Episode 2073: THE RABBI WARRIOR by David R. Gross - a podcast by Ric Bratton

THE WARRIOR RABBI by David R. Gross

SAMUEL HA-LEVI IBN NAGRELA, KNOWN AS HA NAGID, LIVED FROM 993-1056 AD. Raised in Cordoba he became the Prime Minister of the city/ state of Granada, the General-in-Chief of its armies, and the head Rabbi of all of Andalusia. As a General he never lost a war. He wrote and published books on Jewish law and poetry, the latter in both Arabic and Hebrew. He conducted an active correspondence with Jewish communities throughout the Diaspora reaching as far north as England and Ireland and as far east as India and the Khazar Empire. Much of his poetry, some of his legal writings, and a bit of his correspondence has survived. Some of his poetry is included in Jewish prayer books to this day.

Ha Nagid fled from Cordoba, became a scribe, then assistant to the financial vizier of Granada and, by dint of hard work and extraordinary intelligence and skill, rose to positions of real authority. Palace intrigue, the near constant threat of war from neighboring taifa, and never-ending struggles to protect his people dominated his life. He was a moral person forced, by his position and dedication to the welfare of the Jewish community, to participate in immoral activities. His son Joseph, whom he groomed from an early age to succeed him, was intelligent and educated but lacked the ruthlessness, leadership skills, and warrior nature of his father.

Dr. Gross graduated from Colorado State University with the DVM degree in 1960. After ten years in veterinary practice he enrolled at the Ohio State University and earned the MS and Phd degrees in cardiovascular physiology. He did research and taught at Texas A & M University for 16 years, then accepted a position as Professor and Director of the Cardiovascular Surgery Research Labs at the University of Kentucky, College of Medicine. He retired after 12 years as Professor and Head of the basic science department in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

During his academic career Dr. Gross co-edited three multi-authored textbooks and over one hundred scientific articles and abstracts. The first, second, and third editions of his single author text, Animal Models in Cardiovascular Research, can be found in most medical libraries. Since retirement, he has published 3 historical novels, 3 memoirs, and a self-help book for students. His most successful book, so far, is the memoir of his first year in veterinary practice entitled “Animals Don’t Blush”.
He is now working on a 4th historical novel about the Hanna family, 6 generations ranching on the same property in the Sand Hills of north central Nebraska.
https://www.amazon.com/Warrior-Rabbi-David-Gross/dp/1645506436
https://docdavesvoice.com/
http://www.bluefunkbroadcasting.com/root/twia/westwoodbooks12.mp3

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