• #152 - Jewish Physicians III – Ottoman Vignettes and Halachic Questions feat. Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz
    Feb 13 2025

    In Eastern Europe quacks and soothsayers were in abundance, as were invented remedies whilst the Ottoman Empire provided refuge from Spain but came with its own risk.

    But do the best doctors end up in Hell according to Jewish tradition? Can one give a vaccine that also kills people? And may one smoke on Shabbos to perform better surgery?

    Chapters

    00:00 The Landscape of Medical Practice in 18th Century Russia

    02:55 The Role of Jewish Physicians in Europe

    05:52 The Influence of Jewish Medical Practitioners in the Ottoman Empire

    12:08 Challenges Faced by Jewish Physicians in France and Germany

    18:00 The Ethical Dilemmas of Medical Practice

    27:04 Reflections on the Medical Profession and Its Perception

    27:50 The Weight of Medical Decisions

    28:47 Personal Anecdotes and Cultural Reflections

    32:31 Halachic Insights in Medical Practice

    34:23 Ethical Dilemmas in Medicine

    40:12 The Role of Transparency in Medical Decisions

    41:20 Halachic Questions in Medical Scenarios

    Show more Show less
    56 mins
  • #151 - Jewish Physicians II - China & the Middle East feat. Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz
    Feb 6 2025

    Why did Jewish doctors in the Middle East get involved in Politics?

    How should modern day doctors combine ethics and law? How many Jewish women medics were there in Europe? Who were the Chinese Jewish physicians? How do we define sanctity of Life?

    And should everyone own a copy of Pu Ji Fang?

    Chapters

    02:34 Jewish Doctors in the Islamic World

    09:50 Cultural Interactions and Medical Ethics

    15:04 Conversion and Identity Among Jewish Physicians

    18:59 The Role of Women in Jewish Medicine

    27:55 Marco Polo and Jewish Communities in China

    29:36 Jewish Physicians in Chinese History

    34:32 Personal Anecdotes: Medicine and Judaism in South Africa

    49:05 Ethical Dilemmas in Medicine and Judaism

    54:34 The Intersection of Autonomy and Jewish Law

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • #150 - Jewish Physicians I - European Challenges feat. Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz
    Jan 29 2025

    ‘My son-in-law the Doctor’ may be a cliche, but it is based on the very real narrative of thousands of Jewish physicians who practiced through the ages.

    What was their environment during the Middle Ages in Christian Europe? How did Jewish doctors gain their knowledge? Why did the Popes always have a Jewish physician? And how are the Rambam’s medical writings viewed today?

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Jewish Medicine and History

    02:47 The Role of Jewish Physicians in Europe

    06:10 Historical Context of Jewish Medical Literature

    09:04 The Influence of Islamic Medicine on Jewish Practices

    11:55 The Evolution of Medical Practices in Medieval Europe

    15:14 The Relationship Between Jewish and Christian Physicians

    18:02 The Societal Perception of Jewish Doctors

    20:48 Accusations and Stereotypes Against Jewish Physicians

    24:02 The Impact of the Black Death on Jewish Medicine

    26:56 Conclusion: The Legacy of Jewish Medicine

    33:37 The Perils of Jewish Physicians in History

    46:00 The Legacy of Maimonides and Jewish Medicine

    01:01:56 The Evolution of Medical Specialization and Its Impact

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • #149 - Vienna III : Leading to Darkness
    Jan 16 2025

    WWI was a catastrophic event for the Austrian Empire, and the Jews immediately became unwelcome residents.

    When the Chancellor was assassinated it seemed that time was running out. However, Vienna still played host to important people and events in the inter-war years.

    The Chortkover Rebbe, the founding of Daf Yomi and a Zionist Congress. And then there was the unusual visit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1903

    Chapters

    00:00 The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Pre-War Austria

    02:55 World War I: A Turning Point for Austrian Jewry

    06:05 Post-War Challenges: Economic Hardships and Scapegoating

    08:55 The Emergence of Political Anti-Semitism

    11:48 The Role of Universities in Anti-Semitic Sentiment

    15:02 The Zionist Congress and Public Demonstrations

    17:54 The Impact of Anti-Semitism on Jewish Identity

    21:13 Conclusion: Lessons from History

    26:35 The Rise of Anti-Semitism in Austria

    29:50 Unexpected Allies: The Christian Social Chancellor

    32:11 The Complex Relationship Between Jews and the Austrian Government

    35:34 Internal Divisions Within the Jewish Community

    39:17 The Role of Religious Leadership in Vienna

    43:10 The Influence of the Chotkver Rebbe

    50:11 The Encounter Between Freud and the Lu

    bavitcher Rebbe

    Show more Show less
    53 mins
  • #148 - Vienna II - pre-WWI: Freud, Herzl & Rabbi Flesch
    Jan 7 2025
    Why did Vienna produce so many revolutionary Jews? How Jewish was Freud? Was Herzl always a Zionist? Did the Beis Yakov movement actually start in Vienna rather than Krakow? Nathan Birnbaum created the term Zionism - why don’t we know more about him? What was Gustav Mahler’s epitaph on his tombstone?

    Chapters

    03:12 Jewish Identity vs Jewish Society

    06:04 Responses to Antisemitism: A Spectrum of Reactions

    09:00 Five Cultural Figures and Their Influence

    11:51 Theodor Herzl: From Assimilation to Zionism

    20:54 The Collision of Ideas: Herzl and Viennese Jewry

    23:50 Herzl's Proposals: Why they happened in Vienna

    30:09 Nathan Birnbaum: The Ideologue of Zionism

    35:24 Sigmund Freud: A Complex Jewish Identity

    39:14 Freud's Psychoanalysis: Does it have religious value?

    46:30 Rabbi Moshe David Flesch: A Voice for Jewish Women

    Show more Show less
    55 mins
  • #147 - The BBC: Biased Broadcasting Corporation - The Insiders View feat. Trevor Asserson
    Dec 26 2024

    It has long been suspected that the BBC is anti-Israel and employs pro-Palestinian reporters and editors. But how do you prove suspicion? And how far does the betrayal go?

    Using objective forensic methodology and scientific analysis, a year long report was created by a team of researchers, spear-headed by Trevor Assesrson, that makes shocking reading and listening.

    Post-interview we then spoke to Rabbi Zev Leff, Rabbi Osher Weiss and others, to determine how we should react?

    https://asserson.co.uk/assersonreport/

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Jewish History Podcast

    01:07 Media Bias and Its Impact on Jewish Identity

    03:25 Interview with Trevor Asserson: Uncovering BBC Bias

    05:45 The Findings of the Asserson Report

    10:06 Analysis of BBC Arabic Coverage

    12:28 BBC Arabic and Its Influence

    17:34 The BBC's Institutional Challenges

    19:30 Hamas's Strategy and Media Reporting

    24:24 BBC's Institutional Bias

    27:14 Freedom of Information and BBC Accountability

    32:20 Public Awareness and Criticism of the BBC

    39:37 The Challenge of Objectivity in Reporting

    40:34 Funding and Support for Continued Research

    46:34 Conclusion and

    Call to Action

    Show more Show less
    51 mins
  • #146 - Vienna I -19th Century: Friends or Enemies?
    Dec 18 2024
    In the 1800s Vienna was one of the world's major cities, yet does not seem to have produced religious leadership? It nevertheless underwent a metamorphosis, which left it the victim of strong prejudice. Why did it experience such phenomenal growth in numbers and how - in just 4 decades - did Vienna become the centre of Jewish culture and science. What role did Rabbi Shmuel Yosef Bloch play?

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Jewish History Podcast

    02:51 The Importance of Understanding Jewish History

    06:12 Effie's Insights on Rabbi Hirsch's Work

    07:05 Introduction to the Jews of Vienna

    08:33 Vienna's Jewish History and Community Dynamics

    10:29 Legal Status and Assimilation of Jews in Vienna

    13:52 The Rise of Jewish Influence in Vienna

    18:10 Anti-Semitism and Jewish Integration in Society

    21:06 The Complex Relationship Between Jews and Non-Jews

    24:00 Political Anti-Semitism and Its Consequences

    26:25 Internal Anti-Semitism and Community Dynamics

    28:45 The Crisis of Assimilation and Political Zionism

    30:13 Jewish Identity in Late 19th Century Vienna

    32:35 Religious Reform and Resistance in Vienna

    36:22 The Showdown of Reform and Orthodox Judaism

    43:30 Rabbi Yosef Schmuel Bloch: A Voice Against Anti-Semitism

    54:50 Vienna's Jewish Community: A Historical Overview

    Show more Show less
    57 mins
  • #145 - Chanukah, the West & the ICC Judgement
    Dec 5 2024
    Unlike militant Islam, our enemies in the West don't want the Jews wiped out. But what they are aiming for is far more sinister. It is a battle between Sheker and Emess, that goes back to Biblical times and encompasses Politics, Art & Science. The quest for peace may seem elusive, but in certain ways, we hold the keys to changing the narrative.

    Summary

    This conversation delves into the complexities of Jewish identity, the historical context of anti-Semitism, and the current political landscape in the West, surrounding Israel and the ICC. It explores the philosophical underpinnings of truth, the influence of Greek thought on Jewish tradition, and the dangers of assimilation. The podcast looks at the Soviet Union, the Church, Blood Libels and the recent US elections.

    Chapters

    00:00 The ICC and Its Jurisdiction Over Israel

    02:52 Historical Context of Jewish Enmity

    06:14 The Nature of Modern Anti-Semitism

    09:06 The Role of Truth and Falsehood

    11:59 The Intersection of Science and Religion

    14:52 The Influence of Greek Philosophy

    18:12 The Political Landscape and Jewish Identity

    21:09 The Dangers of Assimilation

    24:03 The ICC's Bias Against Israel

    26:51 The Call to Action for the Jewish Community

    29:45 The Importance of Truth in Jewish Life

    Show more Show less
    50 mins