Rabbi Arnie Wittenstein is a well known Torah scholar, Tanach expert, and Historian. He has lectured in the Mir Yeshiva, Torat Shraga, and many Shuls internationally.
These podcasts integrate his broad knowledge of many different facets of Torah and History.
Join in weekly to gain accurate and in depth knowledge of some of the most important and controversial topics in Jewish History.
For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected]
Understanding the Challenge: Understanding the Bayis Shani Structure In this week’s episode, we take a closer look at why people from the Yeshiva world have significant problems relating to the issues of Moshiach. How much of this issue is clearly discussed in Shas? Where in fact is this issue discussed? We also examine the question of is there any reason to think the structure of Bayis Shlishi should be similar to Bayis Shani? And we also discuss the structure of Bayis Shani, and why Bayis Shani had this exact structure. This week’s episode is dedicated לרפואה השלימה לשרה פעשא בת יפה אסתר Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37976525
Moshiach - Internalizing the Challenge: The Basic Structure In this episode, we take a careful look at how the Halacha looks at ultimate loss based on Hilchos Availus. We also look at how people generally speaking react to this situation. And similarly, we discuss how this should affect how we relate to The Bais HaMikdash and Moshiach. We also start looking at the basic structure of Moshiach based on the parallelisms in Tanach. What are the basic parallelisms and what is the first key structural phenomena of Moshaich? This week’s episode is sponsored לעילוי נשמת חיה מרים בת ר הלל Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37899630
Mashiach - Understanding Our Situation This week’s episode is sponsored in honor of the magid shiur by an old friend who is one the great askanim of our times. In this episode, we take a careful look at how the Halacha looks at ultimate loss based on Hilchos Availus. We also look at how people generally speaking react to this situation. And similarly, we discuss how this should affect how we relate to The Bais HaMikdash and Moshiach. We also start looking at the basic structure of Moshiach based on the parallelisms in Tanach. What are the basic parallelisms and what is the first key structural phenomena of Moshaich? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37860125
Mashiach - Grasping the Challenge In this episode, we look at one of the key issues we have relating to the Moshiach issues, grasping the National Level situation. Where do people have a greater level of understanding the lack of the Jewish People’s national status, in the USA or in Israel? Why is this true? How does this relate to understanding the importance of Moshiach? We also examine the phenomenon of why people tend to drift to very superficial understandings of many important ideas. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: PM /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37713235
Moshiach - Understanding the Importance In this episode, we look at the basic challenge we have in understanding and relating to what the concept of Moshiach really means. One of the key concepts we have to understand is what does Shchina and Prophecy mean. Why don’t we aspire to that lofty goal? Is this a mistake? We also discuss the issue of when it is proper for a person to take on lofty spiritual acts. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37629160
Redemption Prophecies in Yechezkel: Chronology in Tanach This week’s episode is sponsored לעילוי נשמת עלקא עליזה בת ר יעקב In this week’s episode, we look at the last part of Yechezkel. What is the common theme of these Prophecies? What makes this section of Prophecies unique, the topics covered or the presentation? We also take a careful look at the issue of Chronology in Tanach. What are the basic approaches to this issue? Which among the classics has the most radical approach to this issue? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37538545
Yechezkel - Nature & Structure This week’s episode is dedicated in honor of the Magid Shiur of the Daf Yomi Shiur in Kehilas Bais Yisroel in Cedarhurst In this week’s episode, we look at the basic structure of Sefer Yechezkel. Yechezkel is the most clear of Neviim Achronim. Why is this true? Similarly, we find a number of Prophecies repeated almost identically in the Sefer, why does this happen? What is the basic difference between the first part and the second part of the Sefer? Similarly what does having his mouth, ‘opened’, teach us about the Sefer? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37449490
The Challenge of Waiting for Moshiach and the Second Half of Yeshaya This week’s episode is dedicated in honor of the Magid Shiur of the Daf Yomi Shiur in Kehilas Bais Yisroel in Cedarhurst In this episode we look at the very basic challenges we have today truly waiting for Moshiach. Why weren’t we challenged by this in the past the way we are today? Similarly we take a quick look at the second part of Yeshaya that deals with these issues. How many parts are there in this part of Yeshaya? Why does the Sefer have so many thematic changes? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37367910
Authorship of YeshayaThis week’s episode is dedicated in honor of the Magid Shiur of the Daf Yomi Shiur in Kehilas Bais Yisroel in Cedarhurst In this week’s episode we look at the issue of the Authorship of Yeshaya. The second part of the Sefer has a very different set of topics it deals with. Why is this true? Similarly, this issue used to be heavily discussed and was a live issue. Today the discussion about this issue is quite limited. Why is this true? We also take another look at the bitachon challenges that the recent Iranian conflict brought out. And also examine some of the comments that have been circulating. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37270080
USA Iran War This week’s episode is dedicated לעילוי נשמת הרב אהרן דוד בן הרב מאיר חדש, the Moshgiach of the Mir tzl by a talmid. This week’s episode looks at the American attack on the Iranian nuclear facilities. How surprising was this? How much of a departure from standard US policy was this? What historical precedents are there for this? How do we understand what is motivating the Iranian policy? We also look at why people outside of Israel usually have more severe reactions to events like this. And similarly discuss how this relates to bitachon. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37158720
Lessons from the Israel Iran ConflictThis week’s episode is dedicated by BZ and Hadassah as a zchus for all of those in danger and especially in Israel to be safe. And also as a zchus for the IDF and all the Israeli security forces to have success and safety. In this episode we look at the current Israel Iran conflict. How do we understand the level of the conflict? Is this an operation, a battle, or a war? How normal is to be frightened in such a situation? What tools do we have to cope with such a situation? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/37081435
The Neviim Achronim Challenge: Yeshaya - Book of Moshiach We start by discussing the primary reason that most Talmidei Chachomim feel challenged by Neviim Achronim. What is the proper way to understand the Prophecies that seem to be repeating the same things over and over. We also discuss the theme of Sefer Yeshaya. Yeshaya is the most important Sefer in order to understand the Basics of the Revelation of the Moshiach. We also look at the structure of the first half of the Sefer. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/36975315
Melachim - The Book of Olam HaZeh In this episode we look at the theme of Melachim. The best way to accurately synopsize the Sefer in one clear phrase is that Melachim is, ‘The Book of Olam HaZeh.’ Why is this the way I think Melachim should be described. We start by examining the basic challenges we have in understanding the Sefer. Many would try to use contemporary political phenomena to understand the Sefer. However this is deeply flawed. The key concept we must understand is what is the relationship between a Prophet and the King. Similarly, what is the role of a Prophet at the time of Kingship. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/36766525
Shoftim & Shmuel In this episode we take a closer look at why Rashi understands that the key theme of Shoftim is developing the Mishkan. How do we reconcile this idea with the main narrative of the Sefer that talks about the problems of the times with Avoda Zara? We also discuss Chazal attributing authorship of the Sefer to Shmuel. How did they know this? What does this teach us about the Sefer? Similarly, we look at the basic theme of Shmuel. Why do we call the Sefer called Shmuel and not Dovid? Isn’t Dovid the protagonist for more of the Sefer than Shmuel? Similarly, why does the Sefer include the stories of Eli in Shmuel and not in Shoftim? And also why are the last stories of Dovid in Melachim? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/36660085
The Sefer Level Challenge In this episode, we continue looking at the challenge of understanding the Sifrey Tanach at the Sefer level. We also discuss the importance of properly understanding the classics and how much time we should be willing to invest in this. And similarly we discuss the issue of not forcing our ideas on Tanach, rather patiently developing the intrinsic ideas. We also look at the Sefer level theme of Sefer Shoftim. What is the key theme of the Sefer? Why did they build the Mishkan in Shilo, if Jerusalem is the ideal place to build the Mikdash? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/36581050
Parsha to Sefer In this episode, we look at one of the most challenging aspects of understanding Tanach, the journey between parsha level understanding to Sefer level understanding. Part of this process is the necessity to divide the Sefer into major sections. While a small number of sefarim have clearly defined subdivisions, most don’t. Similarly we discuss when one can use a statement of Chazal to understand the theme of a Sefer. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/36481990
Understanding Moshaich In this week's episode, we look at how to understand Moshiach and what effect the coming of Moshiach will have on the world. Similarly we look at how the Rambam and Ramban discuss the issue of identification of Moshiach. What are the Tanachic parallels to Moshiach and what can we learn from them? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/36369905
The Holocaust - Morality & Motivation In this episode we look at the general debate amongst Historians about how to understand the German’s motivations for the Holocaust. Were the people directly involved in implementing the Holocaust deranged, similar to those who perpetrate school shootings? How long had German intellectuals been discussing what was called, ‘The Jewish Problem’? How long had the solution of extermination been discussed for? What part did the Nazi Party play in this? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/36255000
The Contemporary Crisis of FreedomIn this episode, we look at how the modern world defines freedom. We also examine why there is such turmoil and conflict in the USA at the present time. What are the key factors driving this deep turmoil and conflict? Are there any historical parallels to the present situation? What lessons should we learn from this? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/36220915
Pesach - FreedomIn this episode, we look at the key theme of Pesach, freedom. How does this connect with eating matza on Pesach? Is matza, ‘poor bread’, or , ‘poor man’s bread’? How can a poor basic food be considered a symbol of freedom? How do we understand freedom in Torah? How do practically relate to this facet of the Mitzva? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/36079360
WZO Elections ControversyThis week’s episode is dedicated in honer of the wedding of Eliyahu David and Nechama Besser In this episode, we look at the tumult in the American Yeshiva world about if one should participate in the elections for the WZO. What is the Historical context of this issue? How does the Ausritt controversy affect this issue? Are there any significant differences in this issue between today and when it originally arose? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/35997385
Parsha ProblemsIn this episode, we look at the phenomenon of the slightly different Parsha systems that are found in different Tanachs. We also discuss the major controversy about how one should write Neviim. Why was this controversy specifically focused on Neviim and not other sefarim? We also start looking at the issue of repetitive phrases in Tanach. How do understand this phenomenon? What does it usually show us about a Sefer? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/35866055
Parsha Flow: Parsha to Parsha FlowThis week’s episode is dedicated לעילוי נשמת אפרת בת אושרה In this episode we look at a couple of examples of how taking Parsha flow in account changes the way we understand the different elements of the Parsha. We also look at the more complicated issue of when to thematically connect two different Parshios. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/35787735
Prophecy & ParshaThis week’s episode is dedicated לעילוי נשמת ר אליהו ב״ר יוסף In the first part of this episode, we properly examine the issue of how the basic principles of Propecy relate to the writing of Nach. What do the basic requirements for Prophecy teach us about the writing of Tanach? We also continue looking at how Rashi clearly utilizes the Parsha system and how this effects how he explains the individual possukim. Similarly we see how Rashi skillfully uses existing Midrashim to explain vague passages in Nach. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/35671205
Rashi’s Parsha Approach In this episode, we take a more careful look at how Rashi uses the parsha system in his commentary. How much of a factor is this in Rashi? We similarly examine why it is so important to maintain a connection to the classic understanding of Tanach. We also examine the issue of how to understand the writing of Tanach. (229) Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/35557245
Parsha & Pshat In this episode, we look at how the Parsha system should affect the way we understand Tanach. What is the difference between the Parsha system, which is the organic division of Tanach and the chapter system which was created by English monks in the 1100’s. We also look at how Rashi subtly uses the Parsha system. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/35442785
Understanding PshatIn this episode we examine the claims that Rashi’s commentary to Tanach isn’t a Pshat based commentary. How should we view the concept that we should attempt to understand Tanach only via the text of Tanach? Who was the originator of this idea? What does this tell us about this conception? What makes Rashi’s accomplishments in Tanach unparalleled? How seriously have Talmidai Chachomim throughout the generations taken Rashi’s commentary to Chumash? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/35361940
Gaza Wars Lessons, The Passuk Focus & Parsha Concept We start this episode with some more lessons from the Gaza War and the ceasefire agreement. We examine when is it proper to learn from others. We go on to look at the basic rules of understanding a possuk. What is a possuk in Tanach? How important is it in understanding what is being told to us? What is the difference between possukim in the prose parts of Tanach and the poetic parts of Tanach? We also start looking at the very important concept of a parsha. What is a parsha? How important is it in understanding Tanach? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/35264180
The Rule of Pshat & RashiIn this week’s episode we take a deeper look at the first rule of Pshat - understanding the meaning of the words. How broad is our understanding of Tanachic Hebrew? What are the differences between the different dialects of Hebrew? We also discuss why Rashi only wrote an introduction to Shir HaShirim. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/35173325
Academia & Midrashim: First Rule of Pshat In this week’s episode we take a closer look at the fundamental problem most academics have when it comes to understanding Midrashim. We also start looking at the Five Basic Elements of learning Tanach. The first element is understanding the words and their meaning. Classically we start this with Rashi and the Ramban. Why do we do this? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click to join! For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us at [email protected] PRODUCED BY: /episode/index/show/jewishhistoryuncensored/id/35070780
