Popular Shows by Yehuda Geberer: Page 2

101

Chabad & Zionism Part I: The Rashab

Dec 1, 2021

30:36

Rav Sholom Dovber Schneerson (1860-1920), better known as the Rashab, as the fifth Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch, was one of the leaders of Russian Jewry at a time when it confronted many challenges of modernity. One of those challenges was the new Jewish nationalism as expressed in the nascent Zionist movement in the late 1890’s. The Rashab decided to confront what he understood to be a danger to traditional Judaism, by initiating a project which would present a united Orthodox front in opposition to Zionism. To that end he partnered with Yaakov Lifshitz and the ‘Lishka Hashechora’ in Kovno. In January 1900, a pamphlet entitled Ohr Layesharim was published, which included a letter of the Rashab clarifying his opposition to Zionism. He expressed theological opposition - evoking for the first time the violation of the ‘three oaths’ by attempting to force the redemption prior to Moshiach’s arrival. He also expressed concern regarding the secular nature of the Zionist leadership, and even raised practical challenges the movement would confront which he believed would prevent its goals from being realized. 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]

102

Get it? The Strange Story of the ’Get of Cleves’

May 2, 2022

34:28

The strange story of the Get of Kleve (or Cleves) rocked the rabbinical world of the 1760’s. What commenced as an innocuous question regarding a young man’s mental faculties, and his resulting capability of participating in a divorce ceremony, soon exploded into a general dispute about a rabbinical courts sole jurisdiction over a halachic dispute and the imposing of majority opinion among rabbis. While the Frankfurt rabbinical court maintained that the groom in question was insane and therefore the get which he delivered was invalid, an increasing number of rabbis across Europe agreed with Rav Yisrael Lifshitz regarding the validity of the get. Eventually Rav Yechezkel Landau of Prague, the Noda B'yehuda, entered the fray, insisting that the divorce document was valid. The dispute can be viewed within the larger context of events of Jewish society of the 18th century, with loosening control of the kahal and early signs of modernity causing instability within the circles of established authority. This episode is sponsored by Legacy Judaica in honor of their upcoming auction, Sunday, May 8, 2022, 1:00 PM EST. The catalog is available here: https://bidspirit.com/r/3axy For a unique opportunity to purchase historical artifacts, books, letters of historical personalities and more, check out the Legacy Judaica auction. 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]

103

Captain from Kovno: Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor

Jun 19, 2022

36:38

Perhaps the most acclaimed leader of Russian Jewry of the 19th century was Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor (1817-1896). A long-time Rabbi of Kovno, his impact reached the far reaches of the Russian Empire and beyond. He served as the leading posek in all halachic matters, the arbiter of many disputes and lent his name to diverse causes such as the Kovno Persushim Kollel and Chovevei Zion. Exhibiting leadership on the burning issues of the day, he forged a relationship with the financial elite in St. Petersburg and with Czarist government officials lobbying on behalf of the general community. 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]

104

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]

105

Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust Part II: From a Tunnel in Novogrudok to the Bielski Partisans

Jul 14, 2022

42:49

On the night of September 26, 1943 232 Jews escaped through a tunnel from the Novogrudok Ghetto. Nearly 170 survived, primarily by joining the Bielski partisans who operated nearby in the Naliboki forest. This was likely the greatest escape in Nazi occupied Europe throughout the entire war and Holocaust. The tenacity and courage of the last Jews of the Novogrudok ghetto to dig a 250 meter tunnel leading to the forest, combined with the capability of joining Tuvia Bielski and his partisans, facilitated one of the most astounding stories of Jewish survival during the Holocaust. Tuvia Bielski famously said that he prioritizes saving lives over killing Germans. The result was that his partisan unit was a family camp which saved over 1,200 Jews, among them the escapees of the Novogrudok tunnel. To dedicate an episode in the Jewish History Soundbites ‘Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust’ series, please contact Yehuda at [email protected] Jewish History Soundbites is coming to NY! Register here for the upcoming tour of the Mt. Judah cemetery with Yehuda Geberer on July 29, 9:30 am 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]

106

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]

107

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]

108

The Royals & The Jews

Sep 10, 2022

31:12

The Jewish People have had a long relationship with British royalty. From the expulsion of the Jews from England by King Edward I in 1290 to the resettlement which continued despite King Charles II returning to the throne in 1660. From Queen Victoria’s knighting Sir Moses Montefiore, to King George VI and his overseeing the end of the British Mandate on Palestine. From Princess Alice risking her life to saving Jews in Greece during the Holocaust to Queen Elizabeth II receiving Holocaust survivors on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Though Queen Elizabeth II never visited the State of Israel, the Jewish community of Britain enjoyed a warm relationship with the royal family in recent history. Check out these related episodes: Jews of London Part I: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/british-royals-baalei-tosfos-blood-libels-the-story-of-london-part-i/ Jews of London Part II: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/from-cromwell-to-montefiore-the-jews-of-london-part-ii/ 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]

109

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]

110

Get Out! Get & Divorce in Jewish History

May 18, 2023

34:09

As long as there has been marriage, there has been divorce throughout history. The legal procedure of providing a ‘Get’ to terminate a marriage under Torah law, has often provided a window into the wider context of social and communal life throughout Jewish history. The intricate laws of Gittin have been the backdrop of rabbinical leadership, communal crisis and halachic creativity. In honor of the Daf Yomi commencement of Maseches Gittin, this episode will explore some curious angles and anecdotes in which a Get appears as the player in Jewish history. This episode is sponsored by Daf Yomi with Shaul C. Greenwald, a fast-moving energetic daf shiur, delivered with clarity and intensity. The shiur is available daily on all podcast platforms, All Daf and Torah Anytime. https://alldaf.org/series/5677/ 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]

111

The Yeshiva Elite in 19th Century Lithuania

Mar 28, 2024

47:45

A dominant feature of religious life of the 20th century has been the centrality of the Yeshiva institution for intensive Torah study. The modern yeshiva is a direct byproduct of its antecedents in the Russian Empire of the 19th century. The old oligarchy which controlled Jewish communal life in Eastern Europe for centuries, was a combination of the rabbinical and financial elite. The personality of the Vilna Gaon and his legacy among Lithuanian Jews cemented the scholarly ideal of total dedication to Torah study and knowledge. His prime student established the first modern yeshiva in Volozhin, but it took decades until the idea really spread. Torah study for the most part continued as it always had in the Lithuanian region, in local yeshivos and batei medrash. Due to a confluence of external factors facing Russian Jewry in the closing decades of the 19th century, the Volozhin style yeshiva finally caught on and began to spread. The story of how the scholarly elite of Lithuania studied Torah and institutionalized the idea of the yeshiva, is an important chapter in the story of Jewish life in Czarist Russia of the 19th century. Enjoy earlier related episodes on this topic: 1. https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/the-legacy-of-the-vilna-gaon/ https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/the-history-of-the-volozhin-yeshiva-part-i-the-mother-of-all-yeshivas/ https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/the-history-of-the-volozhin-yeshiva-part-ii-the-rise-to-fame/ https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/the-history-of-the-volozhin-yeshiva-part-iii-the-war-of-succession/ https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/the-history-of-volozhin-yeshiva-part-iv-talmudists-zionists-and-the-golden-age/ https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/the-history-of-the-volozhin-yeshiva-part-5-closing-time/ 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]

112

Haskala in 19th Century Imperial Russia Part I

Jul 14, 2024

43:33

The Jewish enlightenment movement – known as the Haskala, endeavored to implement changes within the Jewish communal structure in the modern era. Though the haskala in its many manifestations existed in many countries in the modern era, this episode will focus on the haskala in 19th century Czarist Russia. Throughout the 19th century, the haskala grew into somewhat of a movement, and promulgated initiatives to integrate Russian Jewry into surrounding society, through changes in communal infrastructure, education, economy, rabbinate and culture. Often working with the governmental authorities, the haskala faced much opposition from the traditional establishment. The story of the haskala, its limited impact, the response of the traditional community and the legacy of the haskala, reverberates down to 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]

113

Polish Patriotism & Rav Dov Ber Meizlish

Sep 9, 2024

43:20

Following the partitions of Poland at the end of the 18th century, there were several attempts of the Polish people to revolt against Czarist Russia or Austria during the 19th century. An interesting component of this story is the Polish patriotic position adopted by one of the most prominent Polish rabbis of the 19th century, Rav Dov Ber Meizlish (1798-1870). As a wealthy businessman and learned scholar, Rav Meizlish emerged as a public activist and leading spokesman on behalf of the Jewish community, successively serving in the rabbinate of the two largest and most prominent communities in all of Poland – Krakow & Warsaw. Following a contentious tenure at the helm of the Krakow rabbinate in which his leadership wasn’t accepted by the entire community, and where he served as a Jewish representative in the Austrian parliament, he was appointed chief rabbi of Warsaw in 1857. During the 1863 Polish revolt against Czarist Russia, he took a prominent and public position in support of Polish independence. Following his passing in 1870 he was remembered not only by the Jewish community, but across Poland as an ardent patriot. 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]

114

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]

115

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]

116

Rav Shimon Shkop Vol I: From Grodno to RIETS and Back

May 18, 2019

15:37

Jewish Historian and Tour Guide Yehuda Geberer details the storied career of the Rosh Yeshiva of Shaar Torah in Grodno and author of the Shaarei Yosher, Rav Shimon Shkop and his ultimate decision to return to Europe following a year at RIETS in 1929. 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]

117

R' Shimon Shkop Vol II: His Enduring Legacy

May 22, 2019

19:53

The enduring influence and legacy of R' Shimon Shkop is through his seforim, family and talmidim. We'll explore how his Seforim came to be written and learn a little bit about his illustrious descendants. 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]

118

Slabodka in the Holy Land Vol II: Tragic Ending In Chevron

May 30, 2019

20:29

The second episode in our Slabodka series follows the initial high hopes and successes of the Yeshiva as well as the challenges it faced in its new home. We'll follow the Yeshiva through to its tragic ending with the Chevron Massacre of 1929. 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]

119

The Baal Shem Tov Vol II

Jun 5, 2019

19:57

What role did the Baal Shem Tov play in Jewish society? Did he face serious opposition? What was so revolutionary about his teachings? Beneath the myth and legend lies a great leader and personality whose story is one that longs to be told. 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]

120

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]

121

The Chofetz Chaim: Myths Abound

Jun 11, 2019

20:16

As one of the greatest and most beloved leaders in recent times, the Chofetz Chaim's legacy has attracted much legend. Join us as we reexamine some of the stories that are a bit heavy on the legend side. 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]

122

The Golden Age of Slabodka: Part III

Jun 13, 2019

19:56

The years immediately preceding WWI were considered the glory days of Slabodka's long history. Let's meet the personalities and hear the stories of the period when the Alter of Slabodka had his greatest impact on the future of the Torah 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]

123

The Baal Shem Tov Part III

Jun 23, 2019

19:15

The inner world of the Baal Shem Tov and early Chassidus brings us to the core of what the movement eventually was to become- a revival of Jewish spiritual life. Let's explore some of tales and teachings of the Baal Shem Tov to understand what he was all about. 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]

124

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]

125

The Founding of a Dynasty: The Alter Rebbe's Rise to Leadership

Sep 15, 2019

26:34

Rav Shneur Zalman of Liady (1745?-1812), known as the Alter Rebbe or the Baal Hatanya, was the founder of the Chabad Chassidus and one of most influential leaders in the history of the movement. How did he start out? Was it an easy road to leadership? He was one of the youngest among the students of the Maggid of Mezritch. Following Rav Mendele of Vitebsk to White Russia, he assisted in spreading Chassidus in that vicinity. But it was only following R' Mendele's aliyah in 1777, that R' Shneur Zalman would begin his rise to a leadership position of Chassidim. Slowly he fashioned his court, his own unique brand of Chassidic thought and began to manage the hordes of Chassidim who began arriving at his door. They came to hear his guidance in serving Hashem, his Divrei Torah and to experience the atmosphere of the court of the Alter Rebbe. 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]

126

Tales of Sukkos: The Great Daled Minim Hunt & Simchas Torah In Shanghai

Oct 16, 2019

29:11

In honor of the happy Sukkos holiday, here's a potpourri of anecdotes - some interesting, others entertaining - of Sukkos throughout recent Jewish history. What was it like to shop for a lulav and esrog when all esrogim had to be imported? How about during wartime? What was the atmosphere in the pre war Yeshivas by the Simchas Bais hashoeva and Simchas Torah? What happened to the Chozeh of Lublin on the last Simchas Torah of his 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]

127

From Slabodka to The Seminary: The Story of Professor Saul Lieberman

Nov 30, 2019

23:29

Of the many figures who traversed two worlds in the past century, perhaps none epitomized that duality more than Rabbi Dr. Saul Lieberman. Scion of a Rabbinical family and student of Slabodka, he was to become one of the greatest scholars ever in the field of early Rabbinic writings. As one of the chief professors at the Jewish Theological Seminary for over four decades, he struggled with the challenges of Jewish identity in the Conservative and Orthodox communities. A brilliant and enigmatic personality, his winding career is a prism of the vicissitudes of Jewish life in the 20th 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]

128

More Than Just A Gadol: The Story of Rav Yitzchok Hutner Part I

Dec 17, 2019

28:35

One of the most multifaceted individuals in Torah leadership of the last century was R' Yitzchak Hutner. Arriving from Warsaw to Slabodka in the wake of World War I, he eventually followed the Yeshiva on it's sojourn in Chevron. During this time he enjoyed a close relationship with Rav Kook. Following a stint in University in Germany, he eventually made it across the Atlantic, where he obtained a position in Yeshivas Chaim Berlin in Brownsville. As a charismatic leader and scholar with penetrating depth, the diversity of his thought and teachings is almost unmatched in contemporary Rabbinic writing. 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]

129

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]

130

The Case For A Mamzer: Rav Shlomo Goren and the Langer Controversy

Jan 15, 2020

25:58

In the high strung divide between the religious and secular in the State of Israel, few stories express the point of conflict more than the "brother & sister" saga of the Langer children. Seemingly they were mamzerim and consequently unable to have a Jewish marriage. The question then arose if their father was a convert to Judaism or remained a non-Jew. The controversy spilled over from the confines of the Rabbinical court to public and even political discourse. Rabbi Shlomo Goren convened a new Bais Din and enabled them to marry. This brought the fury of the establishment Rabbis against Rabbi Goren, and the great controversy continued to boil for some time. 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]

131

Stolin America: A Chassidic Dynasty In The New World

Feb 1, 2020

27:49

One of the oldest dynasties in the history of the Chassidic movement, was also one of the pioneers to strike roots on American shores. Karlin-Stolin - which also had one of the oldest Chassidic communities in the Land of Israel - was a unique group back in Europe as well. One of the sons of Rav Yisroel Perlow (1869-1921), (the "Yenuka" of Stolin), Rav Yaakov Chaim (c. 1897-1946) answered the call of the Karlin Chassidim in the United States and immigrated in 1924. A fatherly figure, he died childless while visiting his followers in Detroit. He was soon followed by his only surviving brother Rav Yochanan (1900-1955), who arrived in 1947. Between the two of them, the foundations of the rebuilding of Karlin-Stolin were laid in the 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]

132

An Uncharted Path: The Story of Rav Baruch Rabinowitz of Munkatch

Feb 8, 2020

30:32

In the rebuilding of Chassidic courts in the post war era, the story of Munkatch is one of the more tragic ones. More of a human story than one of a dynasty, it revolves around the upheavals in the life of Rabbi Baruch Rabinowitz (1914-1997). As a successor to his famed father in law the Minchas Elozor of Munkatch, following the Holocaust he abdicated the throne. He also turned towards Zionism, which was a marked departure from the legacy of Munkatch. The story of his rescue activities during the war, coupled with his post war Rabbinic career is another facet of his life, which was otherwise dominated by the future of the Munkatch dynasty. Check out the episode on the Minchas Elazar: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/uncompromising-zealot-the-life-and-times-of-the-minchas-elazar/ 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]

133

The History Of The Volozhin Yeshiva Part II: The Rise To Fame

Feb 12, 2020

52:11

Under the watch of it's founder, the Volozhin rose to to prominence. Rav Chaim Volozhiner created a sophisticated system of fundraisers, who also spread the word about the Yeshiva and added to its prestige. He introduced innovations in both learning and organizational structure. Following his passing in 1821, his son R' Itzele (1780-1849) took over and it flourished under his watch. R' Itzele was also quite active in communal affairs, and in the 1840's was involved in a fascinating saga concerning Russian Jewry. When Dr. Max Lilienthal attempted a reform of Jewish education, he actually came down to Volozhin to meet with R' Itzele. Volozhin and it's heads now stood at the forefront of Jewish leadership in the Russian Empire. 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]

134

The Heritage of a Leader: The Story of Novominsk in America

Apr 7, 2020

25:22

This special tribute to the Novominsker Rebbe has been generously sponsored liluy nishmas the Rebbe Rabbeinu יעקב בן נחום מרדכי by Duvi Silberstein For all Back office for Nursing Home Billing, contact Care Network Health at via phone/text 908-305-0595 With the tragic passing of Rav Yaakov Perlow (1931-2020), the Novominsker Rebbe and head of Agudas Yisrael, this episode is a tribute to his memory. He was someone who seemed to be comfortable anywhere, as a Rosh Yeshiva in both Breuer's in Washington Heights and in Hebrew Theological College in Chicago and in his own Yeshiva in Boro Park since the 1980's. As a Chassidishe Rebbe, a scion of both Novominsk and the legacy of Kotzk, and as an active leader of the larger Jewish community through his leadership of Agudas Yisrael. Where did this all come from? Here we explore a bit of the wellsprings which raised him. The dynasty of Novominsk, the milieu of Chassidic Warsaw, his Kotzk roots, and his father's move to the US. Through this context, we gain an insight into the greatness of who he was and what he accomplished. 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]

135

King of Galicia: The Divrei Chaim of Sanz

Apr 21, 2020

27:37

Leading Halachic authority, founder of an influential Chassidic dynasty and a master of simplicity, charity and care for his followers, are all apt descriptions of Rav Chaim Halberstam of Sanz (1797-1876) - or Tzanz as he insisted his followers refer to the town. His influence, popularity and admiration of his contemporaries were almost unmatched in recent history. Perhaps a no less facet of his leadership, was his foray into the relentless struggle against encroachments of modernity into traditional Jewish life. A bastion of conservatism, his influence went beyond the borders of Galicia into Hungary, and beyond his own lifetime into current times. This included perceived threats from both within and without. 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]

136

Making of a Godol Stories Part I

May 31, 2020

31:25

Meticulously researched and 1,400 pages long, the monumental work "Making of a Godol", contains a wealth of stories about great Jewish leaders of yesteryear. In honor the first yahrtzeit of the author Rav Nosson Kamenetsky, whose decades long research produced this masterpiece, a selection of choice anecdotes from within its pages are presented here. From the great city of Minsk to the hallowed halls of Volozhin Yeshiva to the small shtetls of Lithuania, from Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz to Rav Yisrael Salanter and Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky and many more. The tapestry of Jewish life that goes on display through these timeless stories, can serve to continually educate and inspire. 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]

137

A Historic Campaign: The Chofetz Chaim Sefer Torah

Jul 11, 2020

33:19

The Lithuanian Yeshiva world in interwar Poland was facing financial crisis. The Vaad Hayeshivas was the umbrella organization which sought to alleviate the financial burden from the Yeshivas. With the passing of the Chofetz Chaim, the beloved leader, as well as founder and head of the Vaad Hayeshivas in September 1933, the Jewish People was plunged into mourning. The Vaad Hayeshivas embarked on a campaign to write a Sefer Torah in memory of the Chofetz Chaim. Each letter would be sold, and the proceeds would go toward funding the Yeshivas which were in ever desperate straits. This would be a world wide campaign, in which it was hoped that all would desire to partake in this special endeavor. The Sefer Torah was duly written, with individuals from Jewish communities around the world having bought letters and receiving a special certificate as acknowledgement of their participation. Amid great festivities, the Torah was dedicated in honor of the 2nd yahrtzeit of the Chofetz Chaim in Elul 1935, where it was brought from Vilna to Radin. 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]

138

A Lithuanian Mystic: Rav Shlomo Elyashiv

Jul 16, 2020

17:55

Rav Shlomo Elyashiv was one of the greatest Kabbalists in recent Jewish history. Settling in the town of Shavl, he proceeded to author his magnum opus the Leshem Shevo Veachlama, and influencing young Rabbis like Rav Kook in kabbalistic teachings. In 1924, he moved to Eretz Yisroel together with his daughter and son in law Rav Avraham Levinson who changed his name to Elyashiv at this time. They were accompanied by their Bar Mitzvah age son, the future Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, they became an influential family, with Rav Avraham Elyashiv founding the Tiferes Bachurim organization, which provided a framework for Torah study for the young working men of the Old Yishuv. 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]

139

Maharam Brisk & the Hungarian Yeshiva World

Jul 18, 2020

28:12

The title "Yeshiva World" usually conjures images of the great citadels of Torah of Lithuania, but parallel to that development was the Yeshiva world in Hungary. Large in size and unique in style, the Hungarian Yeshiva world provided generations of Hungarian communities with Rabbis, teachers and a rich traditional life. One of the most prominent of these Yeshivas in the generation before the war was that of the Maharam Brisk in Toshnad (Tasnad), Transylvania. As one of the leading Rabbis of his day, he did much to strengthen Jewish life in the entire district. His Yeshiva became one of the largest - over 300 students - and from the most prestigious in the entire country. 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]

140

Treacherous Brothers: The Yevsektsia Destryoys Jewish Life in Russia

Jul 29, 2020

37:35

Few stories among the many tragedies of Jewish history are as heartbreaking as the destruction of Jewish life in Russia by the Yevsektsia. While the majority of these occurrences were perpetrated from enemies on the outside, the Yevsektsia was an entirely Jewish organization. It's a story of Jews waging war on traditional Jewish life. Following the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, the Yevsektsia was established as a Jewish section of the Communist party, with the mandate to galvanize the Jewish workers in support of the Revolution and communism. At their own initiative, these primarily young Jewish revolutionaries extended their mandate to suppress all that was perceived to be counter revolutionary activity. The Kehillas, Cheders, Yeshivas, Shuls, Rabbinical leadership, Zionism, culture, Hebrew language, Jewish political parties and any other vestige of Jewish life was brutally suppressed and wiped out. By 1929 they were disbanded, but the damage was done. Once the world center of world Jewry, Russian Jewish traditional life was obliterated. It's 3 million Jews stuck behind the Iron Curtain. 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]

141

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]

142

Moscow & Expulsions: Another Look

Mar 21, 2026

47:55

The story of the expulsion from Moscow in 1891 was told at length in the previous episode of Jewish History Soundbites. The feedback generated from that saga has led to another look at two related topics. Expulsions of Jews in recent history, and the Moscow Jewish community under the Czars. Regarding the former, what constitutes an expulsion? Is it limited to a formal expulsion edict, or living conditions that are nearly impossible for Jews that they are forced to leave? What was the Moscow Jewish community like at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries? Who were the members of the Jewish financial elite who resided there, and was it possible to maintain a religious lifestyle so far from the Pale of Settlement? This episode is sponsored by Sofer AI. For all of your Torah audio and other AI needs: transcribing, organizing, outlines, searchable texts, etc. All geared for Torah shiurim and similar material. Check out https://go.sofer.ai/jhs 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]

143

Come on and Ride the Train: The Kastner Story Part IX

Feb 7, 2026

1:06:39

In this final installment of the Kastner train series, the legacy of the Kastner trial is explored in three ways. In a series of interviews in 1957 known as the Sassen documents, Adolf Eichmann described his view of the role that Kastner played in the negotiations. In 1961 famed Hollywood screenwriter and novelist Ben Hecht authored Perfidy, a harsh critique of Kastner and the Zionist leadership. Who was Ben Hecht and what are the limitations of Perfidy. Finally, a broad swath of scholars, historians, historical figures and writers are presented in a sweeping summary of the spectrum of views criticizing and defending Kastner. 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]

144

Expulsion from Moscow 1891

Mar 14, 2026

50:48

The Jewish community of Moscow in the late 19th century was composed of Russian Jews who were permitted residence outside of the Pale of Settlement. In 1891 the Czarist government reversed its policy of selective integration and about 30,000 Jews were expelled from Moscow. This expulsion was a tragedy for the refugees, and a sense of disillusionment for Russian Jewry at large. Its reverberations were felt in the realm of emigration, radicalization and the rise of Zionism. More broadly, the phenomenon of expulsion itself as a recurring tragedy in Jewish history, is a bit unique in the case of Moscow. 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]

145

Rav Fishel of Strikov & the Spread of the Chassidic Movement

Mar 7, 2026

42:16

Although not as well known as some of his contemporaries, Rav Efraim Fishel of Strikov (1745-1825) served in a crucial role during the formative stages of the chassidic movement. Like his father before him he was a student of the Maggid of Mezritch. He later was a pioneer in establishing one of the first formal chassidic courts in Congress or central Poland. As a charismatic holy figure, as well as a rabbinical scholar serving as a communal rabbi, he gained followers, some of whom went on to emerge as some of the greatest leaders of 19th century Polish chassidus. Among his many descendants was Rav Shmuel Abba, who established the Zichlin chassidic dynasty which flourished until its decimation in the Holocaust. 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]

146

Come on and Ride the Train: The Kastner Story Part VII

Jan 17, 2026

1:09:46

Following the war’s end in 1945, the controversy surrounding Kastner’s wartime activities began to emerge. Some pointed to the fact that he rescued an entire trainload of Jews, while others accused him of failing to warn Hungarian Jewry of the impending deportations to Auschwitz. The Jewish People in general and Israeli society in particular were reeling from the trauma of the Holocaust. The trial involving the story of Kastner and his negotiations takes place in the context of Israeli society of the 1950’s. Two salient features hover in the background across broader society. A traumatized people facing not its murderers but rather alleged Jewish collaborators, and the inter Israeli politics, with many resentful against the Mapai political establishment who were the leaders of the Israeli government during this time. These two undercurrents serve as the backdrop for the unfolding trial, which was instigated by a pamphlet published by Malkiel Grunwald in August 1952 accusing Kastner of Nazi collaboration. The State of Israel sued Grunwald for libel, and the latter retained the legal counsel of a brilliant and talented lawyer named Shmuel Tamir, who came to dominate the subsequent trial proceedings. 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]

147

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]

148

Bridge to our Glorious Past: A Tribute to Rabbi Berel Wein

Aug 24, 2025

1:06:22

The recent passing of the great teacher of Jewish history Rabbi Berel Wein (1934-2025) provides a moment to reflect on his historic contribution and trailblazing efforts in bringing Jewish history to the entire world. Due to my personal relationship with Rabbi Wein, this tribute focuses on that relationship, and his influence on me, while exploring his rich and diverse legacy. 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]

149

Soviet Chassid: The Story of Rav Mendel Futerfas

Apr 9, 2023

37:25

Rav Mendel Futerfas (1907-1995) was a Lubavitch chassid who emerged as a leader under the most challenging circumstances in the Soviet Union. He was active in one of the greatest exit attempts for Jews from the Soviet Union under the cover of the repatriation agreement signed between the Soviet Union and Poland in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Under the terms of the agreement Polish citizens were permitted to return to Poland, and some Soviet Jews utilized the opportunity to forge Polish documents and finally exit the Soviet Union. Rav Mendel was arrested in the operations aftermath and sentenced to eight years of hard labor in Siberia. Upon his release, he embarked on a heroic attempt at igniting the fire of Yiddishkeit and Chassidic life in the post Stalinist Soviet Union until he finally was able to reunite with his family in England in 1964. The last decades of his life were spent as the central mashpia at Kfar Chabad in Israel until his passing during a visit to London in 1995. 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]

150

Chasam Sofer Part V: Halacha & Leadership in a Changing World

Jul 3, 2023

40:00

Rav Moshe Sofer the Chasam Sofer (1762-1839) was both a leader and halachic decisor throughout his long rabbinical career. As he confronted a changing world where traditional Jewish life faced developing challenges of modernity, his vision, brilliance and sense of responsibility led him to utilize the halachic responsa he authored as a medium through which to express the traditional response through a continually evolving methodology. While still a young rabbi in Mattersdorf, the Chasam Sofer defended the local Frankfurt custom of his youth against the hegemony of a collective Ashkenaz identity. Yet a decade later as rabbi of Pressburg, he utilized the idea of collective Ashkenaz halachic identity following the rulings of the Ramah, as a mechanism for closing ranks around a strong traditional base in the wake of expansive attempts at reforming traditional halacha. During the last decade of the Chasam Sofer’s life, he expressed a pessimism regarding the future of rabbinical leadership as he witnessed many rabbis of his day leaning towards the reforming of halacha. His creative solution this time was to raise the banner of the Jewish communal collective, elevating the status of custom and rabbinic ordinance to the level of a Torah ordained obligation. The Chasam Sofer’s keen perception of the challenges facing traditional Judaism form the basis of his legacy until this very day. Check out our previous episodes on the life and leadership of the Chasam Sofer: Part 1: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/hungarian-royalty-the-chasam-sofer-his-family/ Part 2: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/chasam-sofer-part-ii-old-traditions-new-message/ Part 3: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/chasam-sofer-part-iii-a-pressburg-situation/ Part 4: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/chasam-sofer-part-iv-from-frankfurt-to-exile/ 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]

151

When Shabbos Was Sunday: The International Dateline Controversy

Mar 21, 2020

32:32

There are times when a Halachic, legalistic discussion is played out on the stage of history. Such was the dispute in regards to the positioning of the Halachic International Dateline. What conceivably was a theoretical discussion, or at most relevant to the few Jewish travelers to the Far East, became a reality for thousands of refugees who were stranded in Kobe, Japan in 1941. The question of when to observe Shabbos divided the refugee community, with kiddush and havdala being recited simultaneously by different individuals. With Yom Kippur around the corner, a larger question loomed. Two days of shabbos was manageable, but fasting for two days straight was not an exciting prospect. It was a question that was heard around the world. And the answers came in from all sides. The dateline controversy would leave an indelible mark on the memory that refugees had from their sojourn in Kobe, Japan. 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]

152

R' Chaim of Volozhin & Chassidus

Jun 16, 2019

20:12

Much more than just the founder of the Volozhin Yeshiva, R' Chaim was a multi faceted and devoted leader of his people. We'll follow one aspect of his leadership as he trail-blazed a new method of dealing with the reality of the Chassidic Movement of his 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]

153

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]

154

Collaboration or Cooperation? Eliezer Greunbaum & Jewish Kapos

Nov 26, 2019

30:04

One of the most difficult stories to confront in an objective fashion, is the issue of Jewish collaboration during the Holocaust. From the Judenrat and the Jewish Police in the Ghettos to Kapos in the Concentration Camps, the questions raised by the moral decisions made by Jews working ostensibly for the Nazis resonates till this very day. One of the more famous stories was of Eliezer Greunbaum, the communist son of the great Zionist leader Yitzchak Greunbaum. As a Kapo in Auschwitz he was accused after the war of being a collaborator. But was he? Decades later, can we view the situation with more nuance, objectivity and balance and recognize the dilemmas they faced under trying circumstances? 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]

155

It's All in the Family: The Curious Case of Mary Ben-Gurion

Jan 4, 2020

24:35

Amos Ben-Gurion was the son of David & Paula Ben-Gurion. While serving in the Jewish Brigade in the British Army during World War II, he was wounded and wound up in a Liverpool hospital. While there, he was taken care of by a nurse named Mary Callow. They eventually decided to get married despite the fact that Mary was Christian. There thus followed a sage of the attempted conversion of Mary to enable her to become Mary Ben Gurion. The conversion was eventually done by a German born American Reform Rabbi named Joachim Prinz, known for his activism in the Civil Rights Movement. 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]

156

A Kindled Flame: The Life of Rav Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg Part I

Jan 11, 2020

26:48

Please Support the work of Jewish History Soundbites by rating us and writing a review for us on Apple Podcasts. Thank You!!! One of the most multi faceted Jewish personalities of the last century was the Seridei Aish, Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg (1884-1966). A prodigy in Slabodka, who was embedded in the world of the Mussar movement, he later found himself in the Rabbinate in a small Lithuanian town. A complicated family situation eventually led him to leaving that position and moving west in both a literal and metaphorical sense. From the University of Giessen he moved on to a position in the Hildesheimer Rabbinical Seminary in Berlin. His story is reflective of the challenges faced by the thinking youth at the turn of the 20th century. The personality that he formed for himself is a unique expression in resolving that inner conflict. 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]

157

The Center of it All: Great Rabbis in Warsaw

Apr 30, 2020

31:59

Capital of the Jewish world, Warsaw played a central role in all aspects of Jewish life - politically, culturally, socially and of course religiously. Great rabbinical figures served in official capacities in the Warsaw Rabbinate, in the city's educational institutions, in unofficial positions as residents of the city, and of course as visitors to the country's capital. One of the prominent Rabbinic families that served generations of the Warsaw Jewish community was the Zilberbergs. The most famous of whom was Rav Naftali Vershover (1848-1930), who was close with all the great leaders of his day and served the needs of Polish Jewry. Through their story, we'll encounter the places and people of Jewish Warsaw including the famed Warsaw Mesivta, as well as meeting the Bais Halevi, two Gerrer Rebbes, the Chafetz Chaim, Rav Chaim Brisker, Rav Meir Don Plotzki - the Kli Chemda, and many 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]

158

Come on and Ride the Train: The Kastner Story Part IV

Dec 27, 2025

55:00

What were the actual negotiations between Kastner and other Jewish rescue leaders and Eichmann and the SS? How were the negotiations initiated and how did they develop? When did they take place? Who were the personalities on the negotiating team on each side? What were the goals of the SS in the negotiations and what were the goals of the Jewish rescue leaders like Kastner? The tense negotiations proceeded over the course of April-June 1944 in Budapest, and went through several stages. Understanding the who, when and why of the negotiations themselves, will broaden our understanding of the entire Kastner story. 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]

159

Sisters of the Revolution Part V: Rebuilding in a New World

Nov 12, 2020

29:27

With the destruction of Polish Jewry during the Holocaust, Jewish traditional communal infrastructure had to be rebuilt on new continents. Already prior to the war, pioneers had laid the groundwork for Girls traditional education in both Mandatory Palestine and the United States. In the Holy Land, Meir Sharansky opened the first Bais Yaakov in Tel Aviv in 1933. This was followed shortly thereafter by the Ger chassidim Hillel Lieberman and Pinchas Levine and Bais Yaakov arrived in Jerusalem. A German Jew named Yosef Avraham Wolff founded a groundbreaking Bais Yaakov in Bnei Brak in the 1950's. A confidante of the Chazon Ish, this institution was to play a decisive role in the formation of the Haredi community in Israel, then in its embryonic stages. Meanwhile across the Atlantic Rebbetzin Vichna Kaplan was struggling to establish a Bais Yaakov in Williamsburg under the auspices of the movement in Poland. Eventually a Bais Yaakov elementary school got off the ground under the leadership of Rav Avraham Newhouse, while Rebbetzin Kaplan ran a high school and eventually a Teacher's Seminary 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]

160

Sale or No Sale? Shemitah in Modern Times Part II

Sep 25, 2021

34:19

With the passing of Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor in 1896, his true opinion of the 'Heter Mechira' which he had authored became a matter of everlasting dispute. In the ensuing shmittah years, other rabbis weighed in on the issue, with some supporting the heter mechira, while others remained opposed. With the rise of settlements during the Second Aliyah in the early 1900's, as well as the more secular nature of the colonists, the shmittah issue came to the fore again with the upcoming shmittah year of 1910. Rav Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky - the Ridbaz - was the most vocal opponent of the heter mechira, and he disputed the then rabbi of Yaffo, Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook. This sharp dispute defined the heter mechira issue during that year, though the two maintained a close personal friendship. 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]

161

The Emergence of a Leader: The Life of the Chazon Ish Part III

Dec 25, 2021

35:21

In part 3 of the story of Rav Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz (1878-1953), the Chazon Ish, his path is traced from his relative obscurity to his emergence as a leader. From expressing halachic positions for the Poalei Agudas Yisrael agricultural settlements, to building yeshivos across the new yishuv, the Chazon Ish soon emerged as a well known posek with the psak he issued regarding the International Dateline. While losing much of his family during the Holocaust and suffering other personal challenges during the 1940’s, the decade saw him become an address for many seeking his advice and blessing as his fame began to spread. With the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, the Chazon Ish was at the cusp of his final position in the Jewish world - an undisputed leader. Check out the earlier episodes about the Chazon Ish here: Part 1: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/a-guiding-light-the-life-of-the-chazon-ish-part-i/ Part 2: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/a-guiding-light-the-life-of-the-chazon-ish-part-ii/ 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]

162

The Czars & The Jews Part I

Jan 9, 2022

35:54

Following the partitions of Poland in the last quarter of the 18th century, the largest Jewish community in the world found themselves under the rule of the Romanov dynasty in the Russian Empire. Each Czar formulated a distinct policy in regards to the Jewish population, and many of these policies, along with the Jewish community’s reaction, often has ramifications until this very day. Catherine the Great was czarina during the years of the partition itself, and she commenced her Jewish policy influenced by the ideas of enlightened absolutism. Jews were granted partial emancipation but the beginnings of their confinement to what would become known as the Pale of Settlement began as well. At the turn of the 18th-19th centuries, Alexander I assumed power, and he initially was viewed as a somewhat enlightened ruler, primarily due to the opportunities afforded through his ‘Jew constitution’ promulgated in 1804. He was succeeded by Czar Nicholas I, who went down in history as a sworn enemy of the Jews and an evil ruler. It was under his watch that the infamous cantonist decrees took place. He also attempted to meddle with internal Jewish affairs by reforming the educational institutions and by the annulment of the kahal communal structure. 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]

163

Princes of Persia: Iranian Jewry Part I

Feb 6, 2022

32:45

The ancient Jewish community of Persia/Iran is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. The site of the Purim story and many Biblical and Talmudic era luminaries, it continued to flourish through times of stability and persecution. One of the great rabbinical leaders in the city of Hamedan, Iran in modern times was Chacham Mola David Sasson Rabban (1879-1974). As rabbi of the community he oversaw its growth and later decline in mid 20th century to widespread emigration, while corresponding with rabbis across Iran and in neighboring Iraq. He also ran the local Otzar Hatorah school, which was part of network of traditional Jewish education which facilitated the renaissance of Jewish life in Iran and later in Iranian diaspora Jewish communities. This podcast is sponsored in honor of the release of the first sefer of its kind! The writings of the Av Bet Din of the city of Hamadan, Iran, Rabbi David Sasson Rabban, including a whole section on the minhagim of the Jews of Iran. Published by Machon Magen Avot publishing house, and is available on their website moroccanhalacha.com, along with all other sefarim by Machon Magen Avot. In Israel it can be obtained in the Sifria Hasefaradit Rechov Bucharim 4. https://magen-avot.myshopify.com/products/the-writings-of-chacham-rabbi-david-sasson-rabban-of-hamedan-iran 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]

164

Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust Part III: The Sobibor Revolt

Jul 17, 2022

28:25

Within the framework of Operation Reinhard, the Nazi extermination of Polish Jewry, the SS built three death camps in Eastern Poland - Belzec, Treblinka & Sobibor. The latter was the smallest of the three, and a quarter of a million primarily Polish and Dutch Jews were killed in its gas chambers during its year and a half of existence. It was at Sobibor that on October 14, 1943 a great prisoner escape took place. Led by the son of a Polish rabbi named Leon Feldhendler & a Soviet Jewish Red Army officer named Sasha Pechersky, these two unlikely leaders joined together to formulate a plan to save not just themselves but to give all of the 600 inmates at Sobibor an equal chance to escape. The revolt killed several SS officers, 300 Jewish prisoners made it to the forest and nearly 50 survived the war. As they broke for the fences, Pechersky demanded that anyone who survive should tell the world what went on in Sobibor. To dedicate an episode in the Jewish History Soundbites ‘Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust’ series, please contact Yehuda at [email protected] Jewish History Soundbites is coming to NY! Register here for the upcoming tour of the Mt. Judah cemetery with Yehuda Geberer on July 29, 9:30 am 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]

165

From Slabodka to Slutzk: Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer Part I

Jul 25, 2022

35:45

Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer (1870-1953) was a great Torah leader of the 20th century, whose life story spanned eras and continents. As a young teenager he studied in the vaunted Volozhin Yeshiva, then married into the prestigious Frank family of Kovno, where he subsequently was appointed rosh yeshiva of Slabodka. This was followed by his departure for Slutzk where he remained as rosh yeshiva and later as communal rabbi for decades. Following the formation of the Soviet Union and the challenges of maintaining religious life therein, he immigrated to Palestine in 1925. There he assumed the leadership of the Eitz Chaim yeshiva and served in several leadership positions in both the yishuv and later in Israel, where he oversaw the growth of the emerging Torah community. To dedicate an episode in the Jewish History Soundbites ‘Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust’ series, please contact Yehuda at [email protected] Jewish History Soundbites is coming to NY! Register here for the upcoming tour of the Mt. Judah cemetery with Yehuda Geberer on July 29, 9:30 am 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]

166

1897: A Year of Transition

Aug 13, 2022

33:11

Though change is generally a gradual process through history, it’s worth noting how several momentous events which were indicators of a dynamic Jewish community all occurred during the year 1897. The first Zionist Congress in Basel, Switzerland, the founding of the socialist Bund political party in Vilna, the Pulmoss Hamussar in Lithuania and the founding of the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva of Chabad in Lubavitch. Are these seemingly unrelated events which differ so much in ideology, goals and constituency at all connected? Or do all four separate events indicate some unifying trends taking place in the volatile situation the Jewish People found themselves within as the 19th century came to a close? Check out some great art: Twitter @ilanblock ; Insta@ silanblock Whatsapp 908-239-9161 ; Email [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]

167

United We Split: The Leadership of Rav Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky

Sep 18, 2022

46:02

Rav Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky (1867-1948) was the rabbi of the Eidah Chareidis community in Yerushalayim & headed the branch of Agudas Yisrael in that country for 15 crucial and tumultuous years. Having grown up in Hungary, he had previously served as rabbi of Galanta and Chust (Slovakia) for four decades. In Yerushalayim he oversaw the sweeping changes which were taking place in the Yishuv with immigration, the Great Arab Revolt, the policies of the British Mandatory government, World War II, the Holocaust, the UN Partition Resolution and the founding of the State of Israel. As a responsible and outspoken leader, Rav Dushinsky courageously led his community through this unique era, and aside from his rabbinical duties - along with his position as rosh yeshiva in the yeshiva which he founded - he took an active political role as well. Ultimately the changing demographics due to the immigration of more moderate Agudists from Poland in Germany led to a split between the Eidah Chareidis and Agudas Yisrael, which was overseen by Rav Dushinsky and remains to this very day. Following his passing in 1948 he was succeeded by his only son Rav Yisroel Moshe Dushinsky (1921-2003), who built the Dushinsky community around the yeshiva and transformed it from an Ashkenaz Oberland community into a full Chassidic court. 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]

168

Feivels Going West: Jews in the Wild West

Oct 30, 2022

26:59

The German Jewish immigration of the mid 19th century caused a demographic explosion of the American Jewish community from a mere 5,000 in 1830 to approximately 250,000 in 1880. Economic opportunity, the California Gold Rush and a general American migration to the frontiers of the west, led thousands of these immigrants to try their luck as peddlers and merchants in San Francisco and other mining towns in the Wild West. When Levi Strauss arrived from Bavaria with his family in 1847 he initially settled in NY. The Gold Rush enticed him to open a branch of the family’s dry goods business in San Francisco in 1854 where he serviced the mining community. Two decades later he began marketing Levi’s pants, which were the world’s first blue jeans with rivets to secure the pockets in the rough environment the miners operated in. Josephine Marcus was the daughter of German Jewish immigrants in NYC who migrated to California and later to Tombstone, Arizona where she married the legendary Wild West figure Wyatt Earp. Sponsored by the OU’s Teach Coalition, whose network of thousands of activists just like you, are urging you to go out and vote in the upcoming elections on November 8, 2022. For help contact the voter hotline at 646-459-5162 or https://teachcoalition.org/vote/ 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]

169

The Legacy & Impact of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch

Jan 18, 2024

45:57

As the architect of Orthodoxy in the modern era, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888) has an outsized impact on the Torah world until this very day. In his own lifetime his leadership of German Jewry overall and in particular his own community of Frankfurt stemmed the tide towards secularization, and created a framework for a flourishing Torah community within modern life. His seminal works of The 19 Letters, Horeb, commentary on Chumash and hundreds of articles of his Collected Writings, formed the basis of his Torah outlook in the face of new challenges. Yet his influence wasn’t limited to his own lifetime or his own community in Frankfurt or Germany. His impact permeates the entire spectrum of 21st century Orthodoxy. He pioneered the use the vernacular in Orthodox rabbinic life, initiated the first Torah oriented newspaper, spearheaded the first Torah education for girls, and laid the groundwork for much of what is considered standard Orthodox practice and values in contemporary society. A nuanced examination of his imprint on contemporary Orthodoxy can serve as a reevaluation of the crucial role he played in modern Jewish 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]

170

Russian Jewry under the Czars 1772-1881

Feb 3, 2024

44:58

From the time of the first partition of Poland in 1772, until the Russian Revolution in 1917, the Czarist Russian Empire was host to the largest Jewish population in the world. The generally antisemitic Romanov dynasty early on formulated solutions to what they referred to as the ‘Jewish question’. Based on the twin themes of subjugating the Jewish populace with a series of discriminatory and restrictive measures, while also attempting to integrate the Jews into the general population, the Czarist government fluctuated between the proverbial carrot and stick throughout the 19th century. Russian Jews were restricted to an area known as the Pale of Settlement, and under the reign of Czar Nicholas I the Jews were included in the 25 year military draft with many young Jewish children being drafted as cantonists. During the great reforms of Czar Alexander II following Imperial Russia’s defeat in the Crimean War, a practice of selective integration was implemented in an attempt to incentivize the acculturation of Jews into Russian society. The czarist policy was generally consistent in this regard until 1881. 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]

171

The Chassidic Movement in the Russian Empire

Feb 20, 2024

50:32

The cradle of the Chassidic movement was in the areas of the Polish Kingdom which were soon annexed to the Russian Empire during the partitions of Poland in the last quarter of the 18th century. This took place just as the nascent movement was spreading rapidly throughout these areas and beyond. Chabad in White Russia, the various branches of the Chernobyl and Ruzhyn dynasties in Ukraine, Karlin, Slonim, Apta, Savran, Breslov and many other smaller dynasties dotted the countryside across the Pale of Settlement. The Czarist government initially didn’t recognize the chassidim as a separate entity within the Jewish community, though the initial stages of legislation actually benefited the development of the movement. The opponents of the Chassidic movement – misnaggdim and maskilim, as well as the chassidim themselves, at times attempted to involve the government in their internal disputes. Later in the 19th century the Russian government specifically singled out Chassidic custom, dress and leadership, and the chassidim of Russia had to contend with the unique circumstances of their communities development within the greater context of the challenges of the overall Jewish community in the Pale of Settlement under the autocratic rule of the Romanovs. 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]

172

Non-Ashkenazi Jews in Czarist Russia

May 18, 2024

46:23

Far from the Pale of Settlement, the Jews of Georgia, Bukhara, the Caucasus (Mountain) Jews, and other Jewish communities of Central Asia, found themselves under the jurisdiction of the Russian Empire over the course of the 19th century. These ancient Jewish communities had been under the influence of their Muslim surroundings for centuries, when through a series of conquests, they now found themselves confronting the Czarist regime. Unlike the majority of their brethren in Russia, they were not required to reside in the Pale, and as a result weren’t restricted by much of the legislative limitations applicable to the overwhelming majority of Russian Jewry. The story of Central Asian Jewry, is a lesser known narrative of Russian Jewry under the Czars. 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]

173

Rabbi & Educator: Rav Avigdor Miller Part II

Apr 7, 2022

34:45

Rav Avigdor Miller assumed the rabbinate of Walnut Street Shul in Chelsea, Massachusetts in 1939, and would remain there for six years. Seeking better educational opportunity for his children, he moved to East Flatbush, Brooklyn in 1945 and would remain there for the next three decades. He assumed a position as mashgiach in Yeshiva Chaim Berlin in Brownsville, and began educating his young charges with the values he had brought from Slabodka. At around the same time he was hired as congregational rabbi at the Young Israel of Rugby, where he would have a decisive impact on generations of congregants. Following his departure from Chaim Berlin in 1965, he expanded the scope of his activities with his involvement in other Brooklyn Yeshivos such as Netzach Yisroel, Mir and Eastern Parkway. In addition, he gave classes to the girls of Bais Yaakov in Williamsburg and Boro Park. 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]

174

Shylock & Friends: The Jews of Venice

May 16, 2022

31:48

Jews have lived in Venice for more than a millennium. In 1516 the Jewish community of Venice was restricted to one area of the city, and this came to be known as the Ghetto, the first of its kind in Europe. Jewish life flourished, and it became a pioneering center of the printing of Hebrew books, most famously in the printing press of the Christian Daniel Bomberg. Though there were many famous Jewish personalities of Venice, including Don Yitzchak Abarbanel who lived out his last years in the city, the most famous Venetian Jew never even existed at all. Shylock is a fictional character and the primary antagonist in Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice. While Shakespeare used - and to a certain extent created - anti-Semitic tropes which unfortunately were perpetuated by subsequent anti-Semites over the ensuing centuries, in many ways the character reflects the restricted reality of Venice’s Jews at the 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]

175

An Enlightened Song: The Story of Shir

Jun 27, 2022

29:10

Prague has had its fair share of characters throughout its storied history, yet Shlomo Yehuda Rapoport (1790-1867) or Shir as he was known was definitely one of the more interesting ones. Born into a rabbinic family in Lvov, Shir married the daughter of Rav Aryeh Leib Heller, the author of the Ketzos Hachoshen. Though he remained a scholarly, observant and rabbinic Jew for the remainder of his life, he also associated with the emerging Galician Haskalah (Jewish Enlightenment) of his era. His intellectual pursuits included the study of medieval Jewish philosophy, languages, general science, history and literature, while his social circles included the famous maskilim of Galicia. In an attempt to alleviate his financial struggles his friend Yosef Perl arranged for his appointment to the rabbinate of Tarnopol. Traditionalist opposition made the position unsustainable, and in 1840 he was appointed rabbi of Prague where he remained until his passing. 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]

176

On the Cusp of Modernity: The Noda B’yehuda

Sep 4, 2022

34:21

The Jewish world of the 18th century was at the nexus of internal and external transformative events which would lead into the modern era. Political changes included the effects of the Seven Years War in central Europe and the partitions of Poland to the east. Internal Jewish disputes such as the Get of Kleves and the Rav Emden Rav Eybeschutz controversy, were accompanied by the challenges presented by the remnants of the Sabbatean movement, the spread of the nascent Chassidic movement and the early Haskala. With a leadership career spanning the majority of this tempestuous century, Rav Yechezkal Landau (1713-1793), the Noda B’yehuda, rose to the occasion navigating through the turbulent waters which the Jewish community faced throughout. World renowned as a posek, he also ran a yeshiva and exhibited prodigious leadership skills both internally as well as with the government of Austria. 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]

177

Founder of a Dynasty: The Bais Halevi

Nov 15, 2022

28:11

Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik - the Bais Halevi (1820-1892) was the founder of the Soloveitchik/Brisk dynasty. Following his studies in Volozhin and a short stint as a rosh yeshiva in Minsk, he was appointed assistant rosh yeshiva in Volozhin alongside the Netziv. In 1864 he departed to assume the rabbinate in Slutzk, where he remained until 1875 when he retired to Warsaw. In 1879 he moved once again this time to Brisk, where he served as rabbi until his passing. 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]

178

Holy Crown in Brownsville: The Life & Times of Rav Moshe Rosen

Dec 20, 2022

40:10

Rav Moshe Rosen - the Nezer Hakodesh (c.1870-1957) was an early leader of American orthodoxy. Having served as a communal rabbi in Lithuania for three decades, he was the one who discovered the Chazon Ish as a young man in the town of Chveidan. In the late 1920’s he immigrated to the United States and settled in Brownsville. He served as the first rosh yeshiva of Torah Vodaath, and later served as a rabbi in Brownsville, whilst continuing to author his multi volume Nezer Hakodesh and other works. He served at the helm of the Agudath Harabbonim and was involved in many early initiatives of Jewish education during his thirty years in a leadership position of American Orthodoxy. 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]

179

Aleksander the Great Chassidic Dynasty

Jan 2, 2023

39:43

Based in the Lodz suburb of Aleksandrow, the Aleksander chassidic dynasty was one of the largest and most prominent in prewar Poland. Established as a branch of Vorka-Peshischa in the mid 19th century, it grew under the dynamic leadership of successive generations of the Danziger family at its helm. The Bais Yisrael Yeshiva network contributed to its growth in the early 20th century. Aleksander gained further renown during its 30 year dispute with its arch rival - the Ger chassidic community based near Warsaw. Although Aleksander attempted to remain apolitical, they did nominally join Agudas Yisrael towards the end of the 1930’s. Although given an opportunity to escape, the last great prewar leader of Aleksander Rav Yitzchak Menachem Mendel Danziger - the Akeidas Yitzchak, chose to remain with his followers. Having escaped from Lodz to the Warsaw Ghetto, he was deported along with his family and followers and martyred in Treblinka in the summer of 1942. A group of Aleksander survivors prevailed upon the only remaining member of the Rebbe’s family, Rav Yehuda Moshe Tyberg to lead and rebuild Aleksander. He did so and established an Aleksander court in Bnei Brak, even changing his family name to Danziger. Sponsored by https://torahpapers.com/ an English translation of the popular shiurim of Rav Baruch Rosenblum. For captivating, engaging Parshah shiurim, with a breadth of sources across the Torah spectrum, get your ready to print shiur weekly to your inbox. 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]

180

The Chozeh of Lublin

Jan 19, 2023

36:53

As the oldest Jewish cemetery in Eastern Europe, the old cemetery in Lublin contains some historical treasures and great personalities. One of the prominent ones we visit on trips is Rav Yaakov Yitzchak Horowitz, the Chozeh of Lublin (1745-1815). One of the primary students of Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk, the Chozeh became a teacher of the masses, and facilitated the spread of the Chassidic movement in central Poland. Though he faced opposition, the Chozeh’s modesty and leadership preserved and his impact was seen through both the masses who sought his counsel and blessing, as well as through his many students who emerged as the next generations leaders of the chassidic movement across Galicia, Poland and Hungary. 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]

181

Marriage Age in Jewish Eastern Europe of the 19th Century

Feb 12, 2023

39:29

Matchmaking and marriage has always been a part of the Jewish story. What was the age of marriage at different times in Jewish history? How did one’s socioeconomic background impact the age of marriage? Did rich and scholarly family marry their children off at different ages than working class Jewish families? Why did the age of marriage suddenly rise among the financial and scholarly elite in the late 19th century in Eastern Europe? Could marriage plans be made in the depths of Auschwitz? These topics will all be explored in this Jewish History Soundbites Episode on marriage in Jewish history. Sponsored by the Shidduch Institute, encouraging everyone to fill out an easy and quick survey about shidduchim and matchmaking in order to gain a better understanding of machinations of shidduchim among the North American Orthodox Jewish community and the challenges within that system. Take a few minutes to fill out the survey and share with your family, friends and contacts to fill out as well. Shidduchinstitute.com/survey The only way a solution can be found is by obtaining real data which will facilitate a better understanding of the issues at hand. https://shidduchinstitute.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV eA8VDIbB3bWyHVY 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]

182

Chasam Sofer Part IV: From Frankfurt to Exile

Mar 4, 2023

35:25

Born into a prestigious Frankfurt family in 1762, Rav Moshe Sofer, the Chasam Sofer, would carry the Frankfurt legacy for the rest of his life. His teachers included the local rabbi Rav Pinchas Horowitz, the Haflaah, as well as a stint in Mainz with Rav David Tevli Shayer. But his primary teacher was Rav Nosson Adler. The Chasam Sofer joined his circle of mystics when he was 10-11 years old and remained devoted to him for the rest of his life. When the Frankfurt community opposed Rav Nosson Adler’s Kabbalistic separatist customs and he was excommunicated, the Chasam Sofer accompanied him into exile. Leaving Frankfurt with Rav Nosson Adler in 1782, the Chasam Sofer was never to return to his hometown. Listen to our previous three episodes about the Chasam Sofer: Part 1: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/hungarian-royalty-the-chasam-sofer-his-family/ Part 2: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/chasam-sofer-part-ii-old-traditions-new-message/ Part 3: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/chasam-sofer-part-iii-a-pressburg-situation/ 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]

183

The Vurke Chassidic Dynasty & Jewish Political Leadership

Mar 12, 2023

41:34

The Vurke chassidic dynasty took a leading role in Polish Jewish life of the 19th century, and spawned several prominent offshoots such as Amshinov, Aleksander and Strikov among others. Established by Rav Yitzchak Kalish as a faction of Pshischa, it flourished among his descendants and students in central Poland. Rav Yitzchak of Vurke (1779-1848) was a great chassidic leader, and earned renown as a pioneering ‘shtadlan’ or lobbyist, effectively ushering in a new era of Orthodox Jewish politics. In this capacity he represented the entire Jewish community of Poland, as his activities weren’t limited to Vurke or chassidim in general. Rav Yitzchak was succeeded by both students and sons, with his younger son Rav Menachem Mendel remaining in Vurke, and known as the ‘Silent Tzadik’. He in turn was succeeded by his son Rav Simcha Bunim who eventually moved to the Land of Israel. Most of the Vurke community and leadership was decimated in the Holocaust. 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]

184

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]

185

Galician Greatness: Rav Shlomo Kluger

Jan 27, 2024

30:25

World renowned posek of the 19th century, prolific author and courageous leader, Rav Shlomo Kluger (1785-1869) achieved immortality in the Torah world through his nearly half century tenure as Magid and Av Beis Din in the prominent Galicia town of Brody. As political and economic changes swept through the Habsburg Empire over the course of the 19th century, traditional norms changed, technological advances brought new challenges and the hegemony of the traditional Kahal (Jewish communal autonomy) was irrevocably transformed. Rav Shlomo Kluger emerged as a charismatic and strong minded leader during this tumultuous time. Halachic queries arrived at his desk from all over Galicia and eventually from across Europe. He fought to maintain tradition and halachic norms despite attempts to modernize Jewish law. His literary legacy is almost unparalleled in Jewish history, and his many works are studied 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]

186

Remembering Tragedy on Happy Days

Oct 26, 2024

34:41

With the Jewish calendar full of happy holidays and joyous occasions, and Jewish history filled with tragic events, an inevitable paradox is confronted when wishing to commemorate a tragic occasion during a happy time. Unfortunately this was recently experienced with the desire to commemorate the first anniversary of the October 7th massacre on the holiday of Simchas Torah. There are quite a few examples throughout Jewish history of tragedy being commemorated on happy occasions, and the Jewish People have historically managed to strike a healthy balance between celebration and solemn remembrance. This episode will explore some of these historical paradoxes. From the First Crusade to a Krakow pogrom, and from the Soviet Union to the remembering the victims of the Holocaust, communal gatherings during the holidays were often utilized to remember the tragedies of the past. 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]

187

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]

188

Jewish History Tourbites Presents - Hidden Among the Tombstones: A Walk through the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery

Nov 23, 2024

1:02:08

As the largest Jewish community in prewar Europe, Warsaw, Poland is a prime destination on many European Jewish history tours. One of the unique elements of a visit to Jewish Warsaw is a walk through its vast cemetery. Full of history, kivrei tzadikim and the rich tapestry of prewar Polish Jewry, it provides a singular perspective into a vanished world. While the majority of tours focus on several highlights of the cemetery such as the first chief rabbi of Warsaw the Chemdas Shlomo, the mass grave of victims of the Warsaw Ghetto, the Netziv of Volozhin & Rav Chaim Brisker, the Modzhitz, Slonim & Radomsk Rebbes, etc., there is really so much more there than meets the eye. This episode will explore some of the less frequently visited personalities and memorials of the Warsaw cemetery, including other prominent Warsaw rabbis such as Rav Avraham Tzvi Perlmutter, many other Chassidic leaders such as the Biala, Vorka, Radzymin, Amshinov, Radzyn, Pilov, Sokolov and other rebbes, cultural and political aspects of prewar Warsaw such as the Yiddish writers, Yiddish theater, the Bund, Judenrat head Adam Czerniakow, and much much more. Get ready for an urban lively journey through a historic cemetery! 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]

189

The Tiferes Yisrael [Nisan Bak] Shul

Jan 25, 2025

50:03

The majestic and beautiful edifice of the Tiferes Yisrael Shul, also known as the Nisan Bak shul after its founder and leader, stood as the central shul of the Chassidic Old Yishuv of Yerushalayim, from its establishment in 1872, until its ultimate destruction by the Jordanians in 1948. The project was initially spearheaded by Rav Yisrael Friedman of Ruzhin, known as the Holy Ruzhiner, who headed the Chassidic Kollel Vohlyn, with the members of the Bak family at its head. Upon completion the shul was named for the Ruzhiner, and it served the needs of the Yerushalayim Chassidic community in the ensuing decades. 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]

190

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

Feb 15, 2025

49:54

At the dawn of the 18th century, the overwhelming majority of the Jewish People were religiously observant in the traditional sense. By mid-20th century, the overwhelming majority of the Jewish People practiced a decidedly secular lifestyle. How and why did this secularization take place? This new series launched on Jewish History Soundbites will explore this topic in this and upcoming episodes, and provide definitive answers to this important historical question. Over the course of the 18th-19th centuries there emerged internal Jewish movements in Germany, Galicia & Russia who advocated for changes within the Jewish communal, educational & religious structure. Haskala, Reform and others rose to prominence on the Jewish scene and prompted a long and combative response from the Orthodox establishment. Though it may be enticing to suppose that it was these internal Jewish movements which were the cause of secularization, in reality this was not the case. Secularization was almost exclusively caused by primarily external factors, all of which were distinctive features of the modern era. Political changes, emancipation, legislative changes, economic changes, technological advancements, the industrial revolution, wars, revolutions, urbanization, immigration trends, colonialism & other external factors of modernity, all combined to generate a silent trend towards secularization. This was a movement without ideology, platform or leadership. It was a reality of growing secularization which was a direct result of the modern era and its challenges. 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]

191

Pioneer of Orthodoxy: Rav Rafael Cohen of Hamburg

May 31, 2025

51:14

With rising secularization in large urban centers of Western Europe during the 18th century, it would take a concerted effort by the traditional rabbinical establishment to formulate an appropriate response towards the growing trend of secularization. Rav Rafael Cohen of Hamburg (1722-1803), was a Polish rabbi who was appointed rabbi in 1776, of the three united communities of Hamburg, Alton and Wandsbek, collectively known by its acronym AHU. Facing a new reality where secularization was emerging as a reality within the Jewish community, Rav Rafael confronted in its various forms. The story of how he strengthened rabbinical authority in the face of an onslaught against this authority, and his many confrontations with a variety of manifestations of the new secularist trends in his city and across Western Europe, made his responses a prototype for the emerging Orthodoxy of the coming centuries. 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]

192

Rav Avraham Landau of Chechenov & the Strikov Chassidic Dynasty

Feb 28, 2026

57:33

One of the most influential rabbinical and chassidic leaders of central Poland in the 19th century, Rav Avraham of Chechenov (1784-1875) served as a rabbi of Chechenov for 55 years, while also playing an important role in the development of the chassidic movement in Poland. His descendants founded the prominent Strikov dynasty, among others, and served in crucial roles during challenging times facing Polish Jewry. 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]

193

[RERELEASE] The 1837 Tzfas Earthquake (replay)

Jan 24, 2026

55:42

Reposted with a new introduction, this episode will serve as a temporary break from the ongoing series on the Kastner train. On January 1, 1837, a devastating earthquake hit the upper Galilee and southern Lebanon, destroying towns, villages, property and roads, disrupting commerce and claiming the lives of thousands of victims. The ancient and mystical city of Tzfas was essentially destroyed at the epicenter of the earthquake’s damage, with most of its citizens killed, and the remainder being rendered homeless and penniless in the wake of this natural disaster. The traumatic event left a decisive impact on the trajectory of the Old Yishuv, with the wider social, economic and religious ramifications of this displacement being felt for decades. The rise of Yerushalayim with the downfall of Tzfas, messianic tension and subsequent disappointment, the funding apparatus of the Old Yishuv, and many other elements of Jewish life, would be heavily influenced by this one natural disaster which changed the Jewish history of the Holy Land. 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]

194

Come on and Ride the Train: The Kastner Story Part V

Jan 3, 2026

59:31

Who ultimately got rescued on the Kastner train? How was the list assembled? What were the SS criteria for those Jews to be included on the list? How diverse was the representation of the various factions of Hungarian Jewry on the train? Who financed the bribes to the SS in order for the train to be rescued? On this episode the discussion shifts to the actual composition of those rescued on the train, what role did Rudolf Kastner himself play in assembling the final list, the SS perspective on who should be included on the train and how it was financed and by whom. In addition, several of the greatest Hungarian rabbis who were rescued on the train are profiled, although the most famous of all - the Satmar Rav - will not be discussed on this installment, and will have to wait for next episode. 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]

195

Come on and Ride the Train: The Kastner Story Part II

Dec 13, 2025

1:03:21

What did Hungarian Jewry look like on the eve of World War II? What was its size, religious composition and communal organization? What happened to Hungarian Jewry prior to the Nazi invasion in March 1944? What were the Nazi plans for Hungarian Jewry following the occupation? How were the deportations carried out and what was their scope? Who was the Jewish leadership in Budapest during this time? What were the roles of the Neolog (Hungarian Reform), Orthodox, secular and Zionist leaders in Budapest during the Nazi occupation? This overview will provide much needed context to understand the broader story of the Kastner train and ensuing controversy. 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]

196

Come on and Ride the Train: The Kastner Story Part I

Dec 6, 2025

44:30

NEW SERIES ON JEWISH HISTORY SOUNDBITES On June 30, 1944, a train departed Budapest, Hungary, carrying 1,684 Jews as its passengers. This occurred during the peak of the Nazi deportations of Hungarian Jewry to Auschwitz in the horrific summer of 1944. This particular trainload however, following a short stint in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, was permitted to cross the border into Switzerland and freedom. The entire project was orchestrated through direct negotiations with the SS through the efforts of a young Zionist leader in Budapest named Rudolf Kastner. Though the lives of those on the train were saved, the entire operation was deemed controversial due to the fact that Kastner chose not to spread the word of the impending deportations among the wider masses of Hungarian Jewry. This resulted in an even more controversial courtroom drama in the 1950’s in Jerusalem, in a trial erroneously known to history as the Kastner trial. This multi part series now being launched on Jewish History Soundbites podcast will examine the story of the negotiations, rescue, aftermath, trial and legacy. It will attempt to provide a historical context as it was understood by the diverse array of characters involved in the narrative at the time. 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]

197

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]

198

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]

199

The Tragic Death Of Rav Lazer Telzer

May 16, 2019

13:35

Yad Vashem Historian and Lecturer Yehuda Geberer shares the story of the untimely death of the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Elizer Gordon who tragically and suddenly passed way while fundraising in London in 1910. 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]

200

The History of Torah Vodaath Part I: Torah, Chassidim & Zionists

May 23, 2019

19:42

Yeshiva Torah Vodaath has had a tremendous influence on American Jewish life throughout the last century. Here is the fascinating story of both the dreams and challenges faced by the visionary founders of "America's 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]

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