Jewish History Uncensored

Podcast Sponsored by Otzar HaChochma 30% OFF Summer Sale!  Click here! In this episode we take another look why many are deeply unsettled by AI. We also look at the key differences between AI and Human Intelligence. How does Aristotle define the ultimate Human Accomplishment? How did the Rambam modify this concept? What is the ultimate goal of Human ability and accomplishment? Can AI play any sign...

Podcast Sponsored by Otzar HaChochma 30% OFF Summer Sale! Click here! In this episode we look at the new innovation of AI, Chat GPT. Why do people feel threatened by this development? Does this have anything in common with the fear of nuclear warfare during the Cold War? How close to human intelligence is this? What is the very basic difference between this and human intelligence? Nach Yomi:   Joi...

 In this episode we look at one of R Shnuer Zalman's most important accomplishments, writing his commentary on Shulchan Aruch. Why did he do this? Did this have any connection to the general machlokes between Chassidim and Misnagdim? What is the basic stylistic difference between R Shnuer Zalman's Shulchan Aruch and the Vilna Gaon's commentary on Shulchan Aruch? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's...

In this episode we take a quick  look at the Sabbetian and Frankist movements and how this flavored the machlokes between the Chassidim and Misnagdim. We also look at R Shnuer Zalman's move to Liozna. Why did he move? Is this connected to his becoming a Chassid? 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...

In this episode we look at the sale of the Sasson Codex and how this relates to how people view Tanach. We look at the end of R' Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk's life and how he helped establish the modern Ashkenazi community in Israel. We also look R' Shnuer Zalman of Liadi's early life. We also examine the issue of understanding Chassdic stories. We also examine the controversial Kherson Geniza stor...

In this episode we start by looking at the significance of the Eichmann capture and execution from a Torah perspective. We also examine the issue of the negotiations in March '44 between Eichmann and R Michoel Ber Weissmandl.    We also look at the basic machlokes between the Besht and the Gra. What key issues were driving the machlokes? How does the issue of Tzimtzum affect the machlokes? Was one...

In this episode we start with an update of the Sassoon Codex. We then look at the end of R Elimelech's life. What happened between him and R Yaacov Yitzchok of Lanzhut? We start looking at R Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk. What's the relationship between him and Chabad?  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...

In this episode we look at some of the key lessons of R Elimelech's famed Tzetil Katan. How do we understand them in a practical sense? Can we blindly apply them to our lives? We also look at the issue of what R Elimelech's father's name was. 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. We are c...

In this episode, we look at the world reaction to the Eichmann capture. How was it viewed at the time? How did the UN react to the Eichmann capture? We also look at the issue of the rights of the State of Israel to try Eichmann. Did the world accept Israel's right to try Eichmann? Was there a change in attitude to this at later times? Was the State of Israel justified from a Torah perspective? Nac...

In this episode we look at the Eichmann capture. What exact part did Eichmann play in the Holocaust? Why is he more clearly identified with the Holocaust than his boss Kaltenbrunner? What fatal errors did he make that lead to his capture? Why was he the one captured and not Mengele? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minut...

In this episode we look at the importance of the Sassoon Codex.  The Sassoon Codex is going to be auctioned by Sotheby's May 16. The estimated opening bid is 30 million. What is a Codex? Who was Sassoon? Why is this book identified with him?     What makes this sefer so important? Are there any new revelations that we can expect to see in this Codex? How do we understand the differences in learnin...

In this episode we look at the challenge of truly relating to The Exodus. Why are we so challenged? What can we do to deal with the challenge? What are the key lessons of the Exodus? What is the underlying issue that this illustrates?  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. We are currentl...

In this episode we look at some of the other key reasons that Chassidus had more success in countering Haskala than Hisnagdus.  What is the difference in the way the Chassidim see their Rebbes and the way Rabanim were classically looked at. How did this change help Chassidus successfully counter Haskala? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a w...

In this episode we look at the key reasons Chassidus was able to successfully counter the Haskala. What key innovation did Chassidus have that helped them counter Haskala? What is the difference between the way the Vilna Gaon responded to Haskala and the way Chassidus responded to Haskala? When donthe first mentions of Haskala in Chassidus occur?  Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on Wh...

In this episode we look at the well known statement that Chassidus had better response to Haskala than Hisnagdus. How many factors were there in Czarist Russia that contributed to a toxic sociological atmosphere? How do we understand the effects of the cultural milieu of Eastern European Jewry on basic levels of observance in the nineteenth century?  Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on...

In this episode we take another look at the proper place of Psychology in terms of Torah. We also briefly look at how some of the core challenges created by contemporary society.  We start looking at the response of Chassidus to Haskala. It is commonly said that the Chassidim had a better response to Haskala than the Misnagdim. How factual is this statement? What factors do we have to look at to u...

In this episode we look at the overlap between Mishley and Psychology. How much overlap is there? Does classic academia address the overlap? How do we view this from a Torah perspective? What are the key differences between Mishley and Psychology? 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. We...

In this episode we look at more of the Vilna Gaon's response to rationalistic thought. Should we completely avoid rational thought? Is there a place that the rational approach is absolutely necessary? Is there a difference between how the Vilna Gaon addresses these issues and how the classics address these issues?  Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day fi...

In this episode we take a closer look at early Jewish reaction to the Enlightenment. We also look at a couple of the places that the Vilna Gaon seems to be referring to one of the key Enlightenment thinkers, Rousseau. We similarly look at a place where the Vilna Gaon clearly refers to the early Maakilim. Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a w...

In this episode we look at the general context of early response to Enlightenment and Haskala. When did response to Enlightenment begin? What is the basic Torah framework for proper response to challenges? How much of an issue is Haskala today? 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. We are...

In this week's episode we take a more careful look at the relationship between Prophecy and the Mikdash. Is there anyway to show the two are related? What do we learn from this about the basic structure of Prophecy? Similarly, we examine the relationship between Nach and Kabbala.  Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute...

 In this episode we look at the place the Rambam has in terms of understanding Prophecy. How important is Proohecy in Torah? How widely accepted are the Rambam's opinions about Prophecy? Does the general issue of rationalists vs mysticists affect this issue? 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 look at the source of the controversy surrounding the Rambam. Was the Rambam the most controversial person in Jewish History? What made the Rambam so controversial? Is there a simple rule about how to properly understand Agadita and Midrashim? 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...

In this episode we look at more of R Elimelech's teachings. One of R Elimelech's most important works was his Tzetil and Customs. What is the difference between the Tzetil and the Customs? What is the difference between how Chassidus understands the ultimate Torah accomplishment and how the Vilna Gaon understands it? What was R Elimelech's contribution in this controversy? What was R' Elimelech's...

In this episode we take a closer look at why R Elimelech is identified with Lizhensk. We also look at when the Galitziner identity came into being. We look at how Chassidus changes the concept of a Tzaddik, and specifically R Elimelech's contributions to this. We also take another look at R Elimelech's famed exile and what how it differed from the classic mechanism of exile.  Nach Yomi:   Join R'...