Between the wars - due mainly to Prohibition - crime flourished in America and Jews were not immune to the effects.Â
Gangs of irreligious working class Jews, made their fortunes and met their untimely ends during the 20s & 30s. But the narrative is not without a number of surprising twists, particularly in Chicago - the home of Al Capone.Â
And why did one notorious thief do Teshuva?
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Chapters
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00:00 The Rise of Jewish Gangsters in America
20:51 Prohibition: A Catalyst for Crime
24:00 The Interplay of Politics and Crime in Chicago
26:12 The Role of Jewish Gangsters in Chicago's Community
28:36 Protection and Power: The Duality of Gangster Generosity
29:12 Violence and Rivalry: The Miller Brothers' Story
31:51 The Rise and Fall of Jewish Organized Crime
34:15 Max Friedman: From Thief to Notorious Criminal
39:21 Rudensky's Escapes and Criminal Career
44:15 Transformation: From Criminal to Consultant
52:40 Legacy of Change: The Life of Red Rudensky
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53:24
#159 - Eruv II : The Controversies
In the last 150 years, few things have created disputes in Jewish communities, in the way Eruvin has.
Why? What makes an Eruv so very different to Kashrus? And in hindsight can we now work out who was right? Could Yerushalayim hold the key?Â
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Eiruv and Jewish Heritage
02:53 The Historical Context of Eiruv in Toronto
05:47 Rabbi Graubart's Contributions to Eiruv
09:01 The Evolution of Eiruv in Toronto
11:45 Challenges of Eiruv in Yerushalayim
15:03 Halachic Perspectives on Eiruv
17:51 Debates on Eiruv and Community Needs
21:00 The Role of Local Rabbanim in Eiruv Decisions
24:10 Conclusion and Future of Eiruv Discussions
30:11 The Complexity of Eruvin Decisions
34:30 Halachic Perspectives on Shabbos and Eruvin
39:51 Community Needs and Rabbinical Authority
45:40 Historical Context and Modern Implications of Eruvin
52:18 The Challenges of Eruvin in Contemporary Society
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56:31
#158 - Eruv I : The History
Documents and Responsa from across the Jewish world reveal that for centuries Jews discussed, debated and disagreed over the Shabbos Eruv
Walled cities, canals, telegraph poles, Kabbala, fires and powerful secular rulers all played their role and affected entire communities. And from the 19th century onwards, strong personalities would influence and colour the narrative.
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Erevin and Halacha
03:04 Understanding the Concept of Erevin
05:53 Historical Context of Erevin
08:54 Disputes and Rulings on Erevin
11:48 Erevin in Different Regions
14:55 The Role of Authority in Erevin
17:53 Contemporary Applications of Erevin
21:05 The Historical Context of Eruvin in Jewish Communities
24:41 Challenges and Innovations in Eruvin Construction
28:03 The Evolution of Eruvin in Krakow
36:00 Eruvin in the New World: St. Louis Case Study
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45:22
#157 – The Russian Empire V – Genius, Identity & Revolution
(To book the Provence trip with Rabbi Tatz & Rabbi Hersh - email [email protected])
Jewish leadership found itself in a crisis post-1881, affecting not only their options but their identity. In response, Rabbis turned to the international community for help, especially from  non-Jewish politicians.
This period was exacerbated by the publication of the infamous Protocols of the Elders of Zion and the notorious Kishinev pogrom of 1903, which was followed by the abortive 1905 Revolution.
As a conclusion, the podcast also defines the historical context of Jewish suffering and the cycle of Jewish history.
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Chapters
00:00 Understanding Jewish Suffering Through History
02:54 The Impact of the May Laws and Pogroms
05:53 The Shift in Jewish Identity and Response
09:05 The Role of Rabbinic Leadership During Crisis
12:08 International Responses to Jewish Persecution
15:00 The Kovner Circle and Smuggling Information
18:04 The Aftermath of Pogroms and Changing Policies
20:46 The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and Its Legacy
27:53 The Systematic Transition to Violence
30:47 The Rise of Revolutionaries and the 1905 Uprising
36:32 Understanding Jewish Suffering Through History
39:27 Insights on Divine Purpose and Jewish Existence
51:10 The Cycle of Jewish History and Its Lessons
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1:00:02
#156 - The Russian Empire IV - Freedom, Poverty & Pogroms
1855 brought a new dawn to Russia, and was embraced by many, although poverty remained a constant.
When the Czar was assassinated, all hell broke loose and the Jews were given a stark reminder of their status. By 1897 Socialism, Zionism & Emigration seemed to offer the only routes out.
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Chapters
00:00 The Shift in Jewish Education and Identity
01:46 The Impact of Tsar Alexander II's Reforms
06:40 The Rise of Jewish Assimilation and National Pride
12:46 The Economic Divide Among Jews
18:02 The Harsh Realities of Poverty in the Pale
22:34 The Reversal of Reforms and Growing Tensions
25:48 The Generational Divide and Revolutionary Movements
28:37 The Anarchist Campaign Against the Tsar
33:24 The Assassination of Tsar Alexander II
36:46 The Aftermath: Repression and Pogroms
41:04 The May Laws and Their Impact on Jewish Life
49:14 The Rise of Jewish Nationalism and Emigration
54:55 Historical Memory and Current Events Â
About History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast
History for the Curious
The most talked-about Jewish History Podcast
History for the Curious features the dynamic historian and famous tour guide & lecturer: Rabbi Aubrey Hersh, live from the JLE in London, hosted by myself: Mena Reisner
Join us as we cross continents, sail through the centuries, tracing lives, uncovering events and following epic journeys, to reveal the untold stories, the scandals, and the mysteries, that have impacted our history and shaped us into who we are today.
Encounter leaders, visionaries, spies, heroes & traitors and unpack 2,000 years of Jewish heritage.
Go back to the story of Jews in the Temple of Jerusalem. Confront the dilemmas of the Holocaust. Visit Paris, Prague, Vilna, London, Venice, New York & the Cairo Geniza. Meet The Russian Czar, Ramchal, Maharal, Maimonides, Churchill, Shabbetai Zvi and the Hapsburgs.
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