History for the Curious

JLE is proud to present a brand new podcast "History for the Curious" with Rabbi Aubrey Hersh hosted by Rabbi Mena Reisner. Join us as we cross continents and sail through the centuries tracing lives, uncovering events and following epic journeys to reveal the untold stories and the mysteries that have impacted our history and shaped us into who we are today. Be in touch via podcasts@jle.org.uk with your questions and comments!
Episodes
Episodes



Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
One single fragment changed history forever. Giving access to personal letters, handbooks for magic and even some Yiddish... Although putting Bible critics in their place was sweet revenge too.



Tuesday May 03, 2022
Tuesday May 03, 2022
A liar, a smuggler and a forger. All after the prize - the most lucrative of the 19th century. Meanwhile Cairo is opening up to foreigners... DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE SO YOU DON'T MISS ANOTHER EPISODE



Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Tuesday Apr 26, 2022
Pesach icons - Manischewitz vs. IRS - Late additions & 20th Century changes. And don't forget to Remove the Plagues.



Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
A Seder during the Civil War - a Forged Haggada - Questions in Siberia - Which Spouse is Maror?



Thursday Apr 07, 2022
Thursday Apr 07, 2022
Accused of heresy, Ramchal flees Italy to face a showdown in Germany. How is he rehabilitated, what is his legacy and what is the essence of his Mesilas Yesharim?



Friday Apr 01, 2022
Friday Apr 01, 2022
Revolutionary, Kabbalist, Pietist & Intellectual Polymath. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto was the subject of tremendous controversy during his lifetime. What drove him and what are the principles of his teachings. A Podcast special with Rabbi Hersh & Rabbi Tatz



Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
Wednesday Mar 23, 2022
An Italian emigre, a wandering Prince & a vacant Polish throne. The making of a true legend. Alongside a Jewish Parliament & money lending made halachic.



Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Tuesday Mar 15, 2022
Ukraine has housed Jews for almost seven centuries. How do we view them? And where do we stand during this conflict? How did Poland create the Ashkenazim - with what authority and with what outcome? A revolutionary insight.



Wednesday Mar 02, 2022
Wednesday Mar 02, 2022
Two intellectuals dominated the halachic arena in the 1500s. Cousins by birth, writers by nature. The timely & the timeless.



Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Making a Life whilst Making a Living. A 500-year tale, with humble origins. Sought after by nobility, given rights and self-governance, the early Jewish communities spread across Poland and Lithuania. But not everyone was a success story.



Wednesday Feb 16, 2022
Wednesday Feb 16, 2022
When communities came under threat, timing often made the crucial difference. Invasion, Blood Libels & Siege. Reminders of the Original Purim.



Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
Tuesday Feb 08, 2022
Across entire continents, Jews have had to deal with political intrigue and corrupt rulers. Occasionally these were overlaid with decrees of destruction and sincere prayer. And throughout the ages, the unexpected outcomes inspired communities to create a Purim which celebrated their particular miracle.



Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
What happens when Torah becomes a fable? Where was Aristotle's error? How did Meiri's writings suddenly re-appear after 600 years? And why did Jews go to hear sermons in church on Shabbos?



Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
For over a century, Provence split between those who banned (& burned) the works of the Rambam, and those who excommunicated their opponents. Philosophy vs. Kabbala. Rabbeinu Yonah, Nachmanides & the authors of Tosfos all took strong positions - echoes of which continued into the 20th century.



Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
Tuesday Jan 18, 2022
What made the Provencal sages write critiques of the greatest rabbinic scholars?Why did the Baal Hamaor never wear Tzitzis?Which sefer was written entirely by angels - And was it accepted halachically?Why was the Ravaad imprisoned?



Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Tuesday Jan 11, 2022
Jews existed there continuously for 1,500 years; at one point being forced into the only four ghettos in France. Neither Ashkenaz nor Sefarad, they produced some of the greatest scholars of the era. Who were they? How did they survive the storms for so long? And at what cost?



Monday Dec 13, 2021
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Were the Jews the victims of WWII? How did they experience Time? The passing of a single day... And how did a few unsung heroes sanctify Shabbos and give hope to those around them?



Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
What year are we in? When is New Year’s Day? (Not Rosh Hashana - The other one !)? Why did Jews celebrate Yom Kippur on different days 1,100 years ago? A look at 2,000 years of disputes and the occasional ex-communication



Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
Travelers often leave imprints, but perhaps none as mysterious or eye-opening as a Jewish explorer in the 9th century. An enigma which will very probably impact events at the End of Time. And of course there is the matter of the elephant in the room



Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
The Jews are unwelcome across Europe although England now offers the appearance of hope. But it's a high-stakes game which someone will lose and the tangled politics may just be too much too soon.