Antisemitism Explained through Jewish history, Israel, Islam, Hamas, October 7, Zionism, media bias in the Middle East, and one of Judaism’s greatest scholars—the Rambam.
In Episode 127 of Middle East In Less Than Five Minutes, we examine a remarkable passage from the Rambam’s Iggeret Teman (Epistle to Yemen), written more than 850 years ago, and why many believe it speaks directly to the events of October 7, 2023.
Topics include:
• The Rambam (Maimonides) and the Iggeret Teman• Jewish life under medieval Islamic rule• Psalm 120: “I am peace, but when I speak, they are for war”• October 7 and historical patterns of antisemitism• Islam, Jewish history, and religious persecution• Yemen, forced conversions, and the Almohads• Zionism as a response to centuries of Jewish vulnerability• Israel, Hamas, peace, and historical memory• Why medieval Jewish writings remain relevant today
Middle East In Less Than Five Minutes explores antisemitism through Middle East history, Jewish history, Zionism history, Israel, Hamas, Islam, terrorism, anti-Zionism, media bias, and the historical context often missing from today’s public debate.
Keywords: Antisemitism Explained, October 7, Rambam, Maimonides, Iggeret Teman, Israel, Hamas, Islam, Jewish History, Zionism History, Psalm 120, Yemen, Almohads, Antisemitism, Middle East Politics.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:48 The Hebrew Text
02:40 Who Was the Rambam?
04:28 Why He Wrote It
06:07 The Full Passage
07:19 The Context That Makes It Devastating
09:16 What This Has to Do With October 7
10:30 The Rambam Was Not a Hater - He Was a Witness
13:16 The Man Who Had Muslim Colleagues
14:32 The Comfort He Offered
15:42 The Lesson
16: 53 Postscript: October 10, 2023
