The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind
Welcome to The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind, a podcast that tells the story of the prophets, philosophers, and poets who created the West.
In this podcast, Rabbi Dr. Mitchell Rocklin guides listeners through more than 3,000 years of Western history, offering a coherent, civilizational story of how the West came to be—along with a deepened understanding of the challenges it now faces. While many of the texts discussed will be familiar to students of the humanities, Rabbi Rocklin offers a new framework for understanding them—a framework in which the teachings of the Jewish religious tradition play a central role. For, as Rabbi Rocklin explains, Western civilization can only be understood as the product of a transformative and ongoing collision between the great traditions of Jerusalem and Athens—between the religious spirit of the Jews and the philosophical spirit of the Greeks.
- Update frequency
- every 4 days
- Average duration
- 37 minutes
- Episodes
- 91
- Years Active
- 2024 - 2025
Medieval Church History: Art, Religion, and Power
The disasters of the fourteenth century triggered reactions that involved and impacted the highest levels of the Roman Catholic Church. As we work through the topic, we’ll explore the following quest…
Death and Dissent: Disasters, Revolts and Wars of the 14th Century
The greatness of the thirteenth century will collapse into the disasters of the fourteenth. To explain the how and why of it, Rabbi Rocklin will answer the following questions:
- Why did the price and…
A Restless Spirit: Medieval Vitality and Crusades
The Middle Ages were marked by a contradiction between the stability of settling down and a dynamic spirit that inspired greatness. On today’s episode, we’ll uncover answers to the following question…
Reason and Revelation: Intellectual Life in the Middle Ages
The tension between intellectual reason and divine revelation stands at the heart of the Medieval spirit of inquiry. As we explore that tension, we’ll unpack the following questions:
- Why did univers…
Medieval Religion: The Rise of Christendom
The Middle Ages will see the continued development of the relationship between God and man. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will discuss the following questions:
- What role did church and religion …
Church and State: Politics and Religion in the Middle Ages
The structures of government in the Middle Ages are quite different from what we have today. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions:
- What were the various obligations…
The Early Middle Ages: Church and Society
The next chapter in the story of the west is the Middle Ages, centered around Catholic Europe. As we begin to explore this era, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions:
- Why did the Cathol…
The Birth of a New West: An Introduction to the Middle Ages
As the sun set on the Greco-Roman era, a new dawn will break over Christian Europe. To help introduce us to the Middle Ages, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions:
- The Middle Ages are o…
The Golden Age of Spain: Jewish Culture under Islamic Rule
The Jewish population of Spain thrived under Muslim rule. As we explore that time period, we’ll take a look at the following questions:
- How do different cultural hubs develop in the region of Spain? …
Islam 101: A Religious and Historical Overview
Islam has been making headlines since it was founded in the seventh century CE. To help us unpack the topic, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions:
- Does Islam really belong in the story…
The Talmud: Jewish Law and Life
The codifying of the Talmud marked a major turning point for Jewish life and law. As we dive into the topic, we’ll explore the following questions:
- What exactly is the Talmud?
- How is the Talmud stru…
Imperial Collapse: Rome's Fall in the West and Longevity in the East
As the western half of the Roman Empire fell apart, the eastern half remained a dominant force. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will help us address the following questions:
- How did the western ha…
Commodus to Constantine: The Peak and Decline of the Roman Empire
The instability that became the hallmark of the late Roman Republic rears its head again in the late days of the Empire. Today, we’ll explore the following questions:
- How did Rome’s military manage …
An Animating Spirit: Midrash and the Roman-Jewish Clash
There are many ways to explain a text, yet Midrash remains one of the most important. Today, Rabbi Rocklin will walk us through the following questions:
- What exactly is Midrash, and why is it import…
Masters of Satire: Tacitus and Juvenal
Tacitus and Juvenal are vastly entertaining in their critiques of the world around them. As we survey these writers, we’ll uncover answers to the following questions:
- If Tacitus’ descriptions of the…
Josephus II: The Legacy of Masada
The story of Masada is one that holds great weight in the collective Jewish memory. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions:
- Why does Josephus emphasize that the Jews …
Josephus I: The Jewish Revolt
Josephus’ chronicling the story of the Jewish revolt would reverberate across the next two millennia of Jewish history. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions:
- How do…
Colossal Split: The Separation of Judaism and Christianity
Christianity and Judaism eventually split in a fundamental way. To help us explore that rift, we’ll focus on the following questions:
- If the early Christians were Jewish and early Christianity was s…
The Dawn of a New Era: Christianity and the New Testament
It is impossible to understand the west without understanding Christianity. On today’s episode, Rabbi Rocklin will address the following questions:
- Why is the Book of Matthew considered one of the m…
Plutarch: Honor, Wisdom, and Duty
Plutarch’s writings remain just as relevant today as they were when he wrote them. As we survey this great Roman writer, we’ll focus on the following questions:
- Why are we indebted to Plutarch for t…