The events of 7th October have left us reeling. How should Jews react? What are our obligations  - especially those who are geographically distant? And where are the spiritual origins of this war? 

The special tefilah to be said in a place of danger has been uploaded to: www.jle.org.uk/podcast

The Rambam spent 38 years of his life in Cairo. Here, he authored his two most famous works,  became involved in Medicine, dealt with hostages, suffered tremendous personal loss, and wrote hundreds of Responsa - some of which challenged the Status Quo.

The Rambam is arguably the most famous Jew of the last two thousand years.

But do we really know him? Who were his family? Did he have enemies? And why did he write the 13 Principles of Faith?

Having conquered much of Europe, Napoleon turned his attention to the Jews. Not by request but by demand; to make Jewish law compatible with France’s constitution.

How glorious was the Revolution and where does the Tennis Court Oath fit in? Did the Jews actually want to be emancipated? How did they cope with the Year of Terror; Were the Jews victims or collateral damage?

In 1789, the French proclaimed liberty to all their citizens including the Jews of France.

Except that Jews hadn’t been allowed in the country since 1394 – so who was actually emancipated? Why was Metz so important? What happened to Sefardi arrivals into the country?

And in the battle between the King and Strasbourg, whose side were the Jews on?

When the Holocaust ended, the Jews awaited justice. Sadly it would be denied to them.

But one man - a Jew names Ben Ferencz - made it his business to bring at least some of the Nazi murderers to trial and make Germany pay.

This is his story, and the untold story of so many others.

IBM’s partnership enabled the cattle trains to run to schedule, and even after the Holocaust, the spoils were there for the taking.

What did the allied governments know?

And who else co-operated with the Nazis?

In pursuit of profit, IBM disregarded all morals and supplied Nazi Germany with the technological capabilities to identify and pursue the Jews.

To avoid scrutiny, IBM’s transactions were carried out through neutral countries and veils of corporate secrecy.

Heroism took on many forms during the Holocaust, collective & individual, spiritual & armed.

But the choice to live a double life meant choosing to live with the constant fear of betrayal.

This is the story of Helene’s choice.