Yitzchak Trebitsch was an active participant - under various names - in some of the twentieth century’s most important events: mass immigration, WWI wartime espionage, radical right-wing Germany, Chinese civil war and the Japanese invasion during WWII. But in the end he was a nobody.

His death was attributed variously to Nazi poison, Allied vengeance, Buddhist enemies, or enraged Jews.

His story is stranger than fiction, but there are important lessons we can take from it.

Timestamps

[0:03:07] Origins: Hungarian Jewish Childhood

[0:04:40] Early Crimes: Theft and Deception

[0:07:54] Religious Transformations: Conversions and Missionaries

[0:11:00] Political Ambitions: Brief Parliamentary Career

[0:18:23] Wartime Intrigue: Espionage and Escapes

[0:28:00] Political Extremism: Far-Right Conspiracies

[0:35:00] Global Wanderings: International Adventures

[0:41:30] Spiritual Journey: Becoming a Buddhist Monk

[0:45:00] World War Machinations: Nazi and Japanese Connections

[0:48:44] Final Act: Decline in Shanghai

Chapters

00:00:00 Doctor Lopez and the Earl of Leicester

00:00:26 Podcast Introduction and Listener Letter 

00:36:32 Rodrigo Lopez: Early Life and Arrival in England 

00:05:10 Lopez’s Rise and Role at Court 

00:08:14 Espionage and the Don Antonio Affair 

00:09:41 Jewish Community as Diplomatic Asset 

00:11:02 International Intrigue and Spanish Spies 

00:13:39 The Spanish Armada and Aftermath 

00:15:22 Lopez’s Espionage and Double Agency 

00:16:40 The Andrada Case and Rising Suspicion

00:19:12 Arrest and Trial of Lopez 

00:21:52 Charges, Confession, and Execution 

00:24:35 Was Lopez Guilty?

00:27:08 Lopez’s Legacy and Impact on Literature 

00:30:44 Jewish Life in England: 1300s–1400s 

00:32:50 Conversos and Marranos in Tudor England 

00:36:32 Risks and Persecution of Marranos 

00:38:42 Elizabethan Era and Secret Jewish Life 

00:40:35 Religious Practice and Open Jews

00:43:10 Persistence of Jewish Identity

00:45:12 The Talmud in England: The Henry VIII Legend 

00:48:35 Conclusion and Next Series Teaser 

A wide-ranging and personal discussion with former U.S. Ambassador David Friedman, describing how his Sledgehammer of Diplomacy shattered old conventions to achieve the historic U.S. Embassy move and usher in the Abraham Accords, exploring the deeply personal balance between his religious conviction and political power in crafting high-stakes foreign policy, laying out his forceful argument for Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, and his definitive vision of One Jewish State.

Hear his incredible story, as he reflects on Jewish history, the Hand of Hashem and the divine continuum that continually strengthens Israel's destiny, while also sharing his candid personal insights on figures like President Trump, Mike Pompeo, and the future evolution of the Middle East over the next 12 to 24 months.

Chapters

00:00 The Disputation Series: An Overview

02:46 The Context of the Barcelona Disputation

05:56 The Goals and Strategies of the Disputation

09:04 The Nature of the Debate: Christianity vs. Judaism

11:52 The Role of the Messiah in Christianity and Judaism

15:05 The Agadic Approach in Jewish Thought

17:56 The Outcomes of the Disputation

20:58 The Tortosa Disputation: A New Era

23:59 The Impact of Fear and Intimidation

26:40 The Aftermath of the Disputation

29:59 Rav Meir Arik: A Brief Biography

Chapters

00:00 Divine Retribution and Historical Context

04:38 Rambam and Rabbeinu Yonah's Controversy

12:07 The Role of Hillel of Verona

18:45 Yom Kippur and the Nature of Repentance

21:19 Church Disputations and Their Impact

29:34 The Paris Disputation: A Turning Point

42:44 Consequences of the Talmud's Burning

Chapters

00:00 The Downfall of Edom and the Church's Influence

02:53 The Ramban's Controversial Letters and Kabbalistic Ideas

06:08 The Disputation of Barcelona: A Turning Point

08:44 The Aftermath of the Disputation and Censorship

11:57 The Ramban's Journey to Eretz Yisrael

14:41 Rebuilding Jerusalem: The Ramban's Legacy

18:03 The Ramban's Medical Insights and Philosophy

21:02 The Ramban's Introduction to the Torah

24:03 The Essence of the Torah and Its Connection to Hashem