Jewish History Uncensored

 In this episode we look at the key challenges that started in the Chanuka confrontation between the Greeks and the Jews. What is the difference between the conflict with the Greeks and previous ones? When did debate between the Greeks and the Jews begin? How is the contemporary culturally based challenges connected to the Greek discovery of science? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on...

In this episode we look at how to determine a new idea's validity in greater Torah terms. We also look at the basic types of opposition to Chassidus. How long was Chassidus considered by its opponents to be some form of Sabbatianism? We also examine the basic changes in communal structure in the last two hundred years. We also look at R Elimelech's famed exile and some of the legendary stories tha...

In this episode we look at R Elimelech of Lizenshk early life. How did someone from the Tiktin area become the primary leader of Chassidus in Galicia? How long did he live in Lizenshk? How did he become a Chassid?  We also look at why the Besht made happiness an integral part of Chassidus. We also at the basic historical outline of the Schindler story. Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi...

In this episode we take a quick look at the basic structure of Kabbala and the place of the Ari in Kabbala.  We take a quick overview of what the Besht's innovations in Kabbala and Avodas Hashem were. We also look how to define spirituality and what is the difference between the way Chassidus and Hisnagdus views spirituality. Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a per...

In this episode we look at the challenge of being involved in conflict and the basic pattern of conflict. We take a quick look at the basic historical outline of the events of the Besht and Magid of Mezritch. When did they live? Who were their primary talmidim? Why is the Magid of Mezritch considered the Besht's primary student? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a...

In this episode we look at one of the other challenges in understanding Jewish History, the Jewish Historians. The early Jewish Historians were either of German background or Marxist background. This generally speaking created clear cultural or political attitude that was usually projected onto their work.  Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days...

 In this episode we look at the basic challenge of Historical objectivity.  We also look at the specific challenge of objectivity in Jewish History. Are there any factors that specifically complicate the challenge of objectivity in Jewish History?  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 the famed statement of R Kook that there is a relationship between Spinoza's pantheistic ideas and the Besht's ideas.  How do we understand this? Does this fit in to the classic way the Besht's ideas are understood? We also look at the controversy about is it proper to allow someone to make a documentary in the synagogue that Spinoza was excommunicated in.  Nach Yomi:  ...

In this episode we take a deeper look at the relationship between National Identity and Religion. How was this classically understood in the world? We also look at how this specifically applies to the Jews. How long did it take for Spinoza's plea for tolerance to become accepted? How did this affect the Jews in Europe?   Ben Gurion and other Zionist thinkers claimed to be inspired by Spinoza. How...

 In this episode we look at one of Spinoza's most important historical contributions, his appeal for religious tolerance. Spinoza was the first major figure to call for religious tolerance. This eventually evolved into separation of Church and State. How did this change the way people understand national identity? Is there any natural connection between religion and National identity?  Nach Yomi:...

In this episode we conclude looking at Spinoza's philosophy of Determinism, and the Torah response to this idea. One of the broad life phenomenon that reflects man's free will is the quest for the morality and moral perfection. How broad is this phenomenon?    One of the other places we see man's free will is via prayer, and the basic challenge of having proper intention when praying. What is the...

In this episode we continue looking at the basic flaws in Spinoza's philosophy of determinism. One of the key examples of deep and complicated Divine Providence is from The Battle of Britain.    We also look at the very deep phenomenon of Drive for Justice. How did Spinoza see this issue? Is the quest for Justice a psychological phenomenon? Or is it deeper rooted than this?  Nach Yomi:   Join R' W...

In this week's episode we look at the basic structure of Rosh HaShana. What is the basic structure of the Divine Judgement on Rosh HaShana?    We also look at some of the most important lessons from the life of Elizabeth II.  Was there any level of power that she had? What was the most important principle guiding her public life? Is there anything for us to learn from this?  Nach Yomi:   Join R' W...

In this episode we take a deeper look at Determinism and why Einstein was specifically attracted to this philosophy. We also take a deeper look at the Torah perspective on this issue. We also look at the phenomenon of the Fragility of Human History and how this should affect the philosophy of Determinism.  Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a...

In this episode we look at the conundrum of assimilated Jews and national identity. How much was this a factor in Einstein's life? How much was Einstein challenged professionally by his being Jewish? How did he react to this?  We start looking at one of the key reasons Einstein was attracted to Spinoza's philosophy, Spinoza's approach of determinism. Is there a difference between why Einstein held...

Spinoza and modern philosophy claims to be rational. How do we define rationalism from a Torah perspective? What was the Rambam's approach to this issue?   Einstein quite explicitly said that he was influenced by Spinoza.  Is there any significant difference between Einstein's cultural milieu and Spinoza's? We take a quick look at Einstein's life to properly understand this.  Nach Yomi:   Join R'...

In this episode we look at one of Spinoza's key legacies, creation of a secular world. The contemporary world in a cultural fashion is thoroughly secular. What was Spinoza's key conceptual idea that brought about this change?    We also briefly look at some of Spinoza's spiritual fruit, Biblical Criticism. How pertinent is this issue today? Why was this once a major issue? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wit...

In this episode we take a careful look at the phenomenon of Avoda Zara. What was Avoda Zara? Is the classic translation of Avoda Zara as idol worship accurate? Was there any basic logic to Avoda Zara, or was it rank superstition? Is there a historical connection between the decline of Avoda Zara and the rise of modern science?  Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a p...

In this episode we take a more deeper look at the issues that Spinoza raised about authorship in Tanach.  How would this fit into Jewish History? What basic flaw does this have from the broader picture of Jewish History?    We also look at the crisis of Emuna which has clearly existed for at least one hundred years. In order to have a better understanding of this we take a careful look at the fame...

In this episode we look at how we react to Tisha B'Av. How are we supposed to react to the Churban? Is there anything constructive and positive to do about this? Is going up to Har haBayis a proper response? What should our attitude be towards Har haBayis? What would the ideal policy be for the State of Israel about the Har haBayis? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein's Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We lear...

In this episode we take a closer look at Spinoza's claims about the Ibn Ezra. What was the Ibn Ezra's attitude to Chazal? How does the Ibn Ezra demonstrate the existence and substantialness of the Oral Torah. How does this relate to Spinoza's theories about the Torah? What was Spinoza's theory about authorship of the Torah?  What are the clear flaws in this theory? Nach Yomi:   Join R' Wittenstein...

In this episode we look at some of Spinoza's key questions on the authenticity of Tanach. How original were his questions? How much before Spinoza should we assume that these questions were being raised? Do Chazal deal with any of these questions? How should this affect how we view these style questions? We also look at the claim that the Ibn Ezra is the source for the opinion that Moshe isn't the...

In this episode we take a closer look at one of Spinoza's most fundamental mistakes. Spinoza criticized Tanach because he wasn't able to apply Euclidean style logic to the narrative of Tanach. This however is a deep philosophical error. There is an area of Tanach that has mathematical style rules. However most of Tanach and drashos Chazal use a different form of logic. Why is this true? What can w...

In this episode we look at the issue of how to respond to heresy. How has this issue been dealt with traditionally? What type of response is appropriate? Who came up with the argument that faith is a matter of the heart? 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 currently learning MISH...

 In this week's episode we take a deeper look at why the Rambam's opinion about defining heresy should be considered the most definitive one. We also take a deeper look at the issue of Jewish identity and how it applies today. We also start to look at Spinoza's first printed work, the Theological Political Treatise. Spinoza was aware of the danger of printing the treatise.  Did he precautionary mo...