Jewish History Uncensored

In this episode we take a deeper look at Determinism and why Einstein was specifically attracted to this philosophy. We also take a deeper look at the Torah perspective on this issue. We also look at the phenomenon of the Fragility of Human History and how this should affect the philosophy of Determinism.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. We are currently learning Shoftim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS  

In this episode we look at the conundrum of assimilated Jews and national identity. How much was this a factor in Einstein’s life? How much was Einstein challenged professionally by his being Jewish? How did he react to this?  We start looking at one of the key reasons Einstein was attracted to Spinoza’s philosophy, Spinoza’s approach of determinism. Is there a difference between why Einstein held of this philosophy and why Spinoza held of this philosophy? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. We are currently learning Shoftim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

Spinoza and modern philosophy claims to be rational. How do we define rationalism from a Torah perspective? What was the Rambam’s approach to this issue?   Einstein quite explicitly said that he was influenced by Spinoza.  Is there any significant difference between Einstein’s cultural milieu and Spinoza’s? We take a quick look at Einstein’s life to properly understand this.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. We are currently learning Shoftim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

In this episode we look at one of Spinoza’s key legacies, creation of a secular world. The contemporary world in a cultural fashion is thoroughly secular. What was Spinoza’s key conceptual idea that brought about this change?    We also briefly look at some of Spinoza’s spiritual fruit, Biblical Criticism. How pertinent is this issue today? Why was this once a major issue? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. We are currently learning MISHLEI. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

In this episode we take a careful look at the phenomenon of Avoda Zara. What was Avoda Zara? Is the classic translation of Avoda Zara as idol worship accurate? Was there any basic logic to Avoda Zara, or was it rank superstition? Is there a historical connection between the decline of Avoda Zara and the rise of modern science?  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. We are currently learning MISHLEI. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

In this episode we take a more deeper look at the issues that Spinoza raised about authorship in Tanach.  How would this fit into Jewish History? What basic flaw does this have from the broader picture of Jewish History?    We also look at the crisis of Emuna which has clearly existed for at least one hundred years. In order to have a better understanding of this we take a careful look at the famed story of the Chafetz Chaim and the dibbuk. Did all of those involved see the story as authentic? Should one use this story in terms of Emuna? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. We are currently learning MISHLEI. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

In this episode we look at how we react to Tisha B’Av. How are we supposed to react to the Churban? Is there anything constructive and positive to do about this? Is going up to Har haBayis a proper response? What should our attitude be towards Har haBayis? What would the ideal policy be for the State of Israel about the Har haBayis? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. We are currently learning MISHLEI. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

In this episode we take a closer look at Spinoza’s claims about the Ibn Ezra. What was the Ibn Ezra’s attitude to Chazal? How does the Ibn Ezra demonstrate the existence and substantialness of the Oral Torah. How does this relate to Spinoza’s theories about the Torah? What was Spinoza’s theory about authorship of the Torah?  What are the clear flaws in this theory? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. We are currently learning MISHLEI. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

In this episode we look at some of Spinoza’s key questions on the authenticity of Tanach. How original were his questions? How much before Spinoza should we assume that these questions were being raised? Do Chazal deal with any of these questions? How should this affect how we view these style questions? We also look at the claim that the Ibn Ezra is the source for the opinion that Moshe isn’t the sole author of the Torah. We closely examine the, ‘secret of the twelve’.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. We are currently learning MISHLEI. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS

In this episode we take a closer look at one of Spinoza’s most fundamental mistakes. Spinoza criticized Tanach because he wasn’t able to apply Euclidean style logic to the narrative of Tanach. This however is a deep philosophical error. There is an area of Tanach that has mathematical style rules. However most of Tanach and drashos Chazal use a different form of logic. Why is this true? What can we learn about the way the Torah sees the world from this phenomenon?  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. We are currently learning MISHLEI. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS