Author Archives: alreguelajat

The genizah, which means «hiding place» in Hebrew, is a place where books and documents that are no longer useful are kept. Because they contain the name of God, they cannot be destroyed. Since it is also customary to write … Seguir leyendo →

Isaac Mayer Weiss was born in 1819 in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. From a young age, he proved to be a brilliant student. He studied the Bible and Talmud, especially with his father, Leo Weiss, and his … Seguir leyendo →

Bundism was another response to the problems facing Jews in the late 19th century, especially in the Pale of Settlement in Russia. It was a secular, socialist Jewish movement. The General Union of Jewish Workers, known in Yiddish as the … Seguir leyendo →

In the 19th century, despite the changes brought about by modernity, Jews had not been able to fully integrate into European societies, and European societies, in turn, had failed in their attempts to incorporate them. This problem, known as «the … Seguir leyendo →

One of the first Jews to arrive in what is now the United States was a group of 23 men, women, and children fleeing Recife, Brazil, who landed in 1654 in New Amsterdam, present-day New York. Later, Ashkenazi and Sephardi … Seguir leyendo →

In biblical times, God was conceived as a national deity, who protected the Israelites in their land, helped them in their disputes, freed them from hunger, and generally provided for their sustenance. Bad fortune, poor harvests, and illness could be … Seguir leyendo →

In biblical times, the Israelites were more of a nation than a religious group. They did not have the concept of religious conversion, because it was an incoherent idea to consider religion as something separate from nationality. That is why … Seguir leyendo →

Jewish communities in Europe in the 19th century could not remain indifferent to the effects that emancipation and enlightenment had on the daily lives of their members. Some chose to reject them, while others accepted them. The latter were convinced … Seguir leyendo →

From the 7th to the 14th centuries, there is evidence of the presence of Jews in what is now Belarus, Ukraine, and European Russia. They were few compared to those in Russia’s neighboring countries. The countries of Central and Eastern … Seguir leyendo →

Since the time of the Mishnah (2nd century CE), when a Jew had a question or an important problem, whether religious or otherwise, he would write to a rabbi of his choice, who would then respond in writing, basing his … Seguir leyendo →