_(english).jpg "Taking the Spiritual Dive")
_(english).jpg "Genetic Screening for Breast Cancer Genes")
_(english).jpg "When Bad Things Happen")
_(english).jpg "Judaism and the 12-Step Program")
+.jpg "Knowledge and Wisdom")
+.jpg "Moshe, Miriam and Prophecy")
+.jpg "Don't Give Up")
About the Author
Rabbi Ken Spiro
Rabbi Ken Spiro, originally from New Rochelle, NY, graduated from Vassar College with a BA in Russian Language and Literature and did graduate studies at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow. He has rabbinic ordination from Aish Jerusalem and a Masters Degree in History from Vermont College of Norwich University. Rabbi Spiro is also a licensed tour guide by the Israel Ministry of Tourism. He has appeared on numerous radio and TV programs such as BBC, National Geographic Channel and The History Channel. He lives near Jerusalem with his wife and five children, where he works as a senior lecturer for Aish Jerusalem.
Crash Course in Jewish History
is "a comprehensive, thoughtful and highly educational survey of Jewish history.” - Sir Martin Gilbert
In one volume, Crash Course in Jewish History explores the 4,000 years of Jewish existence while answering the great questions: Why have the Jewish people been so unique, so impactful, yet so hated and so relentlessly persecuted?
Crash Course in Jewish History is not only comprehensive and readable, it is also entertaining and enlightening. Novices and scholars alike will find Crash Course in Jewish History to be thought-provoking and insightful, as well as a valuable and relevant guide to understanding the challenges we all face in the 21st century.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #42: Rise of Islam")
History Crash Course #42: Rise of Islam
by Rabbi Ken SpiroMohammed reacted with anger when Jews refused to recognize him as the last of the prophets.
_(english).gif "History Crash Course #41: From Paul to Constantine")
History Crash Course #41: From Paul to Constantine
by Rabbi Ken SpiroEarly Christianity attracted those unwilling to take on all of Judaism's precepts.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #40 - Seeds of Christianity")
History Crash Course #40 - Seeds of Christianity
by Rabbi Ken SpiroAt a time of cruel oppression, splinter sects spring up in belief that the apocalypse is at hand.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #39: The Talmud")
History Crash Course #39: The Talmud
by Rabbi Ken SpiroIn a time of chaos, the sages do the unprecedented and write down the Oral Law.
_(english).gif "History Crash Course #38: Exile")
History Crash Course #38: Exile
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe Romans sought to extinguish Jewish presence in Jerusalem by renaming Israel to Palestine.
_(english).gif "History Crash Course #37: Bar Kochba Revolt")
History Crash Course #37: Bar Kochba Revolt
by Rabbi Ken SpiroDespite the disastrous results of the Great Revolt, the Jews revolt yet again.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #36: Timeline: From Abraham to Destruction of the Temple")
History Crash Course #36: Timeline: From Abraham...
by Rabbi Ken SpiroTwo thousand years of Jewish history at a glance.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #35: Destruction of the Temple")
History Crash Course #35: Destruction of the...
by Rabbi Ken SpiroOn the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, the 9th of Av, the Temple burns to the ground.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #34: War For Jerusalem")
History Crash Course #34: War For Jerusalem
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe Jewish nation fights to save its spiritual center.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #33: The Great Revolt")
History Crash Course #33: The Great Revolt
by Rabbi Ken SpiroIn a seemingly suicidal move, the Jews take on the mighty Romans.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #32: Hillel and Shammai")
History Crash Course #32: Hillel and Shammai
by Rabbi Ken SpiroIn a time when many things were going wrong for the Jews, the sages Hillel and Shammai defined what was going right.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #31: Herod the Great")
History Crash Course #31: Herod the Great
by Rabbi Ken SpiroA madman who murdered his own family and many rabbis, Herod was also the greatest builder in Jewish history.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #30: The Romans")
History Crash Course #30: The Romans
by Rabbi Ken SpiroJewish tradition maintains the Romans were descendants of Esau, the bloodthirsty brother of Jacob.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #29: Revolt of the Maccabees")
History Crash Course #29: Revolt of the Maccabees
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe Jewish revolt against the Greeks sets a precedent as the world's first religious war.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #28: Greek Persecution")
History Crash Course #28: Greek Persecution
by Rabbi Ken SpiroTerror reigned -- women were killed with babies tied around their necks.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #27: The Greek Empire")
History Crash Course #27: The Greek Empire
by Rabbi Ken SpiroTo the Greeks, what was beautiful was holy; to the Jews, what was holy was beautiful. These views were bound to clash.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #26: The Great Assembly")
History Crash Course #26: The Great Assembly
by Rabbi Ken SpiroExtraordinary sages define the essence of Judaism for the Jews of Israel and the Diaspora.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #25: The Second Temple")
History Crash Course #25: The Second Temple
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe Holy Temple is rebuilt, but is not the same with the Ark of the Covenant missing.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #24: Purim in Persia")
History Crash Course #24: Purim in Persia
by Rabbi Ken SpiroA feast celebrating God's abandonment of Israel puts into motion Haman's plot to annihilate the Jews.
_(english).jpg "Archaeology and the Exodus")
Archaeology and the Exodus
by Rabbi Ken SpiroOne rabbi asserts that the Exodus never happened. What role does archaeology play in verifying Biblical events?
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #23: Babylonian Exile")
History Crash Course #23: Babylonian Exile
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe Babylonians think God has abandoned the Jews and celebrate. But they have a surprise coming.
_(english).gif "History Crash Course #22: The End of Israel")
History Crash Course #22: The End of Israel
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe Kingdom of Judah lasts another of 134 years before it falls.
History Crash Course #21: Assyrian Conquest
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe Assyrians conquer northern Israel and vanquish the nation with exile.
_(english).gif "History Crash Course #20: A Divided Nation")
History Crash Course #20: A Divided Nation
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe 10 northern tribes secede, splitting Israel in two.
_(english).gif "History Crash Course #19: King Solomon")
History Crash Course #19: King Solomon
by Rabbi Ken SpiroKing Solomon, the wisest of all men, built the Temple in Jerusalem and reigned over Israel's golden age.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #18: David: The King")
History Crash Course #18: David: The King
by Rabbi Ken SpiroKing David established Jerusalem as Israel's capital over 3,000 years ago.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #17 - David: Shepherd & Warrior")
History Crash Course #17 - David: Shepherd &...
by Rabbi Ken SpiroStill too young to fight in the army, David becomes Israel's champion when he slays Goliath.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #16: King Saul")
History Crash Course #16: King Saul
by Rabbi Ken SpiroKing Saul was a great man who committed one terrible mistake, dooming his reign from the start.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #15: The Time of the Judges")
History Crash Course #15: The Time of the Judges
by Rabbi Ken SpiroJewish guidance came from the "judges," who were both warriors and prophets.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #14: Joshua and Conquest of the Promised Land")
History Crash Course #14: Joshua and Conquest of...
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThis is no typical war of conquest.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #13: The Tragedy of the Spies")
History Crash Course #13: The Tragedy of the Spies
by Rabbi Ken SpiroEvery major disaster in Jewish history is connected to the 9th of Av. It all began with the 12 spies.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #12: The Golden Calf")
History Crash Course #12: The Golden Calf
by Rabbi Ken SpiroOnly a tiny portion of Jews participate in worshiping the golden calf. So why blame the whole nation?
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #11: Mount Sinai")
History Crash Course #11: Mount Sinai
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe encounter between God and the Jews at Mount Sinai was a totally unique event in all of human history.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #10: Ten Plagues")
History Crash Course #10: Ten Plagues
by Rabbi Ken SpiroWith the Ten Plagues, the laws of nature are turned upside down to free the Jews.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #9: Moses")
History Crash Course #9: Moses
by Rabbi Ken SpiroIn an all-time irony, Moses the savior of the Jewish people is raised in the house of the enemy of the Jews.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #8: Reunion")
History Crash Course #8: Reunion
by Rabbi Ken SpiroTo remedy the family animosity, Joseph sets the stage for a great test.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #7: Joseph")
History Crash Course #7: Joseph
by Rabbi Ken SpiroJoseph demonstrates a classic pattern: The Jew arrives impoverished, works hard, and rises to the top.
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #6: Isaac and His Sons")
History Crash Course #6: Isaac and His Sons
by Rabbi Ken SpiroHistory repeats: The groove that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob carve will be for their descendants.
_(english).gif "History Crash Course #5: The Promised Land")
History Crash Course #5: The Promised Land
by Rabbi Ken SpiroGod gave Abraham the Land of Israel as a laboratory to create a model nation for the world.
_(english).gif "History Crash Course #4: Abraham's Journey")
History Crash Course #4: Abraham's Journey
by Rabbi Ken SpiroAbraham gave rise to a nation of Hebrews -- people who live "on the other side."
_(english).jpg "History Crash Course #3: The World of Abraham")
History Crash Course #3: The World of Abraham
by Rabbi Ken SpiroBy understanding the character of Abraham, the "proto-Jew", one can understand what Jews are all about.
_(english).gif "History Crash Course #2: The Bible as History")
History Crash Course #2: The Bible as History
by Rabbi Ken SpiroAn enormous amount of information in the Bible has been borne out by archeology, through indirect or circumstantial evidence.
_(english).gif "History Crash Course #1: Why Study History")
History Crash Course #1: Why Study History
by Rabbi Ken SpiroJewish history teaches not only to avoid past mistakes, but to understand where destiny is leading us.
_(english).jpg "Alexander and the Jews")
Alexander and the Jews
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe pivotal scene that you won't see in any movie sets the stage for the story of Chanukah.
_(english).gif "The Impact of the Bible: #4 -")
The Impact of the Bible: #4 - "Proclaim Liberty...
by Rabbi Ken SpiroJewish thought heavily influenced the Founding Fathers and the fledgling United States.
_(english).gif "The Impact of the Bible #3: In God We Trust")
The Impact of the Bible #3: In God We Trust
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe heavily Bible-influenced Puritans bring the Word to the New World.
_(english).gif "The Impact of the Bible: #2 - Protestants and Puritans")
The Impact of the Bible: #2 - Protestants and...
by Rabbi Ken SpiroThe printing press spreads the word. The Reformation seizes the Church and spreads to Western governments.
