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. Encounter leaders, visionaries, spies, heroes & traitors and unpack 2,000 years of Jewish heritage. Go back to the story of Jews in the Temple of Jerusalem. Confront the dilemmas of the Holocaust. Visit Paris, Prague, Vilna, London, Venice, New York & the Cairo Geniza. Meet The Russian Czar, Ramchal, Maharal, Maimonides, Churchill, Shabbetai Zvi and the Hapsburgs.
Episodes
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
#105 - Yishmael vs Yisrael IV - The Hostages (feat. Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz)
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
Wednesday Nov 22, 2023
The fate of 240 Jews still remains unknown… What are our spiritual obligations at this time? What does Jewish Law rule for these situations? And where does Advocacy fit into the equation?
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
#104 - London Through the Eyes of the Curious
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Experience London in a very unique way by clicking the link below-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wHjkkNGKUk
And please consider making a donation to allow us to continue the podcasts' reach and content - https://www.charityextra.com/jle/133970
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
#103 - Rambam III - The Final Years
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
Why was the letter to the Jews of Yemen so essential? Who was Guide to the Perplexed written for?
How did the Rambam steer his community through turbulent political times? And where does the bullfight in Cordoba fit in?
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
#102 - Yishmael vs Yisrael III - Mesiras Nefesh (feat. Rabbi Y.Y Jacobson)
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Yishamel’s 3rd power is their veneration of martyrdom. Our spiritual antidote, is Mesiras Nefesh.
Although this includes self-sacrifice and is often translated as giving up one’s life, it is actually life-giving and forms the pillar of the survival of the Jewish Nation through the ages, as Rabbi YY Jacobson explains.
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
#101 - Yishmael vs Yisrael II - The Israeli - Arab Conflict
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Social Media is alive with facts about Israel, many of which are inaccurate or taken out of context.
With the help of International Foreign policy analyst Dr Mitchell Bard, this podcast comprehensively takes the listener through 120 years of Middle Eastern history, pointing out the major events and documented truths about them and dispelling myths.
Recommended websites and books have been uploaded to: www.jle.org.uk/podcast
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
#100 - Yishmael vs Yisrael I - A Biblical Conflict
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
The events of 7th October have left us reeling. How should Jews react? What are our obligations - especially those who are geographically distant? And where are the spiritual origins of this war?
The special tefilah to be said in a place of danger has been uploaded to: www.jle.org.uk/podcast
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
#99 - Rambam II - Egypt
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
The Rambam spent 38 years of his life in Cairo. Here, he authored his two most famous works, became involved in Medicine, dealt with hostages, suffered tremendous personal loss, and wrote hundreds of Responsa - some of which challenged the Status Quo.
Friday Oct 06, 2023
#98 - Rambam I - The Early Years
Friday Oct 06, 2023
Friday Oct 06, 2023
The Rambam is arguably the most famous Jew of the last two thousand years.
But do we really know him? Who were his family? Did he have enemies? And why did he write the 13 Principles of Faith?
Tuesday Sep 12, 2023
#97 - The French Revolution III (1799-1808)
Tuesday Sep 12, 2023
Tuesday Sep 12, 2023
Having conquered much of Europe, Napoleon turned his attention to the Jews. Not by request but by demand; to make Jewish law compatible with France’s constitution.The rabbis walked a tightrope to respond. And of course there’s the matter of 10,000s of documents that disappeared. How justifiable was it?
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
#96 - The French Revolution II (1789-1799)
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
How glorious was the Revolution and where does the Tennis Court Oath fit in? Did the Jews actually want to be emancipated? How did they cope with the Year of Terror; Were the Jews victims or collateral damage?
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
#95 - The French Revolution I – The Prelude (1552-1788)
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
In 1789, the French proclaimed liberty to all their citizens including the Jews of France.
Except that Jews hadn’t been allowed in the country since 1394 – so who was actually emancipated? Why was Metz so important? What happened to Sefardi arrivals into the country?
And in the battle between the King and Strasbourg, whose side were the Jews on?
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
#94 - The Silent War IV - The Prosecutor
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
Wednesday Jul 26, 2023
When the Holocaust ended, the Jews awaited justice. Sadly it would be denied to them.
But one man - a Jew names Ben Ferencz - made it his business to bring at least some of the Nazi murderers to trial and make Germany pay.
This is his story, and the untold story of so many others.
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
#93 - The Silent War III - Trading with the Enemy
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
Wednesday Jul 19, 2023
IBM’s partnership enabled the cattle trains to run to schedule, and even after the Holocaust, the spoils were there for the taking.
What did the allied governments know?
And who else co-operated with the Nazis?
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
#92 - The Silent War II - IBM’s Deceit
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
In pursuit of profit, IBM disregarded all morals and supplied Nazi Germany with the technological capabilities to identify and pursue the Jews.
To avoid scrutiny, IBM’s transactions were carried out through neutral countries and veils of corporate secrecy.
Tuesday Jul 04, 2023
#91 - The Silent War I - Deceiving the Gestapo
Tuesday Jul 04, 2023
Tuesday Jul 04, 2023
Heroism took on many forms during the Holocaust, collective & individual, spiritual & armed.
But the choice to live a double life meant choosing to live with the constant fear of betrayal.
This is the story of Helene’s choice.
Wednesday Jun 28, 2023
#90 - The Sinai Revelation II (1312BCE) - Challenges & Deniers
Wednesday Jun 28, 2023
Wednesday Jun 28, 2023
In the Western world, academia dismisses the idea that Torah is G-d given.
How robust is their theory of Documentary Hypothesis? Who was P? Did Ezra author any of Chumash?
Wouldn't a hurricane explain the Sinai experience or perhaps Mass-Hypnosis?
Monday Jun 26, 2023
#89 - The Sinai Revelation I (1312BCE) - Exploding the Myths
Monday Jun 26, 2023
Monday Jun 26, 2023
All religions have a narrative regarding their origins.
Judaism states that G-d appeared on Mt Sinai 3335 years ago to communicate with mankind.
Is it rational to believe in this history of the divine origin of the Torah?
Can we prove beyond a reasonable doubt that we encountered G-d?
Does Judaism make sense?
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
#88 - The Maharam of Rottenberg II (1215-1307)
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
To ransom or not? And why after he died?
The Maharam’s responsa: Who matters - the individual or the community.
Taking life during the Crusades, removing leprosy and deciding halacha based on dreams.
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
#87 - The Maharam of Rotenberg I (1215-1293) featuring Rabbi S.F Zimmerman
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
Wednesday Jun 07, 2023
Featuring special guest speaker Rabbi Shraga Feivel Zimmerman.
As the 13th century drew to a close and persecution in Germany increased, one individual gathered together thousands of responsa and rulings: Rabbi Meir of Rotenberg.
Who was he? How did his writings influence the next 700 years of Jewish life? And why was he never set free?
Wednesday May 31, 2023
#86 - A Look Back at History
Wednesday May 31, 2023
Wednesday May 31, 2023
Celebrating 200,000 downloads! Thank you all!
Answering your questions on the Jews in England, Budapest's personalities, the Noda Biyehuda, Shabbetai Zvi in the 21st century, and introducing the life and times of Rabbi Naftali Zilberberg.