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A tartalmat a Jewish Heroism Project and Rav Mike biztosítja. Az összes podcast-tartalmat, beleértve az epizódokat, grafikákat és podcast-leírásokat, közvetlenül a Jewish Heroism Project and Rav Mike vagy a podcast platform partnere tölti fel és biztosítja. Ha úgy gondolja, hogy valaki az Ön engedélye nélkül használja fel a szerzői joggal védett művét, kövesse az itt leírt folyamatot https://hu.player.fm/legal.
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Decisions, Decisions
Join Mandii B and Weezy WTF as they navigate the evolution of their podcasting journey in this candid and hilarious episode of “Decisions, Decisions.” Reflecting on nearly a decade of bold conversations, the duo opens up about the challenges and triumphs of rebranding their iconic show, previously known as “WHOREible Decisions.” Dive into their reasoning behind the name change, their growth as individuals, and the dynamics of creating space for nontraditional relationships and personal self-love. This episode features thought-provoking discussions on societal norms, reclaiming identity, and the complexities of managing a brand that champions inclusivity while addressing the limitations of media algorithms. From celibacy and creative reinvention to navigating life changes and unconventional lifestyles, Mandy and Weezy offer raw, unfiltered takes that will keep you engaged and inspired. Follow the hosts on social media Weezy @Weezywtf & Mandii B @Fullcourtpumps and follow the Decisions Decisions pages Instagram @_decisionsdecisions Don't forget to tag #decisionsdecisions or @ us to let us know what you think of this week's episode! Want more? Bonus episodes, merch and more Whoreible Decisions!! Become a Patron at Patreon.com/whoreibledecisions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
JHP S1E2 Avodah: The first path - whom do you serve?
Manage episode 391690469 series 2511576
A tartalmat a Jewish Heroism Project and Rav Mike biztosítja. Az összes podcast-tartalmat, beleértve az epizódokat, grafikákat és podcast-leírásokat, közvetlenül a Jewish Heroism Project and Rav Mike vagy a podcast platform partnere tölti fel és biztosítja. Ha úgy gondolja, hogy valaki az Ön engedélye nélkül használja fel a szerzői joggal védett művét, kövesse az itt leírt folyamatot https://hu.player.fm/legal.
The second core episode of the Jewish Heroism Project! Check out www.jewishheroism.com for source sheets and supplementary videos. Life is work. What are we laboring for and whom do we serve? This class introduces avodah, work, as the ability to actualize creation’s potential and the first path ofheroism past the gate of good. It explores humanity’s original task as steward of creation, and how ourstruggle with agency and responsibility shifted the focus of our work to ‘the ground from which we were taken.’ Next we meet the first faithful servant, Eliezer, and follow his story in our quest to understand what it means to serve. Then a new perspective on the Exodus in Egypt is offered, framed by the unavoidable truth that ‘everybody has to serve somebody.’ The heroic stance of avodah emerges from all of these, and we end with a reminder that the good of creation is always present in potential, so the time to do the work is now.
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288 epizódok
Manage episode 391690469 series 2511576
A tartalmat a Jewish Heroism Project and Rav Mike biztosítja. Az összes podcast-tartalmat, beleértve az epizódokat, grafikákat és podcast-leírásokat, közvetlenül a Jewish Heroism Project and Rav Mike vagy a podcast platform partnere tölti fel és biztosítja. Ha úgy gondolja, hogy valaki az Ön engedélye nélkül használja fel a szerzői joggal védett művét, kövesse az itt leírt folyamatot https://hu.player.fm/legal.
The second core episode of the Jewish Heroism Project! Check out www.jewishheroism.com for source sheets and supplementary videos. Life is work. What are we laboring for and whom do we serve? This class introduces avodah, work, as the ability to actualize creation’s potential and the first path ofheroism past the gate of good. It explores humanity’s original task as steward of creation, and how ourstruggle with agency and responsibility shifted the focus of our work to ‘the ground from which we were taken.’ Next we meet the first faithful servant, Eliezer, and follow his story in our quest to understand what it means to serve. Then a new perspective on the Exodus in Egypt is offered, framed by the unavoidable truth that ‘everybody has to serve somebody.’ The heroic stance of avodah emerges from all of these, and we end with a reminder that the good of creation is always present in potential, so the time to do the work is now.
…
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288 epizódok
Minden epizód
×Rav Mike's annual Hanukkah shiur given in honor of his father's yartzheit. The commandment to sanctify God's name was foundational to the Hanukkah story, and has taken a central role once again today as the Jewish people are faced with war. What light can it help us shine in the world?
Join me for a live class at The Torah Cafe. We explore the intersection between the ten days of repentance and October 7th, asking how to take a heroic stance on teshuva.
Sometimes history and the Hebrew calendar coincide in remarkable ways. Join Rav Mike and guest R' Aaron Leibowitz as they discuss the nature of the the spiritual and material challenges faced by the Jewish people today. The conversation touches on the limits of agency, the nature of responsibility and the question of how we hold the pain of past and present in order to make for a better future.…
1 JHP S1 LIVE TOUR What is heroism for American Jewry? 1:00:57
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1:00:57American Jewry stands at a crossroads, facing great risks and real opportunities. Success in such a moment requires clarity of vision, confidence in identity and readiness for action - all elements of a heroic stance. This first class of Rav Mike's recent US tour is an exploration of what Jewish heroism is, how it can be cultivated in our lives and communities, and what a heroic path forward might look like for American Jews today.…
1 JHP S1 - LIVE TOUR Generation of Healing 1:15:52
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1:15:52There are many models of Jewish hero, and the healer is among the most important. In a time when Israeli Jews are struggling to be victorious warriors, here is a call for American Jewry to pick up the task of healing. Because if victory means nothing more than smashing your enemies, we are still left with a broken world in the end…
Malchut is good made manifest. This class introduces malchut, the seventh and final step in the Torah’s heroic journey. Malchut is the ability to bring the pieces into right relationship - in the personal dimension as identity, between people as leadership and facing creation as Divine consciousness. On the heroic journey it is a manifestation of the goodness we are seeking, whole even when it is not yet the complete expression of creation’s good. We begin by understanding the three dimensions in which the heroic journey takes place, and how malchut can be a manifestation of good in all of them. Along the way we learn that malchut expresses the iterative quality of the heroic journey, how the hero is constantly “coming of age.” Malchut manifests good in a manner which is both the end of a process, and the beginning of a new path toward the good. The second half of the class focuses on the power of the heroic moment, how the hero’s actions can manifest good in multiple dimensions with potentially legendary results. In this context Queen Esther is considered as an archetype of malchut, and her story offered as an example of the power of the heroic moment.…
Here is a pre-Pesach conversation with R' Yehuda HaKohen of the Vision Movement where we explore the narrative arc of the Passover story and the nature of freedom. Along the way we touch on the State of Israel's struggle to be free of foreign influence, and how every Jew can become more of who they truly are.…
Yosher is integrity, the ability to hold the line. This class introduces yosher as the sixth path of Jewish heroism. The quality of integrity guides us in forming a right relationship with self, other and world – all the facets of truth uncovered on the path of emet. The class begins by touching on how integrity is a quality of heart, and then goes on to an exploration of the root definitions of yosher as it appears in the Torah and the broader Jewish tradition. The second half unpacks the story of Joseph as the archetype of integrity. It traces the arc of his development from a young man who couldn’t hold all the gifts he had been given, to one who becomes the viceroy of Egypt and a model of righteousness. His heroic journey teaches us that “life is the pits,” a phrase whose meaning shifts depending on whether you choose the posture of victim, villain or hero in your own life journey.…
It's not every day that you turn fifty. here are some birthday thoughts from Rav Mike - and a blessing to all who tune in!
Here is a discussion with R' Aaron Leibowitz about some of the emotional and spiritual challenges posed by the uncertainty of our national situation, and what Purim might teach us about finding a way forward.
Emet is where the light of the Infinite enters our story. It is the engagement of truth without and within which requires a struggle with the shadow and the unknown. This class introduces emet, the struggle to embrace truth, as the fifth path of Jewish heroism. It begins with an exploration of the Torah's approach to truth as a holistic process with a many-faceted expression. Then it touches on the idea of the path of truth, contrasting the organic approach to the philosophical. Next we engage Yaakov as the archetype of truth, learning how his struggles with his own inner shadow and his twin brother defined his way in the world and made him an embodiment of emet from whom we all can learn. Listen to the end for a surprise addition about the Baal Shem Tov which asks what it means that the stories of the chassidim were all true!…
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from hardship and endure prolonged pressure - two qualities which are essential to any hero's journey. This episode explores the quality of חוסן/chosen which is the root of how we understand mental as a path in Jewish Heroism.
Mesirut is the threshold of heroism. It is the power of breaking through which can push a story, a life journey and even history past the bounds of what appears possible. This class introduces mesirah, the power to give more than you have, as the fourth path of Jewish heroism. It begins by introducing the element of heroism which involves breaking boundaries, and then offers an explanation of which our definition of heroism is mesirut nefesh, a going beyond the limits of the embodied self. Next we trace the meaning of term through a powerful metaphor, and three elements of textual exploration. Then Yitzchak is presented as the archetype of mesirut through a look at the story of his binding on the altar. Finally we learn how mesirut has functioned as a heroic driver in Jewish history by examining Theodore Herlz’s life.…
R' Yehuda HaKohen gives his perspective on heroism, Jewish and universal. The conversation explores the nature of villains and enemies, the mission of the Jewish people and a vision for their heroic future.
We have arrived at the generation of victory. The challenge is knowing what that means. Here is a heroic thought on what the "netzach" (eternal) in "nitzachon" (victory) has to teach us about our task today.
How do I take a stand, and what does it mean when I do? This class opens with Avraham as the Ivri, the Hebrew. That name marks him as a descendant of Ever, immigrant from the other side (ever) of the river, and visionary who took a stand opposite the whole world over the Oneness of God. The first section ties these aspects of the Ivri together into a stance which might find expression in our own life journey. Then we trace some of the key events in Avraham’s life, exploring how his Ivri stance was decisive at each turn in his heroic story. It helped him hear the call to leave home, and merit a promise of vast blessings. It stood by him when he entered the covenant, teaching him about right relationship. It supported him in his defense of Sodom, giving him the courage to stand opposite God. The third path of Jewish heroism is the Ivri – the Hebrew heroism of taking a stand.…
Here is a conversation with Gil Troy - historian, Zionist thinker and senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute (https://jppi.org.il/en/). He shares his insights on Zionism and American Jewish identity in light of our current war, as well as offering thoughts on what heroism looks like for the Jewish people today. Check our www.jewishheroism.com for more great content!…
The second core episode of the Jewish Heroism Project! Check out www.jewishheroism.com for source sheets and supplementary videos. Life is work. What are we laboring for and whom do we serve? This class introduces avodah, work, as the ability to actualize creation’s potential and the first path ofheroism past the gate of good. It explores humanity’s original task as steward of creation, and how ourstruggle with agency and responsibility shifted the focus of our work to ‘the ground from which we were taken.’ Next we meet the first faithful servant, Eliezer, and follow his story in our quest to understand what it means to serve. Then a new perspective on the Exodus in Egypt is offered, framed by the unavoidable truth that ‘everybody has to serve somebody.’ The heroic stance of avodah emerges from all of these, and we end with a reminder that the good of creation is always present in potential, so the time to do the work is now.…
A brief thought on the message of the 10th of Tevet. We are a people under siege, and when facing such a situation a hero has to learn to read the writing on the wall.
The first core episode of the Jewish Heroism Project! Check out www.jewishheroism.com for source sheets and supplementary videos. There are good things worth fighting for. But what is good? The first class of the Jewish Heroism Project introduces the Torah’s definitionof heroism as mesirut nefesh l’man tov, going beyond limited self for the sake of good. It is a call to set out on the twenty-six paths of Jewish heroism, to uncover the heroic face of Torah and make it your own. After the intro, tov is framed as the essential good of creation and as the gateway to the Torah’s heroic paths. Then we meet Moses, first hero and guide to the good, who brings down a portal for its light that can teach the world to make the goodness of creation shine. Last comes a call to action, to engage the practice of recognizing good and pursue it along our own heroic life journeys.…
Rav Mike's annual Hanukkah class in honor of the yarzheit of his father Charles M. Feuer, Betzalel ben Avraham. Also the official launch party of the Jewish Heroism Project - www.jewishheroism.com. The class unpacks the meaning of gevurah, what it can teach us about the Maccabean war and our present national struggle.…
The questions our nation faces today are painful and even frightening. Here is a conversation for those seeking to raise their morale and their morals.
Israel is at war, and there are many battlefield on which the conflict is playing out. In this interview Rav Mike engages International Spokeman and media warrior Yishai Fleisher in an analysis of the important question - what is narrative war?
A conversation with R' Johnny Solomon about the Torah of healing, vision and action in the face of national tragedy.
A brief conversation between Rav Mike and Eitan Ben Avraham about our present situation
Here is a conversation with Rav Aaron and I engaging some of the questions raised by the war we are now waging - how we got here, how to handled it and how to think about where we are headed. God bless and stay strong!
Here is a taste of what is to come - both this week and this year! Because of its roll on Yom Kippur the book of Jonah is one of the most read books of the prophets, yet it remains one of the least. Here are some insights on how Jonah's story connects to Jewish Heroism that offer a "prequel" for the Jewish Heroism Project as well as some insights for Yom Kippur.…
Introducing the Jewish Heroism Project! Thanks so much to Israel365 for inviting me to speak about the importance of Heroism, and how it has the potential to change the Jewish people and the world.
1 TJS live 5783 live summer 2023 - class 13 - Herod 1:00:48
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1:00:48Sign up for this coming year's class through TJS live - https://www.patreon.com/TJSLivesubscription?fan_landing=true&view_as=public Do it now and get access to a FREE Elul webinar
The Israeli Judicial Reform protests come the same week 18 years after the Gush Katif protests and 2,000 years after the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. What can we learn from Tisha B'Av and the Nine Days about modern Jewish and Israeli unity? Sometimes the echoes of history are so loud that they seem to drown out the present. This conversation with Rabbi Aaron Leibowitz, former Jerusalem City Council member, was recorded in Jerusalem at a Jewish unity tent with the sounds protesters in the background.…
There is no way to give closure to six seasons of a story, but you have to try! Here is an interview with R' Mike that looks back on the lessons of history and reflects on the challenges of today. It also announces tomorrow's new project - so stay tuned for more amazing stories!
Was Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount in 2000 the trigger for what the Arab community calls the Al Aqsa Intifada? Or was this a pre-planned assault orchestrated by the likes of Marwan Barghouti, Raed Salah of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel and even the Palestinian Authority? In this final installment of the Temple Mount series, learn about the assassination attempt against Rabbi Yehudah Glick, the lynching of two Israelis in Ramallah, the rejection of Jewish history by PLO leader Yasser Arafat during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and US Secretary of State Madeline Albright, the and the rioting that took the lives of thousands including that of Muhammad al-Durrah during the Second Intifada. Plus, Yehuda Etzion and the Hai Vekayam movement who sought to ensure Jewish people had the right to pray at the Har HaBayit, the site of the Beit HaMikdash. image license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/legalcode attribution: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alisdare/51202927760/in/photostream/…
Why is the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism a lighting rod for terrorist attacks and central to Israeli-Arab peace negotiations? Learn about how the Har HaBayit shifted from being acknowledged by Muslim leaders in the 1920s as a Jewish site to a complete denial by Yasir Arafat by the 1990s. The Oslo Accords, the Camp David Summit and reactions of President Bill Clinton. Plus, the history of the destruction of Jewish antiquities by the Muslim Waqf and the creation of the Temple Mount Sifting Project.…
1 TJS S6 interlude Future of American Zionism 1:22:55
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1:22:55Another show live and on the road! Here is a talk on behalf of the Valley Beit Midrash entitled "Is There a Future for American Zionism? American Zionism in the Era of the Ethnic State." Image: Public Domain Dedication. Public Use Notice of Limitations: https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright
I am on the road! Here is an interview with educator and activist R' Shmuly Yanklowitz where we discuss what it means to be both progressive and orthodox, as well as his vision of the Jewish story present and future.
Should Jews be allowed to pray on the Temple Mount? Or will it inflame Muslim sensitivities? Learn the history of this debate from the Six Day War in 1967 when General Moshe Dayan argued with Rabbi Shlomo Goren on the issue, to the fire started by Australian tourist Denis Michael Rohan, the shooting by Allan Goodman, through the 1980s up until the riots in 1990. Plus learn more about Zionist philosopher Shabtai Ben-Dov, radical activist Yehuda Etzion, Gershon Salomon and the Temple Mount Faithful. What Muslims call the Haram al-Sharif and Al Aqsa Mosque and what Jews call the Har HaBayit and Beit HaMikdash have ramifications for today's conflict.…
Every tale has a point around which it revolves, and for the Jewish Story that is the Temple Mount. Here is the opening round in a new series tracing the way in which the sacred mountain in the middle of Jerusalem is still at the center of our story.
A live webinar on behalf of for Fuel For Truth: Israel Education & Advocacy Training, on "The Crisis of Israeli Sovereignty." First Rav Mike lays out his innovative approach to three dimensions in which sovereignty is exercised - territorial, economic and cultural. Then in the question and answer he engages the judicial reform protests, the purpose of Israel, what it means to be a Jew in modern society and whether one can believe in both the Nakba and in the miracle of Israel's founding.…
Here is my call for a constructive alternative to the current mass protests against judicial reform being debated in Israel's Knesset. Along the way we touch some historical context about Prime Minister David Ben Gurion, Supreme Court Justice Aharon Barak, Meir Kahane's Kach party and what the Israeli Declaration of Independence actually says. On the way toward a new model of national covenant we need to learn to speak to one another again, and that also requires understanding how the Disengagement from Gaza and destruction of Gush Katif in 2005 affect our current political situation.…
The final installment in the series on the tri-partite part nature of American antisemitism. This episode revisits all three forms of Jew-hatred characteristic of society in the United States and touches base with their manifestation in the new millennia. Along the way we identify the narrative endgame driving each of these stories of destruction and consider what the Jews ought to do about it. Learn about the 2001 Durban Conference, James Baldwin, the Oklahoma City Bombing, and Jewish students on college campus today. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/legalcode https://www.flickr.com/photos/ethnosax/15483604147…
Just a little touch of pre-Purim madness! Rav Mike Feuer discusses the Jewish holiday of Purim, the Book of Esther(Megillah) and how it relates to us today Image created by Wolfgang Beyer with the program Ultra Fractal 3 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode
Part six of the series on Antisemitism takes a turn toward the manifestation of hate in the progressive culture of America. In addition to outlining some of the theory and history of hate on the American left, this episode also outlines the glory and complications of the rise of 'tikkun olam' as the civil religion of liberal Jews. image https://www.flickr.com/photos/elycefeliz/3833624039 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/legalcode…
Is Judeophobia getting worse in the US? Kenneth Jacobson has worked for the Anti-Defamation League since 1971 and as deputy director, he shares his unique view on the history of Jew-hate in America.
This episode opens up our exploration of the third face of American antisemitism with the backstory of progressive Jew hate. Listen in to uncover the ongoing impact of Soviet era propaganda, and to learn what is "the socialism of fools."
When the cracks start to open up in American race relations, Jew-hate seeps into the mainstream. Here is an episode about Reverend Jesse Jackson, Minister Louis Farrakhan and the evolution of black antisemitism. image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gotovan/49958357796/ license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode…
Sometimes you have to get out of your own head in order to know what you really think. Here is an episode where my good friend Eitan Ben Avraham interviews me on the fundamental tensions underlying the Israeli/American Jewish relationship and how they find expression in our present political challenges. Image by - https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk/173110448 lic - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/legalcode…
Jew hate has two fundamental elements no matter where it manifests - one connected to the role Jews play in society, the other the role we play in the mind of the hater. This episode opens a new facet of American antisemitism as we turn from white hate to black, and try to understand the roots of them both.…
Part two of our exploration of the new face of the oldest hate focuses on the history of Jewish response to antisemitism through a look at the ADL. As a bonus you get a brief interview with my mom!
It's an old topic, but somehow seems to be making yet another comeback. Here is the introductory episode in my quest to understand the rebirth of humanity's oldest hatred in the United States today. Image attribution: Ted Eytan lic: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode
Here is my annual Hanukkah class in honor of my father, Charles Feuer/Betzalel ben Avraham ob'm. As the end of the Hasmonean kingdom that was established after the Hanukkah war, the Sages decreed "cursed by the man who teaches his son Greek wisdom." This talk explores what that wisdom might be, how to hold it off and why doing so is central to our national struggle for cultural sovereignty.…
Here is an interview with my dear friend and co-author Dave Mason. In it we explore imagination as a tool of spirituality, the challenges of co-writing a novel and the idea of an Age of Prophecy. Join the Age of Prophecy 7-day challenge at https://theageofprophecy.com/self-fulfilling-prophecy/
Uzi Dayan was national security advisor to both Ehud Barak and Ariel Sharon, helping them navigate the stormy waters of the Camp David summit, the Oslo war and Operation Defensive Shield. Through it all, he labored to build his vision of a separation wall on a solid political foundation.
Though the first intifada paved the way for the wall, the second - known as the Oslo War - brought it into being. This episode makes a bridge between these two conflicts, tracing the arc from suppression to separation and asks the question -why not sovereignty?
Violence often has an arc, and in this episode we trace how the intifada progresses together with the Israeli policies of suppression and separation. Along the way we outline the birth of the Hamas terror organization and end on a childhood note from yours truly. image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/marypmadigan/3191791902 lic: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode…
When the intifada erupted it caught the Israeli army and leadership unprepared. Part two of the series exploring the evolution of the separation barrier explores Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin's "iron-fist" policy response as part of arc of government decisions that move from suppression to separation - all in avoidance of sovereignty.…
In this episode we take a break from tracking the evolution of Israel's separation wall to consider the deeper issues of violence on which it is built. Rav Yehuda Hakohen of the Vision Movement joins me for a conversation about Max Nordau, Zev Jabotinsky and Frantz Fanon. Along the way we consider issues of decolonization, settlement and the hope for a new Jewish consciousness that might soon emerge.…
Almost two thousand years ago the Sages determined that Am Yisrael was bound in exile by an oath not to go up to the land "like a wall." Now two millena later there is a wall built by the Israeli government running through the heart of our biblical homeland. Here is the introductory episode to a new series that aims to break down the evolution of Israel's security wall. image license - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/legalcode from - https://www.flickr.com/photos/hjl/8504846235…
The Zohar calls the Sukkah "the shade of faith." Here are some impromptu thoughts from me to you as I sit in the shade of my sukkah - inspired by these holy days, but relevant all year round.
Here is the final installment in the series detailing the evolution of Israel's electoral system. It brings us almost all the way to the present, touching on topics like the Oslo Accord, electoral reform and Israel's Supreme Court along the way. If you want to have a better understanding of our current electoral dysfunction, then tune in now.…
The unity government wasn't born yesterday, it has a long history in Israel. Tune in to this ongoing exploration of the evolution of Israel's electoral system to learn about the government shared by ex-underground fighter Yitzchak Shamir and Shimon Peres through the 80s, how it held together Mizrachi pride, religious tension and territorial confusion. A government that withdrew from Lebanon, tamed galloping inflation and faced the First Intifada before being brought down by the infamous "dirty trick." Image lic - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/legalcode attribution: Israel GPO HARNIK NATI, 03/15/1988…
Here is an interview with R' Aharon Ariel Lavi, expert on the biblical sabbatical year - shemitta. This is our first taste of a "future vision" for the Jewish people, as well as some stirring thoughts for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
Here is part one of an indepth look at the historical sources of our present electoral issues.
Season six has finally begun! Here is a prologue to help frame the chapter to come. In it I touch on the power of prophetic sight, the book of Daniel and why in the month of Elul we say that the king is in the field. image from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/52212049510 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode…
1 TJS live - Spinoza, converso of reason 1:26:34
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1:26:34Another one of Rav Mike's favorites. Just because I'm taking a break doesn't mean the content has to! Don't forget to sign up for TJS live starting Aug 28th! jewishstory.co/the-jewish-story-live-2/ graphic license - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode
1 TJS Live What is the Zohar? 1:23:31
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1:23:31Another one of Rav Mike's live favorites! The author of the Zohar is traditionally said to be R' Shimon Bar Yochai, but since its first appearance in the hands of R' Moshe DeLeon in 13th century Spain its origin has been in dispute. The Zohar has been a source of spiritual strength in the Jewish Story for more than a millenna, which is far more importance than its role as a source of controversy. Just because I'm taking a break doesn't mean the content has to! Don't forget to sign up for TJS live starting Aug 28th! http://jewishstory.co/the-jewish-story-live-2/ image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abulafia_ecstatic-kabbalah.jpg license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode…
1 Setting the stage for the Middle Age 1:26:14
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1:26:14I may be on break, but life does not stop! Here is a old favorite of mine - a live exploration of the foundations for Jewish life in the Middle Ages. Stay tuned for season six in September!
All things good things must come to an end, so here is the concluding episode of season 5. In it you will find an exploration of how to relate to the brokenness of the world, some thoughts on our present posture and even hints about what the future might hold. See you in the fall!
A second wrap up interview for season five. Dr. Zhenia Fleisher lived in all three of the 20th century's major centers of Jewish life - USSR, Israel and the USA. Tune in for her thoughts on past present and future.
Here is a talk with Rav Yehuda HaKohen of the Vision Movement, the first in couple of conversations which will close our exploration of American Jewish life in the 80s. We range from the personal to the political, touching on tough Jews, Soviet Jewry and what is was like growing up at a time when American Jewry flourished so well. graphic attribution: https://www.flickr.com/people/56639832@N03 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en…
American Jewry in the Eighties were as safe and comfortable as a Jewish community had ever been - and yet the shadow of the Holocaust still loomed large over their identity. Here is an exploration of how the political power and personal charisma of Meir Kahane intersected with this fear - and had explosive results. https://www.flickr.com/photos/marcn/46846447592 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode…
The 1980s saw many seismic shifts in the fabric of American Jewish society, and among them was the earthquake of the Pollard affair. The 1985 arrest of the Navy analyst rocked the US/Israel relationship and accelerated the fragmenting of attitudes toward Israeli among Jews in the US. Whether you see Jonathan Pollard as a traitor or a prisoner of Zion, his story must be heard.…
Here is the third and culminating episode in a story that we have been following since season four. The Eighties saw a welding together of American Cold War policies and the struggle for Soviet Jewry in a dramatic fashion. Super power summits, glasnost, the release of Natan Sharansky and the Freedom Sunday march all came together to achieve one purpose - let my people go!…
As we circle in toward the end of season five, it is time to check back in with American Jewry. The Eighties were a time of economic and social security for the Jews of the US, and the overall growth of their religious communities was boosted by a surprise source - the kollel. It was a decade in which the assumption that Jews vote Democrat was first really challenged, and in which the early rumblings of antisemitism in the public sphere could be felt once more.…
Jerusalem Day is a time when past and present come sharply together, and have the potential to define our future. Social activist and former city councilor Rav Aaron Leibowitz joins me to discuss the potential of the holy city and this momentous day.
Menachem Begin has been part of our exploration of the Jewish Story since the uprising against the British back in 1944, and the Lebanon War was the last chapter in which he took an active role. In order to give a fitting wrap up to such an important character, here is an interview with Dr. Daniel Gordis, author of the biography Menachem Begin: the battle for Israel's soul. picture credit: Yoram Reshef studios…
It is rare that someone who begins a movement is still leading strong fifty years later. Daniella Weiss was part of the original settlement of the Shomron in the early 70s, and remains a militant force within the settlement movement today. Here is an interview which touches on her experience of past and present, as well as her views of the future.…
Is anyone else feeling a little frayed around the edges? Here is an interlude where I give some insight on how to avoid snapping under the pressure of our world, and even how to fray with grace. Send me an email at ravmikefeuer@gmail.com if you want to set up a counselling session about how to take these ideas deeper into your life. image by author Alan Levine, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode…
The domestic political upheaval of 1977 was followed quickly by an international earthquake in 1978 when Israel and Egypt agree to make peace. Here is the story of how shifts within two societies, and two leaders, led to the signing of the Camp David Accords.
Begin's victory in 1977 was the beginning of revolutionary change for Israel, not the end. Some who rejoiced will be bemused, others who were skeptical will be surprised. This episode explores the aftermath of Begin's election as it intersected fault lines within his society and within himself.
There are few events in the history of Israel's democracy which have had a greater impact than the elections of 1977. When all the votes were counted three decades of Labor Zionist rule had come to an end and Menachem Begin's Likud party was victorious. It is known in Israeli history as 'the earthquake,' and this episode explores what forces underlay such a tectonic shift in Israel's political system.…
Many people look at the world today and feel the foundations of American power shaking - and most are afraid. Here is an episode about empires, made in the spirit of Hanukkah. Rav Mike takes a look backward to seek wisdom for survival in imperial transitions Am Yisrael has weathered in the past, touches on the problems of the present, and even takes a glance forward to offer a taste of what might lie ahead. photo attribution: by: outtacontest, from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/outtacontext/8682324203 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/…
Have you ever wondered why exactly Hanukkah lasts eight days? You may be familiar with the 'jar of oil' answer, but this interlude will give you a lot more to think about. Tune in to Rav Mike's annual class on Hanukkah in honor of the yarzheit of his father, Charles Feuer, obm.
Heroism is a precious quality, and one strong enough to change the world. Here is the story of the Israeli mission to free hostages on Entebbe, perhaps the most heroic mission of its time. At its heart lies a person who in many ways embodies the qualities of his generation - Yoni Netanyahu.
Rabin faced conflicts on all three fronts of Jewish history - within Am Yisrael, between Israel and the nations, and as a people in their land. This episode focuses on the third, as the Arab/Israeli war shifts into the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. This new phase of struggle will see the rise of the PLO as a legitimate political force, the strengthening of Palestinian identity among Israeli Arabs through the birth of Land Day and a horrific surge in terror.…
When most people think about Yitzchak Rabin as Israel's Prime Minister they focus on the Oslo Accords and his tragic murder, but many are unaware that Rabin's assassination ended his second term. Here is an episode on his opening round as Prime Minister, when Rabin's choice as the first native born Israeli to head the government opened a new era. We will see him face down US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on the international scene, but in the end a handful of religious idealists will force him to compromise on the domestic front.…
Many things within Israeli society were threatened with collapse in the wake of the Yom Kippur War, and perhaps the most profound danger was a loss of spirit. This episodes explores the rise of the 'bloc of the faithful,' vanguard of today's "settlement movement" who moved to inherit the pioneering spirit of Israel in this difficult time.…
Historian and author Gil Troy joins me for a follow up to the 'Zionism is Racism' episode. We talk 'Moynihan's Moment,' the rise of the PLO, the mental health crisis on American campuses and much more. Tune in also for a fascinating discussion that lays out 'Identity Zionism,' a vision which offers hope for Am Yisrael and the entire world.…
If Israel is meant to be a light to the nations, then how they see us offers illuminating insights. In this episode we meet the Non-Aligned Movement, Israel's relationship with Africa, President Mobutu of Zaire, Ugandan leader Idi Amin, US ambassador to the UN Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Israeli delegate to the UN Hadassa Ben-Itto. All of them want to know whether the national liberation movement of the Jewish people is racist and akin to apartheid, and what it means for oppressed peoples of the world.…
Sometimes its seems that joy is the most desirable and least available aspect of human experience. In this episode Rav Mike seeks out some insights from Sukkot, the festival of joy, on how we can enhance this aspect of our lives.
The feminist movement and Jewish American life came together in the 1960s and 70s - each influencing the other. In this episode we touch on Betty Friedan's Feminine Mystique, the religious activism of women like Sally Priesand and the Ezrat Nashim organization. We will also explore how feminism and antisemitism intersect, from Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Womens Bible to the 1975 United Nations World Conference on Women in Mexico City which Betty Friedan, and fellow attendee Letty Cottin Pogrebin, founding editor of Ms. Magazine, called a turning point for many things to come. picture from: Victuallers https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode…
Even if you only count until 1985, Lebanon was Israel's longest war and so it's no surprise that it left some of the deepest impressions. The birth of Peace Now, the murder of Emil Gruzweig and the personal struggles of soon-to-be famous Israelis like Avraham Burg and Donniel Hartman all illustrate how far Israel's social fabric was stretched by the conflict. Across the ocean in America Jews like Norman Podhoretz and the rabbis of the CCAR are asking about their support for the Jewish State, and the world media is focused on Lebanon. When this war ends, the story will be far from over.…
The RRG Bet Midrash Torah Cafe hosts Rav Mike for a live word of Torah on Yom Haatzmaut. How does history create obligations, and why is it important to rejoice? If you want to discover the connection between gratitude and redemption, listen all the way to the end of this Yom Haatzmaut 5782 Interlude!…
The assassination of Phalangist leader Bashir Gemayal was an explosion which rocked the region, and the massacres at Sabra and Shatila which followed in its wake horrified the world. This episode touches on a rabbinic debate over the morality of war, the political struggle over its consequences and sets the stage for a sea-change in Israeli society.…
Crossing into Lebanon to destroy PLO started as a successful mission, and when the IDF destroyed the Syrian SAM belt in the Bekaa Valley through Operation Mole Cricket 19 it looked like victory was assured. Nonetheless as Defense Minister Ariel Sharon pursued Yasser Arafat (and his dreams of a peace treaty) into the Siege of Beirut, he discovered that his Maronite allies were not to be trusted and that it is easier to enter Lebanon than to leave.…
We are all actors in the Jewish Story, and part of the art of becoming a main character is knowing how to seize the moment. Here is an interview with former Ambassador David Friedman which explores how he came to be in his position, the contributions he made and his vision for where Israel might be headed.…
Sometimes a listener question can cause a whole interlude. Here is an exploration of Jewish leadership and its roots in the Jewish story. Along the way we touch on Ukrainian president Zelenskyy, R' Chaim Kanievsky and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. There is also an opening attempt at defining leadership and a chance to ask the question - what exactly makes someone a Jewish leader?…
Operation Peace for the Galilee begins with Israeli jets pounding Yasser Arafat's PLO bases in southern Lebanon, but there is always a backstory. In this episode learn about the complicated history Lebanon's civil wars fought between Christians, Moslems and Druze. Meet Ariel Sharon in his new role of Defense Minister, ever the bulldozer and now hoping to stabilize Israel's northern border together with Maronite leader Bachir Gemayel. Hear also how Prime Minister Menachem Begin's personal experience with the Holocaust drove him to support a war of choice for the first time.…
Before we can discuss the outbreak of war between Israel and the PLO in Lebanon, we must lay out the political context. As Yasser Arafat and his Palestinian liberation army were massing troops along the border, and the city of Kiryat Shemona was facing bombardment, Prime Minister Menachem Begin visited US President Ronald Reagan in Washington to solidify a US-Israel relationship - a goal made more complicated by Reagan's cabinet. American envoy to the Middle East Philip Habib will fight to keep the border from boiling over, but his efforts will come to an end with the assassination attempt against Israeli ambassador Shlomo Argov in 1982.…
Adar is the month when we increase our joy. The question is, in an increasingly bewildering world, where is it to be found?
Israel's leadership came to be part by never forgetting the principal of "when one comes to kill you, rise early and kill first." Menachem Begin's 1981 bombing of the Iraqi reactor Osirak on the distant banks of the Tigris gave birth to the "Begin doctrine" of absolute opposition to enemy possession of nuclear weapons - which is still being questioned today. Without doubt Begin's rising to strike first in Iraq was a testimony to the power of adhering to first principles. image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Osirak_Plan.jpg by: BotKannadiga li: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode…
People like to talk about the price of peace, but they rarely define what peace actually means. This makes evaluating the price impossible. In April of 1982 Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula and for the first time destroyed established Jewish homes in the name of peace. This episode explores the price.…
There are some conversations which Am Yisrael is just not having. As a follow up to some of the issues raised in the last few episodes Rav Mike is joined by R' Yehuda Hakohen of the Vision Movement for a conversation on power and violence in the State of Israel.
Today the media loves to discuss "settler violence," but it is rarely interested in its historical origins. This episode picks up the story of Yehuda Etzion and Menachem Livni who had set out to trigger redemption by any means necessary. As it turns out, events went in another direction and their actions continue to have consequences down to our day.…
In politics as in physics - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Menachem Begin's signing of the Camp David Accords did not produce a singular response, but it did send shock waves through every aspect of Israeli society. Among the idealists of the settlement movement, it birthed an underground element which felt called to continue the revolution which Begin himself had helped to forward. Fueled by redemptive visions, powerful personalities and practical pressures the action they take in response to Camp David will be explosive.…
Sometimes one man's story sits at the intersection of so many threads it becomes a horrible knot. By the same virtue its potential is boundless. Here is David Ben Moshe's story in his own words, please listen close and consider making his fight your own.
Sometimes a simple question sparks the deepest thoughts. This episode is in answer to a simple question - what is the story of Rosh Hashanah. It explores the nature of kingship and the crown in Jewish tradition, and offers some guidance on how we can all approach telling a different story of our lives in the coming new year. image from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/xeni/436828769 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/legalcode…
talks about Russian Jewish refuseniks, why they were denied exit visas to immigrate to Israel, and how the Communist regime eventually let them go. Learn about US President Richard Nixon's détente with the Soviets, championed by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and opposed by Henry "Scoop" Jackson, co-author of the Jackson-Vanik amendment of 1974 and his assistant Richard Perle. Others discussed regarding the issue of Russian Jews include Shaul Avigur, founder of Israel's Liaison Bureau (Lishkat Hakesher), also known as Nativ, Jacob Birnbaum of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, Moshe Decter of Jewish Minorities Research, and Russian dissident Andrei Sakharov and his influence on the most well known refusenik, Natan Sharansky.…
The changing culture of American Jewry after the Yom Kippur War in Israel and the Vietnam War meant leaving old neighborhoods, a surge in Zionism and new developments in the Jewish community like the Havurah movement. We explore the publication of the First Jewish Catalog: A Do-It-Yourself Kit edited by Richard Siegel, and Michael and Sharon Strassfeld and the shift from left-wing liberal to neo-conservative in the writings of Commentary Magazine editor Norman Podhoretz. Plus, Rav Mike gets personal and talks about his own Jewish upbringing.…
1 TJS Live - Survival Zionism part VI 1:12:34
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1:12:34Here is part six of the live series on Survival Zionism. This episode returns to the land of Israel to look at the struggle for liberation which preceded the war for independence. If you like the live style, sign up for this year's TJS Live weekly class at: jewishstory.co/registerclass/
1 TJS Live - Survival Zionism part V 1:15:27
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1:15:27Here is part five of the live series on Survival Zionism. This episode returns to the US to look at the impact of these fateful years on American Jewry. If you like the live style, sign up for this year's TJS Live weekly class at: jewishstory.co/registerclass/
1 TJS Live Survival Zionism part IV 1:14:44
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1:14:44Here is part four of the live series on Survival Zionism. This episode tells the story of the Warsaw Ghetto. If you like the live style, sign up for this year's TJS Live weekly class at: jewishstory.co/registerclass/
1 TJS Live Survival Zionism part III 1:15:59
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1:15:59Here is part three of my live series on Survival Zionism. This episode takes us to Europe in the war years and explores the evolution of the Final Solution, which served as the great selection of European Jewry. If you like the live style, sign up for this year's TJS Live weekly class at: http://jewishstory.co/registerclass/ image attribution: Caricature of Hermann Göring detail with text of "Gestapo reports 2,000,000 Jews executed- Heil Hitler" by Arthur Szyk (1894-1951). We're Running Short of Jews (1943), New York (cropped).jpg.…
1 TJS Live Survival Zionism part II 1:15:35
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1:15:35Here is the second installment in my LIVE series exploring survival Zionism. This episode explores many of the roots of the Arab Israeli conflict and how they contributed to the formation of a new brand of Zionism. If you like the live style, sign up for this year's online class at http://jewishstory.co/registerclass/…
1 TJS Live Survival Zionism I 1:14:42
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1:14:42You know about labor Zionism, revisionist Zionism, practical Zionism and religious Zionism - but have you heard of survival Zionism? Here is the first episode in a six part LIVE series on the crucial years of 1938-45.
Every chapter comes to an end sometime, and with this epilogue season four draws to a close. Listen in for some reflections and where we have been and where we are headed in the season to come, as well as some insights on what it might mean.
The shock waves of the Yom Kippur War ripple through Israeli society down to our day, but the days immediately after tell a story all their own. This episode explores the rise of Israel's first protest movement around Motti Ashkenazi, the first cracks of the Labor government under Prime Minister Golda Meir and the formation of the Likud at the hands of Ariel Sharon. All of these combine to make up the domestic aftermath of the war. photo from: ארכיון דן הדני…
Every war has a winner, but sometimes identifying who that may be is not a simple task - nor a neutral one. This episode explores the international aftermath of the Yom Kippur war, explaining how the super power confrontation, the Arab oil embargo and the international peace process all created different winners of the conflict.…
Here is a rant on the current struggle in Israel and Gaza. There is something in it for everyone, both to provoke and inspire. Make sure you don't miss the message at the end!
Some people play a perfect role in the Jewish Story, and in this episode that will be US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and General Ariel Sharon. As the fighting reaches its conclusion, each will give his utmost to achieve his ends, but as we will see though the battle may be won - the war is far from over. photograph by Amnon Tzur https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SuezBrdg1973.jpg…
Here is a LIVE Yom Yerushalayim class given in honor of the 10th yartzheit of Fruma Raizel bat Genendel and Nehemia haKohen. It explores the relationship between Yom Ha'atzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim, between self-actualization and inspiration, in order to provide insight and inspiration for these holy days. photo by Ron Almog https://www.flickr.com/photos/ronalmog/4600685463…
Every fast day is an chance for cheshbon nefesh, for making an accounting of life and the world. The Tenth of Tevet offers an additional, unique opportunity - to think about immanent dangers. Here is an exploration of some of the challenges which our world faces and how this holy day can leave us better prepared to meet them.…
Rav Mike's annual shiur in honor of the yartzheit of his father, Charles M. Feuer, ob"m. Gratitude is one of the keys to happiness, especially in dark times. Join Rav Mike as he explores the connection between the Hanukkah candles and our ability to give thanks, and helps us let the light out.
Changing our conceptions is one of the hardest things in life to do, for countries as well as individuals. Israel's stunning victory in 1967 brought many blessings, but it also posed certain challenges in how to understand the post-war reality. Here is the first episode on the War of Attrition, a conflict so poorly understood that many people don't even know it happened.…
It is not every day that you get to speak with a legend, much less interview one. Here are some precious words I had with the Alter rebbe of Jewish History, Rabbi Berel Wein. We touch on the nature of history, the Jewish people, the experience of salvation and much more.
The return to Israel can have two meanings - a return to the Land and a return to essential self. The birth of a settlement movement striving for redemption was one of the most significant results of the Six Day War, and no community tells the story better than Hebron.
One can look at life as one long string of decisions, whether for individuals or nations. Israel had a number of decisions to make in the wake of the Six Day War and none was more pressing than where to place the borders. Here is an episode about some of the factors in that decision - the Allon Plan and the return to Kfar Etzion - which helped shape the future.…
This week I host author and thought leader Yossi Klein Halevi. Our conversation touches on his personal experience of Meir Kahane and the early struggle for Soviet Jewry, the challenges of writing, the power of Jerusalem to evoke dreams and much more. Tune in for an inspiring episode treating the impact of 1967 on past, present and future.…
Abundance is always a blessing, so long as one has the capacity to receive it. In the weeks and months after their victory in June of 1967, the Israeli government struggled to absorb the meaning and practical implications of everything which they had just acquired. This episode begins our exploration of the new political, economic and spiritual realities which began on the day after the war.…
In this interlude I am joined by special guest Dr. Michael Oren. The topic at hand is how the Six Day War helped shaped the special relationship between Israel and the United States. Along the way Dr. Oren offers insights on a range of events, sharing his perspective as an historian, author, diplomat and a Jew. photo credit: Anne Mandelbaum, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en…
If you feel a bit like the world might be falling apart, then look to the sukkah for how to hold it together. Here are a few holiday thoughts on faith, joy and how to build a better world. Chag sameach!
It is a truism that struggle brings out unexpected powers from within us, and what's true in life is true in history as well. The struggle to liberate Soviet Jewry will be a formative element of our story for decades to come, so here is the first chapter.
Here is a thought to help focus your practice during these powerful days. May we all be blessed with a sweet, healthy and productive year! Shana tova, Rav Mike.
There are stories which are turning points in a larger tale, and there are those which prove to be tempests in a tea cup. The story of the 1968 NYC school strike could be read as both. Either way, this episode offers a look at a microcosm of Black/Jewish relations in 1968 which will have a profound impact down to our day.…
How we chew and swallow what history shoves down our throat can define us as individuals and nations. Here is an interview with R' Yitz Greenberg, foundational thinker on post-Holocaust theology. In it we explore how American Jewry began to process the memory of the Holocaust, the impact of the SIx Day War on their identity, and if one can see the God of History in the post-modern era. If you want to explore more of R' Yitz's thoughts, check out - https://rabbiirvinggreenberg.com/…
As each decade passes, the Holocaust retreats in time and grows in memory and this is not a linear process - some years count more than others. This episode looks at American Jewry's relationship to the Shoah before and after the Six Day War and adds an important piece for understanding how Israel and Auschwitz became twin pillars of American Jewish identity.…
History is all about telling the story after the fact, but there is a particular wisdom to be gained in the heat of the moment which is easily lost in hindsight. The first episode of season four begins to explore the impact of the Six Day War on American Jewry through the wisdom of the moment itself.…
Israel's disengagement from the Gaza Strip was fifteen years ago, but to me it feels like yesterday. In this interlude, author Daniella Levy joins me to discuss the fiction work which she wrote to engage this complex event. Along the way we speak about Tisha B'Av, what it means to be an immigrant and how one can tell a true story from multiple perspectives.…
1 TJS Live: Heralds of Zion III Leon Pinsker 1:28:46
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1:28:46Class three in the 'Heralds of Zion' series. This time we explore the formation of Eastern European Enlightenment within the Pale of Settlement, along with the rise of nationalist thought across Europe. Add to this the resurgence of antisemitism within Russia and you have the context for Leon Pinsker's work Auto-emancipation.…
1 TJS Live: Heralds of Zion IV Theodore Herzl 1:24:54
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1:24:54Class four in the Heralds of Zion series. In this class we explore the life of Theodore Herzl. Along the way we discuss assimilation, antisemitism and the major events which led up to the birth of Zionism as a political movement. The central question of the class is - what made Herzl the father of Zionism?…
1 TJS Live: Heralds of Zion I R' Alkalai and R' Kalischer 1:25:37
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1:25:37The first in the 'Heralds of Zion' series. After introducing the two essential elements of Zionism, we explore its roots in classical religious thinking and how modernity forced an evolution even in this ancient perspective.
1 TJS Live: Heralds of Zion II Moses Hess 1:22:14
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1:22:14Class two of the 'Heralds of Zion' series. This class explores the tension between particularism and universalism as it found expression in the utopian socialist movements of the 19th century. In that context we meet Moses Hess, whose roots as a socialist did not prevent him from writing one of the earliest works of Jewish nationalism.…
1 TJS Live: Heralds of Zion V Ahad Ha'am, Nordau and the New Jew 1:25:00
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1:25:00The last installment in the Heralds of Zion series. This class explores the differences between Political and Cultural Zionism, along with introducing the personalities of Asher Ginsberg and Max Nordau. The primary question on the table is - how do you shape a new Jew?
Just as surely as Shabbat follows the six days of the week, there was a day after the Six Day War. When the guns ceased and the discussion began, the framing of Israel's victory became the new battlefield. The final episode of the season traces the path to UN Resolution 242, and uncovers some of its roots as well. picture: Earth - Africa, Middle East and Europe, 5 March 2015, 21:14, Earth - Africa, Middle East and Europe Kevin Gill from Nashua, NH, United States…
There are certain qualities which, when they manifest, define one's story -determination is one of them. Here is the story of the conquest of the Golan and the close of the war, events which will determine much of the chapters to come. Image By Government Press Office (Israel), CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59598576…
What do you see as the greatest miracles in Jewish History? In many ways, how you answer indicates your understanding of history altogether. This episode deals with the first three days of the war, including the return of Am Yisrael to Jerusalem - I leave it up to you to decide where the miracle lies.…
Going into battle may take bravery, but waiting demands a certain type of courage as well. This episode lays out the final steps of the build up to war, known in Israeli history as "the waiting, and the tension which builds in these three weeks will soon explode into war.
I can't watch what is happening in silence, but nor am I willing to simply be a cheerleader for chaos. Here are some thoughts on structural violence and what can all learn from the murder of George Floyd.
The countdown to war is progressing, and the pieces are almost all in place. As the pressure mounts, some of the fundamental flaws which lie at the heart of the Zionist project are exposed. The question which arises in this episode is - will Israel go it alone? Picture from: By Government Press Office (Israel), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22807330…
The causes of war may be many and the road to its outbreak long, but every conflict has a tipping point. In this episode the noose seems to close around Israel. As Egypt's re-militarizes the Sinai and the UN forces evaporate, we seem to have reached the point of no return.
Here is an interview of me by Rabbi Yonatan from the RRG Beit Midrash at Hebrew University in which we reflect on Israel Independence day from the historical and spiritual perspectives. If you want some insight into the potential depth of this day, and how the strange circumstances of this pandemic year actually offer us a unique opportunity, then tune in. Chag atzmaut sameach!…
This is the story of how close the end really came during the Yom Kippur War. Even as Israel's tanks held out in the north, turning a stretch of the Golan into 'The Valley of Tears,' the forces in the south were stretched to the breaking point. Nonetheless, an American airlift will provide the arms, and the impetuous general Ariel Sharon the means, to yet snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.…
A surprise blow is always the hardest to absorb, even if it's not so powerful. The first strike of the Yom Kippur War will be massive, and it will come close to stunning the entire nation of Israel. Listen in to hear how the shock nearly caused leaders like Golda Meir, Moshe Dayan and Chief of Staff David Elazar to lose their way, while the common soldiers of Israel held on for the very life of the nation.…
Like Bob Dylan said, everybody's gotta serve somebody and like the Sages said - it will be your stomach, your country or your Gd. Here are some thoughts on our independence and our mission for this joyous celebration of 5781!
Sometimes the ideas we hold most dear are those which prevent us from seeing t hat which is most important. Here is an episode about the 'concept,' the security analysis paradigm which stopped Israel for from recognizing its danger almost until it was too late.
Here is a raw take from a great pre-chag conversation. Apologies for the lack of polish - sometimes this holy day takes all you've got!
Long before there was a start-up nation the Jews were the can do people, but a constant crisis-solving posture poses problems of its own. Here is part two in our effort to build the context for the surprise of the Yom Kippur War. It is a story of technological revolutions, unstoppable confidence and even what might be called an act of piracy. picture attribution: Israeli Navy Spokesman Office…
Telling the story of the Exodus is something so simple that we do it every year, and so complicated that we never get it quite right. With all the effort we put into preparation for a kosher Pesach, it is worth dusting off the Haggadah a couple of weeks early in or to prepare for an awesome Seder. Author Mark Gerson joins me to discuss his new book about the Haggadah and how we can best access its energy and wisdom.…
If we call what happened in the 1967 a war of the spirit, then what occurred seven years later was a struggle of psychology. Here is the first episode leading up to the 1973 Yom Kippur War. It explores the booming economy, the Israeli Black Panthers and the emergence of a new leader of Egypt, all in an attempt to understand the context for surprise.…
1 TJS S4 Interlude: Vengeance, an conversation with Thane Rosenbaum 1:03:43
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1:03:43The desire to get even is as old as Cain and Abel, so what new could possibly be said about it? Here is an interview with author Thane Rosenbaum where we explore the nature of vengeance, its relationship to justice and how it informs our actions.
It is Adar once again, believe it or not! Here at the end of a Covid-crazy year the call to increase joy can also be heard as a call to do more joyfully. Here are some thoughts about how to embrace the 'more' which lies ahead in a way which will bring some happiness to the world.
The whole world watched in horror as the murder of eleven Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games raised the bar on international terror to previously inconceivable heights. The events cannot be forgotten, and their consequences are with us down to this day.
There is a narrative battle which has been raging for decades between Arab and Jew in the land of Israel, and sometimes it breaks out into open warfare. This is the story of the abortive attempt by Palestinians to overthrown the Kingdom of Jordan and the role it plays in giving an international standing to their nationalist struggle.…
The power of fairy stories goes well beyond entertainment. In this interlude author Rena Rossner joins me to explore myth, story and the power of fairy tale. Along the way we touch on God, history and my favorite author as well!
The battlefield and the boardroom come together for the last episode in the series on the War of Attrition. Meet new Prime Minister Golda Meir as she balances war and politics in her new policy of 'asymmetrical response.' Unfortunately this may win her the battle just as it looses the war.
Every major conflict is fought on many fronts. This second installment on the War of Attrition explores the diplomatic front. We will encounter Yitzchak Rabin as the new Israeli ambassador and get our first look at American Jewish policy maker Henry Kissinger as our story leaves the battle ground for the boardroom.…
Who can say when historical events like the Six Day War actualy began, and what were their causes? It is a daunting task, but not one which we can shirk, nonetheless. Here is the first episode in our lead up to war - a look at a new personality, a battle and some broader context.
The exodus from Egypt was only the first step on the road to Sinai. The bridge between Egypt and Sinai, between liberation and revelation, is embodied in the practice of counting the Omer. Here is a reflection on the biblical narrative, the calendar and our current situation - all with an eye to making every day count.…
1 SPECIAL LIVE! Pesach 5780 The Haggadah as narrative therapy 1:05:49
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1:05:49We tell stories to make sense of our lives, to give them meaning and direction, and the more challenging life is - the harder it is to craft a believable plot. The Sages taught us that “in every generation one is obligated to regard themselves as though they personally had gone out from Egypt,” and they gave us the Passover Haggadah as the guide to doing that. This is in an exploration of the Haggadah as a tool for leaving both Mitzrayim (Egypt) and personal metzarim (confining places) and learning how to transform our personal and national narratives into a redemptive story.…
Sometimes you have to speak from the heart. Here are a few thoughts, or really feelings, about our current situation. There is a tremendous potential in every crisis, the question is - can we see beyond the horizon?
Historians may argue about whether one person can shift the course of history, but everyone agrees that a hero can change the world. Here is the story of Eli Cohen, hero of Israel.
The Jewish Story is narrative therapy for a nation, but how can it also serve each of us in our quest to be actors in our lives instead of objects? Listen in to this great Purim Torah, an exploration of what the conversation between Mordecai and Esther can teach us about owning our own story.
Old politicians never die, they just fade away. The era of Ben Gurion ended in 1963 and it appeared that his replacement, Levi Eshkol, could not live up to his legacy. This episode introduces a new mode of leadership for the State of Israel, and is the first step on the road to telling the tale of the Six Day War.…
Why stop once with a good thing? Here is another interlude answering listener questions on Israel as a Jewish State. Hold out to the end hear what Rav Mike thinks about 'Free Palestine' t-shirts.
Sometimes you just have to let loose, so here is a rant in response to some listener questions. It touches on the Trump Plan, the current political crisis and even sea level. Most of all this is about the tension between revolution and redemption.
At the Sixties progressed they became more intense. In particular, the tone of the civil rights movement shifted from integration to separation and from evolution to revolution. This episode will explore the impact of these shifts on the 'grand alliance' between Jews and African Americans. shedding light on both past and present.…
1964 was the Freedom Summer in America, and it saw a wave of white, Jewish volunteers leaving the comfort of their suburban existence to fight the battle against racism in the rural south. This episode explores the suburban cultural vacuum which many of them were fleeing and asks whether they went South as Jews, human beings or both.…
The 1960s were a revolutionary period in American history, and since the Jews were so deeply involved it is a turning point in the Jewish Story as well. This episode begins our slow march toward 1967 with a look at how the twin spirits of prophecy and pragmatism moved Jewish leadership during the Civil Rights movement.…
In the first decade of the state, Prime Minister Ben Gurion was haunted by one thought - that a second holocaust could come at the hands of Israel's enemies. In order to stave off this fear he relentlessly pursued nuclear weapons. The question is whether this pushed destruction off or brought it closer?…
No matter where you turn, it seems that democracy is in crisis. Here is an interview with Rav Mike which touches on the global situation as well as what is happening in the state of Israel. The question at hand is - whither democracy?
Sometimes in life, and in history, it is time to step back and reflect. I have seen five rounds of conflict since I moved to Israel, all of them inconclusive. For me this raises the question - war, what is it good for? photo from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/105105658@N03/30502660157
The Holocaust was so dark and vast that the Jews struggled to integrate it into their consciousness, despite the hundreds of thousands of survivors in their midst. One of the turning points in even addressing this issue was the capture and trial of Adolf Eichmann, architect of the Final Solution. He was taken and tried, but was it for justice, vengeance or education? https://www.flickr.com/photos/huntingtontheatreco/6238852798…
The memory of the the Holocaust is dark and traumatic enough that it threatens to overwhelm even the light of the present. Here is the first part of an exploration of Holocaust memory in Israel's open decade, as seen through the lens of one of the darker stories of the early state - the Kastner affair.…
Life offers so few opportunities to stop and reflect that we need to seize every chance. What better time to look back at the questions with which we began this season than in Israel's tenth year. Here is an episode which once again takes a look at questions which drive the three dimensions of the Jewish Story. illustration license - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/legalcode…
Sukkot is a time to sit in the Sukkah and reflect, so here are a few thoughts from my Sukkah. This is an exploration of what it means for the state of Israel to be a kingdom and and it what means to be a client state. picture from https://www.flickr.com/photos/adforce1/2462794123
The High Holy Days are also know as the Days of Awe which can be awesome, or awful. Here is a look at how to tie the work of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot together into an approach to building a world whose horizon is big enough to hold our dreams.
The Sinai campaign was many things - a preemptive strike against Israel's enemies, the last gasp of colonialism in the Middle East and a complete failure of international law. This episode explores the 1956 war from all these angles.
The clock is counting down toward the 1956 Sinai Campaign. Before we can tell that story the threads of the Cold War, infiltration and post-colonial politics have to come together.
The 1950's were a formative time in Israeli history. The Cold War was getting hot, internal politics were volatile, and the it seemed as if the War of Independence had not quite ended. To Israel's leaders, there was nothing more important than maintaining a strong posture, even though this may have meant that they were marching steadily toward another war.…
The focus of our story has returned to the land of Israel, where it is once again a time of controversy. Despite the population growth, the economic hardships and the security challenges, the most divisive political issue of the early 1950's was whether to accept reparations from the reborn German state. Here is an exploration of whether pragmatic survival or idealism should be the guiding lights of the first Jewish government in two thousand years.…
Some timely questions for a difficult day. How do we reach redemption if we don't know what it looks like? How do we transform suffering into a source of positive identity? And what does it look like to turn our mourning into joy?
Taking a break from the flow of history to think about a pressing current issue. Where does the breakdown of classic understandings of identity and authority associated with the postmodern age leave Am Yisrael? If you want to watch the second half of the webinar on this topic and hear about the blessings of postmodernism, you can become a patron at https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer graphic attribution: https://www.flickr.com/photos/versionz/2596831861…
We spoke about the suburbs and the shadows, now it is time to talk about Zionism. The 'Golden decade' was a time of reorganization in general, and particularly in relation to the newborn State of Israel. Here is an episode whose characters will seem strikingly familiar today - non-Zionists, Zionists and anti-Zionists.…
The decade after World War Two was a Jewish decade for America. Not only did the Jews achieve the suburban dream, but their culture stepped right into the middle of the American mainstream. Nonetheless, there were two things which dimmed this Golden Decade - the Red Scare and the shadow of the Shoah.…
1945 to 1955 is known as the 'Golden Decade' of American Jewry. Here is the first of three episodes which aims to fill in the Jewish Story on the western side of the Atlantic. The question for today is - did the move to suburbia make the Jews white?
In part two of this exploration of Israel's seventy year constitutional crisis we take a look at the revolution of 1992 and how it contributed to today's battles. As a special bonus I included a little bird walk along the lines of the Torah's commandment for a king.
If I asked you whether Israel has a constitution are you sure that you would know the answer? This episode is the first half of answering the question by delving into the history of Israel's 1949 Constituent Assembly. Picture by Hugo Mendelson - This is available from National Photo Collection of Israel, Photography dept. Government Press Office (link), under the digital ID D715-035.…
Every once in a while you have to get out of the house, and even out of the box. Where better to do that than Jerusalem, and who is a better partner than Yehudah Hakohen. Here is a free-flowing conversation on Jerusalem, redemption and the process in which we find ourselves day. In honor of the reuniting of the eternal city! photo credit: Aharon Tzukerman 09/06/67 National Photo Collection of Israel, Photography dept. Goverment Press Office (link), under the digital ID D327-048.…
Every value has a boundary and every state a border, which means that often we have to fight to maintain them. Here is the story of Israel's struggle against infiltration in the 1950's and the moral complexity of retaliatory raids. Not an episode for the faint of heart.
In 1949 Israel was in the dangerous position of winning the battle and losing the war. Though ceasefire agreements were in place, peace remained elusive. This episode opens an examination of the questions of international legitimacy, national cohesion and border conflicts which characterize the state even today.…
There is no word for independence in Biblical Hebrew, and the roots of the modern word can teach us much. This might right be called the day when we celebrate 'self-actualization,' but that leaves poses the question - how do we actually become a great nation in our land?
The commandment around which seder night revolves is the telling of the story of the Exodus. Many people today struggle with questions of historicity, meaning - did this really happen? Here is an episode on why the real questions of the Exodus lie in the future and not the past, along with some insights on how to tell a story which goes beyond belief.…
There are times in the history of peoples and nations when the decisions made shape the future. The three years after Israel's foundation saw its population double through immigration, the way in which the immigrants were received set the mode for many years to come.
In the first two years after Israel's independence the Jewish population doubled. Such massive immigration put an almost fatal stress on the resources and social fabric of the young state. Before we can discuss the practical implications we need to consider the meaning of kibutz galuyot - the ingathering of the exiles. Help me make history by becoming a patron at https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer illustration attribution: By Government Press Office (Israel), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22807003…
Hatred of the Jews is the oldest and most pervasive form of prejudice which humanity knows. In this episode Rav Mike uses the comments of Haman to ask not only why we are hated, but also what we can do about it. Help me make history by becoming a supporter at https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer Illustration attribution https://www.maxpixel.net/Aggression-Violent-Hatred-Meanness-Attack-656795…
1 TJS3 Interlude What is a Jew? 1:09:02
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1:09:02It is time to move away from the divisive question of who is a Jew to ask something more essential - what is a Jew? The first half of this episode offers Rav Mike's thoughts on the subject. The second half is a conversation on the same with R' Aaron Leibowitz, social activist and head of the Chuppot initiative offering marriage to Israelis outside of the aegis of the state rabbinate. Help me make history by supporting the Jewish Story at - https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer The art is by Dan Levkovitch מאת דני לבקוביץישראלי, יליד צרפת, 2002-1927 - The Israeli Cartoon Museum, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32910158…
1 TJS S3E2 The Evolution of American Zionism part II: Two conflicts which shaped American Zionism 42:43
Part I presented America as an environment of formation for American Zionism, part two adds the other element of evolution - competition. The struggles between American Zionists and first the European Zionist leadership and then the heads of the new State of Israel still define our political landscape today. Help me make history by supporting the Jewish Story at https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer…
Season 3 opens with a long awaited introduction to the American chapter of the Jewish Story. This first segment traces the back story of the three waves of Jewish immigration to American and explores the tension between assimilation and ethnic solidarity. Help me make history by becoming a patron at https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer…
It is time to get a new season started. This prologue introduces the idea that every story has a topography on which it unfolds. In particular, it is a framing of the season ahead through questions in three dimensions - a people in its land, Diaspora Jewry and Israel among the nations. Next stop - 1967!…
Everybody is talking about the relationship between American and Israeli Jewry - is the romance over? are we headed for a breakup? This relationship will be central to the Jewish Story in season three, so here is an exploration of where their narratives separate in two parts - Rav Mike's thoughts and an interview with David Abitbol, creator of the Jewlicious blog. Help me make history by supporting the Jewish Story here - www.patreon.com/mfeuer…
What better way to wrap up season two than to talk about the messiah? Here is an exploration of the power of the messianic idea and its centrality to Jewish thought. It also includes the introduction of political theology to our discussion, in light of the birth of the State of Israel. Help me make history by supporting the Jewish Story here - https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer…
1 TJS S2 Interlude: Who is Rabbi Mike Feuer and why is he telling the Jewish story? 1:00:47
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1:00:47Every story has a teller, and a good listener knows that you can't really separate the two. In this podcast, Rav Mike sits down with his old friend and founder of Aleph Male, Eitan Ben Avraham, and answers Eitan's curious questions about Mike's childhood, formative years, how Mike ended up living in Israel becoming a rabbi and why he is on a mission to tell the Jewish Story. Support the Jewish Story at - https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer…
1 TJS S2E40: Made in 1948 - Three historic decisions that shaped the birth of modern-day Israel 1:09:18
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1:09:18Declaring a state is a matter of moments, but birthing it can be a much more prolonged process. The last episode in season two is a look at a series of decisions taken by Ben Gurion in the months following independence and how they still shape the State of Israel today. The story of the borders, the Arab refugees and the Altalena raise more questions than they answer, but that is just an invitation to stay tuned for season 3! Help fund the Jewish Story by visiting https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer…
Before a person or a people can enjoy true freedom, first they must break t heir chains. This is the story of how the underground war finally broke the back of the British occupation and how the United Nations stepped in to pick up the pieces.
1948 was a year of Biblical proportions, which means the stories told about what happened often have more power than the events themselves. This is part one of a two-part treatment of this momentous time with which we will close season two. Listen in for the civil war which precedes the War of Independence and the origins of the narrative conflict we are still fighting today.…
1 After the Hanukkah Miracle: 3 Disasters that Wiped Out the Maccabees and How Israel Can Avoid Them 33:50
One could say that the Maccabees won the battle but lost the war. How is it that the heroes of the Hannukah story went from the heights of spiritual power to the depths of corruption in less than 100 years? Here is an analysis of the three disasters that brought down the Hasmonean kingdom, and a look at how the modern State of Israel can avoid the same fate.…
1 The Jewish Story - S2:E37 Survivalist Zionism - How the Zionist Struggle Looked After the Holocaust 1:00:32
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1:00:32Once World War Two ended all the promises of the allies were put to test - would they find a solution to the Jewish problem now that the war was won? This episode describes the escalation of the struggle against the British in the land of Israel in the wake of the greatest disaster the Jewish people have ever suffered.…
1 The Jewish Story S2:E36 The Revolt Against British Rule and the Struggle Within the Underground 59:37
As European Jewry was consumed by the Shoah, the Zionists in the land of Israel gradually came to see the British blocking the gates of Israel as their main enemy. The episode explores the split between the Irgun and the Lechi, the rise of Menachem Begin as a leader and the internecine war which almost doomed their struggle.…
By 1942 there was no escape from Europe for the Jews, and even if they had managed to run - who would take them in. This second episode on the Holocaust explores the message of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and finally brings American Jewry into the picture of the Jewish Story.
1 TJS II Episode 34: The Heart of Darkness 1:06:40
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1:06:40There are things which need to be spoken about no matter how difficult and questions which need to be asked, no matter how unanswerable. Here is the first of twp episodes which engage the role of the Holocaust in the Jewish Story.
1 TJS II Episode 33: The Arab Revolt 1:10:20
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1:10:20The 1930's saw the hate triangle of Arabs, British and Jews explode into an unprecedented scale of violence known as the Arab Revolt. The revolt brought on yet another cycle of repression and political concessions, and it split the Jews of the Yishuv over the question of whether restraint or retaliation was the proper response to Arab violence. Meanwhile, as violence spirals in the land of Israel, and Jews argue with one another, the darkness of Nazi Germany has begun to cast its shadow over Europe.…
1 TJS II Episode 32: Under Pressure 1:01:04
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1:01:04In the 1930's the ideological divides between the Revisionist and Labor Zionists grew, and cracks began to appear within the community of the Yishuv. Meanwhile, pressure on European Jewry was increasing with the rise of Nazi Germany. When you put these two processes together, the potential is nothing short of explosive.…
One of the hallmarks of the early modern era is mobility, which means we will be jumping around a bit. This episode follows the story of the exiles upon their arrival in Italy. They take with them a messianic hope that the end is near, and they find their the spirit of Italian humanism. When the two unite, new horizons will open for Christian and Jew alike.…
Epistemology is not about what you know, but about how you know anything all. The word may seem unsettling, but that is nothing compared to the breakdown which Europeans suffered as the foundations of medieval thought dissolved in the 16th century. Copernicus started a revolution which removed the Earth from the center of the Universe and the Church from the middle of science, and we want to know whether this was good news for the Jews.…
You can tell a historian by where he begins and ends his story.Here is a prologue to season two, which begins at the Expulsion from Spain and ends at the rise of the State of Israel. The question is - why is this episode about the 3rd Temple?
As the Jews of Ashkenaz moved eastward, they brought their customs and language with them. What they found waiting in Poland was a refuge that would allow them to prosper for hundreds of years.
The printing press helped spark a knowledge explosion which changed the world, and of course, less than fifty years after Gutenberg printed his Bible, Jewish presses were already transforming the face of the Hebrew book. As one good revolution deserves another - this episode also explores the role that text played in the dawn of the Protestant Reformation. Europe will never be the same, but is it good news for the Jews?…
Gracia Mendes was the most powerful Jewish woman since Queen Esther. Defying princes and Popes she amassed a fortune, supporyitng the poor, patronizing culture, and building an underground railroad to aid conversos escaping the clutches of the Inquisition. Here is her story.
Though the early modern era was a time of throwing off tradition for many Europeans, in the city of Tzefat its power was alive and well. This is the story of how R' Yosef Karo became the greatest legal authority of his day, and wrote the work which would "set the table" for the legal discussion of the next 500 years.…
The Golden Age of Tzefat had more to it than the writing of authoritative legal texts. There was also a flowering of kabbalistic thought which returned the experience of the Divine to its central place in the culture of Am Yisrael. And the most powerful master of this esoteric wisdom was certainly R' Yitzchak Luria - the Holy Ari z"l.…
Hope is a powerful force. The conversos who escaped from Iberia and built a new life were driven by the hope for freedom, prosperity and ultimately redemption. But even once the New World colonies were established, the one place in the world where the Jews were absent was the British Isles. Was their return to England the secret to finally realizing their ultimate hope?…
The appearance of Shabbetai Zvi evoked a tidal wave of messianic hope which swept Jews and Christians in its wake. Was his advent just a case of the "perfect storm" conditions in history, or was there something more fundamental to the Jewish story which drove his ascent?
Within two decades after the Baal Shem Tov's death, a movement sprung up from his revolutionary thoughts. This new current of Jewish life did not emerge without controversy; and as the chasidim and their opponents were struggling over the soul of Am Yisrael, the body of Polish Jewry was suddenly split in three by the partition of Poland.…
Baruch Spinoza the was the most famous philosopher the Jews ever produced, but he had to leave the fold in order to speak his truth. He crowned reason king of creation at the same time as the mythic imagination of the Sabbatean heretics was coming to a boil.
The institutions of the middle ages have already run their course, and the way ahead into modernity is far from clear for Polish Jewry. Out of this darkness and confusion a new light will emerge, infusing religious life with vitality and joy. This is the first of two episodes on the rise of the Ba'al Shem Tov and the Chassidic movement.…
Just when you think the Sabbateans have had their last say in the story, one of the greatest conflicts of 18th century rabbinic culture breaks out. This episode explores the controversy between R' Yaakov Emden and R' Yonatan Eybeschuetz and how it contributed to the crisis of European Jewry's encounter with the Enlightenment.…
1 TJS II Episode 14: The German Socrates 1:01:47
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1:01:47Moses Mendelssohn was a critical philosopher of the German Enlightenment and the most controversial figure of the Jewish Enlightenment. Whether you think that he was a light to his generation or a boundary breaker who led many to sin, his life story deserves to be heard.
Mendelssohn's story continues, but one man does not a movement make. The Berlin Haskalah was a whole generation of transition, one which struggled with the boundaries of Torah, society and identity. And one which saw some of the first battle lines of modernity being drawn.
1 TJS II Episode 18: National Jew and International Jew 1:03:20
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1:03:20The struggle between the parochial and the cosmopolitan is a defining tension of the 19th century - for Europe as a whole and the Jews in particular. In this episode we will update our understanding of chassidut as it battles with the Galician Haskalah, meet the figure of the radical socialist Jew in the person of Moses Hess, and ask the question whether to be a national or international Jew.…
As the Emperor of France spreads the ideals of the revolution through Europe, the question arises - is emancipation a right, a privilege or a threat? Every action had an equal and opposite reaction, and this episode will outline the origins of both the Reform and Orthodox movements.
The remarkable persistence of Am Yisrael as an ethnic entity, despite the best efforts of emancipation, is what poses the Jewish Question to European society. And while Europe is asking what to do with the Jews, the Jews will be asking what we do with ourselves. In both cases it will be the power of a scientific approach to historical research which seems to offer the answer.…
1 TJS II Episode 19: The Ultimate Ism 1:01:40
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1:01:40It's time to talk about nationalism. Here is a presentation of the underpinnings of nationalist thought along with a look at what is happening in the Pale of Settlement. The episode ends with a ground breaking work that emerges from the intersection of the two.
In the second half of the 19th century the Jewish problem was pressing, and it took the form of antisemitism. When faced with such a problem, it is not surprising that many leaders took a problem-solving approach to the future of Am Yisrael. But what if our goal is not to solve the Jewish problem, but rather fulfill the Jewish mission?…
Return to the land of Israel had been a dream for almost 2000 years, and in the late 19th century it began to become a reality. It took a special man to transform the notion of national rebirth from a subconscious desire to an international issue. Here is a presentation of the early life of Theodore Herzl.…
At the First Zionist Congress, Herzl awakened the Jews of Europe to their national political life. But Asher Zvi Ginsberg, better known as Ahad Ha'am, tried to teach them that the soul of the people needs to be revived before they seek their national home. The battle between them will become a fundamental split in Zionism whose influence remains down to our day.…
Did you ever wonder how the Jews went from being the martyrs of Europe to the military power of the Middle East in less than fifty years? This episode uncovers the roots of the extraordinary transformation of the physical culture of Am Yisrael in Max Nordau's vision of a muscular Judaism.
The end of the 19th century was a time of dramatic ideological struggle - cosmopolitanism vs. nationalism, socialism vs. capitalism. Early Zionist thought shows such incredible diversity that every element of society, Jewish and not, can be found there. Here is one more stream to explore - the religion of labor.…
There are times in history which define us even now, and in the state of Israel the Second Aliyah is second to none in that respect. This episode tells of the chalutzim, the idealistic pioneers who came up to the land to build the world, one goat at a time.
The world is starting to shake with the rumbles of the the coming world war. The destruction which is to come will sweep away much of the old, and open new horizons for the budding Zionist project. But the pioneers must be willing to fight for the land which they long to redeem.
World War One brought massive destruction and great change. When the smoke cleared from this great conflagration, the British Empire was left in control of the land of Israel. This seemed to be good news for the Jews, except that Her Majesty's government had promised this particular piece of Ottoman territory to three different parties.…
The return of the Jewish people to the tools of political and military power was bound up with their return to the land of Israel. This episode explores the rise of the military model within the Zionist movement, and the power of the martyrdom of Joseph Trumpeldor as an inspiration for further struggle…
Each successive wave of immigrants that came up to the land brought with them their blessings, and their challenges. As the population grew, so did the nature of power politics. In the 1920's two leaders emerged whose opposing visions define many of the political conflicts in our State today. Here is an episode on David Ben Gurion and Zeev Jabotinsky.…
Patterns are hard things to break, and we can learn much about ourselves by how they come about. Here is a look at the cycle of riots which rocked the Yishuv in the 1920's, and set the mold for Arab/Jewish relations for decades to come.
1 TJS II Episode 31: Interwar Jewry 1:02:22
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1:02:22Though the land of Israel is the hinge around which the Jewish Story turns, there are many Jews whose future does not lie in Zion. This episode widens the scope of our story to consider the life of European Jews in the interwar period, and how they contributed to the nature of Jewishness outside of the Zionist dream.…
1 TJS I Episode 2: The Return To Zion, Re-building the Walls of Identity, Religion, and Jerusale 41:36
In Episode 2 of The Jewish Story, Rav Mike explores the walls built by Ezra and Nechemia, and the power which exclusivity over our story gives in the shaping of identity.
The opening episode of the Jewish Story! Rav Mike touches his perspective on history and then tells the story of Daniel as the link between the age of prophecy and the age of wisdom.
The Men of the Great Assembly lie on the other side of the mists of the Persian period from Daniel. They will begin to lay the foundations of Judaism as we know it, guiding Israel away from prophecy and toward wisdom. Aside from their place in chronology, what makes them so great?
The encounter between Greek and Jewish culture was love at first sight. The two cultures were bridged by language, and one of its great products of their fusion was the Septuagint - the Greek translation of the Bible. But every translation is an interpretation, and it was not clear how long Hellenistic Judaism could walk the line between acculturation and assimilation.…
In this episode Rav Mike describes the rise of Hellenistic Judaism as the background for the Channukah story. Judah and his brothers rose in revolt because they understood that identity is a matter of life and death. Their determination liberated the Temple, but what was the nature of the light they kindled there?…
Rav Mike discusses the rise and fall of the Hasmonean dynasty, from a kingdom of priests to Hellenestic kingdom. Also hear how Judean society began to tear along lines which will define things for some time to come.
Herod the Wicked or Herod the Great? In this episode Rav Mike talks about Herod's kingdom, the final phase of Judea preceding the destruction of the Second Temple. Herod's complex personality matched the fragmented nature of his kingdom, but the state he built was strong enough to hold off the disaster to come.…
In this episode Rav Mike discusses the persona of HiIlel the Elder. Hillel was named Nasi, prince, at the same time as Herod was king. In addition, Jesus of Nazareth was born in his lifetime. Together, these three represent competing models of the kingdom of God, and they and their followers will live out a struggle over who will be king.…
We are on the eve of destruction. As the national vessel begins to fray at the seams and the Temple's burning looms, the cultural battle within the text of the Torah erupts. When the smoke clears from the destruction it will be the divergent understandings of God's will as embodied in the text which will serve as the foundation of the future. But for now the battle rages.…
In this episode, R' Mike describes the destruction of Jerusalem from without and from within. In order to do so he compares the perspectives of the great Jewish historian Josephus and the leading Sage R' Yochanan ben Zakkai. In the end it is clear that the real question is not how was Jerusalem destroyed, but rather - why?…
The ruins of the Temple were still smoldering when Judea burst into the flames of rebellion once again. In this episode Rav Mike discusses the final two rounds of the Roman Jewish wars. Filled with brutal bloodshed and failed messiahs, this is the time period which convinced Rome that the Jews were the indigestible element of their Empire.…
R' Yehudah HaNasi redacted the Mishna but he inherited its form and content from R' Akiva. In this episode, R' Mike explores the nature of the mishna and traces its development in the hands of R' Akiva's students.
It is the end of an era. In this episode Rav Mike explores rabbinic chronology, textual evolution and socio-political context in order to illustrate the shift between the time of the Tanaim and the time of the Amoraim.
Identity is always a battle. In this episode Rav Mike explores the struggle between Christianity and Judaism in late antiquity, as well the inner struggle of Am Yisrael to preserve its unique voice in the text of the gemara. These two together will fix the topic of our conversation for some time to come.…
The rise of Islam will offer new opportunities and pose new challenges for the survival of Am Yisrael. On one hand, the struggle to claim the title of true Israel which dominates life in the Christian world will be absent. On the other, the ease of cultural fusion with Islam will cause confusion about where one leaves off and the other begins.…
It as been quite a long while since R' Yochanan fled the Roman siege of Jerusalem, but now after seven hundred years the Jews have been united under what can be definitively called Judaism. But the birth of unified identity is itself what invites schism into the world.
There is a debate whether great individuals shape history or history shapes them, but there is no argument about the role which R' Saadia Gaon played in shaping the Jewish Middle Ages. A mastery of poetry, polemics, Bible and language R' Saadia revolutionized Jewish literature. Nevertheless. his quest to reconcile reason and revelation sowed the seeds of conflict to come.…
Spanish Jewry viewed itself as the nobility of the Jewish people, whose roots were in the legendary past. This episode traces history of the community from the fall of Rome until the rise of the Muslim Kingdom of Al Andalus and the linguistic origins of the Golden Age of Spain.
The 10th and 11th centuries of Jewish life in Al Andalus were so rich and productive that they were known as the Golden Age. The Jews struck root deeply in the soil of Muslim culture, and produced warriors, philosophers and poets. In this time of passion, it was not clear what would define Am Yisrael - the call of the spirit or the call of the flesh.…
Yehudah Halevi was the poet of a generation, and perhaps the most celebrated poet of medieval Spain. He also swam against the tide of philosophical rationalism and invited his readers to experience the Torah from the inside. But how did the national poet of Jewish Spain die outside the walls of Jerusalem?…
The Rambam was the second famous Moses in Jewish History. His accomplishments in Jewish law and philosophy tower over his contemporaries, and are pillars of of the Torah to this very day. Nonetheless, he was the source of great controversy in his day, igniting a struggle which ended in excommunications and book burning.…
The Jewish Story: 50th Jerusalem Day by Rav Mike
The Expulsion from Spain marks a turning point in Jewish history. In addition to a national trauma which evokes the memory of the Temple's destruction, it challenges the model of identity which has served the Jews for nearly 2000 years. In this epilogue, Rav Mike takes a look back at where we have been in order to raise some thoughts about where we are headed. Stay tuned for season two!…
The Jewish Story: Independence Day by Rav Mike
The origins of Ashkenazi Jewry are bound up with the rise of Christian Europe. As the kingdoms of the Middle Ages began to take shape, teachers like Rashi gave form to a kingdom of the Torah which the Jews could inhabit while living among their neighbors. But the tranquility of the early years was shattered by the horrors of the First Crudsade, and Ashkenazi Jewry would never be the same again.…
The twelfth century was a time of spiritual expansion as the Tosafists transformed the Talmud and the Pietists of Ashkenaz awakened new depths of the soul. Darkness grew as well, as the Crusades rolled through Europe and the terrible new accusation of the blood libel was born. But it was specifically out of this darkness that the depths emerged.…
In the thirteenth centuries the stories of Ashkenaz and Spain begin to draw together. This is the great age of Christian expansion, which brings on book burning and religious disputation. It is also the age in which the kabbalah emerges as an answer to the challenge of evil.
When faced with the choice between the cross and the sword, the Ashkenazi communities of the middle ages chose martyrdom. Why was the decision of their Spanish contemporaries so different?
When the storm broke in 1391, thousands were dead and even more converted. A new model of identity was born in the century before the expulsion, and it poses challenges that are present down to our day.
The forced conversion of tens of thousands of Jews may have seemed like a great victory for Christianity, but in reality these conversos were a ticking bomb in the heart of Christian culture. In this episode Rav Mike speaks about the lead up to the great expulsion - the last great Christian/Jewish debate of the Middle Ages, the first historical appearance of racial Jew hatred and the civil war threatening to tear apart the Iberian Peninsula.…
A lot more happened in 1492 than Columbus sailing the ocean blue. Upon their marriage, Ferdinand and Isabella are determined to make newborn Spain a unified country, which means that there is no place for Am Yisrael. The tools of Inquisition and war will earn them the title of the Catholic Monarchs, and will birth the means of oppression employed by totalitarian societies down through the ages.…
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