The Jewish Story

Episode 3: A Conversation with Belle Jarniewski

In this episode, I sit down with Belle Jarniewski to discuss the First Crusade, some of Maimonides's most influential ideas, the nature of Jewish resilience, and the expu

Episode 3: A Conversation with Lainey Bokhaut

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Lainey Bokhaut to discuss the first 500 years of the common era. Listen as we discuss the state of modern Jewish rebellion, the

Episode 7: A Conversation with Rabbi Anibal Mass

In this episode, I sit down with Rabbi Anibal Mass to discuss the Karaites, how technology has modernized Jewish practice, how to define "Jewish music", and how the emerg

Episode 2: A Gentleman and a Scholar (1100 - 1200 CE)

In this episode, we witness a wave of anti-Jewish bigotry and violence sweep across Christian Europe, watch Saladin and his Ayyubid caliphate re-take the Kingdom of Jerus

Episode 1: Collateral Damage (1000 - 1100 CE)

In this episode, we learn of Christianity's great schism, see the Seljuq Turks launch an empire, witness the devastation of the First Crusade, and meet one of the most fa

Episode 0: Season 2 Recap

In this episode, we revisit the highlights of Jewish history covered in Season 2, from the aftermath of the First Roman-Jewish War to the birth of the Ashkenazi Jewish co

Episode 6: The Khazars, the Ashkenazim, the Doctor, and the Dueling Poets (950 - 1100 CE)

In this episode, we meet two new Jewish communities, and explore the Jewish literary traditions of Spain and the western Muslim Empire.

Episode 5: The Dhimmi Life (750 - 950 CE)

In this episode, we explore Jewish life in the Muslim Empire during the late first millennium.

Episode 4: The Jewish Diaspora (550 - 750 CE)

In this episode, we survey the Jewish Diaspora, and meet a brand new religion that would sweep the ancient world.

Episode 2: The Rise of Christianity (250 - 550 CE)

In this episode, we follow the rise of Christianity from a small prophetic following to a massive religion encompassing the entire Roman Empire, and we see its effect on

Episode 1: A Whole New World (70 CE - 250 CE)

In this episode, we explore the aftermath of the First Roman-Jewish War, and watch two distinct Jewish communities form in Judea and Mesopotamia.

Episode 0: Season 1 Recap

In this episode, we recap the first 1300 years of Jewish history, from the exodus from Egypt to the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

Episode 7 (BONUS): A Conversation with Sherry Wolfe-Elazar

In this episode, I sit down with Sherry Wolfe-Elazar, a Jewish educator (and my former elementary school teacher) to discuss the Greek and Roman periods of Jewish history

Episode 6: The Prophet, the King, and the Traitor (40 BCE - 70 CE)

In this episode, we follow Herod the Great's rise to power, watch Judea devolve into chaos under the rule of successively unstable Roman Emperors, and witness a climactic

Episode 5: The Rise of the Hammer (165 BCE - 40 BCE)

In this episode, we follow the rise and fall of the Hasmonean dynasty, and our Jewish story becomes enmeshed with Roman history.

Episode 4: It's All Greek to Me (400 BCE - 165 BCE)

In this episode, we watch the Ptolemies and Seleucids battle over control of Israel, follow the intrigue of Jewish elites fighting for the position of High Priest, hear o

Episode 3: A Conversation with Rabbi Matthew Leibl

In this episode, Rabbi Matthew Leibl and I sit down to discuss the first eight centuries of Jewish history, and their relevance to modern Jewish life.

Episode 2: A Nation Divided (587 BCE - 400 BCE)

In this episode, we follow the parallel paths of Jews after the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem. A temple is destroyed, a city is rebuilt, and the first public Torah rea

Episode 1: The Birth of a Kingdom (1200 BCE - 587 BCE)

In this episode, we discuss the earliest evidence of Jewish existence, and follow the Jewish Kingdom from its inception through its various conflicts with neighbouring Em

Episode 0: Introduction

Welcome to The Jewish Story! In this brief introductory episode, I introduce myself, give some background on this podcast, lay out a roadmap for Season One, and describe