Popular Shows by Yehuda Geberer

1

Self-hating Jews in Jewish History

Nov 1, 2025

44:46

Unfortunately the phenomenon of isolated instances of Jews consumed with self hatred, while projecting antisemitic stereotypes on their brethren is nothing new. It has existed in one form or another throughout Jewish history. This historical saga is worth examining, coupled with specific stories of Jewish self hatred during the Nazi era. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

2

Marriage Age in Jewish History

Oct 25, 2025

43:18

During the 18th & first half of the 19th centuries, many members of the financial and rabbinical elite in Jewish Eastern Europe engaged in the practice of marrying off their children at a very young age. Why did they do that? How widespread was this practice? Why did it end? And what ramifications did this have on European Jewish life during this time and afterwards? Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

3

RERELEASE: Tales of Sukkos & Simchas Torah (update)

Oct 4, 2025

46:00

In honor of the upcoming Sukkos & Simchas Torah holidays, here's an updated version of an old episode of Jewish History Soundbites, containing entertaining historical tales & tidbits from Jewish history. With updates and additions to enjoy. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

4

A Tzadik Arrives in Tzfas: The Life of the Bas Ayin

Nov 28, 2020

27:17

Rav Avraham Dov of Ovruch (yidd. Ovrutsch) (c.1765-1840) is known for his highly acclaimed chassidic work 'Bas Ayin'. As he has become something of a more popular figure in recent years, it's an opportunity to study his life and illustrious career. He was a follower of the Chernobyl chassidic dynasty, and served as a communal rabbi and chassidic leader in Ovruch and Zhitomir, Ukraine. In his later years, he settled in the Land of Israel, where he became the leader of the chassidic community of Tzfas. During the ensuing decade of the 1830's, the community faced great upheavals with the Syrian Peasant Revolt, the great earthquake of 1837 and the Druze revolt. Through it all, the Bas Ayin was a responsible and charismatic leader, rebuilding the community through times of crisis. Though he passed away in 1840 during a cholera epidemic, and left no descendents, his legacy lives on through his accomplishments and writings. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

5

Escapees from the Chelmno Death Camp

Aug 2, 2025

1:16:20

Special Tisha B'av episode: A recording of a live lecture delivered in May 2025 at the Shappell's Darche Noam Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, on the topic of the first Nazi death camp at Chelmno, near Lodz, Poland. The story of the daring escape attempts from this extermination site, and the escapees efforts at spreading the word to their brethren in nearby ghettos in order to sound the alarm regarding the Nazi implementation of the Final Solution. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

6

The Popes & the Jews

Apr 26, 2025

41:55

For nearly two thousand years Jews lived in the shadow of the Catholic Church. As heads of the church, popes throughout the ages formulated an official papal policy regarding the Jews as a religion, as a local community in Rome, as subjects of the pope in the Papal States, and broadly regarding the Jews across Europe. This relationship was complex and lopsided. On one hand, although often forced to convert or be killed, the official general papal policy was not to forcibly convert the Jewish People as a whole. On the other hand, the Jews were to be subjugated, humiliated and discriminated against, as the official church policy down to modern times. The Vatican and the Catholic Church more broadly played a decisive role in the rise of modern antisemitism in the 19th century as well. In 1858 the kidnapping of the Jewish boy Edgardo Mortara was a modern example of church persecution with direct papal approval. The 20th century brought two contrasts in papal relationship with the Jews. Pope Pius XII became infamous for his complicity during the Holocaust, while Pope John Paul II, who grew up with Jews in prewar Poland, changed course and had a much more positive relationship with the Jewish People and State of Israel. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

7

Tanks, Trenches and Tefillos: The Nazi Attempt to Conquer the Holy Land

Jul 18, 2019

22:05

The Yishuv in pre-State Israel during WWII was in grave danger as Rommel's tanks rolled across North Africa. With the British victory at El Alamein, the danger passed. How did the Jews of the Yishuv react to the German threat? What ultimately stopped Rommels rolling forces? Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

8

The Imrei Emes: Visionary Leader of Ger

May 13, 2019

5:20

Jewish History Lecturer and Yad Vashem Historian, Yehuda Geberer shares the story of the Imrei Emes for a group in Ger. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

9

Tach V'Tat: A Revised History of the Chmielnicki Massacres

Jun 24, 2019

21:45

The beginning of the end of the Golden Era of Jewish Poland came with the terrible Cossack Massacres in 1648-49. The recent date of Chaf Sivan commemorates the devastation wreaked upon the communities of the Polish Kingdom. Putting these events into a fresh perspective will give us insight into how this watershed event resonates till this very day. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

10

The History of Volozhin Yeshiva Part IV: Talmudists, Zionists and The Golden Age

Mar 12, 2020

54:35

With the Netziv solidifying his control, the Yeshiva entered it's Golden Age. Attracting the best and the brightest from across the Pale of Settlement, the Yeshiva was producing the Rabbinical greats of the Jewish world. With Rav Chaim Brisker's appointment in 1881 as the assistant Rosh Yeshiva, he raised the scholarship in the Yeshiva to a whole new level. Around the year, Volozhin continued with a regular routine of intensive study, with the Yamim Tovim offering a short respite with their accompanying excitement. Alongside these accomplishments, under currents were brewing as well. Secret societies were formed promulgating early forms of Zionism. Haskala literature became popular and got passed around by the students of the Yeshiva. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

11

Tales of the Jewish Mafia Part I: "Ain’t Gonna Kill On Saturday"

Feb 17, 2020

30:53

As first generation Americans growing up in immigrant neighborhoods, some Jews turned towards organized crime and joined the Mob. While maintaining close ties to their families, communities and even Jewish tradition, they led lives that included bootlegging during Prohibition, gambling rackets, theft and even murder. Their lives were a paradox - criminals who were proud Jews. This collection of stories is about heroes and villains. It will bring us to the World Series, alcohol smuggling, the streets of Brooklyn and Sing Sing Prison. We'll meet Arnold Rothstein - the architect of modern organized crime, Mayer Lansky - the brains and one of the big bosses of the Mafia, Abe Reles - one of the contract killers of Murder Inc. and many more. Part 2- https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/gangsters-racketeers-jewish-activists-tales-of-the-jewish-mafia-part-ii/ Part 3- https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/gangster-on-the-roof-tales-of-the-jewish-mafia-part-iii/ Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

12

The Great Shanghai Escape Part III

Oct 30, 2023

36:16

With the Soviet occupation of Lithuania in the summer of 1940, the search for visas to destination countries turned into a desperate endeavor for thousands of refugees who wished to escape a life under the communists. In order to execute an exit plan, one was required to be in possession of a full set of documentation attesting to every step of the intended journey. These included a passport, transit visas, end visas and perhaps most importantly, exit visas from the Soviet Union. Many debated the wisdom of obtaining visas, paying exorbitant sums for dubious visa destinations. Others were concerned that the Soviets would deport to Siberia anyone applying for an exit visa. Yet others took the risk. The great rescue activist and Zionist leader Zorach Warhaftig emerged as a central figure in pursuing any feasible visa venue. Soon the Mir Yeshiva joined the visa bandwagon and the visa miracles began to fall into place. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

13

Witnesses at the Eichmann Trial

Dec 14, 2024

46:23

The prosecutor at the Eichmann trial, Gideon Hausner, opened the trial with a speech to history. Evoking the memory of the Holocaust victims, and referring to them as the true accusers of Adolf Eichmann at the trial. With that speech both the dramatic atmosphere as well as the overall theme, were set for the entire ensuing trial. The over 100 witnesses took the stand not only to implicate Eichmann for his role in the Final Solution, but also to tell the world, the Jewish People and Israeli society what the Holocaust was all about. Through the often dramatic moments of witness testimony over the course of the trial, the broad scope of the Holocaust narrative was finally confronted. A clear before and after the trial was delineated in the collective memory of the Jewish People and the world at large regarding the history and memory of the Holocaust. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

14

Medicine & the Holocaust

Jul 20, 2023

39:18

The challenging and nearly impossible situations confronting Jewish victims during the Holocaust presented many varied moral dilemmas. This episode will explore some of those stories and dilemmas faced by members of the medical profession - physicians, nurses and healthcare providers. In ghettos and camps, with a dearth of medical supplies and proper hygienic conditions, many rose to the challenge and continued to provide health care and attempted to save as many lives as possible under increasingly dire straits. Dr. Adina Swajger in the Warsaw Ghetto tried to provide care for children in the Jewish children’s hospital in the ghetto. When she realized she couldn’t save them, she decided to at least spare them the horrors of Treblinka. Dr. Gisele Perl performed abortions at Auschwitz in order to save the mother’s lives, and then spent the rest of her postwar career as a fertility specialist in order to bring more life into the world. Dr. Marc Dvorzhetzki served as a physician in the Vilna Ghetto and even in a concentration camp in Estonia towards the end of the war. And there are so many more. The dilemmas they faced, the heroic and selfless acts they courageously did to save others, can serve as a legacy to Jewish heroism in the face of Nazi atrocity. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

15

Rav Kook Part I: From Volozhin to Jaffa

Jul 14, 2019

27:21

The discussions and research surrounding Rav Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook's beliefs, writings, philosophy & outlook are almost unparalleled in the last century. How much is known about the man himself, especially his early years? In this series about Rav Kook, let's follow him through the various stages of his very interesting life. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

16

Operation Reinhard: The Nazi Extermination of Polish Jewry

Jul 21, 2019

22:04

The tragic destruction of European Jewry via the Nazi Final Solution, reached it's most terrifying peak with the deportations of Polish Jewry to the Death Camps. Confronting the totality of the Nazi attempt at extermination will give insight as to the sheer magnitude of the loss. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

17

A Light in the Darkness: Rav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson

Aug 17, 2022

37:35

Rav Levi Yitzchak Schneerson (1878-1944), father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson, served as rabbi in Yekaterinoslav in the Soviet Union. As he valiantly attempted to maintain traditional Jewish life under increasingly challenging conditions under the communist regime, he succeeded in opening a mikva, baking matzos, answered halachic queries, collected charity and distributed it to the needy, kept the shul open for services and celebrated the Jewish holidays with his community. These illegal and anti Soviet activities eventually led to his arrest and interrogation at the hands of the NKVD in 1939. They didn’t succeed in breaking him during lengthy interrogations, and the transcripts of the NKVD on his file serve as an invaluable resource to understanding the narrative of his arrest and eventual exile. Sentenced to five years of exile in far away Chili, Kazakhstan, he was soon joined by his wife Rebbetzin Chana, who cared for him as his health deteriorated and they often faced starvation during their long years of isolation. Her memoirs provide another invaluable window into the tribulations which they sustained during this challenging time. He passed away on 20 Av, 1944 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

18

The Eichmann Trial

Dec 7, 2024

42:01

The trial for former SS officer Adolf Eichmann, one of the architects of the Final Solution, which took place in Jerusalem between April – August 1961, wasn’t merely a trial for one individual and his heinous crimes. The trial showcased the story of the Holocaust and broadcast it worldwide for the world, the Jewish People and the State of Israel to confront and make part of its consciousness. Examining various aspects of the Eichmann trial and its proceedings will present a narrative of exposing the story of the Holocaust as we know it today. Check out a previous episode of Jewish History Soundbites which dealt with the Kapo trials during the 1950’s prior to the Eichmann trial: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/collaboration-or-cooperation-eliezer-greunbaum-jewish-kapos/ Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

19

Zion on the Niagara: Mordecai Manuel Noah & a Jewish Homeland in Upstate New York

Jul 23, 2019

22:56

Mordecai Manuel Noah was a colorful character who as a diplomat, writer and self appointed Jewish leader who carried Jewish causes throughout his life. His most visionary plan was an audacious attempt at founding a city of refuge for the Jewish nation called Ararat at Grand Island on the Niagara River in Upstate New York. A fascinating story from a forgotten figure in American Jewish History. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

20

The Great Phenomenon of Reb Shayala of Kerestir

May 7, 2019

19:27

Introducing a new Jewish History Podcast from Jewish Historian and Tour Guide Yehuda Geberer. Enjoy the story of the incredible phenomenon of Reb Shayala Kerestir that has taken the Jewish World by storm. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

21

From Lakewood to Lubavitch: The Early Years of Shlomo Carlebach

Aug 15, 2019

20:26

Clearly the most influential Jewish Composer/Singer of his time, Shlomo Carlebach was a polarizing figure. He was a pioneer in the Jewish Outreach movement and a rabbi to thousands, yet his path to stardom took many interesting twists and turns. From his Rabbeim, Rav Shlomo Heiman and Rav Aaron Kotler to the magnetic influences of The Lubavitcher Rebbe, hear the story of the formative years that shaped the the legendary "Singing Rabbi". Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

22

The Maiden of Ludmir & Notable Female Chassidic Leaders

Aug 20, 2019

22:11

Chana Rachel Verbermacher, also known as the "Maiden of Ludmir", was an anomaly in the annals of Chassidus. As a woman, and as someone who didn't have any dynastic connections to the great Chassidic courts of her day, she still attained the status of a full fledged chassidic tzadik for a period of time. Does her story teach us about women's roles in the world of early chassidus? Or is she the exception that proves the rule? Along the way, we encounter other Rebbetzins in the history of chassidus who acted in leadership roles in the courts of their husbands or fathers. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

23

I’ve Got a Lovely Jewish Name: First Names in Jewish History

Mar 30, 2023

36:47

What are some of the sources and trends in Jewish first names over the centuries? Where do double names come from? How do names differ from community to community? How are Biblical names used? What about naming for ancestors? What was the status of non-Jewish names in Jewish life? What is the source of some common Yiddish names? First names have been a fascinating cultural and sociological phenomenon throughout history. In this episode of Jewish History Soundbites, we’ll explore some of the trends in Jewish first names as well as tracing some of the origins of some names and naming customs. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

24

The Spinka Chassidic Dynasty

Jun 7, 2025

47:11

The Spinka chassidic dynasty was established in the late 19th century as a sort of offshoot of the Zidichov dynasty, by Rav Yosef Meir Weiss (1838-1909) in the town of Spinka, in the Maramuris region of Transylvania, then in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It soon gained a significant following and emerged as one of the prominent Hungarian Chassidic communities of the first half of the century. This was especially so under the able leadership of his son and successor Rav Yitzchak Eizik Weiss (1875-1944), the Chekel Yitzchak, who moved his court to the town of Selish following World War I. The Spinka Rebbe and most of his family were murdered by the Nazis in Auschwitz during the Holocaust, but surviving grandchildren who miraculously survived rebuilt Spinka in the United States and Israel after the war. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

25

Leader of His People: The Life of the Dvar Avraham

Mar 2, 2021

35:35

The last rabbi of pre war Kovno, Rav Avraham Dovber Kahana-Shapira (1870-1943), was known by the name of the sefer he authored, the Dvar Avraham. Born into the Lithuanian rabbinic elite, and having studied at the Volozhin Yeshiva, he was appointed rabbi of Kovno (Kaunas) in 1913. He remained at his post until his passing in the Kovno Ghetto three decades later. During this time he was recognized as one of the greatest leaders of Lithuanian Jewry, managing to navigate the various factions of the Kovno Jewish community, execute his rabbinical duties and serve as a worldwide posek fielding halachic questions. He even found the time to make a historic visit to the United States in 1924. When the war broke out he was in Switzerland, and his son in New York offered to bring him over to safety. He declined, insisting that his place was with his beloved community in Kovno. Returning to the war zone, he courageously led the Jews of the Kovno Ghetto even as his health worsened and the situation became precarious. His passing in 1943 was marked by a public funeral, which thousands attended despite the risks it entailed. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

26

Tribute to Rav Dovid Kamenetsky

Sep 20, 2025

46:37

Torah scholar, author of many acclaimed seforim on the Torah of the Vilna Gaon and others, historian and author of the definitive work on Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, are just a few of the many accomplishments of Rav Dovid Kamenetsky. His untimely passing leaves a void in the realm of his important historical research, but more importantly in what he represented as a person. He was beloved by all who knew him, whether it was in the National Library where he conducted his research for over four decades, or in his many interactions in his personal and professional life. This modest tribute is but a slice of his legacy and accomplishments, and may it serve as an albeit small contribution in cementing the legacy of this great man. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

27

Unlikeliest of Saviors: The Story of Chinese Diplomat Feng Shan Ho

Jul 16, 2019

20:55

While the heroic stories of Schindler and Sugihara are quite famous, the story of Chinese Diplomat Feng Shan Ho is practically unknown. Learn about the man who risked it all and issued thousands of Visas to Viennese Jews, allowing them to escape Hitler's tightening grasp. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

28

The Rabbis & The Zionists Part II: Proto-Zionism, Chovevei Tzion & The Initial Opposition

Aug 13, 2019

52:08

Modern day resettlement of the Land of Israel begins with group aliyah's of both the students of the Baal Shem Tov and later the students of the Vilna Goan. Together they would form the core of what would comet to be known as the Old Yishuv. With the rise of nationalism in nineteenth century Europe, the first stirrings of national yearnings begin to rise among the Jewish People. Initially spreading as an idea, it quickly shifts towards an activist stage and becomes a movement known as the Chovevei Tzion. The movement enjoys differing levels of Rabbinic support as it moves ahead with it's program. The first modern colonies are settled and agriculture begins to develop. Funding begins to arrive from Baron Edmond de Rothschild. At the same time, opposition to the new Jewish Nationalism begins to mount and gain support. Citing both theological sources as well as practical consideration, luminaries such as Rabbi SR Hirsch and later the Rashab of Chabad form the basis of the initial opposition to the new nationalism. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

29

Zionists, Messianists or Immigrants? The Talmidei Hagra & The Controversy of the Kol Hator

Jan 14, 2020

22:08

In 1947 a book was published in Jerusalem bearing the title "Kol Hator". It ascribed Messianic overtones to the immigration of a group of students of the Vilna Goan nearly two centuries earlier, with the accompanying claim that they were the original Zionists. The book itself was allegedly written by R Hillel Rivlin, one of those talmidim who came during that period. But was it? Who really wrote the book? What motivated the author? Why did the students of the Vilna Goan - and the earlier Chassidic Aliya for that matter - move to the land of Israel at the turn of the Nineteenth Century? Was there immigration a Messianic or Nationalistic endeavor? And most of all, how is that legacy a relevant story today in the tense polemics of both scholarly as well as public discourse? Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

30

Great American Jewish Cities #5: Chicago

May 26, 2020

51:36

When Jews blew into the Windy City, a great community in the Midwest began to rise. There may have been a World Series drought, but there was no drought of Jewish life and Torah growth in Chicago over the decades. What commenced with the massive immigration to the West Side - Maxwell Street, later Lawndale - in the 19th and early 20th centuries, solidified with the building of great shuls and educational institutions in the ensuing decades. Hebrew Theological College, Telz, Arie Crown, Vietzener Cheder, Lakewood Kollel and so many more. We'll meet personalities like Rav Chaim Tzvi Rubinstein, Rabbi Oscar Fasman, Rav Chaim Kreiswirth, the Novominsker Rebbe, Rav Tzvi Hirsh Meisels, Rav Aharon Soloveitchik, Rav Chaim Zimmerman, Rabbi Ephraim Epstein and many other Chicago personalities. From gourmet food to the Jewish mafia to changing neighborhoods, the story of Jewish Chicago is a major factor in the development of the American Jewish community. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

31

Great American Jewish Cities #23: Houston Part I

Oct 10, 2021

32:41

Jewish roots in southern Texas precede the Civil War. Jewish communities emerged in Houston, Galveston and other cities and towns across the Texan frontier. As commerce developed in the second half of the 19th century, the Jewish population grew and established synagogues. From the Reform Beth Israel - which started out as Orthodox - to the Orthodox Adath Israel, the immigrants from Germany and later Eastern Europe left an imprint on Jewish and general Houston society. Rabbi Yaakov Geller was a rabbi from Galicia, and Max Goodman was a shochet from Lithuania. Pioneers in recent history include the United Orthodox Synagogue of Rabbi Joseph Radinsky, Rabbi Shimon Lazaroff with Chabad and Rabbi Yehoshua Wender of the Young Israel of Houston. As South Texas’s Jewish history is explored, Houston, Galveston and other towns play their part in the unfolding Jewish story. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

32

Tourbites: Paris

Sep 13, 2025

44:01

Aside from the generic tourist attractions & fantastic restaurants, Paris is also rich in Jewish history. Some locations evoke tragedy such as the Drancy transit camp which was the point of deportation during the Holocaust, and the Place Hotel de Ville where the Talmud was burnt on the orders of King Louis IX in 1242. Others are more quaint, such as the Pletzl, the historic neighborhood of Eastern European Jewish immigrants in the heart of the city. We also visit the gravesite of Rav Yosef David Zintzheim (1745-1812), a towering leader of French Jewry during the challenging times of the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, emancipation of French Jewry and the Napoleonic era. As the head of Napoleon’s ‘Sanhedrin’ in 1806-1807, he navigated the challenging questions posed by Napoleon regarding integrating France’s Jews without compromising an iota of Halacha or Jewish tradition. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

33

The Great Shanghai Escape Part IV

Nov 6, 2023

42:14

The summer of 1940 brought a measure of desperation in the search for visas in order to escape the clutches of the Soviet Union. Two Dutch citizens stranded in Lithuania independently contacted the Dutch consul in Riga LPJ de Decker, in order to seek his assistance in exiting the country. With Holland itself occupied by the Nazis since the previous May, it was thought to travel to the Dutch held island of Curacao. Ambassador de Decker informed Peppy Sternheim Lewin and Nathan Gutwirth that no visa was required for entry to Curacao, it was up to the discretion of the local governor to permit entry. De Decker was asked if the passport could be stamped with the words ‘no visa required for Curacao’ while leaving out the stipulation that the governor’s permission was required. De Decker authorized the honorary Dutch consul in Kovno, Jan Zwartendijk, to stamp passports in this fashion, and he even acquiesced a further request that this Curacao ‘visa’ even be issued for non-Dutch citizens. When rescue activist Zorach Warhaftig heard about the Curacao ‘visas’ he immediately spread the word among the refugee community, and thousands of Polish refugees lined up to receive the Curacao visas from Zwartendijk. With their end visa in hand, refugees proceeded to the Japanese consul in Kovno, where Chiune Sugihara issued the vital Japanese visas. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

34

After the Eichmann Trial

Dec 21, 2024

38:31

The Jewish People, Israeli society and the world at large confronted the Holocaust in the years following the Eichmann trial. Survivors began submitting testimony and writing their memoirs, historians and scholars embarked on research projects in a more systematic fashion and the Holocaust became a permanent element of the international consciousness. Hannah Arendt’s book, Eichmann in Jerusalem, generated much controversy and response. Her exploration of the ‘banality of evil’, as well as her controversial statements regarding the trial itself and Jewish leadership during the Holocaust, resulted in a slew of books, articles and general polemics to disprove many of her ideas and statements. Eichmann’s defense of ‘just following orders’, generated responses as well. From Stanley Milgram’s famous authority experiments at Yale, to Phillip Zimbardo’s Stanford prison experiment, social psychologists seemed as keen as understanding the Holocaust as much as historians. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

35

Baseball, PHD's and Torah: Foreigners in the Great European Yeshivas part I

Jun 12, 2019

20:47

The interwar period witnessed the phenomenon of young Yeshiva students from Western Europe & the US, who would make the trek to study at the great citadels of Torah in Eastern Europe. Come and follow their footsteps to see the excitement and the challenges they faced with this transition. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

36

The Great Escape: The Belzer Rebbe & the Farewell Speech in Budapest

Jul 8, 2019

22:29

After narrowly escaping death hiding out in various Ghettos, the Belzer Rebbe and his brother make it to the relative safety of Hungary, and from there to Eretz Yisroel. The farewell speech given by the Rebbe's brother together with his subsequent departure, caused a controversy that remains till this very day. A fresh look at an old story. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

37

Mineral Baths, Hammocks & Shirt Sleeves: Pre war Torah leaders on Vacation

Jul 11, 2019

20:12

The great Rabbis had their favored vacation spots in the Prewar era. Where were they? What went on there? An inside look at the relaxing times and locations known as the "Dachas". Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

38

Jerusalem of the Balkans: The Glory of Jewish Salonika

Jul 25, 2019

22:32

Following the Spanish expulsion, Sephardic Jewry was dispersed, with the bulk of the exiles settling the Mediterranean Basin. The port city of Salonika became a major center of Jewish commercial life as well as a great spiritual center. The story of this Jewish community is quite unique in the annals of Jewish History. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

39

The Rabbis & The Zionists Part I (JHS Summer Series)

Jul 30, 2019

40:28

In honor of our 50th Episode, Jewish History Soundbites is proud to announce the launch of a new series entitled: The Rabbis & The Zionists. This series will examine various Rabbinical positions throughout the ages in relation to the Jewish People's return to Eretz Yisroel. Part One is a very general overview of the subject, context and the ideas surrounding the topic. What exactly is the idea of returning to Eretz Yisroel from the exile? What were the different reactions of Rabbinical figures throughout the ages? How did the changing times influence Rabbinical response? Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

40

Tisha Ba’av 2019: Profiles Of Martyred Rabbinic Leaders

Aug 9, 2019

33:32

The Kinnah of ארזי הלבנון serves as a reminder to us that the loss of Rabbinic leadership is a unique tragedy in it's own category. In this episode we'll profile a few samples of great prewar leaders who lost their lives together with their people in the great destruction of the Holocaust. Some chose to remain with their communities despite having the opportunity to escape, among them were Chassidic Rebbes, some were Roshei Yeshiva and others were communal Rabbis. The common thread connecting these profiles is the overwhelming sense of loss that was left as a result of the decimation of Torah leadership. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

41

Stories Of Challenge & Triumph

Aug 11, 2019

30:46

Throughout the long history of our exile we have faced both tragedies and challenges of all kinds, both as a collective and as individuals. The stories of people who faced challenges of all kinds can serve as a reminder of the story of the Jewish people in the exile, as well as a source from which to draw inspiration from in the challenges that we all face in our lives. Let's meet a few individuals from Jewish History to hear their stories, and follow them on their journey from challenge to triumph. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

42

A Lost World: The Great Dynasty of Radomsk

Nov 23, 2019

31:01

One of the largest Chassidic groups before the war, Radomsk evoked the majesty of Polish Chassidus in its full glory. Completely decimated during the Holocaust, it remains mostly unknown today. The story begins with the Tiferes Shlomo of Radomsk who was one of the most beloved Rebbes of his day. As Jews from all over Poland flocked to the warmth of Radomsk, this court came to be known for its warmth, acceptance and it's beautiful songs. The last Rebbe of Radomsk moved with his followers into the modern era by investing his energies in building a vast network of Yeshivas called Keser Torah across Poland. Staying with his chassidim till the very end, he was martyred in the Warsaw Ghetto snuffing out the torch of this great dynasty. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

43

Gangsters, Racketeers & Jewish Activists: Tales of the Jewish Mafia Part II

Feb 26, 2020

23:33

Another collection of stories about the Jewish Mob in the early 20th century. From the streets of Newark emerged another Jewish gang under the able leadership of "Longy" Zwillman and Doc Stacher. Meyer Lansky continued to build up a gambling empire in Las Vegas and Cuba, though he encountered some difficulties with the Flamingo Hotel. Zwillman, Lansky, Siegel and others, were proud to take on pro Nazi groups that sprung up in America in the 1930's. Breaking up rallies and bloodying a few noses, they stood up for the Jewish people during dark times. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

44

The Making of a Rebbe: The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Rise to Leadership

Jul 6, 2019

23:09

Undoubtedly from the most influential Jewish leaders of the last century, the last Rebbe of Chabad left an indelible imprint on the landscape of contemporary Jewish life. In honor the 25th yahrtzeit of his histalkus, we'll follow some key junctures on his path to leadership. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

45

From All-Night Learning to All-Night Kumzitz: The Early Years of Shlomo Carlebach Part II

Aug 17, 2019

22:36

Another look at the formative Yeshiva years of Shlomo Carlebach, his relationship with Rav Ahron Kotler and the complexities of his leaving the Yeshiva world for his activist work on behalf of the Jewish People. The great "Singing Rabbi" never ceased to sing and never ceased to be a Rabbi. The transitional stage of his being identified with the yeshiva as one of it's prize students, to the public persona involved in Jewish outreach, is crucial to understanding his later approach and wide reaching influence. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

46

A Fatherly Warrior: The Holy Satmar Rav Part I

Aug 24, 2019

24:20

The Satmar Rav, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum will long be remembered as a great Torah Sage, builder, dedicated leader and zealot who held steadfast to strong positions, no matter the opposition. In his efforts to rebuild the destroyed world after the war, he was a visionary who thought of big and creative solutions. As a fatherly figure, he built individuals, breathing a new life and purpose for countless survivors. He also built a large and powerful following, well known for its relentless chesed and strong opposition to the State of Israel. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

47

Shliach to Shanghai: The Life & Heroics of Rabbi Meir Ashkenazi

Aug 27, 2019

24:16

As the Jewish community in far off Shanghai developed at the beginning of the 20th century, a Rabbi and Lubavitcher Chassid named R' Meir Ashkenazi was called on to serve as the communal Rabbi in 1926. Originally serving in the ultimate "out of town" community in a far flung corner of the world, he eventually found himself the leader of a diverse and large group of refugees who began arriving in the 1930's and '40's. Being the right man in the right place at the right time, he rose to the occasion. Addressing both the material and spiritual needs of the refugee community, he was able to sustain the Shanghai Jewry during those challenging times. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

48

Birobidzhan: Stalin's Autonomous Jewish Region

Sep 8, 2019

24:45

One of the odder stories of the Jewish People under Soviet rule is the forming of the Jewish Autonomous Region of Birobidzhan. Founded by Stalin in 1928 as a territorial solution for the Jewish People, it never quite took off as planned. Harsh living conditions and eventually Stalin's purges prevented any major Jewish growth in the region. However, when Birobidzhan was conceptualized as a realistic option, it caused quite a stir in the Jewish world. Does the Jewish People need a territory to solve it's national woes? That's what the Zionist movement was proposing with the new Jewish Nationalism. Perhaps any territory would suffice, as long as the Jewish Nation had some form of territorial center- even in faraway Birobidzhan. That's how many Jewish socialists and Jewish communists reacted to it's initial founding. The Birobidzhan plan flopped, but the questions of Jewish identity and nationalism continued on as before. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

49

Making of a Godol Stories Part II

Jun 17, 2020

36:08

Here's another installment of enjoyable stories from the book Making of a Godol by Rabbi Nosson Kamenetsky along with related stories. We'll travel through pre war Europe and hear about how the Kovna Kollel was founded, the Yeshivas of Minsk, Rav Meir Shapiro's visit to Litvish Yeshivas, challenges of secularization, Rav Tzvi Hirsh Rabinowitz of Kovna, how Rav Chaim Brisker's sefer came to be printed and more. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

50

Great American Jewish Cities #14: Miami

Aug 5, 2020

45:37

Original home to the Miami Boys Choir and to the Jewish owned Miami Heat, Palm Beach County also has the largest concentrated Jewish population in the world outside of Israel. Though attractive as the sunny alternative to the harsh New York winter, the Miami Jewish community developed independently building infrastructure and institutions. It was in the post war era that things began to take off. The visionary Rabbi Alexander Gross was one of the great architects of the community's growth. Other early leaders of the community included Rabbis Aryeh Rottman, Berel Wein, along with the early shluchim Rav Avraham & Rivka Korf and later the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Leibel Schapiro. The Yeshiva with Rabbi Yochanan Zweig at the helm has greatly impacted the community as well. Yet through the decades Miami had been famous for hosting great Jewish leaders who vacationed there during the winter months. This phenomenon would have a long lasting and unique impact on the community's growth along with the exposure to the diversity of the entire Jewish people. With Larry King, Myer Lansky and Ron Dermer all making appearances as well, the story of the Jews of South Florida is another glorious chapter in American Jewish History. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

51

A Fatherly Warrior: The Satmar Rav Part II

Aug 15, 2020

28:55

Scion of the Sighet Chassidic dynasty, Rav Yoelish Teitelbaum continued the legacy of his illustrious forbears on all fronts. As a Rosh Yeshiva, communal Rabbi, Chassidic leader and fiery warrior against the various modernist trends of his time. With his escape from Hungary on the Kastner Train and subsequent settlement in Williamsburg following a brief stint in Israel, he focused his energies on rebuilding. As a visionary and at the same time a very practical realist, he created the infrastructure of full "kehilla" - community, which went beyond the realm of a chassidic court. In that capacity, he served as the inspiration of numerous chessed organizations including the lifesaving Hatzalah emergency medical service. Known for his uncompromising stance on modernity in general and Zionism in particular, he refused to back down even when it seemed that he was the lone fighter in ideological stance. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

52

The Great Shanghai Escape Part II

Oct 22, 2023

34:09

As thousands of refugees streamed into Vilna in the fall of 1939, a humanitarian crisis ensued, with neither local authorities nor the local Jewish community capable of providing for the throngs of refugees. The situation was especially acute for the many impoverished yeshivos who had found refuge in neutral Lithuania. Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski was the revered leader of the Torah world and in his capacity as head of the Vaad Hayeshivos, personally shouldered the responsibility for their welfare. He turned to his trusted student Rav Eliezer Silver in Cincinnati, who in turn established a rescue organization on behalf of stranded Torah scholars stuck in Lithuania, which eventually came to be known as the Vaad Hatzalah. The Mir Yeshiva had by this time settled in the Lithuanian shtetl of Keidan, and for the next seven months attempted to return a sense of normalcy within the growing mayhem surrounding them. Over the summer of 1940, the Soviets occupied Lithuania and all illusions of that country remaining a safe haven were dissipated. The subsequently dispersed among four shtetls in the Lithuanian countryside, and it was from there that they visa search continued in earnest. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

53

The Holocaust Research of Professor Yehuda Bauer

Nov 2, 2024

48:24

The field of Holocaust research has been enriched over the decades in both its scope and depth by generations of historians and researchers worldwide. For more than 60 years one of the premier scholars in this field was Professor Yehuda Bauer, whose groundbreaking research covering a wide array of aspects of the Holocaust, genocide and antisemitism transformed the field and had a decisive impact on Holocaust historiography. Among the many diverse topics which he contributed towards were Jewish resistance during the Holocaust, rescue activities of Jewish groups under Nazi occupation and American Jewish organizations such as the Joint Distribution Committee, the road to the Final Solution, the destruction of the shtetls during the Holocaust, Displaced Persons camps and immigration of survivors to Israel, the Holocaust within the context of genocide, trailblazing genocide research, Nazi ideology and its role in the Holocaust, Antisemitism throughout history, and many others. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

54

Blood Libels

Apr 9, 2025

54:58

Among the many manifestations of medieval European antisemitism was the blood libel – the infamous false accusations of ritual murder which were used against Jewish communities for a millennium, resulting in many innocent Jewish lives lost and a climate of fear and danger surrounding the Pesach holiday. Directly related to the Christian holiday of Easter, the specific accusation of ritual murder developed in England in 1144, with the first recorded blood libel surrounding the death of William of Norwich. It soon spread to continental Europe, and remains to this day in some parts of the world. Aside from the challenges inherent in confronting the blood libel itself, many seminal events in Jewish history had their roots in a blood libel, such that it has cemented itself as a tragic component of the collective Jewish experience. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

55

Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust Part I: Monsieur & the Belgian Orphans

Jul 5, 2022

46:59

Jewish History Soundbites is proud to launch a special series entitled ‘Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust’. It will explore the narratives of Jews under Nazi occupation risking their lives to save others during the Holocaust. Each unique profile will explore another story, angle and individual (or group of individuals) who though their own lives were at risk still did everything in their power to save others. The series opens with the story of Yona Tiefenbrunner, known to the orphans he saves as ‘Monsieur’. Born in Germany, he arrived as a refugee in Belgium shortly before the war’s outbreak. He initially opened an orphanage at his own expense in order to assist German Jewish refugee children. With the Nazi occupation of Belgium and the subsequent deportations in 1942, his Brussels orphanage emerged as an island of rescue, as the Nazis miraculously allowed the orphanage to operate and spare the children from deportation to the east. Maintaining a semblance of normalcy under increasingly challenging conditions, Yona managed to care for the orphans' physical and religious welfare until liberation. Following the war, the orphanage relocated to Antwerp and cared for children survivors until its closing in 1960. To dedicate an episode in the Jewish History Soundbites ‘Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust’ series, please contact Yehuda at [email protected] For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

56

The Working Group & its Desperate Rescue Attempts

Aug 5, 2022

1:05:28

The Slovakian Working Group was likely the most heroic attempt at Jewish rescue during the Holocaust. Dealing directly with the SS and their Slovak collaborators, members of the Working Group bribed the perpetrators, smuggled goods and Jews across borders and disseminated information regarding the development of the Final Solution to Switzerland and Hungary. Representing the full gamut of Slovakian Jewry, the Working Group included Gisi Fleischmann of the Zionist movement who was also a representative of the Joint Distribution Committee, Rav Michoel Ber Weissmandel who represented the Orthodox community, the Zionist leader Dr. Oskar Neumann, the Neolog rabbi Armin Freider, and the assimilationists Dr. Tibor Kovac and Andrej Steiner. Together they formulated ever daring plans to save Jews. Though most of their plans didn’t come to fruition, their heroism stands as the most daring attempt to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust. To dedicate an episode in the Jewish History Soundbites ‘Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust’ series, please contact Yehuda at [email protected] With Tisha B'Av approaching, check out Aleph Beta's collection of inspiring Tisha B'Av videos. Rabbi David Fohrman, founder of Aleph Beta, explores some of the most beloved Tisha B'Av texts to discover the deeper meaning and relevance of the day. And for a limited time only, our listeners get $18 off an annual Aleph Beta membership, which will give you access to all the Tisha b’av videos plus hundreds more on parsha and the other holidays. Go to Aleph Beta and enter coupon code Soundbites22 for $18 off an annual premium membership. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

57

Chasam Sofer Part II: Old Traditions, New Message

Oct 2, 2022

35:18

“Chadash Asur Min Hatorah” - Anything new is forbidden, has become a slogan in defense of Jewish tradition confronting the challenges of modernity. Formulated by Rav Moshe Sofer (1762-1839) the Chasam Sofer and longtime rabbi of Pressburg (Bratislava), he has become a symbol of the combatant and fearless leadership in defense of tradition against the onslaught of changes to that hallowed tradition. How did he do it? What were his methods? What was the context of the challenges he was facing? What complexities existed at the time which led the Chasam Sofer to exalt custom, restore the honor of the rabbinate and to be posthumously recognized as the father of Orthodoxy? Check out Part I about the Chasam Sofer and his family: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/hungarian-royalty-the-chasam-sofer-his-family/ For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

58

Chasam Sofer Part III: A Pressburg Situation

Oct 24, 2022

29:47

Rav Moshe Sofer (1762-1839) - the Chasam Sofer - led the Pressburg Jewish community for 33 years. From the time of his initial appointment he faced struggles and challenges from progressive elements within the community. Even as the Chasam Sofer gained renown across the Habsburg Empire, he still was confronted with an unsuccessful attempt by community leaders in Pressburg to forcefully close his large and prestigious yeshiva and remove him from his rabbinical position. His tactful and ultimately successful approach to navigate these local challenges influenced his general outlook and leadership within the context of the broad reaches of Central Europe. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

59

The Great Shanghai Escape Part V

Nov 14, 2023

42:57

As thousands of Jewish refugees scrambled for Curacao ‘visas’ and Japanese transit visas, many others were skeptic regarding the visa scheme, while others thought it a downright dangerous maneuver. Not only were the Curacao visas dubious at best, but the very idea of applying for a Soviet exit visa was understood by many to be viewed as tantamount to criminal activity by the Soviet authorities. In the world prior to the Nazi invasion and the Final Solution, the greatest fear was deportation by the Soviet to Siberian gulag. Many advocated against applying for these visas due to the inherent dangers involved. Despite the opposition within the yeshiva community, Rav Leib Malin of the Mir Yeshiva encouraged the Mir contingent to apply for the visas as a group. Along with a few activists among the yeshiva students, the majority of the Mir Yeshiva students received Curacao and Japanese transit visas and prepared to join the throngs of Polish Jewish refugees headed for the east. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

60

The Great Shanghai Escape Part VII

Nov 28, 2023

41:56

The Soviets charged the refugees exorbitant fees for the exit visas and travel expenses. The Joint and the Vaad Hatzalah provided funds for these costs, with Rav Avraham Kalmanowitz investing herculean efforts to ensure the Mir contingent were able to fund their escape. Many refugees sold their personal belongings. They then embarked on a 10-12 day train journey on the Trans-Siberian Railroad across the vast expanses of the Soviet Union, arriving in the port city of Vladivostok. From there the Sea of Japan was crossed and the refugees settled temporarily in Kobe and Yokohama. The refugees received a generally warm reception from the local Japanese as well as the small local Jewish community. When it became evident that Curacao wasn’t going to be practical as a final destination, Japanese and Jewish activists interceded with the Japanese Imperial government to extend the refugee’s visas. As a result, the refugee community was able to remain in Japan for several months. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

61

The Great Shanghai Escape Part IX

Dec 9, 2023

44:33

The refugees stay in Japan lasted much longer than their brief transit visas had initially allowed for, with the imperial government allowing them to remain for several months. Though some refugees made it to the United States or other countries, most had nowhere to go. With the Japanese government commencing the operational planning for Pearl Harbor, they wished to rid the country of all foreign elements, and the refugee community was unceremoniously deported to Shanghai, China, under Japanese occupation, where they’d remain throughout the war. Many refugees were assisted by Professor Setsuzo Kotsuji, who later converted to Judaism. Others were assisted by the Polish ambassador to Japan Tadeusz Romer. The Jewish rescue activist Zorach Warhaftig continued to be active on behalf of the refugee community as well. The Dutch national Nathan Gutwirth was able to rescue a ship of 74 refugees who were missing documentation, by requesting assistance from the Dutch consul in Kobe, Japan, Nicolaas de Voogd. De Voogd provided the desperate refugees with Curacao visas, enabling them to arrive in Japan. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

62

The Machal Fighters of 1948

Dec 23, 2023

46:31

A special place in Jewish history is reserved for the Machal fighters of 1948. These were primarily World War II veterans, who volunteered to fight for Israel during its War of Independence, and their participation served a key role in Israel’s victory. Comprised mostly of Jews, but included non-Jews as well, they formed the nucleus of Israel’s nascent air force, navy, and filled many specialized roles in the army. One of the most important members of this volunteer corps was Al Schwimmer, an American Jewish veteran who organized a group of pilots and experienced aviation personnel on Israel’s behalf. He also organized the purchase of planes for Israel’s Air Force, transported the planes to Czechoslovakia, and then used the planes to bring badly needed weapons and ammunition to fight for Israel’s survival. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

63

The Life & Times of Rav Yaakov Ettlinger the Aruch Lener

Nov 9, 2024

50:52

Germany Jewry of the 19th century was going through a period of transition. Emancipation was a struggle which was incrementally achieved, and rampant secularization and integration into German society followed. The rise of Orthodoxy was an attempt to preserve tradition within the modern context. Rav Yaakov Ettlinger (1798-1871) was a pioneering leader in this regard. Known by his magnum opus, Aruch Lener, he served as the rabbi of Altona for 35 years and was one of the most influential leaders of German Orthodoxy during the 19th century. His life, times and accomplishments are a fascinating and important chapter of Jewish history in modern times. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

64

Meet the Metz: The Jews of Metz

Nov 16, 2024

46:15

Metz, France was host to one of the most prominent Jewish communities in the world at one point in history. An ancient Jewish community, it experienced a flourishing during medieval times before the Jews were expelled in 1365. Jewish settlement was again permitted in the mid-16th century and from 1648 following the Peace of Westphalia until the French Revolution in 1789, Metz experienced a golden age for its Jewish community. As one of the wealthiest Jewish communities in the world during this time, it attracted prestigious rabbinical talent with some of the greatest rabbis of the 18th century having served at its helm, including the Pnei Yehoshua, Rav Yonasan Eybuschitz, the Shaagas Aryeh and many others. It also funded a large yeshiva, and the town itself enjoyed demographic and economic growth. Following the French Revolution, the Metz community continued to thrive, but not as a center that it once was. Although much of the Metz Jewish community was decimated during the Holocaust, it was rebuilt and the Metz Jewish community continues to flourish until this very day. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

65

The Execution of Adolf Eichmann

Nov 30, 2024

38:33

With the recent passing of Shalom Nagar, the former prison guard who was the executioner of Adolf Eichmann in 1962, we examine the story of the events leading up to and including his execution. While the story of his capture by Mossad agents in Argentina is dramatic and well known, the story of his appeals and attempt at receiving a pardon, as well as the symbolic ending in his execution is an important part of the story and a closing chapter in Holocaust history. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

66

The Maharsha

Jan 18, 2025

45:41

Someone whose Talmudic commentary has completely dominated Torah study for four centuries, Rav Shmuel Eliezer Aidel’s (circa 1555-1631), better known as the Maharsha, emerged as a leading rabbinical figure and teacher during the golden age of Polish Jewry in the late 16th & early 17th centuries. Financially supported by his mother in law Aidel for many years, the Maharsha was able to both teach Torah to his students, as well as author his all-encompassing commentary to both the the Halachic as well as Aggadic passages of the entire Shas. Following his mother in law’s passing, he assumed several successive rabbinical positions, before finally settling in the prominent community of Ostroh, where he remained until his passing. There he opened a yeshiva, and served the needs of the community. He also served in a broader leadership capacity within the autonomous governing council known as the Vaad Ha’arbah Aratzos – the Council of the Four Lands, recognized by the government in the old Polish Kingdom. The Maharsha’s influence on Torah scholarship remains prominent until this very day. Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

67

The Secularization of the Jewish People in the Modern Era Part II

Feb 22, 2025

42:08

The modern era brought many external changes which challenged the centuries old Jewish communal structure. Political change, emancipation, wars, revolution, economic development, technological advancement, the industrial revolution, urbanization, immigration and other external forces, all contributed towards a growing trend of secularization among the general European as well as the Jewish population. This convergence of factors and the movement towards secularization threatened the religious status quo. Internal Jewish movements such as Jewish Haskala, Reform, Neolog and others arose in Germany, Galicia, Russia & Hungary, which sought to redefine Jewish identity in the modern era, and make it more compatible to integrate into an emancipated European society. Religious figures from the traditional establishment struggled with these new movements, redefining Orthodoxy in the process. Orthodoxy in the modern era came to define Jewish identity through its very struggle with modernity. Its combative confrontation with rival Jewish movements regarding the new means of defining Jewish identity in the modern era strengthened Orthodoxy, and paved the way for the flourishing of Orthodoxy as a movement in the modern era. Sign up for our upcoming trip of a lifetime – Jewish history Europe trip: https://www.lalechet.com/tour/EuropeHeritage Cross River, a leading financial institution committed to supporting its communities, is proud to sponsor Jewish History Soundbites. As a trusted partner for individuals and businesses, Cross River understands the importance of preserving and celebrating our heritage. By sponsoring this podcast, they demonstrate their unwavering dedication to enriching the lives of the communities in which they serve. Visit Cross River at https://www.crossriver.com/ Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

68

The Secularization of the Jewish People in the Modern Era Part III

Mar 8, 2025

43:29

The secularization of the Jewish People in the modern era really begins as a slow but growing trend within the communities of the Spanish Jewish diaspora of northern Europe in the 16th century. In the pre modern era, the legally backed autonomy of the Kahal – the Jewish autonomous communal structure, ensured that at least externally and superficially, the Jewish individual maintained a nominal Jewish religious identity and mode of observance. With the advent of the modern era, the rise of the nation-state, with its view of the individual citizen as an entity, the kahal lost its autonomous jurisdiction, religious affiliation was no longer the sole arbiter of identity, and secularism became possible for the first time in European history. As religious observance became a matter of personal choice, this voluntary association emerged as a defensive posture, which ultimately strengthened orthodox identity. Changes in legislation – especially emancipation and compulsory education laws – and the massive immigration to the United States at the turn of the 19th & 20th centuries, led to large swaths of Jewry embracing secularization in a growing trend which was bereft of ideology, leadership or a formal platform. It was rather a function of modernity, and its reality of integration into surrounding society. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

69

A Lion from Bavel: The Ben Ish Chai

Apr 5, 2025

45:48

Rav Yosef Chaim (1835-1909), better known by his popular work Ben Ish Chai, was an important leader of the Baghdad Jewish community of the 19th century, whose influence reached across the Ottoman Empire and beyond. Having grown up in the rabbinical aristocracy of Baghdad, he succeeded his father’s position in 1859, serving the Jewish community for the next half century. This was primarily through his masterful oratorical skills, which he delivered twice daily, every Shabbos and on special occasions to the entire community. He wrote tens of works on the entire gamut of Torah literature, and financed his own publication costs to have them printed in Jerusalem. He made a historic journey to the Land of Israel in 1869, and at the end of his life inspired the Calcutta based philanthropist Yosef Avraham Shalom to fund the establishment of the famed Porat Yosef yeshiva. His innovative halachic methodology influences the world of Sephardic psak until today. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

70

Liberated But Not Free: The Displaced Persons Camps

Jan 9, 2021

43:04

With the end of the war and the defeat of Nazi Germany, the Allied armies were confronted with one of the byproducts of the Nazi regime - millions of 'displaced persons', many of whom had nowhere to go, and some of whom were Jewish survivors of the Nazi Holocaust. Eventually Displaced Persons camps were established under the auspices of the American & British militaries in their spheres of influence in Germany, Austria and Italy. Theser were in turn later overseen by the newly established agency UNRAA which was soon followed by the IRO (International Refugee Organization). The unique situation of the Jewish survivors was recognized by the Harrison Report, and a flourishing of Jewish cultural, social, educational and religious life ensued. The Sh'eris Ha-pleita was an organization founded by the survivors themselves to provide the needs of rehabilitation in the post trauma atmosphere following liberation. Various outside organizations assisted with funding and infrastructure while some also competed for the political allegiance of the survivors. Looking to the future many survivors endeavored to marry and start families, while at the same time engaged in commemoration and testimony of the recent events they had experienced. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

71

Bekeshas, Boots & Blue Shirts: Jewish Dress in Modern Times

Mar 6, 2021

39:17

What is distinctive Jewish dress? Is it distinctive? How is Jewish traditional fashion influenced by the surrounding society? When did chassidic dress develop? Why does Chassidic and traditional Jewish fashion still follow modes of Eastern European Jewish fashion? What makes the rabbinic frock Jewish and why is it for rabbis? Why are there different types of shtreimels? What is a 'tarbush'? Fashion and accepted clothing styles in traditional Jewish communities was and is a mode of expression of Jewish and distinctive communal identity throughout Jewish history. Through the challenges of modernity, this was brought into much sharper focus in the last century. In this episode we'll explore some of the trends of Jewish fashion in modern Jewish history. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

72

Crisis Management: The Great Crisis of the Chassidic Movement

Sep 3, 2021

38:03

Modern times brought a host of challenges to the Chassidic movement in the closing decades of the 19th century and intensified in the 20th. World War One and the havoc that it wreaked led to a full blown crisis. Demographically the chassidic movement began to decline in numbers for the first time in its history. Urbanization transformed the chassidic experience and the interaction between the Rebbe and his followers. The Russian Revolution left the chassidic heartland and birthplace of the movement behind the Iron Curtain. Immigration to the west and United States loosened the affiliation of the immigrants to the courts. This crisis was met courageously by chassidic leaders in a variety of creative ways. A renewed focus on education led to the establishment of yeshivos, and even girls' education was encouraged for the first time. Spiritual renewal was seen in courts such as the Piacezna Rebbe Rav Klonymous Kalman Shapira. Involvement in politics and using the media became more common. And a stronger shift towards traditionalism became the most recognizable and long lasting effect on the movement across the entire chassidic society. Emphasis on a uniform form of dress to promote a collective identity, became perhaps the most recognizable manifestation of this new way of closing the ranks in a changing, increasingly urban society. This episode is sponsored by Alephbeta.org . Filled with stunningly animated videos and audios on the parsha, holidays, prayers, and more. Their goal is to help people discover the beauty of Torah and add to its meaning and relevance. Their programs on the yomim tovim will leave you moved, inspired and with a new understanding of the significance of these holy days. Listeners of Jewish History Soundbites for a limited time will receive the gift of Koren’s brand new, flexcover Tanach. To get your free gift today, go to Alephbeta.org and enter coupon code freetanach when you subscribe to an annual premium membership. Hurry, offer ends September 30th! For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

73

The Chant of Torah: The Life of Rav Naftali Trop

Sep 9, 2021

32:36

Having gained fame as the Radin Yeshiva, as well as immortality through his Torah which is still studied worldwide, Rav Naftali Trop (1871-1928) was an important Torah leader who left an impact on the pre war yeshiva world of Eastern Europe. A product of Slabodka and Kelm, he brought Talmudic scholarship as well as the mussar movement to his students. Imparting life lessons by personal example, Rav Naftali was a caring individual who took responsibility for others beyond the walls of the yeshiva as well. Though his untimely passing in his 50's brought an end to a life of teaching Torah, his family and students continued his legacy for years to come. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

74

Land on Sabbatical: Shemitah in Modern Times Part I

Sep 19, 2021

36:28

With the onset of the First Aliyah in the 1880's, and the beginnings of Jewish agricultural settlements as a result, the issue of how to observe Shmita came to the fore. Most of the original colonies were funded and managed by Baron Edmund De Rothschild, and he and his managers weren't too keen on having the farmers disengage from agricultural activities for an entire year. The leaders of the Chovevei Zion movement sought a way to resolve the issue and the original 'Heter Mechira' was formulated. With the tacit support of Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, the land was sold to a non-Jew for the duration of the shmita year. Most of the colonies availed themselves of the Heter Mechira. The Ekron-Mazkeret Batya settlement decided to follow the ruling of the Jerusalem rabbinate and observe shmita in its ideal form. The Baron and his managers saw this as a revolt, and accused them of being lazy, but they held steadfast. The ensuing tension and struggle would set the stage for both shmita observance as well as the overall religious-secular tensions of the Yishuv for decades to come. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

75

Wise Man of Hungary: Rav Yehuda Aszod

Jan 22, 2022

31:27

Rav Yehuda Aszod (1796-1866) was one of the architects of the emerging Hungarian Orthodoxy of the 19th century. A student of the Maharam Banet, he went to serve in the rabbinate and as a rosh yeshiva in several towns, the most prominent of which was in Dunaszerdahely in the Austrian Empire. Ideologically positioned between neo Orthodoxy as represented by Rav Ezriel Hildesheimer and Hungarian Ultra-Orthodoxy as represented by Rav Hillel Lichtenstein, Rav Yehuda Aszod emerged as a leader of mainstream orthodoxy along with his colleague the Ksav Sofer. For decades he confronted modernist trends, any assault on tradition, and engaged in polemics with assimilationists and reformists alike. In 1864 he headed a delegation which met with Emperor Franz Jozef I in an unsuccessful attempt to block the opening of a reformist rabbinical seminary. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

76

Chabad & Zionism Part II

Jan 30, 2022

37:20

With the passing of the fifth rebbe of Chabad the Rashab in 1920, his son Rav Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson (1880-1950), the Rayatz, or the Freidiker (previous) Rebbe, took over the Chabad-Lubavitch movement at a time of crisis. Through the decades of his leadership he expressed a commitment to the ideals of his father in regards to Zionism, while dealing with the practical upheavals of Jewish life including the Holocaust and the founding of the State of Israel. This was continued by his son in law and successor Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson. While in theory, the opposition to ideas such as ‘aschalta digeula’ remained, practical considerations of caring for the needs of the Jewish People and furthering Jewish observance took precedence. Of special note was the relationship enjoyed between both Rebbe’s and the third president of the State of Israel, Zalman Shazar. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

77

Tribute to R' Nosson Kamenetzky Z"L

Jun 11, 2019

19:26

R' Nosson was a unique individual who made an everlasting contribution to our understanding of Pre War Europe. He was not only wise, he was a kindhearted and warm personality as well. A few words in light of his passing. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

78

Yossele Rosenblatt and the Golden Age of Chazzanus

Jun 27, 2019

21:27

The name Yossele Rosenblatt evokes legendary awe as a chazzan, singer and composer. However, he was a man of his time who enjoyed fame and success on one hand, whilst experiencing challenges and travails on the other. Come along as we peek into the lives of some the great Chazzanim of the last century. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

79

Rav Kook Part II: New Times, New Needs & New Movements

Sep 3, 2019

25:25

With his appointment as Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, and subsequently of all of British controlled Palestine, Rav Avraham Yitzchok Hakohen Kook (1875-1935) transitioned into his most active period in the public sphere. While garnering much support and staving off the opposition, he managed to build and accomplish in many areas of Jewish life. Along with other Rabbis, he became a primary architect of the Rabbanut to regulate religious life in the "Yishuv", he invested much in Yeshivas and Jewish education, developed working -albeit often times strained- relationships with officials in the British Government, and managed to build bridges with the secular Zionist leadership as well. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

80

The Rabbis & the Zionists Part IV: From Deep Abyss to Glimmer of Hope

Sep 10, 2019

49:43

The great political & ideological discussions that marked the interwar period were at their peak, when the greatest calamity to hit the Jewish People instantly transformed the entire dialogue. Rabbinical opinion once again diverged in light of the national catastrophe. Some Rabbis continued with the pre-war pragmatic approach of waiting things out and seeing how the outside factors develop. Others reinforced their pre-war opinions of either support or opposition of the entire Zionist enterprise. The novelty of the post Holocaust world however, saw the emergence of a new stream of Rabbinical opinion, which stated that the calamity that had befallen European Jewry changed the rules of the game. Some mitigated their opposition of Zionism as a result, while others went still further and became full fledged supporters of the creation of a Jewish State. In May 1948, the Rabbinical world responded to yet another development of Zionism, by far the one with the most far reaching consequences- the founding of the State of Israel. Zionism was no longer an ideal or a vision. It was an established fact and a reality that had to be reckoned with. The great Rabbinical leadership from across the ideological spectrum, met the challenge and formulated their opinions accordingly. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

81

America's Glorious Pastime: Baseball & The Jews

Oct 26, 2019

27:07

With the World Series currently taking place, it's high time that Jewish History Soundbites takes leave of Eastern Europe and examine the Jewish People's connection to professional baseball. From the famous stories of Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax, to the less well known ones of the '69 Mets Jewish connection, America's favorite pastime has deep connections to the Jewish story in the United States. On the 50th anniversary of the 1969 NY Mets World Series victory, we'll delve into the story of why they won. Aside from Jewish players, managers, owners and broadcasters, Jewish fans of baseball have been a barometer of integration into American life and culture. So, as we bask in the pride of various different Jewish players not playing on Yom Kippur, enjoy your kosher hot dog in the stands at "the ole Ball Game"! Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

82

Whose Idea Was It Anyways? The History of Daf Yomi Part I

Dec 23, 2019

25:10

The worldwide study of the Daf Yomi, culminating in the Siyum Hashas celebration, is synonymous with the name of the founder of the movement - Rav Meir Shapiro. After conceiving the idea as a young communal Rabbi, he presented it to the assembled delegates at the first Knessia of Agudas Yisroel in Vienna, in the summer of 1923. Was he the first - and only - one to have the idea? Was there precedent of such a study format in Jewish History? Were there others who promoted the study of the daily daf? If yes, what makes Rav Meir Shapiro's program unique? And why is he truly the originator of the Daf Yomi? Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

83

The Siyum! From Feldafing To The World’s Most Famous Arena: The History of Daf Yomi Part III

Dec 31, 2019

29:20

The movement spread around Europe and even across the world. Upon each completion of a cycle, the custom began of celebrating the occasion with a communal Siyum Hashas. The association of the Daf Yomi as well as the personality of Rav Meir Shapiro with the Agudas Yisroel led to limited opposition in some circles. Rav Meir Shapiro envisioned however, that the Daf Yomi would rise above politics and be a unifier among the factions of the Jewish community. Each successive Siyum Hashas brought more innovation, ever larger numbers of participants and new venues. Tracing the development of the various Siyum Hashas's over the 20th century is a window into the growth of the Torah community over the century. From the early and modest Siyum Hashas celebrations, following the destruction of the majority of the participants in the Holocaust, to the massive gatherings in the last quarter of the 20th Century and early part of the 21st, the story of the Siyum Hashas is a chapter in the story of the Eternal People. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

84

A Father To His People: Stories of Rav Elchonon Wasserman

Jan 2, 2020

19:37

We follow up the Siyum Hashas with an unpublished episode from the archives of Jewish History Soundbites on Rav Elchonon Wasserman HY"D. While most accounts of this great man focus on his leadership and scholarship, here is a shift to his noble ways and beauty of his character. Let's follow Rav Elchonon on his worldwide travels and witness his interactions with people from all walks of life. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

85

Screaming From The Rooftops: The Fire of Kotzk

Feb 15, 2020

34:50

Few figures can match the excitement, intensity and mystique as expressed in the enigmatic personality of the Kotzker. So much has been written about Rav Menachem Mendel Morgenstern of Kotzk (1788-1859), and yet much remains shrouded in mystery until this very day. A demanding leader and uncompromising in his pursuit for truth, he got disappointed when his Chassidim weren't reaching the high ideals he set for them. His legendary sharp retorts contained the depth of his teachings. At times radical and at times misunderstood, the fire which he lit in Kotzk shines forth and provides warmth till this very day. Check out the sequel to this episode: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/those-who-know-dont-speak-the-story-of-the-kotzk-izhbitz-dispute/ Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

86

Depth, Innovation & Misnagdim Turned Chassidim: The Dynasty of Izhbitz

Jul 27, 2019

27:02

Traveling through the world of Polish Chassidus, one encounters the many offshoots of Pshischa, including perhaps the most colorful of all - Izhbitz. With it's penetrating depth, creativity, innovation & the unique lives of it's leaders, it remains one of the most exciting stories to be told in the history of Chassidus. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

87

Fighting Rabbis: Rabbinical Figures in the Resistance against the Nazis

Aug 1, 2019

25:41

Contrary to popular belief, Rabbis played a significant role in various forms of armed resistance against the Nazis. Whether it was through support of the fighters or even active participation in the fighting, Rabbis were there and played a role. What led to a misunderstanding in regards to their role in the post war era? Why did they actually support armed resistance in many instances? Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

88

A Princely Rebbe: Rav Shlomo Halberstam of Bobov

Aug 3, 2019

20:38

In pre-war Galicia, Bobov was the leading Chassidus in both numbers, activity and leadership. Decimated by the War and almost a lone survivor of his family, R' Shlomo of Bobov set forth to rebuild what was lost. Carrying the legacy of his father the Kedushas Tzion, he not only led an empire of a resurrected Bobov, he also influenced Jewry worldwide with the beauty of his ways. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

89

A Father to his People: Rav Chaim Ozer's Leadership in Turbulent Times

Aug 6, 2019

24:35

The leadership of Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski manifested itself in many diverse spheres of influence. As the premier Halachic authority, founder and titular head of the Vaad Hayeshivos, leader of Agudas Yisroel and rabbinical representative at government conferences, he stood at the forefront during a rapidly changing Jewish society. At the same time, he exhibited almost a fatherly love to every individual Jew who came to his door, his care for his people was expressed in both the public arena and in personal interaction. In commemoration of his yahrtzeit, we'll attempt to gain a glimpse of this great man. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

90

Old World Values in the Home of the Brave: Transplanting Chassidus on American Shores

Dec 26, 2019

51:29

Recorded LIVE at the historic Ridinker Shteibel on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on the 2nd Night of Chanukah, Jewish Historian Yehuda Geberer delves into the incredible rebirth of the Chassidic movement in North America. Learn about the great leaders and holy tzadikim who helped revive Chassidic life in a new world. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

91

Mossad Operations Part I: Yossele Schumacher & Operation Wrath of G-d

Mar 26, 2020

24:40

With its daring operations and continuous mystique, the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency has quite a history. With the founding of the Mossad, it was tasked with securing Israeli intelligence beyond Israel's borders. Nazi hunting and spying in nearby Arab countries were just some of the Mossad operations in the early years. When Yossele Shuchmacher was kidnapped by his grandfather and smuggled out of the country, the affair became a divisive factor within the secular and religious in Israeli society. The Mossad was put on the case, finally locating him in Brooklyn after an exhaustive search. Following the terrible tragedy at the 1972 Olympics, with the murder of 11 Israeli athletes in the infamous Munich Massacre, the Mossad was tasked with revenge. Operation Wrath of G-d was to destroy the Black September terrorist organization which was the perpetrator of the attacks. This was largely successful and most of the principle operatives and terrorists were eliminated. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

92

Gangster on the Roof: Tales of the Jewish Mafia Part III

Jan 2, 2021

33:52

The Jewish mob wasn't strictly an American phenomenon born in the immigrant communities of the Lower East Side and Brownsville. It had antecedents across the ocean in the Jewish world of Eastern Europe. Jewish gangsters flourished in Warsaw, Odessa and other locales, to the embarrassment of the mainstream religious and political Jewish establishment. The Alfonse pogrom of 1905 brought the issue out into the open, but the Jewish underworld continued in the immigrant community of Buenos Aires, which maintained close ties to Warsaw. The most tragic chapter of Jewish criminal activity took place during the Holocaust when Avraham Gancwajch and his group of "the 13" collaborated with the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto. Part 1- https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/tales-of-the-jewish-mafia-part-i-ain-t-gonna-kill-on-saturday/ Part 2- https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/gangsters-racketeers-jewish-activists-tales-of-the-jewish-mafia-part-ii/ Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

93

On the Way to Canaan's Land: The Five Aliyot to Palestine

Aug 30, 2021

36:26

Known to history as the five waves of 'Aliyah', immigration to the Land of Israel, the late 19th and early 20th century saw a slow but steady stream of Jewish immigration which laid the foundations of what later become the State of Israel. These waves of immigration were part of a larger trend of general and specifically Jewish immigration to the west during this time. The first aliyah was a product of the Chovevei Zion movement and established the first agricultural colonies. The second aliyah was a result of the nascent Zionist movement and beginning of the socialist and nationalistic nature of the immigration. On the heels of World War I and the Balfour Declaration came the third aliyah, a very idealistic and nationalistic wave of immigrants who established many of the early kibbutzim. The fourth aliyah was primarily from Poland and was more urban in nature, while the fifth was largely a result of the Nazi rise to power in Germany and included many German Jewish refugees. This episode is sponsored by Beis Medrash Mevakshei Emes of the Mishkafayim neighborhood in Bet Shemesh in honor of their current fundraising campaign. Join at cmatch.me/Bmme For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

94

Baltimore meets Slabodka: Rav Avigdor Miller Part I

Mar 31, 2022

34:49

Rav Avigdor Miller (1908-2001) was a unique and influential rabbinical leader on the American scene of the 20th century. With his life spanning most of the tumultuous 20th century, his life story is somewhat a microcosm of Jewish life during historic times. Born in Baltimore into a home of immigrants, he went to study in RIETS in New York and eventually made the courageous decision to cross the ocean to study in the Slabodka Yeshiva in Lithuania. It was there under the tutelage of his rebbi Rav Isaac Sher and other great mussar personalities that would come to define him and his teachings for the rest of his life. It was also there that he married his wife Chana Etel Lesin, the daughter of Rav Yaakov Moshe Lesin the rabbi of Neishtat-Sugind. After spending six years in Slabodka, he returned home in late 1938, at the cusp of a long career where he would transmit the legacy of the past to generations of students and congregants. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

95

Unfathomable Greatness: The Life & Times of Rav Boruch Ber Part III

Oct 7, 2020

37:03

His impact on the Yeshiva world was immense. His learning approach continues to have immeasurable influence. His holiness was legendary and his greatness uncontested. Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz (1870-1940) in many ways seemed larger than life. Yet the story of his life and the stories about his life, bring out the humanity, the world that he lived and acted in and the context of the times, to bring this great personality alive and paint a fuller picture of his achievements. From his days in Volozhin to a young Rabbi in Halusk. From Slabodka to Kremenchuk to Vilna to Kamenitz. Rav Baruch Ber had many stops and it also included a long fundraising journey to the United States. As a teacher, as a lover of his fellow Jew, as a fighter for tradition and in many other ways, Rav Baruch Ber's spirit reverberates within the Jewish world to this very day. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

96

From the Revolution to the Rothschilds: Emancipation & French Jewry

Nov 25, 2020

33:22

Though taken for granted today, one of the most fundamental changes experienced by the Jewish People in modern times was receiving emancipation - equal rights, citizenship, equality before the law, etc. Commencing with the French Revolution in 1789, the struggle for Emancipation and the challenges along the way became the story of the Jews in the 19th century. Napoleon convened the Grand Sanhedrin in 1807 which asked French Jewry pointed questions about the relation of the Jew to the modern state. France produced notables like Adolphe Cremieux who would be involved in the founding of the first international Jewish organization in the form of the Alliance, as well as promulgating legislation which bestowed French citizenship on Algerian Jewry. The Rothschild banking family became 19th century Jewish folk heroes as the ultimate expression of the success of emancipation. Though they achieved great wealth, prestige and power, they also were to be used as stereotypical tropes by anti-Semites, as well as raising questions about how emancipation may lead to assimilation. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

97

From Abbey Road to Mt. Zion: The Jewish Music Revolution Part II

Jan 14, 2021

29:07

Aside from the Rabbi's Sons discussed in Part 1 of this miniseries, the 1960's saw the first music groups in Ohr Chadash, Pirchei and the London School of Jewish Song. From Israel came Chaim Banet and Jo Amar, the latter a pioneer of Morroccan Jewish music. No less important than the performers, the production, composition and arrangements were handled by architects of Jewish music Suki & Ding, Sheya Mendlowitz, Yisroel Lamm and later Moshe Laufer, Mona Rosenblum and Yossi Green. The 1970's saw the new sounds of Diaspora Yeshiva Band and Dudu Fisher, bringing Jewish music to ever wider audiences. Abie Rottenberg commenced his illustrious career this decade with Dveykus and the soon to be crowned king of Jewish music Mordechai Ben David burst on to the scene as well. Capitalizing on their earlier involvement with Pirchei-JEP, Rivie Schwebel and Ali Scharf collaborated once again with a series of albums of Schwebel, Scharf & Levine. Check out the story of Yerachmiel Begun and the Miami Boys Choir on this popular episode of Jewish History Soundbites: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/great-american-jewish-cities-14-miami/ Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

98

A Bridge to Brisk: The Life of Rav Dovid Soloveitchik

Feb 2, 2021

37:09

Rav Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik (1921-2021) lived a long life, in which he successfully formed a bridge between the world of Brisk where he had grown up, to the young impressionable yeshiva students of the 21st century. Having been raised in his father the Brisker Rov's home, he narrowly escaped Europe with most of his family in the early stages of the war. He would later marry into the illustrious Sternbuch family. In the late 1970's he opened his own yeshiva in Jerusalem, where he educated generations of students. As a great Torah scholar, educator, unflinching leader and senior sage, he gained renown worldwide. His passing closes a chapter in Jewish history. For a related story of the Soloeveitchik family in Israel: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/brisk-in-the-holy-land-part-i/ Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

99

The Jews of Scandinavia Part I

Feb 13, 2021

36:21

The more recent and relatively small Jewish communities of Scandinavia serve as an interesting chapter in Jewish history. While Finland was part of the Russian Empire for a time, the other Scandinavian countries had Jewish communities as well. This episode will primarily focus on Sweden and the central Jewish story based in Stockholm in the 19th and 20th centuries. Though it was initially quite small, the Jewish community ballooned in size in the 1930's and during the war with a stream of refugees from Germany and later from Scandinavian countries under Nazi occupation. Many more survivors subsequently arrived following liberation. Legendary figures like Rabbi and Rebbetzin Binyamin Zev Jacobson along with Rav Shlomo Wolbe, were active in rescue work and then in the operation of girls school and dormitory for survivors in the Stockholm suburb of Lidingo. One of the most interesting stories of Swedish Jewish life at this time was that of Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Zuber. A Lubavitch chassid who became the Rabbi, mohel, shochet and chazzan for the nascent Orthodox community in 1932, he'd remain the mainstay of traditional Jewish life in Sweden for 15 years. Whether it was combatting assimilation, working against the shechita ban, assisting refugees from the Holocaust or being at the forefront of the post war aguna issue, Rabbi Zuber would be the defining spirit of Jewish life in Sweden during a tumultuous time. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

100

Talking Jewish History with Moish Francesa: Purim Episode 2021

Feb 23, 2021

17:18

Jewish History Soundbites is proud to present a special Purim episode, for some good Jewish History enjoyment and fun. Honored to host a special guest, one of the most influential and historic figures of contemporary Jewish entertainment -- Moish Francesa. Enjoy and a Happy Purim to all! For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

Popular Shows by Yehuda Geberer יהודה גברר