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Listen to noted Tour Guide, Lecturer and Yad Vashem Researcher of Jewish History Yehuda Geberer bring the world of pre-war Eastern Europe alive. Join in to meet the great personages, institutions and episodes of a riveting past.
For speaking engagements or tours in Israel or Eastern Europe
Yehuda@YehudaGeberer.com
Episodes
Tuesday May 05, 2020
Tuesday May 05, 2020
One of the most storied Jewish communities in the United States, Baltimore has a fair amount of "firsts". First ordained Orthodox Rabbi to serve in the US - Rabbi Joseph Rice, first Day School outside of NY and first kosher Hot Dog stand at a Major League Baseball stadium.
Home to famous institutions like Ner Israel and Talmudical Academy - Chafetz Chaim, and famous individuals like Rav Yaakov Yitzchak Ruderman, Rabbi Herman Neuberger and Rabbi Moshe Heineman, Baltimore has made its on American Jewish life. At the same time, less famous aspects of the city's past come to life as well, such as the pioneering girls education with the Bais Yaakov of Rabbi Binyamin Steinberg, the Glen Ave Synagogue, and personalities like Rav Michoel Forshlager and Rav Yitzchak Sternhell.
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You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Saturday May 02, 2020
Saturday May 02, 2020
The rebuilt Belz Chassidic community of today is a story of miracles and change. From almost total decimation during the war, they sustained an additional blow with the passing of the previous Rebbe, Rav Aharon Rokeach of Belz in 1957. It seemed that the glory days of this great dynasty were done.
And yet it was rebuilt. This miraculous rebirth was accompanied by an atmosphere of innovation, in an otherwise traditional and conservative community. Elements of change in education, political affiliation, employment and even music, coupled with the able and strong leadership of the current Rebbe Rav Yissachar Dov Rokeach, enabled Belz once again become a large and influential Chassidic court.
Listen to the prequel to this episode: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/e/the-great-escape-the-belzer-rebbe-and-the-farewell-drasha-in-budapest/
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You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Thursday Apr 30, 2020
Capital of the Jewish world, Warsaw played a central role in all aspects of Jewish life - politically, culturally, socially and of course religiously. Great rabbinical figures served in official capacities in the Warsaw Rabbinate, in the city's educational institutions, in unofficial positions as residents of the city, and of course as visitors to the country's capital.
One of the prominent Rabbinic families that served generations of the Warsaw Jewish community was the Zilberbergs. The most famous of whom was Rav Naftali Vershover (1848-1930), who was close with all the great leaders of his day and served the needs of Polish Jewry. Through their story, we'll encounter the places and people of Jewish Warsaw including the famed Warsaw Mesivta, as well as meeting the Bais Halevi, two Gerrer Rebbes, the Chafetz Chaim, Rav Chaim Brisker, Rav Meir Don Plotzki - the Kli Chemda, and many more.
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You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Monday Apr 27, 2020
Monday Apr 27, 2020
With this new series, Jewish History Soundbites seeks to explore the growth of various Jewish communities both within the great urban centers and across the golden plain.
Our pilot episode touches on the community of Far Rockaway, lying somewhere in between Queens and Long Island. This resort area which had a Jewish presence even prior to the War, began a growth spurt along with the so called "white flight" to the suburbs in the two decades following the war. Personalities like Rabbis Zelig Fortman, Ralph Pelcovitz, Emanuel Rackman, Nachman Bulman, Shlomo Freifeld, and ybl"ch Rabbi Yechiel Perr, and many more, planted the seeds of a vibrant Orthodox community.
Institutions like the White Shul, HILI, Shor Yoshuv, Young Israel, Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, even the Mir made a showing, and later on Yeshivas Darchei Torah. Events from a bygone era like the reception for Rav Kook or the Kovna Rov, the Agudas Harabonim conventions at the kosher hotels all come together to paint a picture of this special Jewish town.
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You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Saturday Apr 25, 2020
Saturday Apr 25, 2020
One of the most prolific writers in the Jewish world of recent times, Rav Menachem Mendel Kasher (1895-1983), was quite an enigmatic character as well. As a prominent Gerrer Chussid in Warsaw, he was active in the Agudas Yisroel, and had a position in the famous Mesivta of Warsaw. With his move to Eretz Yisroel in the 1920's, he founded and headed the first Gerrer Yeshiva there in Yerushalayim.
His primary focus soon turned towards his voluminous writings, which he devoted his life to writing and publishing. A man of strong opinions, he seemed to get mired in controversy wherever he turned. From the eruv in Manhattan to the International Dateline, to his embracing of Messianic Zionism, creativity and a sense of pioneering marked much of his writing and endeavors.
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You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
Leading Halachic authority, founder of an influential Chassidic dynasty and a master of simplicity, charity and care for his followers, are all apt descriptions of Rav Chaim Halberstam of Sanz (1797-1876) - or Tzanz as he insisted his followers refer to the town. His influence, popularity and admiration of his contemporaries were almost unmatched in recent history.
Perhaps a no less facet of his leadership, was his foray into the relentless struggle against encroachments of modernity into traditional Jewish life. A bastion of conservatism, his influence went beyond the borders of Galicia into Hungary, and beyond his own lifetime into current times. This included perceived threats from both within and without.
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You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
Saturday Apr 18, 2020
As the youngest child of the Netziv, Rav Meir Bar Ilan (1880-1949) grew up in the world of Volozhin. With the closing of the Yeshiva and the loss of his father while he was still a child, he moved on to further horizons. From Telz to Berlin where he commenced his literary career in the city that bore his name.
He was a rising leader of the Mizrachi and in that capacity he moved to New York. As an activist in both Mizrachi Zionist endeavors, as well as Jewish education and other communal efforts, he left his mark in America. This was followed by his move to Israel - then Palestine - in 1926. Once again assuming a leadership role, he remained in the public sphere in politics, economics and Rabbinical. Among his many initiatives was spearheading the monumental Talmudic Encyclopedia project.
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You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Monday Apr 13, 2020
Monday Apr 13, 2020
In this second installment, we'll examine another few personalities who were associated with the growth of Torah in the United States through their involvement with RIETS/YU.
An unparalleled genius, Rav Chaim Heller (1879-1960) served in several capacities, among which he gave classes at RIETS in his later years. He devoted the better part of his scholarly investment towards a refutation of Bible criticism, and wrote extensively on the topic. Perhaps no other name is more synonymous with RIETS than Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, or simply "the Rav" (1903-1993). Succeeding his father's position in 1941, commenced a decades long endeavor of teaching thousands of students and generations of Rabbis. His influence resonates within the institution and beyond till this very day.
An earlier builder of of RIETS was the almost forgotten Rabbi Dr. Hillel Hakohen Klein (1849-1926). An architect of Jewish life in New York, he spearheaded many initiatives, projects and institutions, leaving his stamp on almost every area of American traditional life. Among his positions was the presidency of RIETS around the turn of the century.
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You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Saturday Apr 11, 2020
Saturday Apr 11, 2020
The Chassidic dynasty is called Chabad, but it's home for close to a century was the Russian town of Lubavitch. It reached a peak of influence under the able leadership of the Tzemach Tzedek, Rav Menachem Mendel (1789-1866). Following his passing, while his youngest son the Maharash continued in Lubavitch, various other Chabad courts were founded by his siblings. Settling in towns rich in Chabad history, a court was founded in both Lyady and in Nizhyn. There was even one with a Chernobyl flavor in Avrutch. The largest and most influential of the offshoots was in Kapust. Lasting more than a half a century, the Kapust Rebbes took a leading role both within Chassidus and the external struggles facing Russian Jewry.
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You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Tuesday Apr 07, 2020
Tuesday Apr 07, 2020
This special tribute to the Novominsker Rebbe has been generously sponsored liluy nishmas the Rebbe Rabbeinu יעקב בן נחום מרדכי by Duvi Silberstein For all Back office for Nursing Home Billing, contact Care Network Health at via phone/text 908-305-0595
With the tragic passing of Rav Yaakov Perlow (1931-2020), the Novominsker Rebbe and head of Agudas Yisrael, this episode is a tribute to his memory. He was someone who seemed to be comfortable anywhere, as a Rosh Yeshiva in both Breuer's in Washington Heights and in Hebrew Theological College in Chicago and in his own Yeshiva in Boro Park since the 1980's. As a Chassidishe Rebbe, a scion of both Novominsk and the legacy of Kotzk, and as an active leader of the larger Jewish community through his leadership of Agudas Yisrael.
Where did this all come from? Here we explore a bit of the wellsprings which raised him. The dynasty of Novominsk, the milieu of Chassidic Warsaw, his Kotzk roots, and his father's move to the US. Through this context, we gain an insight into the greatness of who he was and what he accomplished.
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You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com