Shows / Jewish History Uncensored
Jewish History Uncensored
Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein is a well known Torah scholar, Tanach expert, and Historian. He has lectured in the Mir Yeshiva, Torat Shraga, and many Shuls internationally. These podcasts integrate his broad knowledge of many different facets of Torah and History. Join in weekly to gain accurate and in depth knowledge of some of the most important and controversial topics in Jewish History. For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at Jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com
Episodes
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe of Iliya and the Mesorah, and his approach to Prayer
In this week's episode, we look at R Menashe of Iliya and his relationship with the classic understanding of Torah. We similarly discuss the difference between…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe of Iliya's Style of Learning
In this episode we look at R Menashe of Iliya's style of learning. We similarly discuss why R Menashe of Iliya left over so little of his Torah ideas. How do…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Pesher Davar - Mondshain's Reaction
In this week's episode we continue to look at the reaction to Pesher Davar. We look at R Yehoshua Mondshain's reactions and specifically how he claims that R…
- Jewish History Uncensored
The Flydubai hijacking and Tanachic Context
In this week's episode, we look at the Flydubai hijacking and the reaction to it. How exactly should we define what happened? Is it correct to call this a…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Tanach - The Vision
In this week's episode, we start looking at what the vision of Tanach for man is. What level of accomplishment is Tanach looking for? We look at some of the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Learning Lessons from Life
In this week's episode, we discuss the issue of how to integrate Torah principles into one's life via the experiences we have. We similarly discuss how we can…
- Jewish History Uncensored
The Contemporary Malchus Challenge
In this episode, we look at the key factors that make it hard for us today to relate to Malchus. And we similarly examine how this makes it very difficult for…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Yomim Noraim: The Challenge of Relating
In this week's episode, we look at the challenge people have in relating to the key elements of Rosh Hashana. Rosh Hashana is the day of Judgement. People are…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Tanach - Understanding Its Vision
In this week's episode we look at how the Torah sees man's ultimate goal and capability. And we can see many parts of this issue when we properly look at…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Tanach - Challenge and Importance
In this week's episode, we look at what proper learning of Tanach is, and similarly how we are challenged by Tanach in our days. We similarly look at what is…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Completeness of Torah
In this week's episode, we take a closer look at the issue of completeness of a sugya. Are there places in Tanach that broader knowledge of Shas will help us…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Tanach as part of Torah II
In this week's episode, we take a deeper look at how to understand the sugya of learning Tanach. For example, how should Rashi in Shir HaShirim be classified?…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Episode 300 (!) - Importance of Halacha: Tanach as Part of Torah
Episode 300 (!) - Importance of Halacha: Tanach as Part of Torah In this week's episode, we continue looking at the importance of Halacha. Are there…
- Jewish History Uncensored
National Tragedy & Attitudes Towards Tanach
299 - National Tragedy, and Attitudes towards Tanach In this week's episode, we take a closer look at how national tragedy relates to Availus HaChurban. We…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Availus HaChurban - Understanding the Crisis
In this week's episode, we continue to look at the challenge that we have relating to Availus HaChurban. We take a deeper look at why the educational system of…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Availus HaChurban - Theory & Reality
This week's episode is sponsored לעילוי נשמת עלקא עליזה בת ר יעקב In this week's episode, we take a deeper look at the Availus HaChurban challenge. We also…
- Jewish History Uncensored
The Tisha B'Av Challenge
This week's episode is sponsored by Hershel Barg and Associates LLC לעילוי נשמת צבי בן חיים גרג In this week's episode we look at the deep challenges we have…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Leadership Lessons
In this week's episode, we look at the issue of learning lessons from Tanach. What tools are necessary to properly learn lessons to today's complicated world?…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Iran War II - Peace
In this week's episode we look at the peace agreement that is being finalized. Should we be surprised by the way this agreement is being implemented? Is…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe of Iliya, the Process of Learning, and His Travels
In this week's episode we discuss the issue of what does it mean being part of the process in terms of explaining Torah and psak. How do we understand R…
- Jewish History Uncensored
A Deeper Understanding of Pesher Davar
In this week's episode, we have a deeper discussion of why the proposal that R Menashe of Iliya was trying to create something similar to the Aguda of the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
The Noda B'Yehuda; The Key Message of Pesher Davar
In this week's episode we take a closer look at the Noda B'Yehuda's famed statement about not saying the Kabbalistic formula before mitzvas. We similarly…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Pesher Davar - The Three Groups
In this week's episode, we take a deep look at who R Menashe of Iliya was referring to when he divided the Rabbis into three groups. Is the reference to…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe of Iliya's Pesher Davar
In this week's episode, we take a closer look at R Menashe of Iliya's first pamphlet, Pesher Davar. Who is this pamphlet addressed to? Which Rabbis is…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe of Iliya's Written Works
In this week's episode, we start properly examining R Menashe of Iliya's written works. We start by looking at his Sefer on Tanach, Binas HaMikra. We will be…
- Jewish History Uncensored
The Challenge of Enlightenment and R Menashe of Iliya
In this week's episode, we look at why the Enlightenment created such a spiritual challenge? What made it different than previous confrontations? Where did the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Equality, Expectations & Political Parties
In this week's episode, we look at how the concept of legal equality has deeply affected the way people view the world. We also look at how the attempts to…
- Jewish History Uncensored
The Crisis of the Judenrate and Morality in the Holocaust
In this week's episode, we look at one of the most difficult aspects of the Holocaust, the Judenrate and their task of carrying out the rules the Germans gave…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Pesach & Emuna Solutions
In this episode, we continue to look at the challenge of Emuna in the contemporary world. We also look at the classic response and how well that works in our…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Pesach & Steps in Emuna
In this episode, we look at the connection between Pesach and Emuna. We carefully examine why Emuna is and how we relate and use the term today. We similarly…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Iran War Lessons II: Is this Gog u'Magog?
In this episode, we take a deeper look at the ramifications of Theological motivations and why most people today don't properly understand them. We also look…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Iran War '26
In this week's episode, we look at the latest war with Iran. We start by examining the limits of air strikes. What can air strikes accomplish? How much effect…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R' Menashe of Iliya and the Vilna Gaon
In this week's episode, we more carefully examine R' Menashe of Iliya's interactions with the Vilna Gaon. We see how R' Menashe of Iliya was able to deeply…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe of Iliya, the Vilna Gaon, and the Besht
In this week's episode we look at the significance of R Menashe of Iliya's connection with the Vilna Gaon. What was the Vilna Gaon's approach to teaching…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Opposition to The Mussar Movement and R Menashe of Iliya as a Talmid of the Gra
In this week's episode, we look at the opposition to the Mussar Movement. What type of opposition was there initially, was this connected to the issue of…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe of Iliya - His Second Marriage and His Talmidim
In this week's episode, we look at the details of R Menashe of Iliya's second marriage. We also look at how he reacted to his father in law's loss of fortune…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Romema Day Care Tragedy
In this week's episode, we look at the recent tragedy in Romema where two children died in a day care. What concerning patterns did we see in the reaction to…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe of Iliya - His Reputation and His Second Marriage
In this week's episode, we look at how R Menashe of Iliya's reputation was seen by the Gedolai Lita as we can see from careful reading of the Haskomos. We also…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe Iliya vs Moses Mendelssohn
In this episode we continue looking at some of Plungian's stories about R Menashe of Iliya. We specifically look at his claim that R Menashe wanted to travel…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe of Iliya - The Plungian Challenge
In this episode, we look at the basic challenge due to the biography of R Menashe written by Mordechai Plungian. How much credence should one give to the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R Menashe of Iliya - His Background
In this episode, we continue to look at the cultural milieu of the Lithuanian Talmidai Chochomim. How much of the contemporary European thought were they aware…
- Jewish History Uncensored
The Communal Crisis of Polish Jewry
In this episode we look at the basic communal tensions that existed in the Polish Lithuanian Jewish Community during the 1700's. What were the main causes of…
- Jewish History Uncensored
The Bondi Beach Massacre
In this week's episode we look at the shocking massacre in Bondi Beach. What factor makes this even more shocking? What lessons can we learn from this? We…
- Jewish History Uncensored
The Communal Crisis of Polish Jewry
In this episode we look at the basic communal tensions that existed in the Polish Lithuanian Jewish Community during the 1700's. What were the main causes of…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Koheles - Understanding the Conclusion
In this episode, we look at how to understand the second half of the Sefer. How is Shlomo dealing with all the problems he raised in the first half of the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Koheles: Understanding The Challenge
In this week's episode, we take a closer look at the first half of Koheles. What are the tools that G-d placed in the world and in man himself that should…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Koheles - Sefer Theme
In this week's episode, we look at the challenge of dividing Koheles into smaller subsections. What criteria can one use to do this? We also examine what issue…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Free Will - The Basics
In this week's episode we discuss the basics of Free Will. What is the difference between Free Will and Freedom? What is the purpose of Free Will? What can…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Lessons from the Mamdani Election
In this week's episode, we discuss the election of Mamdani as Mayor of New York City. How surprising was his victory? What were the main factors in why he was…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Koheles - The Structural Challenge
In this week's episode we discuss the basic challenge of understanding the Sefer Level structure of Koheles. What makes Koheles so difficult at Sefer level?…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Gaza War - More Lessons
In this week's episode we look at more of the lessons of the Gaza War and the Ceasefire. How do we understand the phenomenon of party politics? Where did this…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Gaza War - Ceasefire
In this episode we look at the Ceasefire Agreement and also look back at the two years of this war. What lessons can we learn from this? What happened to all…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Koheles: Controversy & My Personal Experiences
In this episode, we look at why Koheles is a controversial Sefer in Tanach. Chazal weren't sure if Koheles should be included in Tanach, why is this true? Is…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Man, Authority & Obligation
In this week's episode, we look at what is called the replication crisis. This academic crisis questions the accuracy of accepted psychological studies. In…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Humanity & Narrative
In this week's episode, we look at one of the deepest expressions of the Human Soul - man's quest for cohesive narrative. What part of human behavior do we see…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Rosh HaShana & Man
In this episode we look at the deep dualism of Rosh HaShana. On one hand it is a chag, on the other hand it is a time of Divine Justice. How does this connect…
- Jewish History Uncensored
The Sukkos Story of Bayis Shani: The Basic Dynamic of the Times of Moshaich
In this episode, we look at one of the most puzzling stories of Bayis Shani, the story of Sukkos. The possuk seems to imply that this was the first time they…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Bayis Sheini - The Basic Situation
In this week's episode, we start by revisiting the Kinos and the difficulty they pose. Is there a way to turn the Kinos into a normal davening experience? We…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Understanding the Challenge: Understanding the Bayis Shani Structure
In this week's episode, we take a closer look at why people from the Yeshiva world have significant problems relating to the issues of Moshiach. How much of…
- Jewish History Uncensored
Moshiach - Internalizing the Challenge: The Basic Structure
In this episode, we take a careful look at how the Halacha looks at ultimate loss based on Hilchos Availus. We also look at how people generally speaking react…