This week’s episode is dedicated in honor of Rav Dr Howie Apfel   In this episode we take a closer look at the basic challenges of understanding the History of Ancient Egypt.  How deeply is the Ancient Egyptian documentation connected with Egyptian Avoda Zara? How much will this connection complicate our attempts to understand the documentation?    What are the real and clear lessons can we learn from Egyptology?    Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur coveri ..read more

  In this episode we take a deeper look at why the phenomenon of Egyptology has such an attraction to people. Why are people more interested in Egyptology than Greek and Roman History?   Similarly, we look at how to reconcile Egyptology with Tanach? Did the ancient Egyptians value History? How does this affect the way we understand Ancient Egyptian History?    This week’s episode is sponsored as a רפואה שלימה לאיתן לב בן תמרה יפית  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur coverin ..read more

 In this episode, we look at the basic methodology of how to examine Historical stories. When should we accept a story as factual and when should we reject a story.    We also look at how and why the machlokes of R Avrohom Kalisker and the Baal HaTanya was never resolved. And what part did Elazar of Disna play in this complicated situation? Similarly why did the Baal HaTanya protest R Avrohom Kalisker wanting to start his own tzedaka organization?  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute s ..read more

 In this episode we take a deeper look at the challenges and limits of education. How do we understand the ideal of education? How does an ideally educated person see himself?  What lesson should most of us take from the basic challenge of true education and knowledge? How does this relate to the machlokes between R Avrohom Kalisker and the Baal HaTanya?    We also start looking at some of the important details of the machlokes. Who were the secondary figures in this machlokes? What part did these figures play in this machlokes?  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstei ..read more

 In this episode we look at R' Avrohom Kalisker’s part in establishing the Ashkenzi community in Israel. We look at why R' Avrohom Kalisker initially attacks R' Shnuer Zalman. We similarly look at how this was part of a greater question of how the average Chassid should focus his efforts in Avodas Hashem.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gm ..read more

   In this episode we take a more careful look at the part charisma plays in communal leadership. We also discuss why the Rambam tried to avoid communal leadership.    We take a careful look at R Avrohom Kalisker time with the Vilna Gaon. And we similarly discuss why R Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk didn’t try to bring him to his attempted meeting with the Vilna Gaon in 1772.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For to ..read more

 In this episode we look at the part that charisma plays in History. Was every great Rabbi by definition a charismatic figure? Is it possible that charisma was a significant factor in the Vilna Gaon’s decision not to meet with R Menachem Mendal of Vitebsk and the Baal HaTanya in 1772? Was charisma a factor in R Avrohom Kalisker’s leadership? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at ..read more

  The main topic of this episode is the Vilna Gaon’s theory about, ‘Incongruent Actions’. The episode starts with a quick synopsis of my comments of the crisis of solution in the Gaza War.    What was the real cause of Nathan of Gaza’s fall? Was the entire issue a result of the lack of commitment to Torah and similarly lack of Yiras Hashem? Or is there a deeper issue that is part of this? We will look at a number of the Vilna Gaon’s comments in Mishley to properly understand this.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five ..read more

In this episode we look at the deep complexities of how the world relates to the State of Israel.  What are the main elements of this very complicated phenomenon? How should that effect how Israel should conduct its Foreign Policy?   We also look at the basic tension that exists in a Democratic country between popular will and responsible governance.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sp ..read more

   In this episode, we look at the basic structure of how modern government works, and how this creates a challenge in governance. We also look at why specifically there is a challenge now.    We also discuss where in Torah we can find information that can give us direction in these issues.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensor ..read more