Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

The Controversial but Popular מַסֶּכֶת פּוּרִים (Venice 1552) from the Genazym 20.02.2023 38:53 ↓

Auction this Sunday, Feb. 26th. R’ Katz also discusses Purim Parody, in general.

Sherira Gaon and Jewish Politics in 10th Century Babylonia 20.02.2023 57:56 ↓

The fights to keep the Gaonic yeshiva alive in the face of economic hardships and personality-clashes

Haftarah Shekalim: Why Didn't the King Just Raise the Money for the Temple by Appealing to the Public? 17.02.2023 28:59 ↓

The synagogue vs. the house minyan: בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ vs. בָּמוֹת

Nahmanides on Gehinnom - Sinners Do Actually Burn in a Certain Kind of Fire. It's Not an Allegory 16.02.2023 30:45 ↓

There's an intermediate state of existence between the physical and the metaphysical, as evidenced by the soul being inside a specific body

A יְרוּשַׁלְמִי שְׁקָלִים from the Famous Bomberg ש"ס of the 1520s - For Sale at Genazym 16.02.2023 53:06 ↓

From the original edition of the בַּבְלִי וִירוּשַׁלְמִי in Renaissance Venice, with its strange history

The unscrupulous "richie-riches" free the Hebrew slaves whom they have held too long 15.02.2023 28:20 ↓

But discover they are addicted to the slavery-system and forcibly repossess them, engraging Hashem

The connection between the מִשְׁפָּטִים and the Yisro incident 13.02.2023 31:03 ↓

Who gets the better of whom? The lender or the borrower who becomes an עֶבֶד עִבְרִי?

R’ Judah Mintz (1405 -1508), Who Turned Padua into the "Lakewood " of Italy 13.02.2023 1:05:57 ↓

Famous for his responsa, and for his controversies over halachic matters

Ramban's Theory of the Sumum Bonum 10.02.2023 33:19 ↓

Differs from the view of Maimonides. Olam Haba will occur here on physical earth

Isaiah's Vision of G-d Seated on a Throne etc. Subjective Reality vs. Objective Reality 08.02.2023 30:51 ↓

Stubbornness is a great crime in spirituality

Chaim Grade (1910-1982): Some Thoughts About the Yiddish Novelist 08.02.2023 1:00:26 ↓

A brilliant novelist who consistently "bet on the wrong horse." Atheist who learned with the Chazon Ish.

What exactly did Yisro mean that Moshe should be מוּל הָאֱלֹהִים ? 06.02.2023 33:43 ↓

What is the meaning of נָבוֹל תִּבֹּל?

Eliyahu HaBachur HaAshkenazi (1470-1549) 06.02.2023 1:11:23 ↓

Author of famous grammar works, but also of the original "Bava Maaseh" אֵלִיָּהוּ בָּחוּר הָאַשְׁכְּנַזִּי הֲכִי גָּדוֹל בְּדִקְדּוּק

The Aftermath of the Maimonidean Controversies, Lecture 7 of 7 06.02.2023 1:05:17 ↓

From Rabbi Katz’ Summer 2022 Lecture Series, “Fundamental Disagreement: The Maimonidean Controversies Of the Middle Ages”

Rambam on Resurrection (which is not part of nature) 01.02.2023 31:39 ↓

Vs. עוֹלָם הַבָּא (which is indeed part of the natural world)

Haftarah Beshalach: How is the Story of Pharaoh Similar to That of Sisera? 01.02.2023 35:00 ↓

Was Barak right not to care about his personal glory?

Parshas Beshalach: The Complaints Against Moshe's Leadership - "Heading the Wrong Way!" 30.01.2023 26:34 ↓

You have already killed most of us!

R’ Moshe Alashkar: One of the Greatest Sefardi Gedolim Who Left Spain in 1492 30.01.2023 1:00:21 ↓

And wrote authoritative responsa. Champion of a.) Maimonides and b.) עֲגוּנוֹת

Did Abraham and Sarah Actually Exist? The Fight over Philosophical Homiletics (Part 6 of 7) 27.01.2023 1:03:32 ↓

From Rabbi Katz’ Summer 2021 Lecture Series - Fundamental Disagreement: The Maimonidean Controversies Of the Middle Ages

Parshas Bo: Why Does Moshe Deviate from His Instructions? 26.01.2023 25:21 ↓

G-d told him to tell the whole people to shecht, but he decided to tell just the elders

Rambam vs. Raavad and Others on the Difference Between תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים וְעוֹלָם הַבָּא 24.01.2023 31:39 ↓

Rambam's testy reply to his critics: אִגֶּרֶת תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים

Jews Burning Books? (Part II) The Controversy in Montpelier and the Aftermath 22.01.2023 1:23:14 ↓

Fundamental Disagreement: The Maimonidean Controversies Of the Middle (Part 5 of 7)

Moses Mendelssohn, Part 3 22.01.2023 1:16:59 ↓

The controversial but complex legacy in an era that doesn't like complexities

Moses Mendelssohn, Part 2 19.01.2023 1:09:52 ↓

Stay tuned for part 3, the final episode

Jews Burning Books? The Controversy in Montpelier 18.01.2023 1:13:04 ↓

From Rabbi Katz’ Summer 2021 Lecture Series - Fundamental Disagreement: The Maimonidean Controversies Of the Middle Ages (Part 4 of 7)