Jewish History Uncensored

In this week's episode, we look at the issue of learning lessons from Tanach. What tools are necessary to properly learn lessons to today's complicated world? Is there a correlation between source of power and limits of power? What lessons about leadership can we learn from Nechemia?  This week's episode is dedicated לעילוי נשמת יונה דוד בן ילחטו״א ר שמעון יעקב הלוי on the occasion of his first Ya...

In this week's episode we look at the peace agreement that is being finalized. Should we be surprised by the way this agreement is being implemented? Is Trump's approach here surprising? How will this affect the upcoming Israeli elections? How will this affect Bibi's legacy? How common is it for a leader of a democratic country to hold power so long? This week's episode is dedicated in honor of th...

In this week's episode we discuss the issue of what does it mean being part of the process in terms of explaining Torah and psak. How do we understand R Menashe of Iliya's proposing ideas different from the classics?  We also examine a very important statement of R Menashe of Iliya in his last work, Shekel HaKodesh, about his custom of travel. Can we combine this with his first pamphlet, Pesher Da...

In this week's episode, we have a deeper discussion of why the proposal that R Menashe of Iliya was trying to create something similar to the Aguda of the 1920's is deeply flawed. We examine the very basic differences between the two time periods, and how this affects how we understand what his idea really was. We similarly look at how the basic pattern of R Menashe life and how he travelled a lot...

In this week's episode we take a closer look at the Noda B'Yehuda's famed statement about not saying the Kabbalistic formula before mitzvas. We similarly closely examine if he is referring to Beshtian Chassidim in this teshuva. We also discuss his relationship with R Gershon Kitover and what we can learn from this.  We also continue out discussion about Pesher Davar and why there is so much debate...

In this week's episode, we take a deep look at who R Menashe of Iliya was referring to when he divided the Rabbis into three groups. Is the reference to Kabalists only mean the Chassidic Rabbis? Is there any reference to the students of the Vilna Gaon here? We continue to look at the content of the Pesher Davar. What makes understanding the content of this pamphlet difficult to grasp? How common w...

In this week's episode, we take a closer look at R Menashe of Iliya's first pamphlet, Pesher Davar. Who is this pamphlet addressed to? Which Rabbis is referring to when he mentions simple ones? Who are the Kabbalists? Is this referring to the Chassidim? Plungian says that he met R Shnuer Zalman of Liozna and Liadi. Based on what we know about both of them, how should this meeting have gone? How do...

In this week's episode, we start properly examining R Menashe of Iliya's written works. We start by looking at his Sefer on Tanach, Binas HaMikra. We will be able to have a solid understanding of his attitude towards Chazal from this sefer. We also start looking at his first printed work, the Kuntress Pesher Davar. We examine who he is referring to when he divides the Rabbis into three groups. Whi...

In this week's episode, we look at why the Enlightenment created such a spiritual challenge? What made it different than previous confrontations? Where did the Enlightenment accept the wisdom of the Ancients? What was R Menashe of Iliya's approach in these issues? What makes him different than the Maskilim?  This week's episode is dedicated לעילוי נשמת אבי יוסף בן משה by one of my closest talmidim...

In this week's episode, we look at how the concept of legal equality has deeply affected the way people view the world. We also look at how the attempts to implement legal equality with limits of governmental power have affected society. We similarly examine how and why political parties have risen and become such a deep part of our world.  You can now help Rabbi Wittenstien  create new and origin...

In this week's episode, we look at one of the most difficult aspects of the Holocaust, the Judenrate and their task of carrying out the rules the Germans gave them. Should they be considered collaborators? We also discuss the deep and difficult moral crises that Judenrate faced in the Holocaust.  You can now help Rabbi Wittenstien  create new and original content via our non profit  'The Jewish Hi...

In this episode, we continue to look at the challenge of Emuna in the contemporary world. We also look at the classic response and how well that works in our times. We also carefully examine the order of the steps in building Emuna in our times and how to synthesize this with the classic approach of the Ramban in the end of Bo.  This is a link to the structural outline of  Shir HaShirim : https://...

In this episode, we look at the connection between Pesach and Emuna. We carefully examine why Emuna is and how we relate and use the term today. We similarly examine the basic challenge of Emuna we face in our times. Similarly, we look at the ideal of Emuna and how to come to a realistic appraisal of why we can do to improve our Emuna.   You can now help Rabbi Wittenstien  create new and original...

In this episode, we take a deeper look at the ramifications of Theological motivations and why most people today don't properly understand them. We also look at how the broadening of the Iranian attacks will deeply complicate the situation.  We examine the claim of many that this war is connected to the War of Gog. What is the basic structure of the War of Gog? Does this war fit into that in any w...

In this week's episode, we look at the latest war with Iran. We start by examining the limits of air strikes. What can air strikes accomplish? How much effect will an air campaign have? What are the chances that an air campaign will cause the Islamic Republic to fall? We similarly examine governmental structure of the Islamic Republic. How will this effect the events?  What lessons can we learn fr...

In this week's episode, we more carefully examine R' Menashe of Iliya's interactions with the Vilna Gaon. We see how R' Menashe of Iliya was able to deeply appreciate the Vilna Gaon's depth of understanding all parts of Torah. We also start looking at what R' Menashe of Iliya's ideas were to resolve the crisis of population growth and poverty.   You can now help Rabbi Wittenstien  create new and o...

In this week's episode we look at the significance of R Menashe of Iliya's connection with the Vilna Gaon. What was the Vilna Gaon's approach to teaching talmidim? Was this the standard practice? We also look at certain similarities between R Menashe of Iliya and the Besht.  This week's episode is dedicated לרפואה השלימה לשרה פעשא בת יפה אסתר by her family and לעילוי נשמת חיה בת ר' אלכסנדער  You c...

In this week's episode, we look at the opposition to the Mussar Movement. What type of opposition was there initially, was this connected to the issue of Yeshiva curriculum? We also look at the issue of R Menashe of Iliya as a talmid of the Vilna Gaon. Why would one think he was a talmid of the Vilna Gaon? Why would one think he in fact wasn't? This week's episode is dedicated לעילוי נשמת קלמן נפת...

In this week's episode, we look at the details of R Menashe of Iliya's second marriage. We also look at how he reacted to his father in law's loss of fortune, and how this effected his life. We also look at some of his most important talmidim and what this tells us about him. This week's episode is dedicated לרפואה השלימה לשרה פעשא בת יפה אסתר by her family.   Zelle :  jewishhistorytnchfoundation@...

In this week's episode, we look at the recent tragedy in Romema where two children died in a day care. What concerning patterns did we see in the reaction to this event? What fundamental mistakes were made in the way things were handled?   There is exciting news!! I have opened a non profit called, 'The Jewish History and Tanach Foundation'. You can now help me continue to create new and original...

In this week's episode, we look at how R Menashe of Iliya's reputation was seen by the Gedolai Lita as we can see from careful reading of the Haskomos. We also look at the issue of when one should respond to outside ideas. We also look at his second marriage and how it differed in many ways from his first marriage, and we similarly see how he coped with significant difficulties.   There is excitin...

In this episode we continue looking at some of Plungian's stories about R Menashe of Iliya. We specifically look at his claim that R Menashe wanted to travel to Berlin to study with Mendelsohn, but wasn't able to due to passport issues. We also start looking at his great grandson, R Yitzchok Spalter's biographical sketch. We look at his first marriage and divorce.  This week's episode is dedicated...

In this episode, we look at the basic challenge due to the biography of  R Menashe written by Mordechai Plungian. How much credence should one give to the Plungian biography? What was R Matisyahu Shtrason's reaction? Why is this so significant? What basic rule can we learn about the Vilna Gaon's approach to learning that will shed light on this issue? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi o...

In this episode, we continue to look at the cultural milieu of the Lithuanian Talmidai Chochomim. How much of the contemporary European thought were they aware of?  We look at R Menashe of Iliya's early life and background. Where was he from? Which other famous people were from his home town of Smargon? What does this teach us about his life? We also start looking at the complications due to the f...

In this episode we look at the basic communal tensions that existed in the Polish Lithuanian Jewish Community during the 1700's. What were the main causes of these tensions? What were the main factors in determining communal leadership? Did these natural tensions contribute to the challenge of determining practical leadership?   Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a...