Episodes

  • Spanish Jewry III - Targets of Resentment: Prominent Jewish Figures in Spain

    Spanish Jewry III - Targets of Resentment: Prominent Jewish Figures in Spain
    May 24 2024
    The Golden Age was over but what drove Jews to settle in Christian Spain? What is the true story of the pirates in Cordoba? Why was the commentary of the Rif so vital and why did the Ba’al HaMaor critique it? Who controlled the Jews: The Church or The Kings?

    Chapters:

    00:00 Introduction and Background

    03:05 Legends and Stories in Jewish History

    08:50 Prominent Jewish Scholars and Physicians

    16:30 Transition from Muslim to Christian Rule

    24:48 Power Dynamics: Kings and the Church

    29:00 Challenges to Jewish Authority

    31:58 Clothing and Distinguishing Marks

    36:12 Freedom and High Profile

    39:01 Tensions and Uncertainty
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    42 mins
  • Spanish Jewry II - The Golden Age : Poetry, Power and Politics

    Spanish Jewry II - The Golden Age : Poetry, Power and Politics
    May 17 2024

    A unique world existed for two centuries in which a Jewish general lead Moslem armies into battle and authored 1,500 poems while Chasdai, the most famous Jew, discovered the antidote to poison and oversaw the creation of Jewish grammar.

    Was Yosef Hannagid responsible for the death of an Arab prince? And how did Spain over-rule Babylonia?

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry

    14:18 The Achievements and Influential Figures of the Golden Age

    35:58 The Cultural Significance of Poetry and Literature

    39:21 Emergence of Jewish Literary Works in Muslim Spain

    41:37 The End of the Golden Age

    43:28 Disputes Among Jewish Grammarians
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    45 mins
  • Spanish Jewry I - The Dark Ages: The Forced Conversion of the Jews

    Spanish Jewry I - The Dark Ages: The Forced Conversion of the Jews
    May 7 2024
    The history of the Jews in Spain has always been part of our collective memory. But the real story starts 1,000 years earlier. Long before the Rishonim, flourishing communities existed. What were their lives like? Why do we not know more about them? And what happened in 711CE? For the trip, please email: giana.elav@gmail.com

    Chapters

    00:00 The Visigothic Period: Anti-Jewish Legislation and Forced Conversions

    15:40 The Muslim Invasion: The Golden Age of Spain for Jews

    33:43 Uncovering the Forgotten History: The Jews of Spain
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    35 mins
  • Responsa in History III

    Responsa in History III
    Apr 24 2024
    Do synagogues have rights over membership? Why did a Chazan risk excommunication in Perpignan? Why were responsa printed in defiance of the author’s wishes? And the 1708 Chametz glue on a Pesach document…

    Chapters

    00:00 Excommunication and Imposing Bans

    06:18 Excommunication and Scholarly Disputes

    13:28 The Role of the Chazan in the Synagogue

    26:04 Insights from Historical Responsa
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    34 mins
  • Financial Responsa in History II - Shuls, Politics & Power (feat. Dayan Y Posen)

    Financial Responsa in History II - Shuls, Politics & Power (feat. Dayan Y Posen)
    Apr 12 2024
    For centuries Jews faced restrictions building their shuls. Halachic questions arose across Europe concerning rights, ownership and use. And closer to our day, when communities split, the assets would often be fought over. For the trip, please email: giana.elav@gmail.com

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Overview

    07:41 Shul as a Place of Assembly and Governance

    14:13 Challenges in Shul Expansion and Renovation

    29:14 Ownership and Rights of a Community in a Shul

    38:13 The Changing Dynamics of Shuls and the Role of Trustees
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    50 mins
  • Financial Responsa in History I - Taxes, Charity & Freedom (feat. Dayan Y Hool)

    Financial Responsa in History I - Taxes, Charity & Freedom (feat. Dayan Y Hool)
    Apr 2 2024
    In times of war and peace and throughout the centuries, Jews have asked questions. Some became the foundations of halacha, others were forgotten. In this episode we trace back through the ages to find that the new is often very old. To purchase Dayan Hools book, click here - Beth Din Commercial Arbitration: https://amzn.eu/d/hSkOB53

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Urgency of the Question

    03:04 The Importance of Responsa in Jewish Law

    06:22 Preserving and Recording Responsa

    10:45 Debates on Jewish Community and Communal Organization

    14:04 Reduction in Responsa and the Need for New Answers

    25:46 Communal Financial Responsa in Times of Crisis

    26:42 Repurposing Funds and the Power of Handwriting

    29:37 Contributing to Communal Projects in Tehran

    30:06 Apportioning Funds for Weddings and Inflation

    31:02 Returning Donations Given in Error

    35:22 The Role of Community Contributions

    51:01 Security as an Individual Requirement
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    53 mins
  • Yishmael vs Yisrael X – A personal account in Gaza

    Yishmael vs Yisrael X – A personal account in Gaza
    Mar 26 2024

    Unlike the secular worldview, Jewish history looks at individuals and at details. And although we have closely followed the general conflict in Israel, we are at arm’s length from the war.

    Hearing first-hand some of the challenges that Yona Pinchos Gedalia ben Soroh Chana faced, will thereby give a deeper perspective to what Israel is experiencing.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Episode

    03:04 The Importance of Individuals in Jewish History

    06:28 The Jewish View of History

    09:20 Lessons from the Story of Esther

    12:10 Interview with a Soldier who Fought in Gaza

    19:25 Powerful and Evocative Moments in Gaza

    22:15 Worrying about Family and Coping with Breaks

    27:55 The Role of Faith and Processing the Experience

    35:10 Takeaway: Making Sacrifices and Supporting Soldiers
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    36 mins
  • Douglas Murray - Raw Opinion on the Israel Conflict

    Douglas Murray - Raw Opinion on the Israel Conflict
    Mar 18 2024
    To Watch This Podcast, click here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRbtzDOtBAY&t=2021s A wide-ranging discussion with author & international broadcaster Douglas Murray, on the questions: Why the Media Lie - The Liberal Left - Antisemitism, modern and ancient - The Future in Israel.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction and Personal Connection

    00:38 Interview with Douglas Murray

    06:50 Journalistic Bias and Bigotry

    09:40 Media Coverage of Israel-Palestine Conflict

    11:37 Displacement of Israeli Families

    14:30 Impact of Advocacy and Truth

    21:33 Denial and Response to Terrorism

    22:41 Complacency and Strategic Thinking

    24:35 Israel's Technological Advantages

    25:24 Living with Rockets

    26:21 Deprogramming Hate

    27:48 Education and De-Radicalization

    29:40 The Insoluble Problem

    30:09 The Future of Palestine

    31:28 Anti-Semitism and Humanity

    32:27 Anti-Semitism on Campuses

    33:20 Sinister and Stupid Anti-Semitism

    34:29 The Disappearance of Adults

    35:25 Liberalism and Judaism

    36:18 Two Types of Liberalism

    37:09 The Rise of Anti-Semitism

    38:08 The Perception of Jews

    39:04 The Danger of Open Borders

    40:27 Anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe

    41:18 Anti-Semitism and Liberalism

    42:37 Anti-Semitism as a Reality

    43:06 Decency and Solidarity

    45:32 Running for Public Office

    46:28 Supporting Threatened MPs
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    49 mins