Jewish History Uncensored

   In this episode we look at why all the different parts of the Haredi world have deep hesitance with basic pshat and Tanach. Why is this true? Is this an example of the cure is worse than the disease? What is worse over simplifying Midrashim or treating Midrashim disrespectfully?     This week's episode is dedicated by Mr and Mrs Pinchas and Malka Friedman in honor of their parents Mr and Mrs He...

  In this episode we look at the historically controversial issue of balancing the Midrashim with the basic meaning of the text. The first factor we need to understand is what is the importance of basic pshat, and why did Rashi put so much work into it.  We similarly examine what lesson we should learn from Israeli advances in Syria. Is this connected to Moshiach? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein'...

In this episode we look at the fall of Bashir Assad. What caused his fall? How does this affect the general Israel Arab conflict? How much do we know about it? How does this affect how we understand the situation in Iran? What lessons can we learn from this? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key...

   In this episode we take a closer look at the Vilna Gaon's editing work. What was his basic methodology of editing? How novel was his work? How would the Vilna Gaon have used the many manuscripts that we have today?   We start looking at the issue of when should one understand a Midrash literally? What is Rashi's approach to this issue? We also discuss the question of did Rashi have Kabbalah.  N...

   In this episode we look at the issue of analyzing and editing Midrashim. What is the difference between how the Vilna Gaon edited Midrashim and how his son edited Midrashim? Why did R Avrohom Vilner have a different way of editing Midrashim? We also examine the issue of which Midrashim Rashi had.    This week's episode is dedicated לזכות שמעון הירש בן אברהם דוב that he should be successful in a...

   In this episode we look at another one the lessons of the Presidential election - how fidelity is an important facet of Emuna. How should a person use that Emuna tool.    One of R Avrohom Vilner's key life accomplishments was his work on Midrashim. We look at one the very basic issues, which is how and why people in the Torah World view the authorship of these Midrashim.    This week's episode...

   In this episode we look at the recent Presidential election in the USA. How shocked should we have been by the outcome? What lessons can we learn from this? What is the Torah perspective on the relationship between leadership and the masses?   This episode is dedicated by Global Property Services, serving the NY area's pest control since 1997. It is also dedicated l'ilui nishmas R Noson Tzvi Fi...

   In this episode we look at the different categories of war according to the Torah. Is there any proof that the Torah considers war a legitimate national policy? Why is the War of Gog considered the ultimate war? What other major Tanachic event is it connected to?  This week's episode is dedicated to inspire more spreading of Torah though technology by an anonymous donor  Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wi...

In this episode we continue looking at the issue of casualties in war.  Is it normal for an army to suffer casualties, is there a time when an army shouldn't suffer casualties? How does the Gaza War fit into this? We also look at the issue of morality and war. How should we understand the level of immortality of war?   This week's episode is dedicated in honor of all the Torat Shraga Rebeiim, sons...

 This week's episode is dedicated in honor of all the Torat Shraga Rebeiim, sons of Rebeiim, and former Talmidim out there defending us by a former Talmid. In this episode we start looking at the issue of Torah and War.   What does the Torah hold about military training? How much efforts did the Kings of Yehuda put into this? What was Dovid's policy about this? What types of training was Dovid wil...

This week's episode is dedicated as a merit for peace for Israel, and healing by all those injured by a listener, and also by an anonymous listener.  In this episode we look at the attitude of the Vilna Gaon and his son to science. Was it abnormal for the Vilna Gaon's son to translate a science book into Hebrew? How did they understand the relationship between science and Torah? How do we understa...

  In this episode we look at another of the important lessons of the Gaza War. What can we learn from the extreme obsession people have about Israel? What is the Tanachic precedent for this?   We go back and look at R Avrohom Vilner's commentary on Tehillim ch 23 - ה׳ רועי לא אחסר. What style of parshanut is he using? What important insights can we see from his explanations about him? Nach Yomi:  ...

This episode is sponsored by Ben and Talia Silver  Mr Gerald Wittenstein לעילוי נשמת יוסף בן משה   #207 - The Gaza War - A Rosh HaShana Perspective    In this episode we look at the Gaza War from a Rosh HaShana perspective. What is special and different the Gaza War from a Jewish History perspective? How does this event differ from Covid? What are the lessons we can learn from this unprecedented H...

 In this episode we look at R Avrohom Vilner, the Vilna Gaon's youngest son. What positions did he hold? What does this tell us about him? What lessons can we learn from this? What Sefarim did he print? What do we see from his Sefer, 'Gevolos HaAretz'? How common was it for Rabbanim to know European languages? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five da...

This week's episode is sponsored לעילוי נשמת אריה מרדכי בן אברהם יצחק In this episode we take a deeper look at how the ideals of Torah learning mentioned in Maalos HaTorah played a significant part in creating the original Ashkenazi Jewish Community in Israel. We also take a deeper look at how to properly understand the concept  of Historical Inertia.    Similarly we look at how the Maalos HaTorah...

This week's episode is dedicated לעילוי נשמת ר אליהו בן ר יוסף.   In this week's episode we take a closer look at what the Vilna Gaon meant when he said there are more than 613 mitzvos. Similarly we look at a number of his very novel applications of this concept. We also look at how there is a certain overlap with what many would consider Chassidus.    We also look at the concept of Historical Ine...

 This week's episode is sponsored לעילוי נשמת ר חיים רפאל יוסף דוד בן צבי מרדכי on the occasion of his Yahrzeit     This week we look at the sefer of R Avrohom the Vilna Gaon's brother, Maalos HaTorah. The main topic of the sefer is the importance of learning Torah. We discuss why the sefer isn't as popular as Nefesh HaChaim Shaar Daled, even though it is written in an easier way to understand. We...

This week's episode is sponsored by Mr and Mrs Avi Meir לרפואה שלימה לעדו יחיאל בן ציונה  This week we look at the life of R Avrohom Rogeler, the Vilna Gaon's brother. Where did he live? Why is he called R Avrohom Rogeler? What were his significant accomplishments? What are the important lessons we can learn from his life? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek...

This week's episode is sponsored לעילוי נשמת ר שלום אליעזר בן ר ישראל ראגאזין a member of the Voluzhin Kollel This week we are starting a new series about the Talmidai HaGra. We start by looking at the classic understanding of the dynamic and application of Rebbe and Talmid. How did the Vilna Gaon and his Talmidim fit into the classic structure of Rebbe and Talmid. Does Chassidus see this issue di...

  This week's episode is sponsored לעילוי נשמת עלקא עליזה בת ר יעקב by her family on the occasion of her Yahrzeit  In this week's episode we discuss the question is it proper to mention the events of last October 7 on Tisha B'Av? What level of National tragedy is fitting to mention on Tisha B'Av? Do the tragic events of October 7 fit into this? Similarly is it proper to remember and discuss the 20...

This episode is dedicated by the family l'ilui nishmas my father R Yosef ben Moshe HCM. In this episode, we look at my father's experiences after they moved to Israel in 1986 and how he interacted with, 'Old Israel'. We also look at how he learnt Daf Yomi for about thirty years and why he was able to successfully do this. We also look at his decision to go back to the USA in order to help his sons...

In this episode we look how when our family moved to Atlanta, my father took advantage of all the opportunities in a larger Jewish community. We also look at his deep involvement in the Skylab re-enter project. Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click  here  to join!  For tours, speaki...

In this episode we look at how my father slowly integrated more mitzvos in to his life. And how he had a very dramatic dream that he connected to the Mitzva of wearing Tefillin. We also look at how he recognized the importance of Shas and took steps to master the skills of learning Gemara.  Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a ni...

In this episode we look at how my father ended up taking a real role in teaching Torah in Huntsville and how this affected him. Did this have any connection to his training as a scientist?  We also look at how the presence of IDF soldiers in Huntsville played a major part in his spiritual growth, especially the Shomer Shabbos ones. How common was it in the early 70s for an IDF officer to be shomer...

In this episode we take a deeper look at NASA and the cultural crisis of the 60s. We also look at the Moon Landing. Was Neal Armstrong the author of his famous statement? How did Gedolai Torah view the issue? We also look at how a career in Rocket Science can change how a person sees the world. Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with...