Classes by Mordechai Dinerman

By Mordechai Dinerman

Text-based classes on assorted Judaic topics, with a special emphasis on Jewish history.

New episodes every Wednesday.

Made Possible by Unzer-Chadash Shul, Brooklyn NY.... more

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FAQs about Classes by Mordechai Dinerman:

How many episodes does Classes by Mordechai Dinerman have?

The podcast currently has 98 episodes available.

Classes by Mordechai Dinerman episodes:

July 02, 2024 Unconditional Love: A Commemorative Study of a Talk by the Lubavitcher Rebbe
As we approach Gimmel Tammuz, marking the Rebbe’s thirtieth Hilula, we’re doing something different: a text-based class on an important talk by the Rebbe from Shabbos Korach 1988, a talk that captures a lot of the Rebbe’s hashkafah. The aim is to find inspiration and wisdom in his words, which can be applied to our daily lives and shared with others.
Unconditional Love: A Commemorative Study of a Talk by the Lubavitcher Rebbe
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1h 7min
June 18, 2024 The Provocative Portrait: Unveiling the True Face of Moshe Rabbeinu
Rabbi Yisrael Lifshitz, a well-known commentator on the Mishnah, included a provocative legend about Moshe Rabbeinu in his writings, suggesting that Moshe naturally possessed negative character traits. Over the following decades, some rabbis strongly opposed this legend, arguing that its claims were baseless and defamed Moshe’s revered image. In this class, we’ll talk about the origins of this controversial story, look at both sides of the debate, and explore why this account struck a chord with many Chasidic authors.
The Provocative Portrait: Unveiling the True Face of Moshe Rabbeinu
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1h 13min
June 05, 2024 Yom Tov Burial: The Talmud, the Rishonim, and the Baal Shem Tov
The Baal Shem Tov passed away on Shavuos in 1760, but the exact day of his passing and the time and manner of his burial have long been subjects of controversy and mystery. In this class, we explore this subject by learning about two major debates regarding yom tov burials that emerged during the Middle Ages. Through this journey, we aim to deepen our appreciation for the laws and values related to yom tov observance and the proper dignity afforded to those who have passed away.
Yom Tov Burial: The Talmud, the Rishonim, and the Baal Shem Tov
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1h 9min
May 22, 2024 The Masada Martyrs: Halachic Perspectives on History’s Hardest Choices
How does a halachic mind interpret the harrowing events at Masada, where Jewish rebels chose death at their own hands over surrender? In this class, we delve into this question, exploring not only the tragic case at Masada but also similar ethical dilemmas faced by Jews during the Middle Ages when confronted with forced conversions under Christian rule. The complexities of these historic moments offer deep insights into the moral and spiritual struggles that have shaped Jewish resilience and identity.
The Masada Martyrs: Halachic Perspectives on History’s Hardest Choices
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1h 13min
May 15, 2024 Grain Matters: Navigating the Chadash Predicament Across the Centuries
Throughout history, Jewish communities have thrived in diverse locales, each presenting unique agricultural schedules. While adhering to the prohibition against eating chadash proved feasible in some regions, in others, it posed significant obstacles to daily life. This class delves into the strategies employed by the Ashkenazi rishonim and the legendary Acharonim of Poland, exploring five approaches to justify non-compliance, particularly in circumstances where adherence would be exceptionally challenging.
Grain Matters: Navigating the Chadash Predicament Across the Centuries
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1h 9min
May 08, 2024 The Frankist Blood Libel
In 1759, a clandestine faction of Shabetai Tzvi’s followers in Poland committed a startling act: they collectively converted to Christianity while simultaneously accusing Jews of the age-old fabrication of using blood in matzah production. Despite the longstanding existence of the blood libel, this marked the first instance where the accusation was made by citing and distorting Talmudic and halachic sources. In this class, we examine the specific passages they employed and learn the response of the Jewish leadership during that era. As Ber of Bolochov, the chronicler of this event, emphasized, recording this narrative was essential to ensure that future generations would understand the suffering and trials of their ancestors and how it was notably worse when it emanated from within the Jewish community.
The Frankist Blood Libel
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1h 5min
April 10, 2024 The Kittsee Haggadah
The Kittsee Haggadah
The library of Agudas Chasidei Chabad houses a remarkable manuscript crafted in 1760 by the talented scribe and artist Chaim ben Asher Anshel of Kittsee, near present-day Bratislava. We’ll trace the journey of this Haggadah from its creation to its acquisition by the Frierdiker Rebbe. Opening this manuscript, we’ll examine its layout, artwork, nusach, and style of nikud, seeking to uncover the influences that shaped Chaim ben Asher’s masterpiece through a comparative analysis with other Haggadahs of that period.
To purchase a facsimile of the Kittzee Haggadah:
https://store.kehotonline.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HP-HAGG.KITZEE
To view it online, visit the following link and insert card number “1950”:
https://chabadlibrary.org/catalog/index.php?catalog=mscatalog
Additional Links:
Kittzee Haggadah 1748, Gross Collection
https://www.nli.org.il/en/discover/manuscripts/hebrew-manuscripts/viewerpage?vid=MANUSCRIPTS#d=[[PNX_MANUSCRIPTS990000632400205171-1,FL54685621

Kittzee Haggadah 1768, Hebrew Union College
https://mss.huc.edu/phpviewer/index.php?path=MS_451

Kittzee Haggadah 1769, Jewish Museum London
https://www.nli.org.il/en/discover/manuscripts/hebrew-manuscripts/viewerpage?vid=MANUSCRIPTS#d=[[PNX_MANUSCRIPTS990001792760205171-1,FL28179029

Kittzee Haggadah 1771, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
https://www.nli.org.il/en/discover/manuscripts/hebrew-manuscripts/viewerpage?vid=MANUSCRIPTS#d=[[PNX_MANUSCRIPTS990001920270205171-1,FL59161404
Kittzee Haggadah 1772, JTS Library
https://digitalcollections.jtsa.edu/islandora/object/jts%3A62343#page/41/mode/1up

Amsterdam 1695
https://www.nli.org.il/en/books/NNL_ALEPH990013798840205171/NLI#modal-downloadModal
Prague 1713
https://www.nli.org.il/en/books/NNL_ALEPH990013798850205171/NLI
Offenbach 1721
https://www.hebrewbooks.org/4923
Frankfurt 1724
https://www.nli.org.il/en/books/NNL_ALEPH990010665310205171/NLI
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59min
April 08, 2024 The Printers’ Clash: The Battle Over Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, Venice 1550
In the year 1550, two non-Jewish printers published competing editions of Rambam’s Mishneh Torah. One of them partnered with an esteemed rabbi from Padua, who, in his quest for support, turned to Rabbi Moshe Isserlis. Rama’s response along with a careful examination of the printed volumes unveil the details of this dispute. Rama’s scholarly answer also sheds light on various areas of commercial Halachah as well as the Noahide laws.
The Printers’ Clash: The Battle Over Rambam’s Mishneh Torah, Venice 1550
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1h 7min
March 20, 2024 Seduction and Sacrifice: From the Purim Story to the Responsa Literature
There have been tragic instances where Jewish women felt compelled to take drastic measures to save the lives of their fellow Jews. When rabbis were presented with these real-life cases, they turned to the story of Esther for inspiration and guidance.
Seduction and Sacrifice: From the Purim Story to the Responsa Literature
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58min
March 13, 2024 Scrolls, Scribes, and Shortcuts: An Incomplete Megilah in the Cairo Geniza
Today, we explore enigmatic Megilahs, where the absence of the text eclipses the written word. We’ll learn that this peculiar phenomenon is just a fragment of a larger tendency reflected in the Geniza to produce incomplete texts. We shall unravel the motivations behind this practice, reminding us of the formidable challenges in reproducing sacred texts by scribal hand.

Links:
First Megilah image:
https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-TS-AS-00044-00005/1

Second Megilah image:
https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-TS-NS-00286-00043/1

Third Megilah image:
https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-TS-NS-00286-00043/1

First Chumash image
https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-TS-A-00043-00004/2

Second Chumash image:
https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-TS-A-00043-00013/2

First Tehilim image:
https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-TS-NS-00281-00131/2

Second Tehilim image:
https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-TS-AS-00039-00186/2

Final Megilah Image
https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-TS-AS-00041-00207/1
Scrolls, Scribes, and Shortcuts: An Incomplete Megilah in the Cairo Geniza

...more
1h 7min

FAQs about Classes by Mordechai Dinerman:

How many episodes does Classes by Mordechai Dinerman have?

The podcast currently has 98 episodes available.

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