Jewish History Uncensored

In this episode we look at the contemporary theory that real opposition to Beshtian Chassidus only started in 1781. We start looking at the issue of what part the Maskilim  played in the confrontation between Chassidim and Misnagdim. We look specifically at Yisroel of Zamosz. Was Yisroel of Zamosz an early Maskil? Was he one of the first opponents of Chassidus?  We also look at the different ways...

In this episode we look at the Vilna Cherem of 1772.  We look at the broader historical context. How much of a part did the Vilna Gaon play in this Cherem?  Was the Vilna Gaon the main cause of the Cherem? Was there a connection between the Vilna community crisis and this Cherem? Were there other major causes for the Cherem? ______________________________________________________________ Rabbi Arni...

GAON #16 - The Vilna Communal Turmoil in the 1760's The Jewish Community of Vilna in the times of the Vilna Gaon was in a state of extreme turmoil. In this episode we look at the basic details of the struggle between the last Rabbi of Vilna, Rabbi Shmuel ben Avigdor and the Kahal. What caused this conflict to start? What were they arguing about? What steps were taken to resolve the conflict? Why w...

This episode is an appreciation of the Mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva, R Aharon Chadash זצ״ל . I had the privilege of knowing the Mashgiach for over thirty years and interacting with him in many different ways. Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein is a well known Torah scholar, Tanach expert, and Historian. He has lectured in the Mir Yeshiva, Torat Shraga, and and many Shuls internationally. These podcasts integ...

Episode 15 - The Gaon and His Bais Medrash   In this episode we take a closer look at many of the biographical details of the Vilna Gaon. When was his Bais Medrash built?  We also look at the Vilna Gaon's close students, especially R Chaim Volozhin. Was there a difference between how the Vilna Gaon related to his earlier students and his later ones? What can we learn from these facts about his att...

Episode 14 -GAON V - The Vilna Gaon's Unfulfilled Ambitious Projects   In this episode we look at the Vilna Gaon's most ambitious projects that he ultimately was not able to complete. His project of writing a final and fully definitive version of Shulchan Aruch and his attempted Aliyah to Israel. Are these two projects connected? Is there anyway to know when they happened? How much documentation i...

Episode 13 -  Vilna Gaon IV - The Gaon's editing of Rabbinical Documents One of the other key issues we look at is how to understand the Vilna Gaon's editing of Shas and other Rabbinic material. Why did he edit some of these documents heavily and barely touch others?  How does the Vilna Gaon's editing of Shas relate to the editing done by the other Acharonim? How would we project  the Gaon to have...

Episode 12 - Vilna Gaon III - The Gaon's Torah Accomplishments   In this episode we take a closer look at the  Vilna Gaon's accomplishments in Torah. One of the key issues is proper understanding of the Vilna Gaon as a posek. How revolutionary was he? How much of a departure was he from the earlier poskim? One of the other key issues we look at is how to understand the Vilna Gaon's editing of Shas...

GAON #11 - Vilna Gaon - Legacy  In this episode we take a closer look at the image that the Vilna Gaon created in his student's eyes. One of the primary examples is the Vilna Gaon's legendary diligence. This is one of the most important legacy's of the Gaon. We also discuss how to practically relate to this legacy. _______________________________________________________________ Rabbi Arnie Wittens...

Unit on the Vilna Gaon This part of the series looks at the Vilna Gaon. We will examine his life, his ambitious projects , accomplishments, his contributions to Torah, and his historical legacy. We will see how the Vilna Gaon clearly influenced Polish Lithuanian Jewry and how this left a deep historical imprint.  EPISODE 10  Vilna Gaon Early Life  In this episode we look at the family background o...

In this episode we look for the most accurate parallelism to Corona in Tanach. We also carefully look at the basic structure of the Redemption, and see how and if this applies to the Corona crisis.  Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein is a well known Torah scholar, Tanach expert, and Historian. He has lectured in the Mir Yeshiva, Torat Shraga, and and many Shuls internationally. These podcasts integrate his b...

The Ramban & The Besht In this episode we take a more in depth look at the Ramban's approach to Hoshgocha Pratit', G-d direct involvement in the world. We examine the relationship between the Ramban and the Besht's approaches in this important issue.   Other topics discussed are the Rambam and the controversy around the Rambam in this era. We also take another look at the important parable of the...

Beshtian Theology II In this episode, we take a closer look at the video way the Besht views the world. We also start looking at the Besht's approach to, 'raising the sparks', and how this can be implemented into prayer. We also look at how the Besht changed the definition of ultimate piety.  Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein is a well known Torah scholar, Tanach expert, and Historian. He has lectured in th...

In this episode we start looking at the Besht's thought. First we look at what is said in the academic world about the Besht's thought and why the Vilna Gaon argues with him. We go on to examine the Besht's ideas in the greater framework of how the classics understood the issue of Divine Providence, Hashgacha Pratit.     Other topics discussed are did Shabtai Tzvi's apostasy have anything to do wi...

 In this episode, we look at the two basic types of opposition to the Besht and his spiritual heirs. The first type of opposition is communal or societal opposition. This type of opposition was due to Chassidus redefining the leadership qualifications in the communal structure. The second type of opposition was deeper and for theological reasons. We start looking at why the Besht's innovations wer...

This shiur looks at the Besht living in Mezhobozh. Did the Besht experience any opposition when he first moved to Mezhibozh? Is there any documentation to this? What can we learn about the Besht and his communal status from this? We will also see if there is significant historical documentation to the Besht's status during his life.    Other topics discussed are Uman and Rosh Ha-Shana, and the bas...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein is a well known Torah scholar, Tanach expert, and Historian. He has lectured in the Mir Yeshiva, Torat Shraga, and and many Shuls internationally. These podcasts integrate his broad knowledge of many different facets of Torah and History. Join in weekly to gain accurate & in depth knowledge of some of the most important and controversial topics in Jewish History. For tours,...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein is a well known Torah scholar, Tanach expert, and Historian. He has lectured in the Mir Yeshiva, Torat Shraga, and and many Shuls internationally. These podcasts integrate his broad knowledge of many different facets of Torah and History. Join in weekly to gain accurate & in depth knowledge of some of the most important and controversial topics in Jewish History. For tours,...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein is a well known Torah scholar, Tanach expert, and Historian. He has lectured in the Mir Yeshiva, Torat Shraga, and and many Shuls internationally. These podcasts integrate his broad knowledge of many different facets of Torah and History. Join in weekly to gain accurate & in depth knowledge of some of the most important and controversial topics in Jewish History. For tours,...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein is a well known Torah scholar, Tanach expert, and Historian. He has lectured in the Mir Yeshiva, Torat Shraga, and and many Shuls internationally. These podcasts integrate his broad knowledge of many different facets of Torah and History. Join in weekly to gain accurate & in depth knowledge of some of the most important and controversial topics in Jewish History. For tours,...