Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

Haftarah VaEra: Egypt will Suffer a Nuclear Holocaust and will be Empty for 40 Years 17.01.2023 28:10 ↓

But then will have a "שִׁיבַת מִצְרַיִם." The restored Egypt will, however, be a degraded, not a great, power

Parshas VaEra: The Role of Aaron in the Exodus Story - Negotiator with the Egyptians, acc. to Rashi 17.01.2023 26:54 ↓

What arguments would an Aaron have offered Pharaoh to persuade him?

Parshas Shmos: The Individual Unique Experience of G-d vs. the Common Joint Experience 15.01.2023 19:07 ↓

אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אֱלֹהֵי יִצְחָק וֶאֱלּוֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב אוֹ אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב

The First of the Maimonidean Controversies: Attacking the “Live Lion” (Pt. 3 of 6) 12.01.2023 1:31:05 ↓

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

Maimonides the Great Popularizer - The Maimonidean Controversies (Part 2 of 7) 10.01.2023 1:38:06 ↓

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

The Maimonidean Controversies: Revelation, Rationality and Rationalism In the Middle Ages - Pt. 1 08.01.2023 1:04:48 ↓

From Rabbi Katz’ Summer 2021 Lecture Series

Rabbi Katz Will Be in the Hospital This Week… 05.01.2023 1:38 ↓

…due to open heart surgery and hopes to be home next week. דָּוִד הַכֹּהֵן בֵּן לֵאָה

A Dying David Has to Weigh Killing שִׁמְעִי בֶּן גֵּרָא for Insulting & Cursing Him 03.01.2023 31:30 ↓

Or letting him continue as Shlomo's rebbe, where he exercised an excellent influence.

Asarah B’Teves: Why Do We Specifically Commemorate the BEGINNING of the Siege of Jerusalem? 03.01.2023 32:48 ↓

On עֲשָׂרָה בְּטֵבֵת , we mourn, not just our political stupidity, but our inability to change

Where Did Joseph Acquire His Knowledge of Public Administration and of Macro-Economic Planning? 02.01.2023 29:10 ↓

Joseph made good use of his time in prison with high Egyptian economists & administrators

Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1785), Pt. 1: The Frum Member of the "Republic of Letters" 02.01.2023 1:09:38 ↓

Mendelssohn in his non-controversial "frum" phase. Not insular but very religious

In His Mishnah Torah, the Rambam Gets into Greater Detail re: Summum Bonum - עוֹלָם הַבָּא. 30.12.2022 42:52 ↓

What survives (maybe) is a certain type of נֶפֶשׁ, NOT the נְשָׁמָה! An unusual take

Why did the Sages condemn the translation into Greek? Why is it different than Artscoll? 29.12.2022 36:25 ↓

Where would Torah Judaism be today without translations and "cheater books" for the הָמוֹן עַם ?

Ezekiel: First the Dry Bones Come Alive, Then They Join the Jewish People in a Real Unity 29.12.2022 29:25 ↓

Imagine if the Ten Lost Tribes are rediscovered through DNA!

Parshas VaYigash: Joseph has a Whole Plan of Revenge, but in the End He Couldn't Go-Through With It 27.12.2022 30:53 ↓

Just as happened to the brothers, the whole thing got out of hand.

Chanukah and the current war in the Ukraine 26.12.2022 34:20 ↓

One may have multiple loyalties, but which loyalty trumps the others?

Rambam on the Sumum Bonum - הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא 25.12.2022 46:06 ↓

Rambam writes lucidly until he gets to clearly defining עוֹלָם הַבָּא, which is impossible

Chanuka in the Context of History: A Q&A w/ Rabbi Katz 23.12.2022 42:06 ↓

Live December 21, 2022

The affairs of the High priest Joshua & his sons foreshadow the Chanukah strife of the priesthood 23.12.2022 34:08 ↓

Rambam vs Ramban on the phenomenon of the כֹּהֲנִים becoming מְלָכִים

Joseph: A Rare Case of a Victim Finding Healing, Not Just Forgetfulness 21.12.2022 29:38 ↓

HaShem turned the world upside down to cure Joseph's psychological pain

The History of the Practice of הַדְלָקַת נֵרוֹת חֲנֻכָּה 21.12.2022 59:57 ↓

A clash between Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews in Germany (18th century)

Judah Maccabee: The Actual Historical Figure 21.12.2022 51:06 ↓

His military victories and defeats; his controversial political policies

שִׁיטַת הַ"כּוּזָרִי" עַל שָׂכָר וְעֹנֶשׁ 16.12.2022 28:53 ↓

Forget עוֹלָם הַבָּא for a second. What's life going to be like in a transformed עוֹלָם הַזֶּה ? What changes!

The Hellenistic Jews: What Exactly Provoked Them to Persecute the Frum? 14.12.2022 36:03 ↓

Parallels between the political situation in Israel at that time and the situation today, December 2022?

Amos: You (אֶפְרַיִם וּמְנַשֶּׁה) whose ancestor was unjustly sold, how can you do it yourselves? 13.12.2022 26:39 ↓

God can tolerate idolatry, but not social-injustice and miscarriage of justice