The Pursuit of Heresy (1676-1750) 

I'm not Jewish and this is one of the most interesting and amazing historical series on anything I've seen a RU-vidr create. I'm always on the edge of my seat. I appreciate the humanity you paint in these people's stories.

"No one expects the JEWISH INQUISITION!" "Wait. What!?" "Our two chief weapons are fear, surprise and the eternal disapproval of your mother concerning your life choices" 😀😃

If there's one takeaway from all these videos from Rambam onwards, it's that a theological "rebel" arises every few centuries within the religious community. He immediately faces some opposition and sometimes some immediate acceptance. Once the dust settles, the "rebel's" ideas are either quickly assimilated into the community or splinter religious movements are formed. (This pace accelerates in the 18th century, but that's for future videos.)

Can’t wait for the episode on the Baal Shem Tov

“Well, two beards.” Holy shit, lost it there. Well played

I never thought when I first started your videos it would get to the point that they start to make me cry a little... This journey with you through history is a little bit special bro. Thanks

Hello Sam, I wanted to personally thank you for this video as it introduced me to the work of Moshe Luzzato. I purchased a copy of Mesillat Yesharim after watching this and really enjoyed it. It is definitely a worthwhile read for someone interested in Jewish thought, and something I have found personally to be very uplifting. Thank you again for your work.

The portrait made me laugh out loud. That was hilarious.

Two beards LOL! I see what you did there LOL! Another fantastic vid, Sam! Thank you!

The sound design of these videos is great, excellent content as usual

"Two beards." You are wicked...wicked good.

14:10 come on we all know that's not conclusive proof. Maybe Luzzatto being in the navy would be.

I really like how detailed the maps are in this series, and how countries and civilizations are included on them that aren't even relevant to the story at hand.

Wait, “Gordon” is an Ashkenazic name? *opens Wikipedia* “Gordon (Hebrew: גורדון‎ Russian: Гордон) is also a Jewish surname, likely derived from the city of Grodno, in Belarus” Huh. I had a great-uncle with that last name, I always assumed it was Anglicized.

I considered myself pretty well versed in Jewish history, but I never knew any of this! When this part of history is dwelled on, it instantly skills to the chassidim! Thanks for sharing this!

Jeez, Hagiz sounds like the Witchfinder General and Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition. "Deliver them to the magistrates assembled in the court in the shire in which they dwell."

I'm caught up now, binged the whole series after al muqadimmah shouted out your channel. Dunno what I'm gonna watch in the meantime. I really appreciate the way your channel has shown the jewish perspective of the medieval and early modern periods, and the way you explained the temple period history of judaism.

I stumbled on your channel a week ago, and am finally caught up on your Jewish history videos; just wanted to thank you for your work, these videos are simply excellent! I especially appreciate how accessible they are since I was raised entirely secular and was never taught much of our history.

Fascinating. In what sense was Galilee 'semi-independent?' I have read a fair bit about the Ottomans and this was new to me. Looking forward to the next episode.

Sam, I spent my whole weekend greatly fascinated by what I have learned through your channel. Keep it up brother!

Hey I just wanted to let you know I found your channel last week and am watching ALL the videos in your Jewish History Playlist and I am loving it! Keep up the good work.

“The pursuit of enlightenment could now begin…” yes yes yes, the Haskala might actually be one of my favorite periods of Jewish history as it completely shaped and still effects modern Jewish life.

Thank you for your work! I can't wait to watch the whole series all over again :)

"Two beards" Lmao 🤣

love this channel and your latest video.

Excellent video, as always

Finally, another episode

i learn ramchal every day. beautiful video

I’ve learned so much from your channel. Tell me, how long had you been studying/researching Jewish history before you began recording? This seems like a massive undertaking.

Usually I don't comment on anyone's video but your content is superb so I am commenting on your video. Wow this video is fantastic. Every line is a point. Your channel deserve more subscriber. I regularly watch your videos from 6 years. As a old subscriber I want a help from you that please make a video on skanderbeg because I realised that only you can describe it nicely. As I know you from the old days, I think you will definitely make a video on this topic

Binge watching your videos. Such a good work. PS: Love the use of Piano Trio in E- Flat from Kubricks' Barry Lyndon

Great job. Love the music, so much from Barry Lyndon!!

Hah, I'm glad to see that one of the few pre-war relatives I know of (Tzvi Askhenazi) got into these videos. As we get closer to the present, there are more and more sources, so it's much easier to notice the contradictions and peculiarities of these people, but I imagine these were ever-present

Nowadays the Ramchal is seen as being an unbelievable Gaon in yeshivish circles. How do you explain how they ignore his secular leanings? And regarding his possibly attending university, do you have a link to learn more about that? Are you implying you think the Ramchal might have been gay??? I should say that I studied a good part of milas yeshorim myself. It's certainly very open to interpretation. One other question: to this day kabbalah is viewed among charedi Ashkenazim with distrust (even though the shulchan oruch bases numerous ruling on it). Would you say that is due to the long run aversion to Shabtai Tzvi? (Yes, both Sephardim and Chasidim are much more at home delving into kabbalah, which only makes the Yeshivish / Litvish aversion more peculiar, because those other groups have shown that it no longer really is dangerous.) One other question: how did England's Jews come to be so "liberal"? The influence of England? I ask because even today, it in many ways exemplifies a nominally orthodox Judaism that is frightened and distanced even from traditional Talmud study.

You’re movies are really good, the way the look and the way you have broken down Jewish history and issues. You spelt heresy wrong in the heading artwork. Thanks, they are really educational

Aside from no reference to Yaabetz and Besht, a starkingly beautiful presentation. Aronow is impressive, but not the last word (which will be the Last Word).

This channel , alongside Oversimplified, Jack Rackham, Sam O'Nella , Al Muqaddimah, Useful Charts, History Productions, Epic History TV , History Marche, Cool History Bros, Kings and Generals, Great War ,and Every Channel Simon Whistler makes are the saints of RU-vid history Channels.

No one expects the Jewish Inquistion! Wait... What!?

Thank you. So well written and presented. You exposed me to history of which I was unaware. BTW, I am not Jewish.

the video was great!, kinda harsh but still great!, about the last people in the video, the middle one was the Vilna Gaon, basically the anti-hasidic, i'm guessing the first was Ba'al Shem Tov but i have no idea

I don't get the reference to the painting. Because it's an engraved image?

once we get to the 19th century will there be an Isaac Meyer Wise video?

I would also like to know what your personal views and beliefs are just out of curiosity. If you don’t mind sharing that is.

Great video, but you should maybe try and tell the story of multiple communities (cough cough... Poland... cough cough)

Such a cool rabbi

Okay, I am not jewish, but I am enjoying this series. I will say though, that "well, two beards" joke, oml, that got me good. Also, a historical (possibly) gay and religious man, further proof they DO exist~

lol as soon as i saw the painting...yup he's outta there

But are Luzzatto's plays any good?

I’m curious why are so many S in ur videos frequently written as an f sans the mid stroke? I’ve seen this over several videos.

7:13 Shouldn't that correctly be translated as "transgressing for its own sake" (i.e. sinning not out of desire but for the sole purpose of committing a sin)?

I must have watched this video 3 times already, but I never fully got it until now. This wasn't simply a battle over Sabateanism and kabbalah, but rather a greater battle over what was really Jewish. Was what the Jews already had enough? Or could new ideas be established? What could Jews tolerate and what was too far? This is what it's really about, and the ramchal moved us into the modern era. Through his persecutions, he paved the way for chassidism to exist within Judaism, rather than simply be deemed full on heretics. He paved the way for rabbis to begrudgingly accept enlightenment ideas, and secular practices, to co exist with Jewish ones, and played the stepping stones for what would one day become modern orthodoxy. I may be going a bit far here, but today, the Ramchal isn't remembered for not having a wife, but rather as the author of books like Mesilat Yesharim and Derech Hashem. We took the path forward of acceptance, not banishment.

Anyone know the origin of the Jewish surname Galanty in Poland? Is that a branch of this Galante rabbinic family?

what's the deal with the potrait? 9:56 ?

Why did you use the lion with wings as the cover picture? And where does that symbol come from?

The eve of the Haskala is coming....

Hey I have a question. If I'm correct Jews were only migrating into England in the 1600s if I'm correct. I have a Jewish ancestor from that period. Probably just moved to England from the continent but I don't exactly know. Would he be Sephardic or Ashkenazim when the Jews moved into England.

Whats the name of the song in the end?

Are people with the last name "Padawer" from Padua?

What is the definition of Heremes? Castigation?

18:17 How I wish nothing was burned!

תענוג

What’s the song at the end?

Although with fluctuation, venetian society was rather liberal towards religious minorities such as the jews. If any ghetto could be said to have been honestly enstablished with the goal of protection perhaps the venetian one could be it , or at least come close, as the venetians often had to juggle themselves with trading partners and neighbours that weren't that often had much less liberal opinion on the role of religion in society. From my knowledge it was indeed one of the most liberal statutes in the catholic west although still obviously not ideal, and Venice was still one of the most prominent centers of rabbinical learning of the mediterranean, losing the primate only much later to Livorno. The fact that people could attend the university, and even teach if I am not wrong, regardless of religious affiliation was extremely noteworthy. So much that to do it venice had to enact a special government act called Auctoritate Veneta which allowed the state to confer academical titles bypassing the Church. The freedom of padua was declared uninfringeable, "Universa universis patavina libertas", whole and for all is the freedom of padua, a declaration that would become the motto of the university itself and remains so to this day. Be it out of diplomatic necessity or honest sentiment a number important happenings of the republic were held in the ghetto, such as when the rich families of the ghetto funded and held the celebrations for the conquest of Morea. That said a note of carefulness is necessaey when dealing with this topic, the memory of the past, even that of the current jewish venetians, isn't necessary objective. Venetians be them jewish or not have a strong civic pride, and tend to idealize the republic as a bastion of enlighted secularism and multiculturalism in a dark age. I have heard time and time again venice described as the place where christians, jews, and muslims discussed theology and Philosophy freely, and venetian jews sometimes go out of their way to specify how the venetian jewish experience was different than that of most jews in the west. Should this be believed or dismissed as a view of the past theough rose tinted glasses? Most likely a bit of both is true.

“Well… Two beards.” #מת

Gordon?

Why did folks write f’s where s’s should be, back then? What is the Purfuit of Herefy?

IT WAS THE RAMCHAL

Saw about a dozen of your videos. Great when it comes to secular topics. You’re such a compelling storyteller. Coming from a Torah observant perspective though, I can’t help feeling of sadness over your lack of depth. This content might’ve as well been put together by a gentile or an AI. Not a fault of yours I’m sure, but still missing a Neshoma nevertheless. For someone who endeavors to understand and present history of Jews, you can’t do without empirical knowledge and live of Torah. That’s the definition and foundation from which everything else evolves

Giving a paintings is bad?

What makes you think Luzzatto was gay? Couldn't find anything about it online at all.

Yup this is me when i suppress mysticism in my religion nothing bad comes from this!

Moshe, are the Sabbateans in the room with us right now?

Aten is spelled Birth of monotheism

Is it a known rumour that he was homosexuel or your personal conclusion?

Bro, Moshe Hagiz was based af though. You make him sound like bad hombre. Also he advocated for secular learning

Jews have a lot of dynastic philosophical disagreement in our history (*cough* Rashi Rambam *cough*)

Modern Hebrew is very Arabized language. Though that isn't entirely accurate to say.

Me (not an intellectual) reading the thumbnail: *The Purfuit of Herefy*

age of 20? wtf, am I doing with my life

Also, the humor in this one is uncanny lol

Mosé Luzzatto is my distant ancestor. This is crazy

Nothing like Gay-Guessing people from centuries ago

“Get a beard… well two beards” Whoa there guy lol not sure how to feel about that sentence.

Clichés!

Look I’m not trying to be an ass here but following the spirit of the law led to Christianity.

I do not so much understand English but from the little I understood you are trying to undermine the Torah and the oral Torah and spoil the words of the rabbis by drawing animated slaps and cynicism .. one may ask why? What bothers you so much about this tradition that you are so engrossed in history and disintegrating into factors?

Why did you but a gay pride flag at 14:19. This is incredibly disrespectful to the Ramhal... please change it.

Why doesn’t this channel have like 1M subscribers? This is some quality content 🥲