Jewish History With Rabbi Nachum Meth: Recent Episodes
Rabbi Nachum Meth
A podcast that explores the unlikely story of Jewish history: tragedy and triumph, persecution and perseverance, mankind and miracles.
On the one had, historically speaking we have very little left from Rabbi Yisroel Salanter. He wrote only a few essays and letters, and just a handful of articles. On the other hand, there is very little in Jewish life both during his lifetime as well as today that has not been significantly influenced by Rabbi Yisroel Salanter. In this episode, we take a look at this remarkable person as well as the movement that he created.
Who were the first Jews to settle America, and why did they come? What was life like for Jews in North America in the 17th and 18th Century? In this class we discuss the history of and and lessons from the Jews of Colonial America.
In many ways the Jewish experience during the Great Depression was no different than others, yet in some ways it was entirely unique. How was the Jewish community affected? What are the Depression’s lingering impacts? What lessons can we learn today? In this class, we take a closer look at the Jewish Experience during the Great Depression.
The Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisroel Meir Hakohen Kagan, was the gadol hador - the great leader of his generation. In this class, we take a closer look at the Chofetz Chaim: a biography of his life, and the remarkable legacies he left and that are still with us today.
A Miracle In Our Day: The Story & Lessons Of The Six Day War
The IDF’s miraculous success during the Six Day War baffle historians, and the ramifications of the war still shape Israel today. In this class, Rabbi Meth offers an informative and inspiring discussion about the war.
From local politics to the formation of the State Of Israel, Harry Truman had many significant Jewish relationships. In this class, Rabbi Meth discusses the 33rd president’s fascinating Jewish connections.
Albert Einstein’s wisdom and genius revolutionized the way mankind looks at the universe, and the impact of his discoveries transformed modern society. In this class we discuss the complex relationship between Einstein and his Judaism.
In 1858, a six-year-old boy was abducted from his home. Who were the kidnappers? The Catholic Church! The tragic story of Edgardo Mortara is one of the most heinous examples of papal antisemitism in modern times.
Although Lincoln is universally remembered as the martyred hero who saved the Union in its darkest hours, his relations with the Jews are not as well known. In this class we discuss Abraham Lincoln’s many fascinating Jewish connections.
The Titanic disaster was one of the most devastating tragedies in maritime history, and its legacy has captured the memory of the world. In this class, we look at the history and lessons of the Titanic and its many Jewish connections.
The Expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492 was one of the darkest chapters in all of Jewish history. In this episode, we look at the background, context, and lessons from this difficult story.
The Dreyfus Affair was one of the most important events in Modern Jewish History, and its repercussions and reverberations are still with us today. In this class we retell the story of Alfred Dreyfus: how a French army captain was falsely accused of espionage, how antisemitism defined his trial, and how the Jewish and global responses shaped the major world events of the Twentieth Century and beyond. And how does God fit into the story?
Historians have long noted Alexander Hamilton’s strong Jewish associations, and author Andrew Porwancher's suggests that Hamilton was indeed Jewish. In this episode, we look at some of the evidence and discuss Hamilton's connections with the Jewish community.
Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki - Rashi - is theteacher of the Jewish People. His commentary on the Torah is studied by schoolchildren and scholar alike, and his commentary on the Talmud was so widely accepted that no of the other commentators even attempted to replicate it.
There are many groups in North American Jewish life: Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Chasidic, Sephardic, Chabad, Reconstruction, Yeshivish, Modern Orthodox, Open Orthodox, Jews For Jesus? What do all these terms mean? Where did they come from? More importantly, where are the heading?
Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, familiar to many as Maimonides or by his acronym, Rambam, was one of the most influential people in all of Jewish history. In this episode we sketch out his biography, look at some of his letters, outline his major works, and talk about his legacy
Why didn’t the Allies bomb Auschwitz, or at least the tracks leading to the camps? To many, this is the most damning indictment against FDR, the United States, and the Allies.
The single most controversial issue in all of Jewish American history is FDR's response to the Holocaust. in this episode we take a closer look at the timeline of events: what FDR knew, when he knew about it, and what his responses were
The most sensitive and controversial topic in Jewish American history is FDR’s response to German atrocities. This episode looks at the period from Kristallnacht through the summer of 1941
We take a look at FDR's initial responses to Hitler's rise, the US's pre-war immigration policies, and the Jewish refugee crisis.
Taking down statues of historical figures has been one of the most identifiable elements of Cancel Culture. Background, political affiliation, outlook, and a variety of other factors tend to determine people’s feeling on the issue, and very frequently they tend to be strong feelings. In this episode, we take a look at a Torah perspective on Cancel Culture
Isaac Leeser was one of the most impactful Jews in all of American Jewish history, yet he is largely forgotten. In this episode we take a closer look at the life of this mid-Nineteenth Century giant.
We discuss the Jewish Community's interactions with FDR during his early years, the Great Depression, and the New Deal.