Jewish Story

Season 1: Episode 31 – Independence Day

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Season 1: Episode 21 – From Moshe to Moshe

The Rambam was the second famous Moses in Jewish History. His accomplishments in Jewish law and philosophy tower over his contemporaries, and are pillars of of the Torah to this very day. Nonetheless, he was the source of great controversy in his day, igniting a struggle which ended in excommunications and book burning. Want to…

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Season 1: Episode 13 – The Rivers of Babylon

It is the end of an era. In this episode Rav Mike explores rabbinic chronology, textual evolution and socio-political context in order to illustrate the shift between the time of the Tanaim and the time of the Amoraim. Want to help tell the Jewish Story? Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer

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Season 1: Episode 12 – The Portable Homeland

R’ Yehudah HaNasi redacted the Mishna but he inherited its form and content from R’ Akiva. In this episode, R’ Mike explores the nature of the mishna and traces its development in the hands of R’ Akiva’s students. Want to help tell the Jewish Story? Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer

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Season 1: Episode 11 – The Indigestible Element

The ruins of the Temple were still smoldering when Judea burst into the flames of rebellion once again. In this episode Rav Mike discusses the final two rounds of the Roman Jewish wars. Filled with brutal bloodshed and failed messiahs, this is the time period which convinced Rome that the Jews were the indigestible element…

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Season 1: Episode 10 – Through the Flames

In this episode, R’ Mike describes the destruction of Jerusalem from without and from within. In order to do so he compares the perspectives of the great Jewish historian Josephus and the leading Sage R’ Yochanan ben Zakkai. In the end it is clear that the real question is not how was Jerusalem destroyed, but…

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Season 1: Episode 9 -The Eve of Destruction

We are on the eve of destruction. As the national vessel begins to fray at the seams and the Temple’s burning looms, the cultural battle within the text of the Torah erupts. When the smoke clears from the destruction it will be the divergent understandings of God’s will as embodied in the text which will…

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Season 1: Episode 8 -Hillel Prince of the Torah

In this episode Rav Mike discusses the persona of HiIlel the Elder. Hillel was named Nasi, prince, at the same time as Herod was king. In addition, Jesus of Nazareth was born in his lifetime. Together, these three represent competing models of the kingdom of God, and they and their followers will live out a…

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Season 1: Episode 7 – Herod and the Two Faces of Kingship

Herod the Wicked or Herod the Great? In this episode Rav Mike talks about Herod’s kingdom, the final phase of Judea preceding the destruction of the Second Temple. Herod’s complex personality matched the fragmented nature of his kingdom, but the state he built was strong enough to hold off the disaster to come. Want to…

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Season 1: Episode 6 -The Hasmonean Kingdom

Rav Mike discusses the rise and fall of the Hasmonean dynasty, from a kingdom of priests to Hellenestic kingdom. Also hear how Judean society began to tear along lines which will define things for some time to come. Want to help tell the Jewish Story? Become a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/mfeuer

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