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December 24, 2012

Halakhic Responses to Medieval Persecutions

Rachel Furst

Rachel Furst

Rachel Furst is a post-doctoral fellow at the Freie Universitaet Berlin, having completed her PhD in Medieval Jewish History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  She received a BA in Medieval Studies from Barnard College and an MA in Jewish History from Hebrew University and is a graduate of the Advanced Talmud Institute at Matan. Rachel teaches Jewish history, Jewish law, and rabbinic literature at institutions in Israel and abroad.

Click here to access podcasts recorded by Rachel Furst.

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The slaughter of strong Jewish communities throughout Europe during the Crusades catalyzed the development of the theology of Kiddush Hashem – the choice to martyr one’s self rather than undergo forced conversion or murder at the hands of religious persecutors. How did the Halakhic authorities of medieval Ashkenaz react? Recorded 12/24/12 as part of Drisha’s Winter Week of Learning.

- 12/24/2012
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