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
#71 - De Costa vs Cherniokov - Spinoza's Family
This episode is dedicated לעילוי נשמת חיה בת אלכסנדר On the occasion of her Yahrzeit י שבט In this episode we look at how one should Halachically classify the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#70 - Uriel de Costa - The Tragic End
In this episode we look at the conclusion of Uriel de Costa's life. After writing his books against Judaism and religion, De Costa eventually attempted to…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#69 - Uriel de Costa III and R' Yehuda Aryeh de Modena
In this episode we continue looking at the tragic story of Uriel de Costa. De Costa moved to Hamburg where he wrote two controversial books about his position…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#68 - Uriel de Costa II
In this episode we continue looking at the tragic story of Uriel De Costa. Some time after De Costa moved to Amsterdam and reverted to Judaism, he became…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#67 - Understanding What We See As Reality, Uriel De Costa I
In this episode there is more response about the Yeshiva Curriculum issues. We look at the very important issue of how to see when a society looks at an issue…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#66 - Rabbis of Amsterdam II and The Controversy About Olam HaBa
In this week's episode, we look at one of the other major Rabbis of Amsterdam in this era, Rabbi Yitzchak Abuav de Fonseca. Rabbi Abuav had a unique…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#65 - History of the Mesora of the Yeshiva Curriculum
In this episode we address the recent comments of R' Moshe Weinberger about the Yeshiva curriculum and its effectiveness. Why did the Yeshivas choose this…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#64 - Spinoza V - Rabbis of Amsterdam I
In this episode we look at one of the first Rabbis of Amsterdam, Rabbi Shaul Mortera. Where did they go to find a Rabbi that would fit with their community? Is…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#63 - R' Aharon Chadash זצ״ל - First Yahrzeit
In this episode we take a deeper look at the most important Historical accomplishment of the Mashgiach of Mir, R' Aharon Chadash. What critical role did R'…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#62 - A Deeper Look at the Jewish Community of Amsterdam
In this episode we look at more of the details of the founding of the first synagogue in Amsterdam. We are able to learn from this story and from other basic…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#61 Spinoza III - The Founding of the Jewish Community of Amsterdam - Legends and Facts
In this episode we look at the founding of the Jewish Community of Amsterdam. How was it that Amsterdam specifically came to have such a major community ? We…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#60 - Spinoza II - The Hidden Century of the Crypto Jews
In this episode we look at the hidden century of the Crypto Jews. The vast majority of the Crypto Jews were from the Jews who went to Portugal and were forced…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#59 - Spinoza I - The Historical Background
As is well documented, Spinoza was of Marrano, crypto Jewish background. In this episode we look at the Historical Background of the Marranos. How did this…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#58 - History vs Jewish History
In this episode we look at the famed question: why study History? We also look at why most people find the study of History so challenging. We also examine the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#57 - Birthdays, Yahrzeits, and Evaluating Historical Evidence
In this episode we look at the important issue of how to evaluate evidence. When should one accept a historical claim as true? We examine the topic by looking…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#56 - Q&A on Chassidus and Hisnagdus
0:30 Is there a difference in the issues of Emuna and Bitachon between Chassidus and Hisnagdus? 6:04 What is the difference between how Chassidus and Hisnagdus…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#55 - New Lessons of Corona
In this episode we look at some of the lessons we can learn from the Corona crisis of the last year and a half. We examine one of the most important Tanachic…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#54 - Practical Differences between Chassidim and Misnagdim
In this episode we look at some of the practical differences between Chassidim and Misnagdim. How does affect the relationship between Torah and Tefila? What…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#53 - Understanding the Core of the Vilna Gaon's Opposition to the Besht
In this episode we take a deeper look at the Ari's approach to Haalas Nitzotzim. We also examine the difference between the Ari's application of Haalas…
- Jewish History Uncensored
52 - Tzimtzum - The Vilna Gaon's Approach
Episode 52 - Tzimtzum - The Vilna Gaon's approach In this episode we carefully look at the Vilna Gaon's understanding of Tzimtzum. Does the Vilna Gaon in fact…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#51- Tzimtzum - The Chassidic Approach
In this episode we take a more in-depth look at Tzimtzum. We also see what stand Chassidus takes in the machlokes between R' Emanuel Chai Ricco and R' Yosef…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#50- Understanding Tzimtzum
In this episode we start looking at what the Gaon meant when he accused the Chassidim of infringing on, 'Kibud Av'. We also look at the basic issues…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#49- Haalas Nitzotzim
In this episode, we take a deeper look at one of the key issues that the Vilna Gaon argued with the Besht about, Haalas Nitzotzim, raising the sparks. Where in…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#48- The Vilna Gaon's Letter & the Response of the Baal Tanya
In this episode we take a closer look at the Vilna Gaon's personal letter against Beshtian Chassidus. What exactly was the Vilna Gaon accusing the Chassidim…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#47- Understanding and Relating to Tisha B'Av and National Tragedy
This week's podcast is sponsored by Rabbi Ari Senter לעילוי נשמת his father הרב זכריה בן אורי In this episode we look at the importance of mourning on Tisha…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#46- Vilna Gaon's Letter of 1796 - The Story
In this episode, we look at the critically important letter the Vilna Gaon wrote in 1796 that explains his opposition to the Besht's ideas. Why did the Vilna…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#45- A New Look at the Controversies about The Ramchal
In this episode we take a careful look at the two controversies around the Ramchal. What specifically caused each of them to happen? How did the Ramchal view…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#44- Ramchal: Youth & Approach to Avodas Hashem
In this episode we take a deeper look at the Ramchal's youth and his first Rebbe R' Yitzchak Chaim Kantorini. We also look at the issue of the Tehillim of the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#43 - Ramchal in Amsterdam, Israel, & His Historical Legacy
In this episode we look at the Ramchal's experiences after he moved to Amsterdam. This is where he printed his famous works, Mesilas Yesharim, Derech Hashem…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#42 - Ramchal - The Deepening Crisis
In this episode we look at how R' Moshe Chagiz was successfully able to challenge the Ramchal and force him to stop publicly teaching and give up his early…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#41 - Ramchal II - Early Accomplishments and the Initial Opposition
In this episode we look at how the Ramchal came to Reggio and the founding of the chabura Mevakshai Hashem. We also look at the Ramchal's writings, when were…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#40 - The Ten Tribes, Ramchal's Early Life
In this episode we look at the contemporary evidence about the location of the lost Ten Tribes. How much solid evidence is there? Is it possible that they are…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#39 - The Tragic Death of R' Imanuel Chai Ricco & The Ten Tribes
In this episode we look at end of R' Imanuel Chai Ricco's life and his tragic death. Why did people consider him as dying for Kiddush Hashem? We start looking…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#38 - Emunas Chachamim In Our Times
In this episode we look at the challenge of internalizing the authenticity of Torah in our challenging times. Is there a difference between how we see Tanach…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#37- The Influence of Mishnas Chassidim
In this episode we take a careful look at how R Emanuel Chai Ricco's sefer, 'Mishnas Chassidim', gained very deep influence on the learning of Kabbala in the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#36 - The Italian Mekubalim - R' Emanuel Chai Rico
In this episode we will look at the golden era of Italian Mekubalim in the 1700's. We start by looking at the basic community structure in Italy. In terms of…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#35 - R' Levi Yitzchok - His Historical Legacy
In this episode we look at R Levi Yitzchok's Historical Legacy as the ultimate defender of the Jewish People. We examine some of the famous legends and stories…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#34 - R' Levi Yitchok of Berdichov - His Earlier Rabbinical Positions
This episode looks at R' Levi Yitzchok's earlier Rabbinic positions in Ritiswall, Lobertov, and Pinsk. How much systematic opposition did R Levi Yitzchok face…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#33 - The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Heroic, Rash Act, or Justified ?
In this episode we look at the Yom Ha-Shoah and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Why did the Knesset establish Yom Ha-Shoah on the 27th of Nisan? Is this the best…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#32 - R' Pinchas Horowitz, R' Levi Yitzchok of Berdichov
In this episode we look at the claim that R' Pinchas Horowitz wasn't really a talmid of the Maggid of Mezritch. Why do some attempt to say this? Is there…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#31 - The Challenge of Connection and Pesach
In this episode we look at the phenomenon of Disconnection. Human culture has been significantly destabilized for the last hundred years. One of the primary…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#30 - R' Pinchas Horowitz of Frankfurt
In this episode we look at one of the most legendary stories in Jewish History, R' Pinchas Horowitz becoming the Rabbi of Frankfurt. Frankfurt was one of the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#29 - The Maggid and his Talmidim
#29 - The Maggid and his Talmidim In this episode we look at the Maggid of Mezritch's greatest accomplishment, attracting Talmidim. How did the Maggid attract…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#28 - The Maggid and the Besht
Episode 28 - The Maggid and the Besht In this episode we look at when the Maggid of Mezritch met the Besht. We also examine how the Besht convinced the Maggid…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#27 - The Holy Letter and the Maggid of Mezritch
This episode looks at which part the Holy Letter caused the storm to break out. We also look at the phenomenon of ascension of the soul. Is this the same as…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#26 - The Historical Identification of Achashveirosh
In this episode we look at the historical identification of Achashveirosh. This issue is deeply connected to the discrepancy between secular history and the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
#25 - Torah and Science - Proper Understanding of Their Relationship
In this episode we look at the issue of Torah and Science. How do we deal with contradictions between them? Are we more challenged in this issue today than…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #24 - The Besht's Holy Letter
In this episode we take a close look at the Baal Shem's Holy Letter. Why did the Baal Shem need assistance from his Rebbe to have such an experience? Why did…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #23 - The Cherem of 1781
In this episode we look at the Cherem of 1781. What was the prime cause of the Cherem? Did the printing of the sefarim of R Yaacov Yosef of Polna have a…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #22 - Attitudes towards Chassidim in the 1770's
In this episode we look at the complexity of the Vilna Gaon's practical attitude towards the Chassidim. Did the Vilna Gaon's opposition to Beshtian Chassidus…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #21 - Effects of the 1772 Cheramim
In this episode we look at the effects of the Vilna and Brody Cheramim. Did these cheramim effectively split Eastern European Jewry into two conflicting camps?…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #20 - The Brody Cherem II
In this episode we take a closer look at the statement that the Brody Cherem of 1772 was a product of the involvement of the Maskilim. We re-examine the…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #19 - The Background of the Brody Cherem
In this episode we look at the contemporary theory that real opposition to Beshtian Chassidus only started in 1781. We start looking at the issue of what part…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #18 - The Vilna Cherem of 1772
In this episode we look at the Vilna Cherem of 1772. We look at the broader historical context. How much of a part did the Vilna Gaon play in this Cherem? Was…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #17 - The Vilna Communal Turmoil in the 1760's
GAON #16 - The Vilna Communal Turmoil in the 1760's The Jewish Community of Vilna in the times of the Vilna Gaon was in a state of extreme turmoil. In this…
- Jewish History Uncensored
R' Aharon Chadash זצ״ל - Appreciating His Accomplishments
This episode is an appreciation of the Mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva, R Aharon Chadash זצ״ל. I had the privilege of knowing the Mashgiach for over thirty years…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #15 - The Gaon and His Bais Medrash
Episode 15 - The Gaon and His Bais Medrash In this episode we take a closer look at many of the biographical details of the Vilna Gaon. When was his Bais…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #14 -The Vilna Gaon's Unfulfilled Ambitious Projects
Episode 14 -GAON V - The Vilna Gaon's Unfulfilled Ambitious Projects In this episode we look at the Vilna Gaon's most ambitious projects that he ultimately was…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #13 - The Gaon's Editing of Rabbinical Documents
Episode 13 - Vilna Gaon IV - The Gaon's editing of Rabbinical Documents One of the other key issues we look at is how to understand the Vilna Gaon's editing of…
- Jewish History Uncensored
GAON #12 - The Vilna Gaon's Torah Accomplishments
Episode 12 - Vilna Gaon III - The Gaon's Torah Accomplishments In this episode we take a closer look at the Vilna Gaon's accomplishments in Torah. One of the…