Jewish History Uncensored

In this episode, we look at the critically important letter the Vilna Gaon wrote in 1796 that explains his opposition to the Besht’s ideas. Why did the Vilna Gaon write this letter? What is the difference between this letter and the bans of excommunication that the Vilna Gaon had already signed on?  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 Yirmiyahu. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com (CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

In this episode we take a careful look at the two controversies around the Ramchal. What specifically caused each of them to happen? How did the Ramchal view the two controversies? Did the Ramchal consider the promises he made to be legally binding in each case? We also take another look at the Ramchal’s Maggid and how to understand it. 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 Tehillim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com (CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

In this episode we take a deeper look at the Ramchal’s youth and his first Rebbe R' Yitzchak Chaim Kantorini. We also look at the issue of the Tehillim of the Ramchal and its historical context. We look at the Ramchal’s guiding the Kabbalistic group, Mevakshai Hashem and his core principles of understanding the relationship between the Hidden and Revealed parts of Torah.  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 Tehillim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com (CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

In this episode we look at the Ramchal’s experiences after he moved to Amsterdam. This is where he printed his famous works, Mesilas Yesharim, Derech Hashem, and Daas Tevunos. How was he able to print these works? Why did he change his writing style? Where did the Ramchal live in Israel? Did he ever visit Jerusalem? Where is he buried? How did the Ramchal achieve his colossal historical legacy?  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 Tehillim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com (CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

In this episode we look at how R' Moshe Chagiz was successfully able to challenge the Ramchal and force him to stop publicly teaching and give up his early writings.    We also look at the tumult in the Rabbinic world about the authenticity of the Zohar, and specifically R' Yehuda de Modena’s sefer, ‘Ari Noham’. We look at how the Ramchal got involved and how R' Moshe Chagiz reacted to the Ramchal’s involvement. 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 Tehillim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com (CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

In this episode we look at how the Ramchal came to Reggio and the founding of the chabura Mevakshai Hashem. We also look at the Ramchal’s writings, when were they written, and how we have them today.  We also discuss the style of the Ramchal’s writings.    We look at the Ramchal’s Maggid, heavenly messenger. What is a maggid? How does it relate to Prophecy and Ruach Ha-Kodesh? We look at the massive growth of the Ramchal’s group, R Moshe Chagiz’s opposition, and the outcome of the first confrontation between the Ramchal and R' Moshe Chagiz.  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 Tehillim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com (CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

 In this episode we look at the contemporary evidence about the location of the lost Ten Tribes. How much solid evidence is there? Is it possible that they are to be found in Western India? What can we learn from early modern interest in this issue?   We start looking at the Ramchal’s life.  Where was he born? Where did his family originate from? Who were his Rebbeim? Is there a direct connection between the Ramchal and the Ari zl?  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 Tehillim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com (CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

In this episode we look at end of R' Imanuel Chai Ricco’s life and his tragic death. Why did people consider him as dying for Kiddush Hashem?  We start looking at the issue of the Ten Tribes. What happened to them after they were exiled? What does it say in Tanach about them? What does it say in Shas about them? Is there other Midrashic information about where the Ten Tribes were exiled to? How do we reconcile R Akiva’s opinion that the Ten Tribes aren’t coming back with the places in Tanach that strongly imply they are coming back? We look at the legendary story of Eldad Ha-Dani.  When did this story happen? Did everyone accept the story as true? Is there a connection between Eldad Ha-Dani and the Ethiopian Jews?  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 Tehillim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com (CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

In this episode we look at the challenge of internalizing the authenticity of Torah in our challenging times.  Is there a difference between how we see Tanach and it’s narrative and the other words of Chazal? What can we do in order to see the Torah as being the ultimate of substantial?  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 Rus. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com (CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)

In this episode we take a careful look at how R Emanuel Chai Ricco’s sefer, ‘Mishnas Chassidim’, gained very deep influence on the learning of Kabbala in the 1700’s. We look at the basic structure of the Kloiz of Brody and how this connects to the Mishnas Chassidim. We also look at one of the key ideas in one of R Emanuel Chai Ricco’s other sefarim about when Mashiach should come and how this impacted the Jewish World.   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 Tehillim. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at jewishhistoryuncensored@gmail.com (CedarMediaStudios Podcasting 2021)