The Jewish Lives Podcast

Menasseh ben Israel (1604–1657) was among the most accomplished and cosmopolitan rabbis of his time, and a pivotal intellectual figure in early modern Jewish history. Join us with Professor Steven Nadler, author of Menasseh ben Israel: Rabbi of Amsterdam [https://www.jewishlives.org/books/menassehbenisrael?srsltid=AfmBOoq0rOn7kcfb6W3CClUalL_xvHhkXsKyCOKX0GtJ9SsOorAbgY2e], as we explore Menasseh ben Israel’s role leading one of the most vital Jewish communities of early modern Europe.

A powerful hero of the Bible, Jacob is also one of its most complex figures. Join us with Israel Prize winner Professor Yair Zakovitch, author of Jacob: Unexpected Patriarch [https://www.jewishlives.org/books/jacob-unexpected-patriarch], as we explore the many layers of the life of the patriarch—Jacob’s wanderings, revelations, disgraces, disappointments, and ultimate success.

Episode 59: MENACHEM MENDEL SCHNEERSON Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994) was the seventh and last rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, one of the world’s best-known Hasidic groups. Join us with Ezra Glinter, author of the new Jewish Lives biography Menachem Mendel Schneerson: Becoming the Messiah, [https://www.jewishlives.org/books/rebbe] as we explore the life and thought of one of the most influential—and controversial—rabbis in modern Judaism.

Ayn Rand (1905–1982) was one of America’s most provocative writers of the 20th century. Her best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged have influenced three generations of Americans. Join us with Alexandra Popoff, author of the new Jewish Lives biography Ayn Rand: Writing a Gospel of Success, as we explore Rand’s defense of American capitalism, individualism, and creativity. Music in this episode:  George Gershwin - "Rhapsody in Blue"

The “German Socrates,” Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786) was the most influential Jewish thinker of the 18th and 19th centuries. A Berlin celebrity and a major figure in the Enlightenment, Mendelssohn suffered the indignities common to Jews of his time while formulating the philosophical foundations of a modern Judaism suited for a new age. Join us with Bar Ilan scholar Shmuel Feiner, author of Moses Mendelssohn: Sage of Modernity [https://www.jewishlives.org/books/mendelssohn], as we explore Mendelssohn’s tireless advocacy for his people and the importance of intellectual independence.