History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast JLE

To donate tefillin for the soldiers, please click - https://bit.ly/historyforthecurioustefillin
 
Forged through adversity and fuelled by the fate of their families who were trapped in Nazi Europe, a ragtag crew of Jewish refugees volunteered to become an elite army unit and significantly impact the enemy during WWII.
 
Initially interned as enemy aliens they risked their lives time and time again. A quarter of them would fall in battle.
 
Chapters
 
00:00 Introduction: The Story of Jewish Refugees in World War II
05:24 Joining an Elite Commando Troop
10:17 A Jewish Soldier's Encounter with Field Marshal Rommel
13:29 Obtaining Vital Intelligence for the Allies
16:57 The X-troop: Jewish Refugees Fighting Against the Nazis
21:04 Challenges and Discrimination Faced by Jewish Refugees
25:28 The Impact of Antisemitism and Propaganda
26:54 The Cruelty Faced by Jewish Refugees
29:20 The Formation of the X-Troop
30:19 Intense Training and Preparation
39:27 Crucial Roles in the D-Day Landings
45:30 Bravery and Resilience in the Face of Challenges

To appreciate Rabbi Akiva Eger we need to understand his era;
 
The cholera epidemic he lived through, the personalities of his generation as well as his rulings and how they were set out.
 
Who was he really and what did he look like?
 

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Rabbi Akiva Eger
13:46 Rabbi Akiva Eger's Role During the Cholera Epidemic
27:09 Conflict with the Community and the Hospital Management
35:31 The Accuracy of Portraits Depicting Rabbi Akiva Eger
38:49 Legacy and Impact of Rabbi Akiva Eger

Famous as a scholar and lamdan, his life was beset by challenges and setbacks, all of which he faced with remarkable fortitude.
As the leader of Central Europe's Jewry, the impact of his writings and personality re-wrote the history of the 19th century for the Jews
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Government Intervention
08:01 Reb Akiva Eger's Scholarship and Influence
16:10 Reb Akiva Eger's Reluctance to Give Decisions
27:21 The Appointment Controversy in Posen
35:24 Acts of Kindness and Strength in Psak
39:40 Conclusion and Preview of
Part 2

Unraveling the Mystery  - Who was Moshe de Leon? How did the Zohar impact Jewish history? Is there a deep divide between Academics & Kabbalists. What did Rav Yaakov Emden write? And how was Marriage seen in 13th century Spain?
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: The Mystery of the Zohar
13:09 The Historical Context of Spain in the 13th and 14th Centuries
30:42 The Impact of the Zohar on Jewish History and Thought
31:12 The Complexity of the Zohar
34:01 Geographic References in the Zohar
36:48 Questioning the Existence of Places in the Zohar
38:14 The Enigma of Moshe de Leon
41:02 Possible Origins of the Zohar
44:17 The Role of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in the Zohar
49:00 Different Perspectives on the Zohar
52:22 Understanding the Entire Torah
54:19 The Beliefs of a Believing Jew
58:59 The Laws of Shmita
 

In the 1200s Spanish Jewry faced great challenges within the community including Murder, Immorality & Defection.
 
This was exacerbated by dangerous teachings within Kabbalah which had to be rooted out by the Rashba and banned.
But 700 years later a pathway was found to Redemption. 
 
Chapters
00:00 Challenges of 13th-Century Spain: Tensions, Wealth, and Power
03:06 Controversies in Jewish Scholarship: Philosophy and Kabbalah
08:20 Internal Conflicts and Legal Authority
15:03 Religious Challenges and the Ban on Philosophy
26:50 The Legacy of Rabbi Avraham Abulafia
48:26 Kabbalistic Techniques and Mathematics

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