In 1949 Israel was in the dangerous position of winning the battle and losing the war. Though ceasefire agreements were in place, peace remained elusive. This episode opens an examination of the questions of international legitimacy, national cohesion and border conflicts which characterize the state even today.
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The commandment around which seder night revolves is the telling of the story of the Exodus. Many people today struggle with questions of historicity, meaning – did this really happen? Here is an episode on why the real questions of the Exodus lie in the future and not the past, along with some insights on…
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There are times in the history of peoples and nations when the decisions made shape the future. The three years after Israel’s foundation saw its population double through immigration, the way in which the immigrants were received set the mode for many years to come.
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In the first two years after Israel’s independence, the Jewish population doubled. Such massive immigration put almost fatal stress on the resources and social fabric of the young state. Before we can discuss the practical implications we need to consider the meaning of kibutz galuyot – the ingathering of the exiles. Help me make history…
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Hatred of the Jews is the oldest and most pervasive form of prejudice which humanity knows. In this episode Rav Mike uses the comments of Haman to ask not only why we are hated, but also what we can do about it. Help me make history by becoming a supporter at www.patreon.com/mfeuer Illustration attribution www.maxpixel.net/Aggression-Viole…ss-Attack-656795
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It is time to move away from the divisive question of who is a Jew to ask something more essential – what is a Jew? The first half of this episode offers Rav Mike’s thoughts on the subject. The second half is a conversation on the same with R’ Aaron Leibowitz, social activist and head…
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Part I presented America as an environment of formation for American Zionism, part two adds the other element of evolution – competition. The struggles between American Zionists and first the European Zionist leadership and then the heads of the new State of Israel still define our political landscape today. Help me make history by supporting…
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Season 3 opens with a long awaited introduction to the American chapter of the Jewish Story. This first segment traces the back story of the three waves of Jewish immigration to American and explores the tension between assimilation and ethnic solidarity. Help me make history by becoming a patron at www.patreon.com/mfeuer
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1948 was a year of Biblical proportions, which means the stories told about what happened often have more power than the events themselves. This is part one of a two-part treatment of this momentous time with which we will close season two. Listen in for the civil war which precedes the War of Independence and…
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One could say that the Maccabees won the battle but lost the war. How is it that the heroes of the Hanukkah story went from the heights of spiritual power to the depths of corruption in less than 100 years? Here is an analysis of the three disasters that brought down the Hasmonean kingdom, and…
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