History for the Curious - The Jewish History Podcast

The Menorah was the most adopted symbol in the Jewish world. But where is the original?   We know of a Menorah in Rome in 70CE. The Talmud tells us it was examined. But what follows is centuries of silence    What does History tell us? What do eyewitnesses report? What has the Church said? And what role does the 2nd Temple Menorah have, in the redemption of the Jewish People?   This episode is the outcome of the most up-to-date research and analysis and includes a recently recorded conversation with a Rabbi who entered the Vatican cellars 55 years ago accompanied by Pope John Paul II.   Timestamps: - 0:00 — Opening:    - 0:38 — Podcast intro (host & Rabbi Hersh).   - 1:14 — Memorial/announcements.   - 2:17 — Episode topic introduced: “Where is the menorah?”   - 4:00 — Menorah as Jewish symbol; historical significance.   - 8:00 — Arch of Titus / Josephus / early Roman display.   - 10:00 — Fire in 191 CE and disappearance possibilities.   - 15:00 — Jews in ancient Rome / social context.   - 20:00 — Constantine/Byzantine period and relocation theories (312 CE).   - 25:00 — Christian adoption/use of menorah imagery.   - 30:00 — Vatican holdings, openness, and inventories.   - 34:30 — Eyewitness claims overview; Rabbi Stencil letter exchange.   - 40:00 — Oscar Goldman 1962 account (electrician shown items).   - 41:30 — 1970s rabbi’s underground Vatican visit description.   - 52:40 — Testimony analysis: credibility issues and scholarly skepticism.   - 1:03:47 — Theological point: first‑ vs. second‑Temple vessels and redemption.   - 1:10:00 — Halachic notes on making/holding menorah replicas; closing.

Chanukah is central to our Jewish Calendar and way of life, but there are many unanswered questions: Why celebrate defeat? What was the real role of Kohanim during the Second Temple? Why was this Yomtov chosen to reflect the ultimate ideal ? Tracing the story from Alexander the Great and Shimon HaTzaddik through the corruption of the Second Temple and the rise of Hellenism, the podcast redefines the central idea of Chanukah - the only festival established by the Sages post-prophecy Connecting the ancient clash of civilizations to the battles which echo down through Russia, America and Eretz Yisrael; It defines Who is a Jew.   Timestamps [0:00:00] Introduction to Greek Exile and Historical Context [0:01:07] Podcast Dedication and Welcome [0:02:05] Setting Up the Hanukkah Discussion [0:04:13] Questioning the Purpose of Hanukkah Celebration [0:14:44] Historical Prequel: Alexander the Great and Shimon HaTzadik [0:22:49] Corruption of the Priesthood [0:26:38] Empire Dynamics After Alexander [0:31:05] Jewish Attraction to Greek Culture [0:40:41] The Spiritual Victory of Hanukkah [0:49:26] Comparing Purim and Hanukkah [0:50:44] Conclusion and Podcast Wrap-up

Yitzchak Trebitsch was an active participant - under various names - in some of the twentieth century’s most important events: mass immigration, WWI wartime espionage, radical right-wing Germany, Chinese civil war and the Japanese invasion during WWII. But in the end he was a nobody. His death was attributed variously to Nazi poison, Allied vengeance, Buddhist enemies, or enraged Jews. His story is stranger than fiction, but there are important lessons we can take from it.   Timestamps [0:03:07] Origins: Hungarian Jewish Childhood [0:04:40] Early Crimes: Theft and Deception [0:07:54] Religious Transformations: Conversions and Missionaries [0:11:00] Political Ambitions: Brief Parliamentary Career [0:18:23] Wartime Intrigue: Espionage and Escapes [0:28:00] Political Extremism: Far-Right Conspiracies [0:35:00] Global Wanderings: International Adventures [0:41:30] Spiritual Journey: Becoming a Buddhist Monk [0:45:00] World War Machinations: Nazi and Japanese Connections [0:48:44] Final Act: Decline in Shanghai

Small groups of crypto-Jews are known to have made their way to England. We know the names and occasionally the stories of some. But no one had a greater impact on England’s history or on Queen Elizabeth I, than Roger Lopez: Physician, Double Agent, Diplomat & Court Jew.   Jews were News even during the period of their supposed forced absence.   And what is the real story behind Henry VIII’s set of Talmud?   Chapters 00:00:00 Doctor Lopez and the Earl of Leicester 00:00:26 Podcast Introduction and Listener Letter  00:36:32 Rodrigo Lopez: Early Life and Arrival in England  00:05:10 Lopez’s Rise and Role at Court  00:08:14 Espionage and the Don Antonio Affair  00:09:41 Jewish Community as Diplomatic Asset  00:11:02 International Intrigue and Spanish Spies  00:13:39 The Spanish Armada and Aftermath  00:15:22 Lopez’s Espionage and Double Agency  00:16:40 The Andrada Case and Rising Suspicion 00:19:12 Arrest and Trial of Lopez  00:21:52 Charges, Confession, and Execution  00:24:35 Was Lopez Guilty? 00:27:08 Lopez’s Legacy and Impact on Literature  00:30:44 Jewish Life in England: 1300s–1400s  00:32:50 Conversos and Marranos in Tudor England  00:36:32 Risks and Persecution of Marranos  00:38:42 Elizabethan Era and Secret Jewish Life  00:40:35 Religious Practice and Open Jews 00:43:10 Persistence of Jewish Identity 00:45:12 The Talmud in England: The Henry VIII Legend  00:48:35 Conclusion and Next Series Teaser     

For centuries there were none left; The Jews had been driven out of England en-masse by Edward I... But the records tell us a different story.    Henry VIII went searching for them and English literature betrays a fascination with them. From Shakespeare's controversial Shylock to dictionary & biblical definitions, the Jew continued to feature throughout.