Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

The Untold Story of Chanukah 29.11.2021 1:58:11 ↓

A speech delivered by Rabbi Dovid Katz in 1994 which goes into the history of Chanukah, in detail

The Other חנוכה: Inaugurating the Second Temple on the 25th of Kislev (from חגי הנביא) 28.11.2021 38:35 ↓

How did they physically manipulate those פְּשׁוּטֵי כְּלֵי עֵץ?

Was עַל הַנִּסִּים Composed as an Anti-Karaite Polemic? (Tefillah) 26.11.2021 29:30 ↓

As a history, עַל הַנִּסִּים follows The First Book of Maccabees. Who exactly are the טְמֵאִים?

Amos: The Problem is Not Idolatry, It is Social Injustice! Capitalism on Steroids (Haftarah VaYeshev) 26.11.2021 39:40 ↓

"No, I will not shut up! Whom should I listen to? You, or Hashem?!"

Parshas VaYeshev: Did the Brothers Realize Their Father Would Never Get Over It? 24.11.2021 36:05 ↓

Did Joseph lose his faith & then recover it, or did he have bitachon all the way through?

Haskalah and the Internet: Has the Internet Generated a Kind of Haskalah in the Frum World? 22.11.2021 43:26 ↓

Rabbi Katz responds to a thoughtful question from a listener.

שַׁבָּת "אוֹת הִיא בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם" Two's company, three's a crowd 19.11.2021 28:59 ↓

Why do we say a gentile is punished for keeping Shabbos, but not for keeping the other mitzvos?

Is Obadiah Referring to His Own Time, or to the Messianic Era? (Haftarah VaYishlach) 18.11.2021 34:16 ↓

What does it mean that Edom will go down through the treachery of its allies?

Jacob & Esau: A Mediated Encounter vs. Shechem & Dinah: An Unmediated Encounter (Parshas VaYishlach) 17.11.2021 35:05 ↓

וַיִשְׁכֵּהוּ? וַיִּשָּׁקֵהו? Which was it

Rabbi Bernard Revel (1885-1940): Creator of "YU" Whose Lofty Vision Failed Because of Insufficient Funds 16.11.2021 1:21:32 ↓

A tzadik who dreamed of building a combination of "Harvard & Volozhin," but ran into economic & educational realities

R' Katz in Rochester at Beth Haknesses Hachodosh Next Week 12.11.2021 1:46 ↓

https://congbethabrahamhertzberg.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/BHH-scholar-in-residence-Rabbi-Katz-flyer.pdf

What Do We Mean When We Pray for Osher V'chavod? (Tefillah) 12.11.2021 27:14 ↓

When does the money you give in charity not help your heavenly "bank-account"?

Do You Follow Halacha If It Stands in the Way of Scientific Progress? Do Values Govern Technology, or Vice Versa? (Haftarah VaYeitzei) 10.11.2021 30:56 ↓

Why VaYivrach and not Vayeitzei?

Parshas VaYetzei: Yaakov's State of Mind When He Stops and Dreams 09.11.2021 31:01 ↓

How can a ladder extend into the metaphysical?

The Raavad (1110-1198): The Most Magnificent Figure of a Lost Civilization; if he was one of the four greatest Rishonim, why is he not better-known 08.11.2021 1:07:33 ↓

If he was one of the four greatest Rishonim, why is he not better-known?

The Prayer of V'Yitein Lechah M'Tal HaShamayim: What Do Those Words Mean? (Tefillah) 05.11.2021 27:08 ↓

Why is this recited as Shabbos ends? Does Shamayim mean the sky? Come on!

Malachi Blasts the Guy Standing By the Kotel Chatting on His Cellphone (Haftarah Toldos) 03.11.2021 29:45 ↓

Yes, Yaakov won, but have his descendants acted in a manner fitting the bechorah?

The Story of Rivkah: What Was Her Age? Did She Go to Shem V’Ever or Have an Epiphany on Mt. Moriah? 02.11.2021 36:59 ↓

A parshah with many alternative versions of the story in Chazal and the Meforshim

R’ Tzvi Hirsch Kalisher: Mr. אַתְחַלְתָּא דִּגְאֻלָּה -based on the Model of King Cyrus 01.11.2021 57:13 ↓

A Jewish State in Israel is the only way to prevent intermarriage among the non-frum

The Sixth Psalm: What Sin is it About? 29.10.2021 26:24 ↓

Do you regret "giving-in" (Bathsheba)? Or stubborn callousness (Census)?

Adonijah: Leader or Dupe? (Haftarah Chayai Sarah) 28.10.2021 30:38 ↓

Contrast the Eliezer-story (absence of intrigue) with the David-story (redolent of intrigue)

Eliezer - The Snoopy Shadchan (Parshas Chayai Sarah) 27.10.2021 36:16 ↓

Both Eliezer and Rebecca dislike long engagements

R' Menahem Kasher: A Brilliant, Atypical Hasid, Determined to Get the Torah Tmimah "Right" 25.10.2021 59:24 ↓

He embarked on a lifelong, grand quest to do the whole Chumash, but tragically unsuccessful because of his brilliant pizur kochos .

Rabbi Katz in Monsey for Shabbos 22.10.2021 3:00 ↓

Shabbos in Wesley Hills (קְהִלַּת בֵּית אֲבִיגְדוֹר). Saturday night at 25 Barrie Drive 9:00 PM

Elisha Helps Ovadiah’s Widow: She Has to Go to the Prophet for a Miracle-But Where’s the Public? 21.10.2021 34:56 ↓

The different reactions of Sarah and the Shunamite woman to the news they will have a baby