1.8M
Downloads
472
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
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
One of the most multifaceted individuals in Torah leadership of the last century was R' Yitzchak Hutner. Arriving from Warsaw to Slabodka in the wake of World War I, he eventually followed the Yeshiva on it's sojourn in Chevron. During this time he enjoyed a close relationship with Rav Kook. Following a stint in University in Germany, he eventually made it across the Atlantic, where he obtained a position in Yeshivas Chaim Berlin in Brownsville. As a charismatic leader and scholar with penetrating depth, the diversity of his thought and teachings is almost unmatched in contemporary Rabbinic writing.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Saturday Dec 14, 2019
Saturday Dec 14, 2019
With the upcoming holiday of Yud Tes Kislev coming up, it's worth examining the early opposition that the Chassidic movement faced at the early stages of the movement. One of the ironies of the organized opposition, was it's role in enhancing the divergent groups of Chassidim into a movement with common identity. With sporadic opposition rising in the early years, the opposition was raised a notch in 1772 with the first official proclamations of excommunication. This commenced a period of more than three decades of very active and occasionally violent opposition of the misnaggdim. The misnaggdim were led by the Vilna Goan who spearheaded the opposition. In the first decade of the 19th century, the active stage had passed and the misnaggdim changed gears to a more passive ideological phase. The Chassidic movement emerged from the opposition stronger, larger and with a more cohesive sense of identity and mission.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Wednesday Dec 11, 2019
Wednesday Dec 11, 2019
From the first arrival of the Chassidic group to Tverya in 1777, through the Aliya of the students of the Vilna Gaon in the early years of the 19th century, and right up until modern times, the Chaluka system was the lifeline of support for the Old Yishuv. How were the funds collected and distributed? What constituted the "Old Yishuv"? Under which criteria was one eligible for this financial support, and were those conditions met? How long did it last? What were some of the long term societal effects on the community of recipients, as well as on the community of donors back in Europe? Exploring the context of these questions and others will give a clearer understanding of a financial support system whose echoes remain till this very day.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Monday Dec 09, 2019
Monday Dec 09, 2019
The Founding of the Merkaz Harav in the second decade of the twentieth century, brought together a group of some very talented individuals to the forefront of Torah education. Among others, we'll examine the life of the Rav Dovid Cohen, the Rav Hanazir (1887-1972), who's origins lay in the Rabbinic Lithuanian aristocracy and later became a modern day Nazir. Rav Yitzchok Arielli (1896-1974) was home grown talent in the Old City of Yerushalayim. Following his exposure to Rav Kook, he became a close student and subsequently one of the heads of Merkaz Harav, while also achieving distinction as one of the leading poskim in Yerushalayim. Rav Yaakov Moshe Charlap (1882-1951) a mystic, thinker, Talmudist, community Rabbi, leader and Rosh Yeshiva, was one of the most diverse of this talented circle.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Friday Dec 06, 2019
Friday Dec 06, 2019
Get ready for Part 2 of our interview with the legendary Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff. Rav Rakeffett is a world class Jewish Historian who has lived a storied life, from learning in Lakewood and Yeshiva University to sharing close relationships with luminaries such as Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik, Rav Aaron Kotler,Rav Moshe Feinstein as well as other Gedolim. He has authored numerous bestselling Sefarim and Books such as "The Silver Era" and the multi volume "Rakaffot Aaron" series. He has thousands of Talmidim around the world, many of whom listen to his Shiurim regularly in person at Gruss Kollel in Yerushalayim and online at YUTorah.org . In addition to his storied teaching and writing careers, Rav Rakeffet has spent time working for the IDF and Mossad on a variety of important missions including clandestine trips to Soviet Russia and a close involvement with the Zachary Baumel HY'D case.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
Thursday Dec 05, 2019
Our momentous 100th Episode is Part 1 of our interview with the legendary Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff. Rav Rakeffett is a world class Jewish Historian who has lived a storied life, from learning in Lakewood and Yeshiva University to sharing close relationships with luminaries such as Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik, Rav Aaron Kotler,Rav Moshe Feinstein as well as other Gedolim.
He has authored numerous bestselling Sefarim and Books such as "The Silver Era" and the multi volume "Rakaffot Aaron" series. He has thousands of Talmidim around the world, many of whom listen to his Shiurim regularly in person at Gruss Kollel in Yerushalayim and online at YUTorah.org . In addition to his storied teaching and writing careers, Rav Rakeffet has spent time working for the IDF and Mossad on a variety of important missions including clandestine trips to Soviet Russia and a close involvement with the Zachary Baumel HY'D case.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Tuesday Dec 03, 2019
Tuesday Dec 03, 2019
As loyal citizens of their respective countries, Jews served loyally in every army and on every front. Very often one encountered the tragic scenario of Jew fighting Jew. Jewish chaplains serviced Jewish soldiers in the German army, and connected with local Jewish communities in areas under German occupation. This enhanced the connection between East and West. Jewish soldiers faced numerous challenges while serving and it became part of the struggle of Jewish identity in modern times.
Jewish communities were exiled across Eastern Europe. With Galicia Jews streaming west towards Vienna, the pace of urbanization quickened. This brought Chassidus and great Rebbes for the first time to the West and to the great urban centers. Meanwhile in Russia, some communities were exiled as a result of the their homes being turned into a battlefield, while others were expelled by the Czar to the Russian interior. This massive exile caused a great upheaval in communal life, and in some instances a complete disintegration thereof. Among the exiled were many of the great Lithuanian Yeshivas. They attempted to relocate and continue their studies under ever worsening conditions.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Saturday Nov 30, 2019
Saturday Nov 30, 2019
Of the many figures who traversed two worlds in the past century, perhaps none epitomized that duality more than Rabbi Dr. Saul Lieberman. Scion of a Rabbinical family and student of Slabodka, he was to become one of the greatest scholars ever in the field of early Rabbinic writings. As one of the chief professors at the Jewish Theological Seminary for over four decades, he struggled with the challenges of Jewish identity in the Conservative and Orthodox communities. A brilliant and enigmatic personality, his winding career is a prism of the vicissitudes of Jewish life in the 20th century.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Thursday Nov 28, 2019
Thursday Nov 28, 2019
Kletzker Rosh Yeshiva, Agudist, member of Agudas Harrabonim, head of Vaad Hatzala, Rosh Yeshiva of Lakewood/BMG, founder and head of Chinuch Atzmai, Torah Umesorah & more. Rav Aharon Kotler (1891-1962) wore many hats in the diverse array of initiatives that he undertook to build the future of the Jewish people worldwide.
With his boundless energy and devoted lieutenants, he partnered with people from all types and backgrounds to further the projects that he spearheaded. With his bold vision, he set out to invest in Jewish education in both the United States and Israel. In 1956, he led a campaign launch a Torah School network in Israel in the form of Chinuch Atzmai. The guest of honor at the inaugural dinner was Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik, and was a historic event in the annals of the American Jewish community.
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com
Tuesday Nov 26, 2019
Tuesday Nov 26, 2019
One of the most difficult stories to confront in an objective fashion, is the issue of Jewish collaboration during the Holocaust. From the Judenrat and the Jewish Police in the Ghettos to Kapos in the Concentration Camps, the questions raised by the moral decisions made by Jews working ostensibly for the Nazis resonates till this very day. One of the more famous stories was of Eliezer Greunbaum, the communist son of the great Zionist leader Yitzchak Greunbaum. As a Kapo in Auschwitz he was accused after the war of being a collaborator. But was he? Decades later, can we view the situation with more nuance, objectivity and balance and recognize the dilemmas they faced under trying circumstances?
Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites
You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com