There are times in history which define us even now, and in the state of Israel the Second Aliyah is second to none in that respect. This episode tells of the chalutzim, the idealistic pioneers who came up to the land to build the world, one goat at a time. Want to help tell the…
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The end of the 19th century was a time of dramatic ideological struggle – cosmopolitanism vs. nationalism, socialism vs. capitalism. Early Zionist thought shows such incredible diversity that every element of society, Jewish and not, can be found there. Here is one more stream to explore – the religion of labor. Want to help tell…
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Did you ever wonder how the Jews went from being the martyrs of Europe to the military power of the Middle East in less than fifty years? This episode uncovers the roots of the extraordinary transformation of the physical culture of Am Yisrael in Max Nordau’s vision of a muscular Judaism. Want to help tell…
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At the First Zionist Congress, Herzl awakened the Jews of Europe to their national political life. But Asher Zvi Ginsberg, better known as Ahad Ha’am, tried to teach them that the soul of the people needs to be revived before they seek their national home. The battle between them will become a fundamental split in…
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Return to the land of Israel had been a dream for almost 2000 years, and in the late 19th century it began to become a reality. It took a special man to transform the notion of national rebirth from a subconscious desire to an international issue. Here is a presentation of the early life of…
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In the second half of the 19th century the Jewish problem was pressing, and it took the form of antisemitism. When faced with such a problem, it is not surprising that many leaders took a problem-solving approach to the future of Am Yisrael. But what if our goal is not to solve the Jewish problem,…
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It’s time to talk about nationalism. Here is a presentation of the underpinnings of nationalist thought along with a look at what is happening in the Pale of Settlement. The episode ends with a ground breaking work that emerges from the intersection of the two. Want to help tell the Jewish Story? Become a Patron:…
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The struggle between the parochial and the cosmopolitan is a defining tension of the 19th century – for Europe as a whole and the Jews in particular. In this episode we will update our understanding of chassidut as it battles with the Galician Haskalah, meet the figure of the radical socialist Jew in the person…
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The remarkable persistence of Am Yisrael as an ethnic entity, despite the best efforts of emancipation, is what poses the Jewish Question to European society. And while Europe is asking what to do with the Jews, the Jews will be asking what we do with ourselves. In both cases it will be the power of…
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As the Emperor of France spreads the ideals of the revolution through Europe, the question arises – is emancipation a right, a privilege or a threat? Every action had an equal and opposite reaction, and this episode will outline the origins of both the Reform and Orthodox movements. Want to help tell the Jewish Story?…
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