Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

The Korban Pesach: Why is a Goat OK? For the Original Passover in Egypt? 27.03.2023 21:21 ↓

The goat fits better with Shmuel than with Rav. It blames the slavery on us, not the Egyptians!

The Alshich - From the Golden Age of Safed in the 16th Century 26.03.2023 54:10 ↓

Though a great Gaon, it was his sermons & speeches that "took-off" among the Jewish masses

The Four Sons historically considered 24.03.2023 37:35 ↓

What was it like @that first Pesach if they were just the מְנוּיִים?

Did ALL the Jews Do the Original Korban Pesach? 23.03.2023 27:27 ↓

The רָשָׁע actually has a good point!

The Great Philosopher Chasdai Crescas on תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים 21.03.2023 38:31 ↓

What is G-d's purpose in Resurrection? What is His purpose in any miracle?

Haftarah Vayikrah: The Three Big Sins of the First Temple Era 20.03.2023 27:20 ↓

a) Idolatry b.) Social Injustice c.) Neglect of sacrifices. Bringing a קרבן means giving to God. And giving something in return allows for a relationship

Parshas Vayikrah: Speaking to Moshe From the אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, Not From the Adjacent Mt. Sinai 20.03.2023 27:55 ↓

The "downstairs" model replaces the "upstairs " model. Why?

Yeshiva Politics from Nosson HaBavli: The Extreme Formality of the Yarchei Kallah - Gaonic Gossip 19.03.2023 47:28 ↓

A system with it's emphasis on the public manifestation of hierarchy, as reflected in differentials in seating, money and other perks

Ramban on Olam Habah as a New Physical World 16.03.2023 33:11 ↓

Imagine a world without war, hatred, jealousy, exploitation. Where G-d is not a matter of faith but of knowledge!

Haftarah Vayakhel-Pekudei: Will Korbanos and other Mitzvos Change in the Messianic Era? 14.03.2023 27:45 ↓

Chanaya explained our Haftarah's seeming clashes with the Chumash, but we don't have it today

Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei: The Human Logistics of the Fundraising Campaign (Mishkan) 13.03.2023 29:10 ↓

Thd three month agony of Moses waiting for erecting the structure

A Frum Cassandra: Zorach Wahrhaftig in 1939-‘40 Lithuania 13.03.2023 1:32:48 ↓

Mizrachi hatzalah activist and his role in the escape of some Litvish Jews to Japan and Shanghai

Haftarah Ki Sisa: Elijah the Religious Radical - “If you are not frum, get out of here!” 09.03.2023 26:34 ↓

He is a forerunner of American Jewish Orthodox sociology in the late 20th century

Parshas Ki Sisa: The Second Tablets Contained More Than the First Tablets 09.03.2023 29:28 ↓

After the disaster of the Golden Calf, Moshe needed more futuristic knowledge

Ramban's Complicated Description of Gan Eden - The One "Downstairs" and the One "Upstairs" 08.03.2023 29:57 ↓

For 12 months, the soul of the departed צדיק "hangs-around" the downstairs Eden, which is an actual place

Gaonic Gossip: The Famous Description of the Inaugural Ceremonies of the Reish Galusah in Baghdad 08.03.2023 36:40 ↓

The obsession with elaborate ceremony and protocol in Gaonic culture

Rabbi Katz Responds to a Mischaracterization re: a Recent Podcast 06.03.2023 5:09 ↓

Falsely conflating the case of Saul and the Amelakites with Israelis and Palestinians

The 7 year Machlokes Between Saadia Gaon and the Reish Galusah - Gaonic Gossip 05.03.2023 34:32 ↓

And the grand reconciliation on תענית אסתר. Followed by a memorable סְעוּדַת פּוּרִים

Gaonic Gossip from Nasan HaBavli: The Deposition of Ukvah the Reish Galusah 03.03.2023 35:29 ↓

The famous chronicler of Yeshiva politics in the תְּקוּפַת הַגְּאוֹנִים 1000 years ago

How Did They Know Heaven had Confirmed Purim (קִיְּמוּ לְמַעְלָה מַה שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ לְמַטָּה)? 02.03.2023 43:13 ↓

Did Jews sell-themselves in an effort to escape impending death?

Parshas Tetzaveh: The Moreh Nevuchim's Take on the Splendid Bigdei Kehunah 01.03.2023 35:01 ↓

Overawe the masses and win them away from competing pagan temples. The masses go by externals, not by the inner (essential) realities.

Purim: Esther’s Hidden Identity 28.02.2023 34:06 ↓

How could Esther hide her identity when she had been married to Mordecai? The brilliant effect of כָּל אֻמָּה נִדְמְתָה לָהּ כְּאֻמָּתוֹ

The Ramban's Detailed Description of the Sinner in Gehinnom - R’ Katz Discusses 22.02.2023 25:41 ↓

Using mystical and (interestingly) psychological concepts to describe the suffering there

Haftarah Terumah: Shlomo's Corvee was the Fulfillment of the Warning of שְׁמוּאֵל הַנָּבִיא 21.02.2023 26:39 ↓

Was it really wise for Shlomo to have close (even if transactional) relations with Tyre?

When was the Mishkan Commanded? During the First 40 days, or During the Third 40 days? 21.02.2023 25:00 ↓

If the latter, when exactly during the third set of 40 days? The significance of this issue.