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Jewish History

Chabad at Oxford

Peace Treaties, Privileges and Prosperity
Ancient Trade Routes, Global Networks and the Emergence of a Sephardic Community in late 16th-Century Poland.
The Origin of 'Peshat'
What was Rashi trying to accomplish with his commentary on the Torah?
The Making and Using of the Kennicott Bible
A fascinating look at one of the most famous illustrated manuscripts of Tanach.
Mapping Rediscovered Second Temple Literature
A fascinating look at how some Second Temple texts fell in and out of favor.
The Grammatical Theory of Hebrew Grammarian Menahem ben Saruq
How an early Hebrew dictionary influenced Rashi's Biblical commentary.
The Natural Language of Maimonides and His Contemporaries
Glimpses into the lost world of Judeo-Arabic thought and literature.
Biblical Archaeology: Friend or Foe?
Professor Schiffman showcases a variety of items that showcase the historical accuracy of the Hebrew Bible.
The Incredible Jewish Renaissance in Russia
The untold story of the secret Chabad underground in the former Soviet Union
Precious little is known of the tremendous devotion and self-sacrifice of Chabad activists in upholding Judaism against the oppressive Communists’ ruthless stamping out of religion. Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie shares fascinating insights and anecdotes to illustrate the clandestine and heroic activities of the Chabad underground that ultimately laid the foundation for the phenomenal rebirth of Jewish life in Russia today.
The Jews of Germany
Audio | 38:32
The Jews of Germany
A Look at the Past, Present and Future of German Jewry
Former President of the Central Council for Jews in Germany and Holocaust Survivor, Dr. Charlotte Knobloch, describes the current state of the German Jewish community, its past and where it is heading.
Science and Religion
A Jewish Historical Perspective
In the debate about science and religion, there are radical camps on both sides. However, various Jewish approaches, suggest Professor Cantor, have historically transcended both extremes.
The Bible in Yiddish
Popular translations of the Torah
Professor of Yiddish studies Shlomo Berger presents three famous historical examples of how the Torah was translated into Yiddish in Eastern Europe throughout the centuries.
The Jews of Holland
Audio | 54:08
The Jews of Holland
History of the Jewish communities of the Netherlands
Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, chief rabbi of the Netherlands, describes the rich history of the Jewish people in his native country from medieval times until the present day.
Vicarious Trauma
Audio | 14:09
Vicarious Trauma
Jewish Identity Among British Jews
A qualitative study on Jewish identity in contemporary Britain concludes that Jews of all backgrounds relate to the idea of being persecuted. Can this self-concept be positively channeled?
The Oxford Manuscript of Mishneh Torah
Director of the Chabad Society at Oxford University, Rabbi Eli Brackman, discusses the Oxford library's treasured manuscript of Maimonides' Mishneh Torah and what makes it unique.
The Tefillin of Qumran
Archeology and Halacha
Archeologist, Yonatan Adler, tackles a medieval rabbinic debate about the proper arrangement of the parchments within tefillin by comparing these opinions to actual 2,000-year-old phylacteries found in Qumran.
The Cairo Genizah
Audio | 29:19
The Cairo Genizah
Its History and Importance
An expert gives specific examples of amazing discoveries from the Cairo Genizah, a collection of almost 280,000 Jewish manuscript fragments found in the storeroom of the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo in 1896.
The Silent Exodus
Audio | 44:26
The Silent Exodus
Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries
The rapid disappearance of ancient Jewish communities throughout the Middle East that has occurred in modern times.
Made in Medieval England
The Church, the Jews, and the forging of English Antisemitism
Biblical Archaeology: Friend or Foe?
Professor Schiffman showcases a variety of items that showcase the historical accuracy of the Hebrew Bible.
Made in Medieval England
The Church, the Jews, and the forging of English Antisemitism
What Did Maimonides Say About Islam?
What is the status of an individual forcibly converted to Islam according to Maimonides?
A Brief Overview of the Most Important Manuscript of Mishneh Torah
The Manuscript known as Huntigton 80
Panorama of Jewish History
2000 years of Jewish history in under an hour!
History of Jews of Sudan
The daily lives and affairs of the Jewish community of Sudan.
What Did Herod's Temple Look Like?
An inside view of the Temple. Where on Temple Mount was it built? Was the Temple Mount always as large as it is today? How many gates were there?
The History of Meron in the Upper Galilee
What attracts 2 million people yearly to this site?
Discovering Oxford's Medieval Jewish History
How recent excavations in the city of Oxford, England, point ot the existence of Jewish residents.
The Story of 'Unesaneh Tokef'
A look at the history of this prayer as told through manuscripts held in the Bodleian Libary, Oxford, and in the Cario Geniza collection held at Cambridge.
Rashi's Commentary on Esther in the Supercommentary of the Rebbe
Does Rashi lean toward Midrashik and Talmudic interpretation? Or does he attempt to uncover the simple reading of Esther?
The Importance of Writing in the Book of Esther
How the Book of Esther set the tone for the Jews in Exile
Ancient Synagogues and the Meaning of Community
What do ancient inscriptions tell us about ancient synagogues and communities?
The Textual Evolution of 'Yesod Olam'
How and why Isaac Israeli's 'Yesod Olam' (Toledo 1310) underwent textual changes.
The Jewish Community of Iraq (1951-2019)
The tragic story of the Iraqi Jewish Community: how an ancient community was destroyed.
The Munich Talmud: The Only Complete Medieval Manuscript of the Babylonian Talmud
Judith Olszowy-Schlange traces the history of the oldest complete manuscript of the Babylonian Talmud, completed in 1342.
Why Did Nachmanides Choose to Write a Commentary on the Torah?
The key to understanding the Kabbalah of the middle ages, though the lens of Nachmandies' commentary on the Pentateuch.
The Life and Thought of the Ramchal - Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
Exploring the Ramchal's life, his conception of creation, and his belief in societal perfection.
Architecture & Judaism: The Use of Ground Water for Medieval Mikvaot
A detailed analysis of the famous 13th-century mikveh in Friedberg Germany, and other medieval mikvaot, looking at the architecture, and attempting to answer the question, why were they dug so deep?
Judah Hanasi as Educational Revolutionary
The importance and uniqueness of Jewish education. How the Mishnah, arranged by Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, shaped generations of Jewish children.
The Dead Sea Scrolls 70 Years On
Assessing the context of the biblical corpus through the lens of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Who Frequented the Study Halls of 1st Century Israel?
A close look at the composition of a typical study hall during the early Mishnaic period. Looking for clues in the Kaufmann Manuscript of the fifth chapter of Ethics of Our Fathers.
The Biblical Commentary of Rashi in Manuscript
A fascinating look at the manuscripts of Rashi found in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. Drawing conclusions from variations in the text.
Kol Nidrei in Manuscript
A look at the development of this iconic prayer based on manuscripts housed in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, one of the largest collections of Hebraic manuscripts in the world.
What Could Have Saved the Second Temple?
The Jewish moral code and the reason for the destruction of the Second Holy Temple.
Hebrew Illuminated Manuscripts: The Medieval Regenburg Pentateuch
An illuminating look at the Regenburg Pentateuch from 14th century Germany, housed in the Israel museum, Jerusalem, Israel.
Ben Sira's Sirach in Manuscript Form
Benjamin Wright takes an in depth look at manuscripts of Ben Sira's Sirach from the Cairo Genizah and part of the Dead Sea Scrolls, found in the caves at Qumran.
Maimonides' Mishneh Torah in Manuscript
Textual analysis of fascinating manuscripts housed in Oxford's Bodleian Library, some written in Maimonides' own hand.
History, Hegel and Rabbi Akiva
The interplay of positivity and negativity in the context of Jewish history and Sefirat Haomer.
Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Rashal & Chabad Manuscripts in the John Rylands Library
A case study of how the close analysis of manuscripts yields new insights into the intellectual, social and cultural history of Chabad.
Dead Tongue Talking: How the Hebrew Language was Cloned
The reinvention of the Hebrew language in Europe and Israel in the mid 19th to early 20th centuries.
Chabad's 19th Century Manuscript Boom
How a Tsarist ban on Hasidic books encouraged a boom in the dissemination of handwritten texts. Insights from a Hasidic manuscript collection in the Moses Gaster Collection of the John Rylands Library.
Megillat Esther in Manuscript
An interesting look at early manuscripts of the Megillah of Esther and its commentaries housed in the Bodleian Library at Oxford.
Between Tradition and Modernity
The life and times of Sir Moses and Lady Judith Montefiore
A fascinating look at the philanthropic work of the Montefiore couple. How their engagement with a wide range of Jewish communities strengthened their religious commitment.
The Oldest Book of Jewish Liturgy in Existence
A Fascinating Examination of a 12th Century Haggadah
Conflicts of Knowledge in Rabbinic Biography
Contextualizing and appraising a new documentary book on the Rebbe's early years
The perceived conflict between legitimate Torah knowledge and secular knowledge and culture has often figured as a point of controversy around the publication of biographies of rabbinic figures. Following the work of historian Prof. Immanuel Etkes, Dr. Naftali Loewenthal argues that this black and white perception was not shared by rabbis in the pre-enlightenment era. Within this context he appraises recent biographical works on the Rebbe, culminating with "Early Years: The formative years of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, as told by documents and archival data, 1902-1929" by Boruch Oberlander and Elkanah Shmotkin.
What It Was Like to Liberate the Old City
The Six Day War: fifty years
A third generation Jerusalemite tells of life in Jerusalem and his personal experience liberating the Jewish quarter during the opening days of the war.
The Archive Thief
Audio | 1:01:13
The Archive Thief
Pillage or Rescue?
How thievery unwittingly led to a renewed interest in French Jewish History.
Jewish Life and Culture in Venice and Italy
A Symposium at Chabad of Oxford
500 years after the Venice Ghetto was first established, scholars explore the intellectual, legal, and cultural history and legacy of the Jews of Venice and Italy.
Jewish Personalities of Medieval England
Explore the life, works and legacy of English medieval Jewish scholars
Yiddish in the Soviet Union
A history of the Yiddish literary scene of post war Soviet Russia
Tracing the postwar history of Yiddish publishing in the Soviet Union, describing the infamous purge of Yiddish writers in the early 50's and the subsequent revival in the late 50's. Looking particularly at the history of the Journal 'סאוועטיש היימלאנד' (Soviet Homeland) launched in 1961, and ran until 1991, reappearing in 1993 under the title 'די אידישע גאס' (The Jewish Street.)
The History of Safed and Tiberias Through the Lens of Archaeology
Dr Yossi Stepansky recounts the history of two important cities in Israel through fascinating archaeological finds.
The Mysterious Charity Box
Unraveling the 300 year old mystery of the 'Bodleian bowl'
Tracing the history and possible usage of the 'Bodleian bowl', discovered in a moat in Norfolk, east England in 1696. Examining the meaning of its Hebrew inscription and its connection to the famed Tosafist Rabbi Yechiel of Paris and his son Yosef.
The Incredible Jewish Renaissance in Russia
The untold story of the secret Chabad underground in the former Soviet Union
Precious little is known of the tremendous devotion and self-sacrifice of Chabad activists in upholding Judaism against the oppressive Communists’ ruthless stamping out of religion. Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie shares fascinating insights and anecdotes to illustrate the clandestine and heroic activities of the Chabad underground that ultimately laid the foundation for the phenomenal rebirth of Jewish life in Russia today.
Shakespeare and the Jews
Analyzing the portrayal of Shylock within its historical and cultural context
At a time when Jews were forbidden from living in England, Shakespeare's portrayal of a Jew is shaped by complex influences, and reaches beyond stereotypical prejudices in subtle and surprising ways.
The
How royal protection shaped the legal status of the Jews and led to their expulsion
From the very beginning, the presence of the Jews in England would have been dependent on the express protection of the king. This shaped their legal status in ways both good and bad, and ultimately paved the way for their expulsion.
The Magna Carta and the Jews
How the complex legal status of the Jews of England shaped the Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was the result of a standoff between King John of England and his barons in 12th century England. The special status of the Jewish community as property of the king was a factor in the tensions that led to the standoff, and is reflected in the charter itself.
Scribal Impact on Textual Transmission
Manuscript variations of works by Abraham Bar Ḥayya and Isaac Israeli
The many small distinctions between different manuscripts of two medieval Jewish works on the calendar and mathematics testify to the scribe's role in shaping the transmission of these texts.
The Strange Story of Az Romem
Reality, imagination, and fabrication in the tales archaeologists tell
In the world of ancient archaeology, there are many competeing interests and not everything is always as it seems.
The Origins of the Hebrew Alphabet
Archaeological studies of ancient scripts from the Western Levant
A few fragments, scattered across centuries of history and different geographic locations, are all that is left of the ancient scripts from which today's Hebrew Alphabet (ketav ashuri) emerged.
The Blood Libel Through the Ages
Hate propaganda and its impact on the collective unconscious
Beginning with the Norwich libel of 1144, the blood libel was repeated again and again, becoming a classic model of strategic propaganda. How did this model emerge and what are the components that contribute to its success?
Unesanneh Tokef
Audio | 40:43
Unesanneh Tokef
Perspectives on the High-Holiday Prayer
One of the most poignant moments of the High-Holiday prayers is the recital of the liturgical poem, Unessanneh Tokef. What is its significance? Who composed it, and under what circumstances?
A 12th Century Prayer Book
Unlocking the insights of a medieval manuscript in an Oxford library
One of the worlds oldest prayer books, housed in an Oxford library, provides new insight into the history of Jewish prayer.
The Jews of China
Audio | 1:09:16
The Jews of China
A Thousand Years of Jewish Settlement in China
Over many centuries changing political and economic realities brought several distinct waves of Jewish emigrants to China, their impact was international and their history reverberates until today.
The Temple Mount in International Law
The complex legal history of Judaism's holiest site
Though the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is technically under Israeli sovereignty. But due to the complex history of the site's status under international and Israeli law, and also due to Jewish legal (i.e. halachic) considerations, access to Jews remains severely restricted.
The Jewish History of Wartime and Prewar Oxford
Jewish refugees from Nazi Europe and their impact on British scholarship
Jewish Oxford in the 19th Century
A historical sketch of an evolving community
Britain: Good for the Jews or Bad for the Jews?
The unique situation of Jews in Britain has had upsides and downsides
For the last few hundred years Jews have not faced overt persecution or anti-Semitism. Though welcomed into society, the casual stigmatization they faced often forced them to abandon their unique identity as Jews. While individual Jews prospered in England, Judaism and the Jewish community has fared less well.
Chabad and Russia, Then and Now
Russian Jewry in the Geo-Theological Imagination of Chabad
The founder of Chabad was imprisoned by the Tsar in 1798 and 1801, but yet took a patriotic stance in the war of 1812. In Soviet Russia, intense persecution forced Chabad underground and its center eventually moved to the United States. Nevertheless, Chabad retained a strong active and ideological connection, which has again come to the fore with the fall of the Iron-Curtain.
Digging Up Jewish Communal Life
Ancient Synagogues of Northern Israel
A history of synagogues in the Second Temple period in Northern Israel as presented by an archeologist who has excavated many of the sites of these synagogues.
The Jews of Germany
Audio | 38:31
The Jews of Germany
A Look at the Past, Present and Future of German Jewry
Former President of the Central Council for Jews in Germany and Holocaust Survivor, Dr. Charlotte Knobloch, describes the current state of the German Jewish community, its past and where it is heading.
Science and Religion
A Jewish Historical Perspective
In the debate about science and religion, there are radical camps on both sides. However, various Jewish approaches, suggest Professor Cantor, have historically transcended both extremes.
The Bible in Yiddish
Popular translations of the Torah
Professor of Yiddish studies Shlomo Berger presents three famous historical examples of how the Torah was translated into Yiddish in Eastern Europe throughout the centuries.
Nazi Attacks on the Talmud
Anti-Semitic Readings of Jewish Texts
How Nazi propaganda in the 1920s and 1930s distorted passages from the Talmud to vilify Jews and Judaism.
The Jews of Holland
Audio | 54:03
The Jews of Holland
History of the Jewish communities of the Netherlands
Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, chief rabbi of the Netherlands, describes the rich history of the Jewish people in his native country from medieval times until the present day.
Vicarious Trauma
Audio | 14:06
Vicarious Trauma
Jewish Identity Among British Jews
A qualitative study on Jewish identity in contemporary Britain concludes that Jews of all backgrounds relate to the idea of being persecuted. Can this self-concept be positively channeled?
The Oxford Manuscript of Mishneh Torah
Director of the Chabad Society at Oxford University, Rabbi Eli Brackman, discusses the Oxford library's treasured manuscript of Maimonides' Mishneh Torah and what makes it unique.
The Tefillin of Qumran
Archeology and Halacha
Archeologist, Yonatan Adler, tackles a medieval rabbinic debate about the proper arrangement of the parchments within tefillin by comparing these opinions to actual 2,000-year-old phylacteries found in Qumran.
The Cairo Genizah
Audio | 28:18
The Cairo Genizah
Its History and Importance
An expert gives specific examples of amazing discoveries from the Cairo Genizah, a collection of almost 280,000 Jewish manuscript fragments found in the storeroom of the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo in 1896.
The Silent Exodus
Audio | 44:22
The Silent Exodus
Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries
The rapid disappearance of ancient Jewish communities throughout the Middle East that has occurred in modern times.
Bletchley Park and the Jewish Contribution
How Jews were integral to braking the Nazi codes.
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