-fé description — public spectacle, sanbenito, punishments, executions  
0:50:47 Survival customs preserved in remote towns (e.g., burial, food practices)  
0:51:07 Reasons many stayed — travel restrictions, family/assets, hope things improve  
0:55:46 Reintegration abroad — relearning Judaism, halachic complications (bris, remarriage)  
0:59:12 Broader Jewish response — limited help; notable rescuers and martyrs  
1:02:19 Scale of persecution — arrests (100k–150k), deaths (~4–10k estimated)  
1:05:34 Long-term effects — endogamy, oral legacy, Kabbalah/messianic currents  
1:06:46 Closing & next steps — possible future series; contact/website/tours info  
Action items (end): confirm availability for next series; monitor listener feedback; update website/tours.

#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 was increased and Spain became a centre of Jewish printing until the axe fell for the remaining Jews in 1492, and 4 months of despair turned into a mass exodus.
 
Their decision to abandon everything and leave for the unknown - at great cost - was the largest display of faith in the past 1,000 years of Jewish history.
 
Timestamps:
- [0:00] Topic setup: Spain Part 2 — continuation on conversos/Jewish life pre- and post-1480.  
- [0:44] Intro & announcements: new website historyforthecurious.com and listener emails (Menorah/Vatican).  
- [6:07] Recap: 1391 massacres and Tortosa debates intensified pressure on Jews/conversos.  
- [12:15] Inquisition origins (1480): state-backed institution, torture, informers, auto-da-fé spectacles.  
- [20:07] Converso impact: shift from preserving family cohesion to living secret “cover stories.”  
- [24:28] La Guardia case (1491): blood libel, forced confessions, executions used to build case for expulsion.  
- [30:57] 1492: Fall of Granada and the Alhambra Decree — four months to leave, severe loss of property.  
- [52:18] Exodus hardships: banditry, ship abuses, disease, starvation; some returned/converted.  
- [56:07] Demographics: estimated ~150,000 left; major resettlement in Ottoman lands and North Africa.  
- [40:21 / 45:53] Culture & print: strong late-medieval Spanish rabbinic scholarship and early Hebrew printing; many books later burned but printing continued in exile.  
- [1:00:17] Legacy: Sephardic communities revitalized elsewhere; theme — persecution paired with spiritual resilience.
 
 

#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 life was created for the Jews in Spain.
Jews were still part of society, but rising Church pressure forced many into hiding. And the urgent question arose of how to deal with conversos amid instability, the Tortosa disputation and hostility from ‘Old Christians’.
But the writing was still not on the wall.
 
Timestamps:
- 0:00 — Converts’ next-generation issue introduced  
- 0:42 — Podcast intro and host  
- 1:24 — Email about Radzivin/Vatican anecdote  
- 2:24 — Recap: Jewish history in Spain; Golden Age → decline  
- 4:20 — 14th-century status: wealth, roles, rising anti-Jewish politics  
- 7:17 — Civil war in Castile; Henry II’s measures; Ferran Martínez’s preaching  
- 12:45 — Martinez’s actions, weak government, lead-up to 1391  
- 16:20 — June 1391 pogroms begin (Seville)  
- 19:33 — Scale of conversions; conversos’ motives and consequences  
- 23:00 — Rav Crescas’s account and leadership role  
- 27:32 — Rebuilding efforts and royal interactions  
- 32:21 — Conversos’ social ascent; community tensions  
- 37:22 — Tortosa disputation lead-up; Vincent Ferrer’s influence  
- 43:07 — Tortosa debate outcomes and further conversions  
- 50:10 — Fragile recovery; papal/royal reversals  
- 57:32 — 1449 Toledo unrest; purity-of-blood measures begin  
- 1:02:16 — Long-term social exclusion of conversos; legacy and summary

#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 designated as a day of mourning, for all those who do not know the date or the fate of their family's passing during the Holocaust, and this episode will feature the unusual story of a young child in the partisans. 
 
Timestamps0:00:00 Opening and podcast intro; dedication to Nehemiah and host’s father
0:01:06 Overview of episode topics, Hanukkah feedback, and menorah discussion
0:03:18 Context of Asara B’Tevet, Holocaust link, and anecdote about Kaddish in old-age home
0:04:20–0:10:04 Historical exposition: Jeremiah’s prophecies, political pressures, scroll burned, imprisonments
0:10:04–0:19:37 Continued account: attempted murder, rescues, false prophets (Hananiah, Uriah) and descent to siege
0:19:37–0:21:25 Summary of decline leading to exile and significance of the 10th of Tevet fast
0:21:25–0:28:46 Modern parallels: genteel/diplomatic antisemitism, political short-termism, and examples
0:28:46–0:34:31 Reflection on providence, Hashem’s hand, emunah vs. bitachon, and cultivating trust
0:34:31–0:40:15 Practical guidance: quiet contemplation, Hanukkah lessons, and spiritual responses
0:40:15–0:46:37 Holocaust case study begins: Matei Jakel’s early life, attack, deportation, and escape from train
0:46:37–0:52:16 Partisan life, postwar displacement, meeting youth emissaries, aliyah to Israel, rebuilding life
0:52:16 Closing reflections, key takeaways on resilience and faith, listener email (podcasts@jle.org.uk) and two-week break

#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 outcome of the most up-to-date research and analysis and includes a recently recorded conversation with a Rabbi who entered the Vatican cellars 55 years ago accompanied by Pope John Paul II.
 
Timestamps:
- 0:00 — Opening:   
- 0:38 — Podcast intro (host & Rabbi Hersh).  
- 1:14 — Memorial/announcements.  
- 2:17 — Episode topic introduced: “Where is the menorah?”  
- 4:00 — Menorah as Jewish symbol; historical significance.  
- 8:00 — Arch of Titus / Josephus / early Roman display.  
- 10:00 — Fire in 191 CE and disappearance possibilities.  
- 15:00 — Jews in ancient Rome / social context.  
- 20:00 — Constantine/Byzantine period and relocation theories (312 CE).  
- 25:00 — Christian adoption/use of menorah imagery.  
- 30:00 — Vatican holdings, openness, and inventories.  
- 34:30 — Eyewitness claims overview; Rabbi Stencil letter exchange.  
- 40:00 — Oscar Goldman 1962 account (electrician shown items).  
- 41:30 — 1970s rabbi’s underground Vatican visit description.  
- 52:40 — Testimony analysis: credibility issues and scholarly skepticism.  
- 1:03:47 — Theological point: first‑ vs. second‑Temple vessels and redemption.  
- 1:10:00 — Halachic notes on making/holding menorah replicas; closing.

#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 the central idea of Chanukah - the only festival established by the Sages post-prophecy
Connecting the ancient clash of civilizations to the battles which echo down through Russia, America and Eretz Yisrael; It defines Who is a Jew.
 
Timestamps
[0:00:00] Introduction to Greek Exile and Historical Context
[0:01:07] Podcast Dedication and Welcome
[0:02:05] Setting Up the Hanukkah Discussion
[0:04:13] Questioning the Purpose of Hanukkah Celebration
[0:14:44] Historical Prequel: Alexander the Great and Shimon HaTzadik
[0:22:49] Corruption of the Priesthood
[0:26:38] Empire Dynamics After Alexander
[0:31:05] Jewish Attraction to Greek Culture
[0:40:41] The Spiritual Victory of Hanukkah
[0:49:26] Comparing Purim and Hanukkah
[0:50:44] Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-up

#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 is stranger than fiction, but there are important lessons we can take from it.
 
Timestamps
[0:03:07] Origins: Hungarian Jewish Childhood
[0:04:40] Early Crimes: Theft and Deception
[0:07:54] Religious Transformations: Conversions and Missionaries
[0:11:00] Political Ambitions: Brief Parliamentary Career
[0:18:23] Wartime Intrigue: Espionage and Escapes
[0:28:00] Political Extremism: Far-Right Conspiracies
[0:35:00] Global Wanderings: International Adventures
[0:41:30] Spiritual Journey: Becoming a Buddhist Monk
[0:45:00] World War Machinations: Nazi and Japanese Connections
[0:48:44] Final Act: Decline in Shanghai

#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 set of Talmud?
 
Chapters
00:00:00 Doctor Lopez and the Earl of Leicester
00:00:26 Podcast Introduction and Listener Letter 
00:36:32 Rodrigo Lopez: Early Life and Arrival in England 
00:05:10 Lopez’s Rise and Role at Court 
00:08:14 Espionage and the Don Antonio Affair 
00:09:41 Jewish Community as Diplomatic Asset 
00:11:02 International Intrigue and Spanish Spies 
00:13:39 The Spanish Armada and Aftermath 
00:15:22 Lopez’s Espionage and Double Agency 
00:16:40 The Andrada Case and Rising Suspicion
00:19:12 Arrest and Trial of Lopez 
00:21:52 Charges, Confession, and Execution 
00:24:35 Was Lopez Guilty?
00:27:08 Lopez’s Legacy and Impact on Literature 
00:30:44 Jewish Life in England: 1300s–1400s 
00:32:50 Conversos and Marranos in Tudor England 
00:36:32 Risks and Persecution of Marranos 
00:38:42 Elizabethan Era and Secret Jewish Life 
00:40:35 Religious Practice and Open Jews
00:43:10 Persistence of Jewish Identity
00:45:12 The Talmud in England: The Henry VIII Legend 
00:48:35 Conclusion and Next Series Teaser 
 
 

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

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 political power in crafting high-stakes foreign policy, laying out his forceful argument for Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, and his definitive vision of One Jewish State.
 
Hear his incredible story, as he reflects on Jewish history, the Hand of Hashem and the divine continuum that continually strengthens Israel's destiny, while also sharing his candid personal insights on figures like President Trump, Mike Pompeo, and the future evolution of the Middle East over the next 12 to 24 months.

#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 Tchebiner Rov, while his rulings influence financial law to this day.
 
For information about the Poland trip 3rd-6th November contact giana.elav@gmail.com
 
Chapters
00:00 The Disputation Series: An Overview
02:46 The Context of the Barcelona Disputation
05:56 The Goals and Strategies of the Disputation
09:04 The Nature of the Debate: Christianity vs. Judaism
11:52 The Role of the Messiah in Christianity and Judaism
15:05 The Agadic Approach in Jewish Thought
17:56 The Outcomes of the Disputation
20:58 The Tortosa Disputation: A New Era
23:59 The Impact of Fear and Intimidation
26:40 The Aftermath of the Disputation
29:59 Rav Meir Arik: A Brief Biography

#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 Rambam and Rabbeinu Yonah's Controversy
12:07 The Role of Hillel of Verona
18:45 Yom Kippur and the Nature of Repentance
21:19 Church Disputations and Their Impact
29:34 The Paris Disputation: A Turning Point
42:44 Consequences of the Talmud's Burning

#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 halachic work on healing and consulting doctors for refuah.
 
Chapters
00:00 The Downfall of Edom and the Church's Influence
02:53 The Ramban's Controversial Letters and Kabbalistic Ideas
06:08 The Disputation of Barcelona: A Turning Point
08:44 The Aftermath of the Disputation and Censorship
11:57 The Ramban's Journey to Eretz Yisrael
14:41 Rebuilding Jerusalem: The Ramban's Legacy
18:03 The Ramban's Medical Insights and Philosophy
21:02 The Ramban's Introduction to the Torah
24:03 The Essence of the Torah and Its Connection to Hashem

#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' Shmuli Levison joins us to introduce us to these various works and the distinction between Philosophy & Kabbalah.
 
Email: giana.elav@gmail.com for the Poland Trip
 
Chapters
 
00:00 The Life and Legacy of the Ramban
 
07:48 Ramban's Influence on Jewish Thought
 
21:39 The Maimonidean Controversy
 
40:48 Ramban's Approach to Kabbalah and Philosophy
 
57:25 Ramban's Writings and Their Impact