TFJ: Series 1 Episode 21: The Birth of Israel At the beginning of the 1900s new settlers arrived in Israel who were very different from the earlier, pious settlers living in Israel. In garb, outlook and conduct the differences were vast, and it was Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, better known as Rav Kook who attempted to bridge the gap by not veering from tradition, but also not writing off the new immigrants. Rav Kook was exiled from Israel during WWI and spent the duration in London at the time of the Balfour Declaration. Jewish parliamentarians, afraid that they might be accused of dual loyalty for supporting the creation of a Jewish state in Israel, shamelessly asserted that Judaism does not require a Jewish homeland. This commenced a discussion that will last through three episodes regarding man’s ability, and sometimes even predilection, to render an opinion whether or not they are qualified to do so. Edited and Produced by Alex Drucker  Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com  Don't forget to subscribe, like and share! Let all your friends know they too can have a new favorite podcast.  © 2021 Media Education Trust llc

Teller From Jerusalem: The Birth of Israel Series Episode 19 For those concerned for the future Jewish state, it became apparent that the first priority was to wrest the land from the brutish Ottoman regime. This would entail the Aaronsohn spy ring supplying information to Allenby’s Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Dr. Chaim Weizmann developing a method to create acetone by fermenting chestnuts, and British determination that poor Jews fleeing persecution in Russia should not settle on their shores.     Edited and Produced by Alex Drucker  Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com  Don't forget to subscribe, like and share! Let all your friends know they too can have a new favorite podcast.  © 2021 Media Education Trust llc

TFJ: Series 1 Episode 15: The Birth of Israel Over six thousand gathered for Herzl’s funeral in Vienna. In 1949 the State of Israel honored Herzl’s request and brought his bones to be buried in the state that he envisioned. Assimilated Herzl did not appreciate the meaning of the Land of Israel to the Jews, and was more concerned about acquiring a pragmatic solution – even if it would not be in Israel. TFJ takes a look at other lands that were offered to the Jews such as Birobidzan in far-eastern Siberia. Herzl’s family did not follow in his path, leaving his legacy to be treasured by those who moved to the land that he foresaw. Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com  Don't forget to subscribe, like and share! Let all your friends know they too can have a new favorite podcast.  © 2021 Media Education Trust llc

Teller From Jerusalem – Series 1 Episode 8 – The Birth of Israel Suffering from government-sponsored violent and lethal anti-Semitism, Russian Jews had basically once choice: to stay and endure, or to leave. The majority who left departed to America; a small fraction ascended to Palestine. Young Jewish boys under Tsarist decree had to suffer the plight of becoming “cantonists.”   Song courtesy of JEP, Rabbi Yosef Golding  Film courtesy of video of Rabbi Yaacov Yisroel Zuber the Rav of Stockholm, Sweden. Photograph courtesy of Itanari  Teller From Jerusalem will take a two week hiatus after this episode. We will be back with Episode 9 on April 7, 2021.  Find Video Episodes at http://www.youtube.com/hanochteller Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com  © 2021 Media Education Trust llc

Character Workshop  What is motivating your actions? Is it the Good or the Evil Inclination? TFJ takes a look at the Broken Window Theory and sees practical application in character improvement: Thanks: video, Eliezer Cohn; special thanks: William Goldstein, Julie Snyder, Diana Epstein. Photo credit: Cottonbro Pexels.com, Luis Adolfo Burgos Pexels.com, Jack Gittoes Pexels.com, Pixabay, Pexels.com, Eagle Rock Baptist Church, Steve Sack The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Jewish Life Television, homemade documentaries, Film: courtesy of Pexels.com Find Video Episodes at http://www.youtube.com/hanochteller Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com  © 2021 Media Education Trust llc

Generous Baron Maurice de Hirsch refused to contribute to Herzl’s plan which he considered a fantasy. Eventually, as Daniel Gordis points out, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Herzl. “Better luck next time” wasn’t an option, and the need to improve resulted in Der Judenstaat. When things look catastrophic there is often a silver lining, case in point: The Auschwitz Protocols. As Dreyfuss languishes on Devil’s island, Emil Zola comes to his rescue by publishing, J’accuse. The most important work on sparking antisemitism,  the fictitious Protocols of the Elders of Zion, finds an enthusiastic supporter and disseminator in America, car magnate, Henry Ford.  Photo Credits: Vrba-Wetzler Memorial  Auschwitz Fence – Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, Jerusalem J’accuse headline – J’accuse by Gaumont Cover image Protocols Elders of Zion: Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, Jerusalem  Find Video Episodes at http://www.youtube.com/hanochteller Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com  © 2021 Media Education Trust llc

Hatikva is unique among national anthems. A maid employed by the French military found a memo in the trash in the German embassy in Paris with military secrets. The French Minister of War connected the document – despite not a shred of evidence – to a Jewish artillery captain, Alfred Dreyfuss, who subsequently was convicted of spying and denounced as a traitor. This set off anti-Jewish rioting, similar to blood libels, which also made no sense, but were lethal and costly for innocent Jewish victims. This was a tipping point for a reporter covering the trial named Theodore Herzl.  Generous Baron Maurice de Hirsch refused to contribute to Herzl’s plan which he considered a fantasy. Eventually, as Daniel Gordis points out, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Herzl. “Better luck next time” wasn’t an option, and the need to improve resulted in Der Judenstaat. When things look catastrophic there is often a silver lining, case in point: The Auschwitz Protocols. As Dreyfuss languishes on Devil’s island, Emil Zola comes to his rescue by publishing, J’accuse. The most important work on sparking antisemitism,  the fictitious Protocols of the Elders of Zion, finds an enthusiastic supporter and disseminator in America, car magnate, Henry Ford.  Photo Credits: Vrba-Wetzler Memorial  Auschwitz Fence – Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, Jerusalem J’accuse headline – J’accuse by Gaumont Cover image Protocols Elders of Zion: Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, Jerusalem  Find Video Episodes at http://www.youtube.com/hanochteller Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com  © 2021 Media Education Trust llc   Audio Credits: Star Spangled Banner – USA Patriotism.org Hatikva sung by Enrico Massias  Visual Credits: Picture of Rabbi Aharon Soloveitchik courtesy of YUTorah.org Picture of Albert Dreyfus – J’accuse! The History of the Dreyfuss Afair. This is Barris! – French History Dreyfuss Humiliation – J’accuse by Gaumont Picture of Le Petit Journal nili.org.il Blood Libel Illustration – Leo Baeck Institute – New York/ Berlin Find Video Episodes at http://www.youtube.com/hanochteller Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com 

The dream to return to the homeland and the challenges of Israel’s early settlers in the late 1800s. Visual Credits: Titus Arch: www.bnaibrith.ca, Photo of Kite: Unsplash, Squeezing citrus: courtesy of Pexels.com Pouring wine: courtesy of Pexels.com, Edmund De Rothschild: courtesy of Ramat Hanadiv, Picture of Laurence Oliphant care of FOZmuseum.com, Carmel historical photographs courtesy of Wikimedia commons, “Jews at the Western Wall 1870” Photo credit: Félix Bonfils (1831-1885). Audio Credits: Little Kite sung by Abie Rotenberg & Avrumy Kalter permission form producer Sheya Mendlowitz Find Video Episodes at https://www.youtube.com/user/hanochteller  Learn more at TellerFromJerusalem.com  © 2021 Media Education Trust llc  

The weekly podcast of ever popular author, lecturer, film producer and historian, the inimitable Rabbi Hanoch Teller, takes an intelligent and thought-provoking look at the early struggle to establish the State of Israel. Through analysis of key events of the past, insight is acquired on the present. Every fourth week is devoted to the fundamentals to becoming a morally sensitive, dignified individual; enhancing personal character has never been so uplifting. Teller From Jerusalem is ear candy for those who seek instruction and self-improvement. www.hanochteller.com (CEDAR MEDIA PODCASTING 2020)