JL;DR

In this podcast episode by Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein, we explore the meeting between the Maggid of Mezritch and the Besht, focusing on how the Besht persuaded ...

Recently acquired courtroom sketches from the trials of Alfred Dreyfus and Emile Zola are now held at the Museum of Art and History of Judaism in Paris. Crea...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein discusses the historical identification of Achashveirosh and the discrepancy between secular history and the Tanach regarding the dat...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein explores the relationship between Torah and Science, addressing how to handle contradictions between them and whether contemporary ch...

In Gaon #24, the focus is on the Baal Shem's Holy Letter, exploring why he needed assistance from his Rebbe for a particular experience, his premonition of d...

This episode of Unorthodox features conversations with actor Ed Asner and author Cambria Gordon, exploring themes from Torah rescue during WWII and secret Je...

Jewish pirates historically roamed the seas, particularly in the Caribbean, from the 17th to 19th centuries. Many were descendants of Jews who fled Spain dur...

The episode discusses the Cherem of 1781, exploring its prime cause which might be linked to the printing of the sefarim of R Yaacov Yosef of Polna or the Be...

This article from the Forward highlights the troubling presence of monuments and memorials worldwide honoring Nazi collaborators, specifically focusing on a ...

The Forward published an investigative project documenting the presence of monuments worldwide to individuals involved in the Holocaust, such as Philippe Pta...

Lev Golinkin's investigative piece in the Forward explores monuments worldwide that commemorate individuals who collaborated with Nazi Germany during the Hol...

Lev Golinkin's investigative project highlights the troubling global presence of monuments dedicated to individuals involved in the Holocaust, with a particu...

The episode explores the dichotomy between Jewish human rights advocacy and the support for the Israeli state post-Holocaust, focusing on the historical tens...

In this episode of Gaon, Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein explores the Vilna Gaon's nuanced approach toward the Chassidim in the 1770s, questioning whether his opposi...

Lior Sternfeld's book "Between Iran and Zion: Jewish Histories of Twentieth-Century Iran" sheds light on the distinct history of Iranian Jews, highlighting t...

The text discusses the idea of giving the baby boomer generation a drug called Chew-Z to envision an alternate reality where Martin Luther King Jr. was not a...

In this episode of GAON #21, Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein explores the impact of the 1772 Cheramim in Vilna and Brody on Eastern European Jewry, assessing whether...

The text discusses the insurrection led by Donald Trump, emphasizing its significance as a disturbing event in American political history. It prompts listene...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein explores the controversial topic of the Brody Cherem of 1772, discussing claims that it was influenced by the Maskilim movement, exam...

In a podcast discussion featuring Daniel Casse and his Wall Street Journal op-ed titled "The Future Turns 50 This Year," the focus is on the significant chan...

Historian Niall Ferguson, in a discussion with Dan, reflects on the historic nature of 2020 and the lessons that can be drawn from past public health crises ...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein, a Torah scholar and historian, discusses the background of the Brody Cherem in Gaon #19, focusing on the theory that opposition to B...

In the podcast episode "GAON #18 - The Vilna Cherem of 1772," Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein discusses the Vilna Cherem of 1772 within its historical context. He ex...

In this episode of Israel Policy Pod, Evan Gottesman discusses Israel-Morocco relations with Einat Levi, focusing on the historical ties between the two coun...

The podcast discusses the communal turmoil in Vilna during the 1760s, focusing on the conflict between Rabbi Shmuel ben Avigdor and the Kahal. It explores th...

The text discusses the intertwined dynamics of Zionism and Bolshevism during the years preceding and during World War I. It highlights events such as the Men...

In a Russian shtetl during the mid-1800s, a man claiming to be a Jewish soldier named Dovid returns after 25 years in the czarist army, seeking his family. T...

In episode 15 of GAON, Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein discusses the Vilna Gaon and his Bais Medrash, focusing on biographical details such as when the Bais Medrash ...

In episode 14 of the podcast "GAON," Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein discusses the Vilna Gaon's unrealized ambitious projects, specifically his endeavors to write a ...

In episode 13 of Gaon, the discussion explores the Vilna Gaon's heavy editing of Rabbinical documents like Shas and other materials, questioning why some wer...

In an opinion piece, historian Michael Brenner examines the complexities of comparing Donald Trump's actions to those of the Nazis, following CNN anchor Chri...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein's podcast episode discusses the Vilna Gaon's Torah accomplishments, particularly focusing on his role as a posek and his extensive ed...

In this episode, Eli Kowaz and Nimrod Novik reflect on the life and enduring impact of Saeb Erekat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, who passed away in 2020...

Allison Kaplan Sommer, Don Futterman, and Noah Efron discuss the impact of American politics on Israeli politics, highlighting the division among Jews global...

In this episode of GAON #11, Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein discusses the legacy of the Vilna Gaon, focusing on the image he created in his students' eyes, particul...

The COMMENTARY podcast revisits their last episode before Election Day in 2016, drawing parallels between the past and present political climates. The episod...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein discusses the early life of the Vilna Gaon in episode 10 of the Gaon podcast series. The episode delves into the Gaon's family backgr...

Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich reflects on the legacy of Yitzhak Rabin 25 years after his assassination and discusses the ongoing impacts on Israeli politics a...

Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein, a Torah scholar and historian, discusses parallels between the Covid-19 pandemic and historical plagues in Tanach, as well as the co...

The podcast explores the idea that Americans have historically been enamored with conspiracy theories and asks whether this is a long-standing phenomenon. It...

Dr. Scott Ury and Guy Meron discuss their collected issue on Antisemitism in a conversation facilitated by Tel Aviv University's Stephen Roth Institute. The ...

The text discusses the roots of the social justice movement in Anglo Protestant culture, highlighting its authoritarian tendencies and influence on American ...

In this episode, Evan Gottesman and Shanie Reichman examine the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, drawing parallels to the Israeli-Palestinian situation and explori...

In this episode, Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein delves into the Ramban's perspective on Hoshgocha Pratit, God's direct involvement in the world, and compares it to ...

In this episode, Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein explores Beshtian Theology II, focusing on the Besht's perspective on the world, his approach to raising sparks, and...

This episode discusses the legacy of the Second Intifada, its impact on Israeli-Palestinian relations, and the current state of Palestinian leadership. Journ...

Author Sharon Hart-Green discusses her novel "Come Back for Me," taking readers on a journey from post-holocaust Hungary to 1960s Israel and back, exploring ...

The text discusses the ongoing legitimacy crisis triggered by Donald Trump's reluctance to commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the election,...

This episode of Unorthodox pays tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, reflecting on her legacy as a trailblazer for women's and minority rights both in her legal c...

This episode discusses two main types of opposition to the Besht and Chassidic tradition. The first type is communal, stemming from Chassidus challenging tra...