Jun 4, 2026
In this week’s episode, we have a deeper discussion of why the proposal that R Menashe of Iliya was trying to create something similar to the Aguda of the 1920’s is deeply flawed. We examine the very basic differences between the two time periods, and how this affects how we understand what his idea really was....
May 28, 2026
In this week’s episode we take a closer look at the Noda B’Yehuda’s famed statement about not saying the Kabbalistic formula before mitzvas. We similarly closely examine if he is referring to Beshtian Chassidim in this teshuva. We also discuss his relationship with R Gershon Kitover and what we can learn...
May 20, 2026
In this week’s episode, we take a deep look at who R Menashe of Iliya was referring to when he divided the Rabbis into three groups. Is the reference to Kabalists only mean the Chassidic Rabbis? Is there any reference to the students of the Vilna Gaon here?
We continue to look at the content of the Pesher Davar. What...
May 14, 2026
In this week’s episode, we take a closer look at R Menashe of Iliya’s first pamphlet, Pesher Davar. Who is this pamphlet addressed to? Which Rabbis is referring to when he mentions simple ones? Who are the Kabbalists? Is this referring to the Chassidim? Plungian says that he met R Shnuer Zalman of Liozna and...
May 7, 2026
In this week's episode, we start properly examining R Menashe of Iliya’s written works. We start by looking at his Sefer on Tanach, Binas HaMikra. We will be able to have a solid understanding of his attitude towards Chazal from this sefer. We also start looking at his first printed work, the Kuntress Pesher Davar. We...