Podcast Episodes

Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust Part III: The Sobibor Revolt

Episode 352

Within the framework of Operation Reinhard, the Nazi extermination of Polish Jewry, the SS built three death camps in Eastern Poland - Belzec, Treblinka & Sobibor. The latter was the smallest of the …

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust Part II: From a Tunnel in Novogrudok to the Bielski Partisans

Episode 351

On the night of September 26, 1943 232 Jews escaped through a tunnel from the Novogrudok Ghetto. Nearly 170 survived, primarily by joining the Bielski partisans who operated nearby in the Naliboki fo…

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

Growth & Consolidation: The Lev Simcha

Episode 350

Rav Simcha Bunim Alter (1898-1992), the Lev Simcha of Ger, was a leader during a time period of growth and consolidation. Having grown up in Poland and emerged as a great Torah scholar, he moved to P…

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust Part I: Monsieur & the Belgian Orphans

Episode 349

Jewish History Soundbites is proud to launch a special series entitled ‘Jewish Saviors of the Holocaust’. It will explore the narratives of Jews under Nazi occupation risking their lives to save othe…

Published on 3 years, 5 months ago

An Enlightened Song: The Story of Shir

Episode 348

Prague has had its fair share of characters throughout its storied history, yet Shlomo Yehuda Rapoport (1790-1867) or Shir as he was known was definitely one of the more interesting ones. Born into a…

Published on 3 years, 6 months ago

Captain from Kovno: Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor

Episode 347

Perhaps the most acclaimed leader of Russian Jewry of the 19th century was Rav Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor (1817-1896). A long-time Rabbi of Kovno, his impact reached the far reaches of the Russian Emp…

Published on 3 years, 6 months ago

Frum Politics: Rav Yehoshua of Belz, Rav Shimon Sofer & Machzikei Hadas

Episode 346

Founded in 1879 the Rav Yehoshua of Belz and Rav Shimon Sofer, the Machzikei Hadas political party was the first Orthodox political party in Jewish history. The unique status of Galician Jewry of the…

Published on 3 years, 6 months ago

Shavuos Musings & Uri Zohar Tribute

Episode 345

The recent passing of Uri Zohar is an opportunity to pay tribute to this unique individual who made the journey from the apex of the Israeli entertainment world to embracing religious observance.

Wi…

Published on 3 years, 6 months ago

A Chassid in Krakow: The Maor Veshemesh

Episode 344

Rav Klonymous Kalman Halevi Epstein (1751-1823) is known by his posthumously published work the Maor Veshemesh. Born into a poor family, he spent the bulk of his childhood selling bagels in the stree…

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago

Shylock & Friends: The Jews of Venice

Episode 343

Jews have lived in Venice for more than a millennium. In 1516 the Jewish community of Venice was restricted to one area of the city, and this came to be known as the Ghetto, the first of its kind in …

Published on 3 years, 7 months ago