1.8M
Downloads
470
Episodes
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
Wednesday Mar 18, 2020
Wednesday Mar 18, 2020
With the expulsion of the Jews from the Iberian Peninsula at the end of the 15th Century, the Sephardic diaspora spread to the far corners of the globe searching for a place to settle. Many reached the New World during the Age of Discovery, and they played important roles in both the exploration itself as well as settlement. Jews, either hidden or openly Jewish, became merchants and were active in trade. There were even all Jewish colonies such as the one in Suriname.
In the 17th century, Jews found another vocation- piracy. Joining forces with Muslims in the Mediterranean and with the Dutch and British in Caribbean, Jews sought revenge against the Spanish Empire. Some became prominent and successful pirates. Jamaica became one of the earliest British possessions in the new world thanks to the Jews. And the island became a center for Jewish merchants as well as pirates.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Saturday Mar 14, 2020
Saturday Mar 14, 2020
Visiting and praying at the burial places of Tzadikim is one of the more visible and recognizable distinctive contributions of Chasidic practice on Jewish life. A cultural practice that has developed over the history of the movement, it is seen as a way to connect as well as an opportunity for prayer. One of the more famous destinations has been to grave site of the Rebbe Reb Meilach, the Noam Elimelech of Lizhensk (1717-1787). Glorified as second to the Baal Shem Tov himself, his influence on the movement is almost unparalleled. Following his death, his students began the custom of paying respects at his grave on the yahrtzeit of his death on 21 Adar. This has remained a popular visit till this very day.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Thursday Mar 12, 2020
Thursday Mar 12, 2020
With the Netziv solidifying his control, the Yeshiva entered it's Golden Age. Attracting the best and the brightest from across the Pale of Settlement, the Yeshiva was producing the Rabbinical greats of the Jewish world. With Rav Chaim Brisker's appointment in 1881 as the assistant Rosh Yeshiva, he raised the scholarship in the Yeshiva to a whole new level.
Around the year, Volozhin continued with a regular routine of intensive study, with the Yamim Tovim offering a short respite with their accompanying excitement. Alongside these accomplishments, under currents were brewing as well. Secret societies were formed promulgating early forms of Zionism. Haskala literature became popular and got passed around by the students of the Yeshiva.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Sunday Mar 08, 2020
Sunday Mar 08, 2020
In this unique episode in honor of Purim, we'll explore the best of the feedback to Jewish History Soundbites.
-The Unknown Talmidim of Rav Shayale
-Who to vote for in the WZO elections?
-The greatest Maagidei Shiurim of our generation?
-How does general history cross with Jewish history?
-What type of biographies are recommended?
-Did immigrants toss their Tefillin at Ellis Island?
-Is there a real story behind Chassidic Rebbes who have become segulas? This and more, as the exciting comments come to the fore and are carefully analyzed for relevance and Purim entertainment.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Friday Mar 06, 2020
Friday Mar 06, 2020
As religious Zionism was forging an identity which strove for a synthesis of a traditional life with Zionist ideals, institutions began to be built which expressed this identity. Youth groups such as the Shomer Hadati in Poland and Bnei Akiva in the Land of Israel, led to the building of educational facilities. Kfar Haroeh was followed by the opening of Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh. Rav Chaim Yaakov Goldwicht- graduate of Etz Chaim, Slabodka, and close with the Brisker Rov and Chazon Ish among others - becomes the pioneering Rosh Yeshiva of the fledgling institution.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Wednesday Mar 04, 2020
Wednesday Mar 04, 2020
With the passing of Rav Itzele of Volozhin in 1849, his son in law Rav Yitzchak Eliezer Freid became the titular head of the Volozhin Yeshiva. His reign was short-lived with his death in 1953. What then commenced was a long, protracted process in deciding the succession at the helm of the Yeshiva. Many contenders rose for both the primary Rosh Yeshiva position as well as the assistant Rosh Yeshiva position.
Candidates included the Bais Halevi, Rav Yehoshua Heshel Levin and members of the Freid family. Ultimately, the Netziv (1816 -1893) prevailed, and he became the great leader of Volozhin whose name became synonymous with the institution.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Saturday Feb 29, 2020
Saturday Feb 29, 2020
The Sochatchov Chassidic dynasty holds a special place in Jewish history. As flag bearers of the legacy of Kotzk, they were the elite of Polish Chassidus. In addition, led by the Rebbes of the dynasty, they strove to create a scholarly atmosphere through the building of elite Yeshivas as part of the chassidus. The Avnei Nezer, the Shem Mishmuel and Rav Dovid of Sochatchov were leaders of Polish Jewry and great teachers of Torah at the same time. Their influence reached far beyond the confines of their own followers.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Wednesday Feb 26, 2020
Wednesday Feb 26, 2020
Another collection of stories about the Jewish Mob in the early 20th century. From the streets of Newark emerged another Jewish gang under the able leadership of "Longy" Zwillman and Doc Stacher. Meyer Lansky continued to build up a gambling empire in Las Vegas and Cuba, though he encountered some difficulties with the Flamingo Hotel. Zwillman, Lansky, Siegel and others, were proud to take on pro Nazi groups that sprung up in America in the 1930's. Breaking up rallies and bloodying a few noses, they stood up for the Jewish people during dark times.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Monday Feb 24, 2020
Monday Feb 24, 2020
With the arrival of the war, Rav Kalmanowitz was dispatched to the United States in an attempt to raise funds for the Mir Yeshiva who were now refugees in Lithuania, having escaped from Soviet occupied Eastern Poland. This evolved into an attempt to assist other Yeshivas and their Rabbis, and later on in the war extended to overall rescue activities within the framework of Vaad Hatzalah. A dynamic rescue activist, he spearheaded many of the rescue activities during those trying times.
Following the rebuilding of the Mir in the US after the war, he then turned to a new phase of activism - both physical and spiritual - within the Sfardic communities in Morocco, Syria & Egypt.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Saturday Feb 22, 2020
Saturday Feb 22, 2020
With seemingly endless energy, few have matched the communal activism of Rav Avraham Kalmanowitz (1891-1964). From his days in Slabodka, to a young Rabbi in Rakov and then Tiktin, his activities were never limited in scope. He became the fundraiser and president of the Mir Yeshiva in Poland and managed to find time to assist refugees from the Soviet Union, participate in the activities of Agudas Yisroel, and also assist Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski on the Vaad Hayeshivas.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com