#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.
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.
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
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56:29
#155 - The Russian Empire III - Fight or Flight?
Given the extreme circumstances, orders went out to remove informers using all available means; which led to arrests, interrogations and harsh sentences.
Meanwhile in 1844, the government issued a new decree forbidding traditional Jewish clothing and head coverings, with dire consequences.
Would Sir Moses Montefiore’s visit alleviate any of these difficult challenges?
Chapters
00:00 The Struggle Against Forced Assimilation
02:55 The Role of Informants in Jewish Communities
05:47 The Consequences of Informing
08:51 The Murder of Informers and Community Response
15:01 The Rizhner's Imprisonment and Escape
21:11 The Clothing Decree and Its Implications
30:38 Resistance to Assimilation and Clothing Laws
37:55 Impact on Women and Family Dynamics
44:33 The Role of Sir Moses Montefiore
52:40 Continuing Challenges in the Russian Empire
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53:18
#154 - The Russian Empire II – Persecution, Heroism & Informers
Czar Nicholas hated Jews and Judaism in equal measure. He initiated 600 decrees against them over a 30 year period, and destroyed community life in Russia. The terror of his reign is relieved only by the faith and courage of families across the Pale of Settlement, carried out in defiance of the secret police and of Jewish informants.
Chapters
00:00 The Jewish Plight in the Russian Empire
02:54 Russian Policies and Jewish Resettlement
06:05 Nicholas I and the Cantonist Decree
08:57 The Impact of Conscription on Jewish Families
12:00 The Agony of Jewish Children in the Army
14:54 The Struggles of Jewish Identity and Survival
18:08 The Role of Informers and Community Dynamics
21:01 Resistance and the Response of Jewish Leaders
26:25 The Impact of the Cantonist Decrees
32:10 The Struggle for Jewish Identity
34:26 Nicholas I's Repressive Policies
36:51 Censorship and Cultural Suppression
39:43 The Role of Hevras in Jewish Life
40:40 Cohesion Amidst Oppression
44:50 The Irony of Forced Preservation
45:41 Educational Reforms and Their Consequences
53:08 Moses Montefiore's Visit to Russia
54:51 Reflections on Suffering and Resilience
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57:23
#153 - The Russian Empire I - Origins, Conquest & Confinement
For centuries, Russia was home to the largest Jewish community in the world. But why did Jews choose to move to a country that never wanted them?
Understanding this complex history is at the heart of Jewish Modern history.
And was Kiev or Moscow the capital of the Empire.
Chapters
00:00 Political Intrigue
11:01 The History of Russian Jewry
25:48 Catherine the Great's Reign and Jewish Policies
27:41 The Transformation of the Russian Empire
30:00 The Jewish Population in Eastern Europe
34:21 The Impact of Russian Rule on Jewish Life
37:22 Resistance and Rebellion in Poland
40:01 Diverging Paths: Prussian and Galician Jews
42:11 The Russian Government's Approach to Jews
45:05 The Long Nightmare of Russian Governance
50:28 Reactions from Jewish Leaders
54:00 The Legacy of Eastern European Jewry
Sobre 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.