Rabbi Berel Wein dives deep into the roots of Jewish identity and the persistent shadow of anti-Semitism through history. Why have the Jewish people faced so much hatred, and what does it mean for us today? This thought-provoking conversation challenges misconceptions, reveals timeless lessons from the Torah, and offers a bold perspective on Jewish resilience and pride.
שַׁעֲרֵי שָׁמַיִם פְּתַח. וְאוצָרְךָ הַטּוב לָנוּ תִפְתַּח”.
שְׁעָרֶיךָ הֵם דּוֹפְקִים כַּעֲנִיִּים וְדַלִּים, צָקוּן לַחֲשָׁם קְשׁוֹב יָהּ שׁוֹכֵן מְעֻלִּים, כִּי-אַתָּה רַב סְלִיחוֹת וּבַעַל הָרַחֲמִים”.
Sung by the Talmidim of Yeshiva Kerem B’yavne.
The Bar Kochba Revolt, commanded by the mighty Jewish warrior Shimon bar Kochba approximately half a century after the destruction of the Second Beis Hamikdash, is a saga shrouded in mystery. In fact, the Talmud Bavli almost completely ignores the entire episode with the exception of a short passage about Bar Kochba’s messianic claims and his death at the hands of the Sages.
We can presume that the Talmud Bavli intentionally omitted the details of the revolt, and instead informed us only that he claimed to be the messiah and was subsequently killed by the Sages after they determined that he was a fraud. However, as will be depicted below in great detail, the Talmud Yerushalmi offers a drastically different account of the Bar Kochba revolt, so much so that it appears to contradict the account reported by the Talmud Bavli.
In the absence of a law exempting the ultra-Orthodox (Haredim) from military service, tens of thousands have received draft orders. A few evaders caught by police have been arrested. This has led to a “declaration of war” by the Haredi community.
Haredi politicians have competed with each other in issuing threats about the bitter fate that would befall Israeli society if the “war on the Torah world continues.” But they soon discovered that they were scaring no one.
Simply put, the Haredi contribution to the State of Israel – its economy and core institutions – is so meager that even if they went on strike tomorrow morning, it wouldn’t significantly disrupt life in Israel. Hopefully, the image reflected back at them from this mirror will inspire some moral self-examination.
Gazans set fire to a relief truck while the driver was screaming for help and burned to death.
— Cheryl E 🇮🇱🎗️ (@CherylWroteIt) August 15, 2025
No one bothered to help him…
This is who and what the Gazans really are. pic.twitter.com/GCjFGsFPvi
Mohamed Hadid, the father of Bella and Gigi Hadid, with millions of followers — posted this on Instagram.
— Jeremy Kamali (@JeremyKamali) August 17, 2025
It was never about a ceasefire.
It’s about wiping Israel off the map — and they’re saying it out loud. pic.twitter.com/r0cC84JSoE
