Jewish History Soundbites

1

[RERELEASE] Pre war Torah leaders on Vacation (replay)

Aug 15, 2026

20:12

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

2

[Rerelease] Great American Jewish Cities #17: The Catskills (replay)

Aug 8, 2026

46:04

The Mountains, the Catskills, the Borscht Belt, upstate, the country. Monticello, Liberty, Woodridge, Swan Lake, Woodbourne, Fallsburg. A place of many names with one thing in common: a place rich in Jewish history and lore. As a summer destination, the Catskills would be home to countless bungalow colonies as city Jews organized their communities for a mountain air getaway. Generations of children attended the many summer camps that dotted Sullivan County. Camps included Mesivta, Agudah, Munk, HILI, Kol Rinah, Torah Vodaath, Ohr Shraga, Sternberg and many more including the Betar Jewish self defense camp where Vladimir Jabotinsky died in 1940. It was also famously known as the Borscht Belt, and the legendary hotels/resorts/country clubs like Grossinger's, Kutscher's and the Concord made their mark as vacation sites. Most Jewish comedians of the time commenced their careers there. In addition to the summer crowd, the Catskills were home to many year round Jewish communities over the years. These towns built shuls, mikvas, hired Rabbis and even Jewish owned farms burgeoned for a time. This included Yeshivas as well such as the Mountaindale Yeshiva of Rav Yehuda Davis and the famous Yeshiva of South Fallsburg. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

3

[Rerelease] From Abbey Road to Mt. Zion: The Jewish Music Revolution Part II (replay)

Aug 1, 2026

29:08

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

4

[Rerelease] Yes, We've Got the Music! The Jewish Music Revolution Part I (replay)

Jul 25, 2026

26:52

Modern Jewish music developed from the chassidic music of old to the new sound of the Jewish music revolution led by Shlomo Carlebach in the 1960's. The music world of pre war Europe was brought over to the emerging post war world by Yankel Talmud, Yom Tov Ehrlich, the Chabad niggunim, David Werdyger and Bentzion Shenker of Modzhitz. They served as the bridge to bring classic chassidic music to the new generation. This was followed by Shlomo Carlebach and the revolution of Jewish music in the 1960's. Baruch Chait with the Rabbi's Sons, Yigal Calek and the London School of Jewish Song, the Pirchei-JEP albums all contributed to the early flourishing of the new style Jewish music which would continue to develop in the ensuing decade. Check out the other Jewish History Soundbites episodes on Jewish music: Shlomo Carlebach mini-series: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/from-lakewood-to-lubavitch-the-early-years-of-shlomo-carlebach/ https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/from-all-night-learning-to-all-night-kumzitz-the-early-years-of-shlomo-carlebach-part-ii/ Chazzanus: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/yossele-rosenblatt-and-the-golden-age-of-chazzanus/ Modzhitz: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/chassidic-symphony-the-modzitz-dynasty/ 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]

5

[Rerelease] In the City of Death: The 1903 Kishinev Pogrom (replay)

Jul 18, 2026

50:07

Special Tisha Ba'av Episode with an all new introduction. The 1903 Kishinev Pogrom was a tragic massacre, with reverberations within the wider Jewish world remaining until this very day. Goaded on by antisemitic newspapers with cries of 'Death to the Jews', a blood libel was fabricated and a mob was unleashed on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1903. Leaving 49 killed, hundreds maimed and injured in its wake, Jewish property was destroyed and looted as well. Claims of complicity of the police and government were voiced in many quarters. But it was primarily the after effects of this pogrom which had a long term transformative effect on Jewish society in Russia and worldwide. The great immigration to the United States was already long underway, but it significantly intensified in the years following Kishinev and the subsequent 1905 revolution. American Jewry was galvanized to assist the victims, and this cemented the relationship US Jewry was to have with their brethren back in Eastern Europe. Within Russia, many of the Jewish youth became radicalized as a result of the massacre, joining clandestine revolutionary organizations with the goal of overthrowing the Czar. The most profound impact was felt within the nascent Zionist movement. Chaim Nachman Bialik was dispatched by the historian Shimon Dubnow to gather testimonies from survivors. Following his five week stay in Kishinev, Bialik penned 'Be'ir Hahareiga' - In the City of Death, a poem about the pogrom. Powerfully written, it also included strongly worded accusations in regards to the perceived passivity of the victims. The poem and its message was to have an immense impact, as it was published and translated and became immensely popular. Vladimir Jabotinsky's conclusion was to organize Jewish self defense, and Theodore Herzl's conclusion was the Uganda proposal at the Sixth Zionist Congress. The shadow of the Kishinev tragedy was to hover over the many subsequent, and ever greater tragedies of the bloody 20th century. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

6

America 250 & American Jewry

Jul 11, 2026

58:00

With the United States commemorating its 250th anniversary, it’s worth reflecting on the unique place that the country holds in Jewish history. The American Jewish experience is unparalleled by any other country in the diaspora. American Jews were the only Jews in history that never needed to acheive emancipation in the modern era, as their equal rights and citizenship was already enshrined in the Constitution from the outset. The religious freedoms enjoyed by American Jewry enabled religious life to flourish on a scale unseen in any other place in the history of the diaspora. The greatest story of all is obviously immigration, as millions of Jews chose to make America their home while they were welcomed to its shores. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

7

The Molotov Von Ribbentrop Pact

Jul 4, 2026

56:39

When Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-agression pact in late August 1939, it sent shockwaves throughout the entire world, but seemed especially ominous for the Jews of Europe. Now that these sworn enemies were friends, war seemed inevitable, and what lay in store for the future of Polish Jewry? When war did indeed break out several days later, western Poland ultimately fell under Nazi occupation, while the Soviets occupied Poland’s east. Polish Jewry was in a hopeless situation, where the Soviet Union was often viewed as the lesser of two evils. Soviet persecution led to the deportation of many to Siberia, which in a cruel irony proved to be a salvation as they were spared the Nazi Final Solution. The Molotov Von Ribbentrop pact had significant ramifications not only on world history and World War II, but also on Jewish history and 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]

8

Urban Rabbinate: The Kornitzers of Krakow

Jun 27, 2026

56:48

Four generations of the Sofer/Kornitzer family served as venerable rabbis of the historic and prestigious Krakow community during the 19th & 20th centuries. The Chasam Sofer’s son Rav Shimon Sofer was later followed by his son in law and nephew Rav Akiva Kornitzer. Decades later, in 1925, Rav Yosef Nechemiah Kornitzer (1880-1933) accepted the invitation of the Krakow Jewish community to succeed the vacant position of his father and grandfather before him. Rav Yosef Nechemiah’s illustrious career and capable leadership left a lasting imprint on Krakow and the wider Torah world. He in turn was succeeded by his son Rav Shmuel Shmelka Kornitzer who was killed in the Holocaust. Beyond the rabbinical dynasty itself, this succession provides insight into the complex workings of the rabbinate in a major urban center during the age of modernity and urbanization. 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]

9

The Radoshytz Chassidic Dynasty

Jun 20, 2026

1:02:21

A large chassidic community across central Poland prior to its decimation during the Holocaust, Radoshytz was founded by Rav Yissachar Dov Ber Baron (1765-1843). Known as the Saba Kadisha of Radoshytz, he gained renown throughout the region as a holy miracle worker. The Radoshytz dynasty continued through his offspring, and was an influential chassidic dynasty until the war. All of the Radoshytz Rebbes and almost the entire community was wiped out during the Holocaust, but the Radoshytz legacy is a compelling historical narrative until this very day. 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]

10

Jacob Schiff & ‘The Schiff Era’

Jun 13, 2026

58:17

Born in Frankfurt to a prominent religious family, Jacob Schiff (1847-1920) was raised in the milieu of Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch’s Frankfurt, before migrating to the United States in 1865. Rising rapidly in the investment banking world of Wall Street during the post Civil War economic boom, Schiff emerged as both an exemplary philanthropist, distributing his vast wealth to myriad Jewish causes in America and worldwide, as well as cementing himself as the undisputed leader of American Jewry. Particularly close to his heart was the plight of Russian Jewry under the brutal Czarist regime, and he lobbied for unrestricted immigration to the United States, assisting Jewish immigrants once they arrived. He also financed Japan in the Russo-Japanese War, which led to Japan defeating the Russian Navy. Jacob Schiff’s legacy in philanthropy and leadership is largely unmatched in the annals of American Jewish history. 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]

11

The Jews of Argentina

Jun 6, 2026

49:19

Sephardic Jews first arrived during the age of exploration, but the community didn’t really flourish until the arrival of European Jews in the 19th century. Eastern European Jews arrived in great numbers towards the end of the 19th century, making Argentina one of the greatest destinations of Jewish immigration. Some immigrants settled in agricultural colonies established by Baron Maurice de Hirsch, becoming Jewish gauchos. Despite rising antisemitism in the postwar era, and experiencing negative migration, the Argentinian Jewish community continued to flourish through the 20th century. 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]

12

BONUS EPISODE: The 90th Yahrtzeit of the Mashgiach Rav Yerucham Levovitz

Jun 3, 2026

45:18

In honor of the 90th yahrtzeit of the great Mir Mashgiach Rav Yerucham Levovitz, Jewish History Soundbites is proud to present a collection of recordings, both old & new, discussing Rav Yerucham's life & 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]

13

Mandelbaum, Mandelbaum, Mandelbaum: The Mandelbaum Gate

May 30, 2026

56:06

Between 1948-1967, the city of Yerushalayim was divided between Israel and Jordan. The only border crossing between the two parts of the city was at Mandelbaum Gate on the outskirts of Meah Shearim. What was the nature of this border crossing? Why was it located there? Who is the Mandelbaum that it was named for? What did the Mandelbaum family contribute to the history of Yerushalayim? Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

14

Is There a “Most Influential” Rabbi of the 20th Century?

May 23, 2026

31:54

Is it even possible to measure a specific religious leader’s historical influence on Jewish History? By limiting the discussion to a specific time, place and type of leader, is it easier to find one’s favored candidate and crown them with the distinction as the ‘most influential’ leader? What is historical influence and how is it measured? Are leaders that influential altogether, or is the People and society the greatest influence on history? 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]

15

[RERELEASE] A Historic Campaign: The Chofetz Chaim Sefer Torah (replay)

May 16, 2026

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]

16

[RERELEASE] The Life of the Chofetz Chaim: Personalities & Publications (replay)

May 9, 2026

41:25

The Chafetz Chaim influenced the Jewish People in many ways, among them through his Yeshiva in Radin and through the many popular books which he authored. Through his Yeshiva he influenced generations of students, while hiring a staff of Roshei Yeshiva par excellence. Rav Moshe Londinski, Rav Naftali Trop, Rav Yerucham Levovitz, the Chafetz Chaim's own sons in law Rav Hirsh Levinson and Rav Mendel Zaks, to mention a few. Though the Yeshiva experience a bit of downturn with passing of the old generation, the name lived on in other Yeshivas founded to carry his memory. The Mishna Berura was the Chafetz Chaim's famous work, which had an impact on halacha across the Jewish world and increased in influence over time. The impetus of his writing was to fill a need and reflected on the great responsibility he felt towards his people. Such was his work Machaneh Yisrael geared towards Jewish soldiers in the Czar's army. Nidchei Yisroel was a companion for the Jewish immigrant, while other pamphlets were geared towards Jewish women. Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

17

[RERELEASE] The Chofetz Chaim & His Attempts to Move to the Holy Land (replay)

May 2, 2026

32:44

Rav Yisrael Meir of Radin, better known as the Chofetz Chaim (1838-1933), is one of the most beloved historical figures in recent memory. His storied life convers many aspects, and in this episode the focus is on the saga of his attempts at immigrating to the Land of Israel. While yearning to move there for many years, he laid practical plans to carry it out as well. Over the course of a half a century, several attempts were made but none brought to fruition. In 1925 his bags were packed and a home was even purchased for him in Petach Tikvah, but again it didn't work out. For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at: [email protected] Subscribe To Our Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at [email protected]

18

[RERELEASE] The Chofetz Chaim: Myths Abound (replay)

Apr 25, 2026

21:16

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]

19

[RERELEASE] Simplicity, Complexity & Enormity: The Family of the Chafetz Chaim (replay)

Apr 18, 2026

26:51

The primary focus on the Chofetz Chaim's (1839-1933) legacy to the Jewish People is understandably his seforim and various public policy initiatives. He bequeathed a more personal legacy as well- his family. His descendants form quite a diverse group. Some of his progeny played pivotal roles in both the writing, editing and selling of his seforim, while others assisted with the administration of the Radin Yeshiva. Still others accompanied him through his communal activist work. And yet others forged their own path. With an overview of the Chofetz Chaim's family, and how he related to them as a husband, father & grandfather, we can get a glimpse of a more personal side of the influence and impact of arguably the greatest Jewish leader in recent history. 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]

20

The Story of Rabbi Meir Marcus Lehman

Apr 11, 2026

52:25

Leader of German Orthodoxy, Torah scholar, community rabbi, author of Torah works, founder and editor of a pioneering Orthodox newspaper, rosh yeshiva & author of numerous literary works for German Jewish youth in the form of novels, historical biographies and historical fiction, Rav Meir Marcus Lehman (1831-1890) accomplished much in his relatively short life. From an early age, he saw his role in articulating a sense of Jewish values, pride and Orthodoxy for a German Jewry confronting the challenges of modernity and sweeping secularization. Although remembered today for his profound impact on the development of Orthodox literature, which saved generations of youth, he was influential leader of 19th century German Orthodoxy in many realms. 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]

21

The Beirach Moshe of Satmar

Mar 28, 2026

55:58

Rav Moshe Teitelbaum (1914-2006), the Beirach Moshe of Satmar, spent most of his life in the shadow of his illustrious uncle Rav Yoelish Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rav. His first family was wiped out in the Holocaust, and he barely survived multiple concentration camps. For decades he quietly and modestly led a small Sighet community in Boro Park. When his uncle passed away in 1979, many in the Satmar community prevailed upon him to succeed his uncle. Despite opposition and his own feelings of unworthiness to fill his uncle’s position, he assumed the helm of Satmar, leading it with the same humility, practicality and simplicity as he had led his entire life. In honor of his upcoming 20th yahrtzeit, this episode explores the life and leadership of the Beirach Moshe of Satmar. 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]

22

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]

23

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]

24

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]

25

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]

26

Jews & Muslims in Moroccan Jewish History

Feb 21, 2026

29:34

Despite discrimination against Jews under Muslim rule throughout Moroccan Jewish history, there was still an unusual relationship that Jews and Muslims had in Morocco. This was especially true with the native Berbers. From Muslims praying at the graves of Jewish tzadikim, to close business ties, sharing festivities, prayers and other life cycle events, Muslims and Jews in Moroccan Jewish history had an interesting relationship. The seeming downside of this closeness was the prevalence of conversion of Jews to Islam, both forced and even voluntary. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

27

The Development of American Postwar Yeshivos

Feb 14, 2026

44:09

Reflecting upon the phenomenal growth of the American Yeshiva society in the second half of the 20th century, one tends to focus on the great accomplishments of individual leaders such as Rav Aharon Kotler, Rav Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Satmar Rav, institutions such as Torah Umesorah, RIETS, RJJ, BMG and other internal development within American Orthodoxy. However there's a broader narrative, with gradual processes taking place in broader American society which facilitated the growth of yeshivos during this time. Economic, social and demographic changes in the United States in the postwar era, LBJ's Great Society and the Vietnam War draft, are all external factors which facilitated the growth of the American yeshiva community. External factors are often overlooked but are no less important in understanding Jewish history. 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]

28

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]

29

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

Jan 31, 2026

1:17:16

Who were the primary characters involved in the Kastner trial and how did their personal life stories impact the trial proceedings? What did the witnesses at the trial reveal about the Kastner negotiations? What was discussed and what wasn’t discussed about the Holocaust in Hungary at the trial? What was the verdict of the trial? How did the Supreme Court react to the verdict of the lower court? All this and more as we continue to explore the contentious history of the Kastner train and trial. 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]

30

[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]

31

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]

32

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

Jan 10, 2026

1:04:37

The Satmar Rav, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum, was rescued on the Kastner train. How did this great leader of Hungarian Orthodoxy and chassidic community, who was well known for his vocal opposition to Zionism, receive a place of rescue on the train which was organized by the secular Zionist Aid and Rescue Committee of Budapest? Insights into his inclusion broadens our understanding of how the rescue train story developed. Other famous individuals were rescued on the Kastner train as well. In conclusion it’s worth summarizing the entire story of the negotiations with the SS and the rescue train’s departure from Budapest, through its stay in Bergen-Belsen. Clarifying the chronological sequence of events will provide a good review of the entire train story, so that we can transition to the story of the trial in the next installment. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

33

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]

34

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]

35

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

Dec 20, 2025

59:55

On April 7, 1944 two Slovakian Jews named Rudolf Vrba & Alfred Wetzler made a daring escape from Auschwitz and made their way back to Slovakia. They submitted a detailed and accurate report of the horrifying truth of the Auschwitz extermination facilities, along with details regarding the transports arriving in the camp and the overall camp structure. The Slovakian Jewish leadership attempted to pass on the vital information to the outside world, and crucially to the Hungarian Jewish leadership as well. Although the Hungarian Jewish leadership received the information by the end of April, the truth about Auschwitz was not disseminated to the Hungarian Jewish masses by the time the deportations from Hungary to Auschwitz commenced on May 15. Till the end of his life, Rudolf Vrba bitterly accused both the Slovakian and Hungarian Jewish leadership of not spreading the truth about Auschwitz to the Hungarian Jewish masses. Rudolf Kastner was one of many Hungarian Jewish leaders who received the Vrba-Wetzler report. What did he do with the information he received? What could he have done? Was his actions different in any way from other leaders who had access to this information? 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]

36

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]

37

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]

38

Self-hating Jews in Jewish History

Nov 1, 2025

44:46

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

39

Marriage Age in Jewish History

Oct 25, 2025

43:18

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

40

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]

41

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]

42

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]

43

Book Review: Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski Volume II By Rav David Kamenetsky

Sep 6, 2025

50:23

The newly published excellent book in Hebrew about the life and times of Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (1863-1940) by Rav David Kamenetsky, entitled Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski: Rabban shel Kol Bnei Hagola Volume 2, is a great contribution to our historical understanding both of this great leader and the entire era in which he operated. This second volume covers the years 1910-1930, and - just like the first volume - utilizes the vast repository of Rav Chaim Ozer’s own many letters to tell his story using his own words. This meticulously researched work organizes Rav Chaim Ozer’s and his correspondent’s letters for the first time, allowing the narrative of major events in the Jewish world to be told by the protagonists themselves. Topics include the Katowice conference of Agudas Yisrael in 1912, World War I and its aftermath, the first Knessiah Gedola of Agudas Yisrael in Vienna in 1923, the Vilna Jewish community, the Vaad Hayeshivos & its Dos Vort newspaper, the dispute surrounding the Vilna rabbinate, and many others. This highly recommended book is a vital contribution to our understanding of Jewish history of that era. Subscribe to Jewish History Soundbites Podcast on: PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/ or your favorite podcast platform Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history or feedback contact Yehuda at: [email protected]

44

Voice of the Silent Generation: The Life & Times of Rabbi Berel Wein

Aug 31, 2025

53:16

The recent passing of Rabbi Berel Wein (1934-2025) is an opportunity to reflect on the Jewish world in which he grew up and later had such a wide impact. A child of Lithuanian immigrants, he grew up at a crossroads of American Jewish history. The children of the immigrant generation were overwhelmingly secularizing, and yet he emerged from the yeshiva in Chicago with a deep connection to his parents and teachers world of prewar Lithuania. In serving as a bridge between generations, he greatly amplified the role of Jewish history and continuity in transmitting the values of the past to future generations. 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]

45

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]

46

Escapees from the Chelmno Death Camp

Aug 2, 2025

1:16:20

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

47

Traveler, Chronicler & Scholar: The Chida

Jun 28, 2025

47:44

Journeying through large swaths of the Jewish world of the 18th century, Rav Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806), known by his acronym the Chida, was privy to the broad range of the various Jewish communities across Europe and North Africa, as well as observing the happenings within each community as an objective observer. He recorded his impressions of his travels, which remains an invaluable historical document, produced by one of the greatest Torah scholars in recent centuries. As a world class Torah scholar who served as a fundraiser on behalf of the Sephardic Old Yishuv of the Land of Israel, the Chida spent the majority of his life on the road, eventually settling in Livorno, Italy, where he served as rabbi until his passing. His literary output was immense, with his many seforim remaining popular until this very day. 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]

48

Murder in Lvov: Communal Tensions in 19th Century Galicia

Jun 21, 2025

42:41

On the afternoon of September 6, 1848, the progressive Rabbi Avraham Kohn (1807-1848) of Lemberg (Lvov in Polish) in Austrian Galicia, was poisoned to death. Who assassinated him? What were their motives? With the Austrian takeover of Galicia following the partitions of Poland in the late 18th century, the ancient, large and prestigious Jewish communities of that region experienced seismic changes. Lvov was the largest and most prominent Jewish community in all of Galicia. In this large urban center, many factions within the Jewish community arose in the early decades of the 19th century. When the minority progressive faction imported a rabbi from Austria and installed him as rabbi of their temple in 1843, tensions rose, and the Orthodox elite establishment, as well as the Orthodox majority of the community were vehemently opposed to his arrival. Well beyond the tragic story of a murder, this sad saga opens a window into the dynamics of a community in transformation during the confrontation with modernity in the 19th century. 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]

49

The Radzymin Chassidic Dynasty

Jun 14, 2025

54:35

One of the largest and influential branches of the Polish Pshischa Chassidic dynasty, Radzymin was completely decimated in the Holocaust, and is unfortunately not so well known today. In its heyday, it was led by three successive generations of great leaders of Polish chassidus – Rav Yaakov Aryeh Guterman (1792-1874), his son Rav Shlomo Yehoshua David, & his son Rav Aharon Menachem Mendel (1860-1934). Radzymin had a large following, and the successive leaders of the dynasty played critical roles in both Polish chassidus and – especially regards to Rav Aharon Menachem Mendel – were central leaders of Polish Jewry at large. The story of Radzymin is a crucial chapter in Polish Jewish and Chassidic history. 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]

50

The Spinka Chassidic Dynasty

Jun 7, 2025

47:11

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