1855 brought a new dawn to Russia, and was embraced by many, although poverty remained a constant.

When the Czar was assassinated, all hell broke loose and the Jews were given a stark reminder of their status. By 1897 Socialism, Zionism & Emigration seemed to offer the only routes out.

Chapters

00:00 The Shift in Jewish Education and Identity

01:46 The Impact of Tsar Alexander II's Reforms

06:40 The Rise of Jewish Assimilation and National Pride

12:46 The Economic Divide Among Jews

18:02 The Harsh Realities of Poverty in the Pale

22:34 The Reversal of Reforms and Growing Tensions

25:48 The Generational Divide and Revolutionary Movements

28:37 The Anarchist Campaign Against the Tsar

33:24 The Assassination of Tsar Alexander II

36:46 The Aftermath: Repression and Pogroms

41:04 The May Laws and Their Impact on Jewish Life

49:14 The Rise of Jewish Nationalism and Emigration

54:55 Historical Memory and Current Events  

Chapters

00:00 The Struggle Against Forced Assimilation

02:55 The Role of Informants in Jewish Communities

05:47 The Consequences of Informing

08:51 The Murder of Informers and Community Response

15:01 The Rizhner's Imprisonment and Escape

21:11 The Clothing Decree and Its Implications

30:38 Resistance to Assimilation and Clothing Laws

37:55 Impact on Women and Family Dynamics

44:33 The Role of Sir Moses Montefiore

52:40 Continuing Challenges in the Russian Empire

Czar Nicholas hated Jews and Judaism in equal measure. He initiated 600 decrees against them over a 30 year period, and destroyed community life in Russia. The terror of his reign is relieved only by the faith and courage of families across the Pale of Settlement, carried out in defiance of the secret police and of Jewish informants. 

Chapters

00:00 The Jewish Plight in the Russian Empire

02:54 Russian Policies and Jewish Resettlement

06:05 Nicholas I and the Cantonist Decree

08:57 The Impact of Conscription on Jewish Families

12:00 The Agony of Jewish Children in the Army

14:54 The Struggles of Jewish Identity and Survival

18:08 The Role of Informers and Community Dynamics

21:01 Resistance and the Response of Jewish Leaders

26:25 The Impact of the Cantonist Decrees

32:10 The Struggle for Jewish Identity

34:26 Nicholas I's Repressive Policies

36:51 Censorship and Cultural Suppression

39:43 The Role of Hevras in Jewish Life

40:40 Cohesion Amidst Oppression

44:50 The Irony of Forced Preservation

45:41 Educational Reforms and Their Consequences

53:08 Moses Montefiore's Visit to Russia

54:51 Reflections on Suffering and Resilience

For centuries, Russia was home to the largest Jewish community in the world. But why did Jews choose to move to a country that never wanted them?

Chapters

00:00 Political Intrigue

11:01 The History of Russian Jewry

25:48 Catherine the Great's Reign and Jewish Policies

27:41 The Transformation of the Russian Empire

30:00 The Jewish Population in Eastern Europe

34:21 The Impact of Russian Rule on Jewish Life

37:22 Resistance and Rebellion in Poland

40:01 Diverging Paths: Prussian and Galician Jews

42:11 The Russian Government's Approach to Jews

45:05 The Long Nightmare of Russian Governance

50:28 Reactions from Jewish Leaders

54:00 The Legacy of Eastern European Jewry

In Eastern Europe quacks and soothsayers were in abundance, as were invented remedies whilst the Ottoman Empire provided refuge from Spain but came with its own risk.

But do the best doctors end up in Hell according to Jewish tradition? Can one give a vaccine that also kills people? And may one smoke on Shabbos to perform better surgery?

Chapters

00:00 The Landscape of Medical Practice in 18th Century Russia

02:55 The Role of Jewish Physicians in Europe

05:52 The Influence of Jewish Medical Practitioners in the Ottoman Empire

12:08 Challenges Faced by Jewish Physicians in France and Germany

18:00 The Ethical Dilemmas of Medical Practice

27:04 Reflections on the Medical Profession and Its Perception

27:50 The Weight of Medical Decisions

28:47 Personal Anecdotes and Cultural Reflections

32:31 Halachic Insights in Medical Practice

34:23 Ethical Dilemmas in Medicine

40:12 The Role of Transparency in Medical Decisions

41:20 Halachic Questions in Medical Scenarios

Why did Jewish doctors in the Middle East get involved in Politics?

How should modern day doctors combine ethics and law? How many Jewish women medics were there in Europe? Who were the Chinese Jewish physicians? How do we define sanctity of Life?

And should everyone own a copy of Pu Ji Fang?

Chapters

02:34 Jewish Doctors in the Islamic World

09:50 Cultural Interactions and Medical Ethics

15:04 Conversion and Identity Among Jewish Physicians

18:59 The Role of Women in Jewish Medicine

27:55 Marco Polo and Jewish Communities in China

29:36 Jewish Physicians in Chinese History

34:32 Personal Anecdotes: Medicine and Judaism in South Africa

49:05 Ethical Dilemmas in Medicine and Judaism

54:34 The Intersection of Autonomy and Jewish Law  

‘My son-in-law the Doctor’ may be a cliche, but it is based on the very real narrative of thousands of Jewish physicians who practiced through the ages. 

What was their environment during the Middle Ages in Christian Europe? How did Jewish doctors gain their knowledge? Why did the Popes always have a Jewish physician? And how are the Rambam’s medical writings viewed today?

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jewish Medicine and History

02:47 The Role of Jewish Physicians in Europe

06:10 Historical Context of Jewish Medical Literature

09:04 The Influence of Islamic Medicine on Jewish Practices

11:55 The Evolution of Medical Practices in Medieval Europe

15:14 The Relationship Between Jewish and Christian Physicians

18:02 The Societal Perception of Jewish Doctors

20:48 Accusations and Stereotypes Against Jewish Physicians

24:02 The Impact of the Black Death on Jewish Medicine

26:56 Conclusion: The Legacy of Jewish Medicine

33:37 The Perils of Jewish Physicians in History

46:00 The Legacy of Maimonides and Jewish Medicine

01:01:56 The Evolution of Medical Specialization and Its Impact

WWI was a catastrophic event for the Austrian Empire, and the Jews immediately became unwelcome residents. 

When the Chancellor was assassinated it seemed that time was running out. However, Vienna still played host to important people and events in the inter-war years.

The Chortkover Rebbe, the founding of Daf Yomi and a Zionist Congress. And then there was the unusual visit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1903

Chapters

00:00 The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Pre-War Austria

02:55 World War I: A Turning Point for Austrian Jewry

06:05 Post-War Challenges: Economic Hardships and Scapegoating

08:55 The Emergence of Political Anti-Semitism

11:48 The Role of Universities in Anti-Semitic Sentiment

15:02 The Zionist Congress and Public Demonstrations

17:54 The Impact of Anti-Semitism on Jewish Identity

21:13 Conclusion: Lessons from History

26:35 The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Austria

29:50 Unexpected Allies: The Christian Social Chancellor

32:11 The Complex Relationship Between Jews and the Austrian Government

35:34 Internal Divisions Within the Jewish Community

39:17 The Role of Religious Leadership in Vienna

43:10 The Influence of the Chotkver Rebbe

50:11 The Encounter Between Freud and the Lu

bavitcher Rebbe

Chapters

03:12 Jewish Identity vs Jewish Society

06:04 Responses to Antisemitism: A Spectrum of Reactions

09:00 Five Cultural Figures and Their Influence

11:51 Theodor Herzl: From Assimilation to Zionism

20:54 The Collision of Ideas: Herzl and Viennese Jewry

23:50 Herzl's Proposals: Why they happened in Vienna

30:09 Nathan Birnbaum: The Ideologue of Zionism

35:24 Sigmund Freud: A Complex Jewish Identity

39:14 Freud's Psychoanalysis: Does it have religious value?

46:30 Rabbi Moshe David Flesch: A Voice for Jewish Women

It has long been suspected that the BBC is anti-Israel and employs pro-Palestinian reporters and editors. But how do you prove suspicion? And how far does the betrayal go? 

Using objective forensic methodology and scientific analysis, a year long report was created by a team of researchers, spear-headed by Trevor Assesrson, that makes shocking reading and listening.

Post-interview we then spoke to Rabbi Zev Leff, Rabbi Osher Weiss and others, to determine how we should react?

https://asserson.co.uk/assersonreport/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jewish History Podcast

01:07 Media Bias and Its Impact on Jewish Identity

03:25 Interview with Trevor Asserson: Uncovering BBC Bias

05:45 The Findings of the Asserson Report

10:06 Analysis of BBC Arabic Coverage

12:28 BBC Arabic and Its Influence

17:34 The BBC's Institutional Challenges

19:30 Hamas's Strategy and Media Reporting

24:24 BBC's Institutional Bias

27:14 Freedom of Information and BBC Accountability

32:20 Public Awareness and Criticism of the BBC

39:37 The Challenge of Objectivity in Reporting

40:34 Funding and Support for Continued Research

46:34 Conclusion and

Call to Action