The Kotzk Podcast

Messianic Immunity—The Perfect Storm: The case of R. This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Abraham Ofir Shemesh( 1 ) examines an extreme case of messianic immunity. In the sixteenth century, a medical doctor, haRofeh, under the influence of the *Sabbatian* messianic movement of Shabbatai Tzvi, felt he could administer harmful drugs to non-Jews in order to kill them. Because h...

A historical context to Midrashim ( Kotzk blog 517 ) This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Gary Porton [1](https://d.docs.live.net/cf7c519617ad128d/Documents/KOTZK%20BLOG%20517.docx#_ftn1) — investigates the historical conditions that may have fostered the complex and often elusive evolution of *Midrash*. *Midrashim* are the creative and often fanciful interpretations of the...

When Midrash is too much for the Midrash ( Kotzk blog 516 )This episode—based extensively on the research by Rabbi Dr Zvi Ron—examines various  Midrashim  that have been rejected by an unofficial form of collective rabbinic consensus. These include  Midrashim  from lesser known sources as well as, surprisingly, those from classical  Midrashic  sources such as  Mechilta ,  Sifra ,  Sifri ,  Midrash...

Missing in Manuscript: The additional biblical verses added to the Mishna ( Kotzk blog 515 ) This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Jason Kalman—examines the question of additional biblical verses, cited as proof texts added to our versions of the  Mishna . Based on comparisons between our  Mishna  texts and their earlier manuscripts and printings, in almost  twenty per cent  ...

Kabbalah: From Obscurity to the Defining Essence of Judaism ( Kotzk blog 514 ) This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor David Malkiel—explores the thirteenth-century rise of  Kabbalah  in Spain and its subsequent peaking in sixteenth-century Safed. Since the Safed period, Kabbalah has come to be widely regarded as embodying the very essence and greatest depths of Judaism in the...

Secret Mystical and Chassidic societies ( Kotzk blog 513 )This Episode—based extensively on the research by Rabbi Dr Zvi Leshem—examines several secret mystical societies from biblical times to pre-war Europe, with a particular focus on the secretive group established by R. Kalonymus Kalmish (Kalman) Shapira of Piasecnzo (Piasetzna)  (1889-1943) .  Secret mystical circles and societies are not wel...

This podcast - based extensively on the research by Professor Bernard Dov Cooperman [1] —explores how the Italian rabbinic world dealt with their dynamic differences in theological expression during the early Modern period ( Kotzk blog 512 )

This podcast—based extensively on the research by Dr Assaf Tamari [1] —examines the  Zohar’s  unusual depiction of the exiled  Shechina  (the feminine aspect of the Godhead) as a patient requiring urgent treatment. (Kotzk blog 511 )

According to the Zohar, several deviant sexual activities were necessary for the Davidic messianic dynasty to emerge. This is known as ‘redemption through sin’ and is connected to the Aramaic word   Tikla  used by the Zohar which refers to a spinning wheel in the sky.   Kotzk Blog: 371) ‘Tikla’ and the zoharic concept that sin can bring redemption

This podcast —based extensively on the research by Professor Eitan Fishbane [1] —examines the rabbinic notion of the authenticity of a teaching or text being reliant on the perceived authority of its transmitter or originator. In other words, the greater the rabbi the more authentic the teaching, regardless of the independent status, nature and validity of the actual teaching itself.  ( Kotzk Blog...

The rise of contemporary Religious-Zionism ( Kotzk Blog 507 ) This article—based extensively on the research by Professor Yoav Peled [1] —examines the rise of the Religious Zionist movement from relative non-dominance in 1948 to a position of unquestionable hegemony in the last decades.

Reading the biblical word אות (‘sign’) in its earlier context ( Kotzk Blog 506 ) This episode—based extensively on the research by Professors Idan Dershowitz and Na’ama Pat-El [1] —examines possible lost meanings of the Hebrew word  אות  (‘ ot ’) which is usually simply translated and commonly understood as a   ‘ sign .’

The ‘Three Oaths’: Theologies of Cancellation and Resurrection (Kotzk Blog 504) This episode– based extensively but not exclusively on the research by Professor Reuven Firestone [1]  ꟷ examines the  Talmudic  concept ofשלוש השבועות or  Three Oaths . It focuses on the theological tension between the  Three Oaths , which prohibit a return to the Land of Israel until the Messiah arrives, and the desi...

Sebastianism: Crossover messianism that predated Sabbatianism (Kotzk Blog 503) This Episode ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Matt Goldish [1]  ꟷ examines the unusual notion of messianic crossover between Jews, Christians and Muslims that developed around the sixteenth century. What is even more unusual, from a Jewish perspective, is that the rabbis who participated in such enterpri...

Kotzk Podcast 047: Moshe haGoleh of Kiev: a critical devotee of Avraham Ibn Ezra (Kotzk Blog 502) This episode ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Eric Lawee [1]  ꟷ examines a little-known and somewhat neglected exegete and commentator, R. Moshe ben Yakov (1448-1520) who compiled a supper-commentary (i.e., a commentary on a commentary) based on R. Avraham Ibn Ezra (1089-1164) who had...

Kotzk Podcast 046: Were some early Spanish Kabbalists defending a Maimonidean position? (Kotzk Blog 501) This episode ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Tzahi Weiss [1]  ꟷ examines an interesting and unusual approach to understanding how thirteenth-century  Kabbalah  suddenly emerged in Provence (southern France) and Catalonia (northeastern Spain). With this emergence, there was now...

Kotzk Podcast 045: Mining Chassidic stories for kernels of historicity (Kotzk Blog 500) This episode ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Glynn Dynner [1]  ꟷ examines a possible methodology to extract aspects of historical truths from the often exaggerated and venerating style of  Chassidic  storytelling.

This episode examines various versions of the provenance of the iconic picture of the Alter Rebbe, the first Rebbe of Chabad. It offers a critical analysis as well as a possible defence of the authenticity of the portrait. Ultimately, though, the question is left open-ended ( Kotzk Blog 499 )

Did the Babylonian Talmud create the authoritative rabbi and the passive Jew? (Kotzk Blog 498) This episode – based extensively on the research by   Rabbi Dr Amir Mashiach [1]  − explores the emergence of the rabbinic class after the failed Jewish revolts against the Romans during the first two centuries CE. Up to that point, the rabbis did not feature in leadership positions. On assuming power im...

Language as incubators of theological ideas (Kotzk Blog 497) This Episode – based extensively on the research by Professor Edward Ullendorff (1920 -2011) – examines languages as distinct incubators of theological ideas. In other words, we are going to see to what extent “ different languages reflect different realities ” (Ullendorff 1966:273) which, in turn, reflect different theologies; and how t...

Kabbalah: To print or not to print the ‘lost’ mystical tradition ( Kotzk Blog 496 ) This article ꟷ based extensively on the research by Avraham Oriah Kelman [1]  ꟷ examines the little-known crisis in  Kabbalistic  transmission that became evident between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. 

Inverted hierarchies: Humans making G-d more moral (Kotzk Blog 494) This article ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Dov Weiss [1]  ꟷ examines how late Palestinian  Midrashim , particularly the  Tanchuma Yelamedeinu  (fourth to ninth centuries CE), depict humans challenging G-d over morally problematic issues expressed in the Torah. In these cases, biblical figures are audaciously por...

Carrying on Shabbat: From Jeremiah to the Mishna ( Kotzk blog 493 ) This episode ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Alex P. Jassen [1]  ꟷ examines how four pre-Mishnaic texts show evidence of the origin and expansion of the prohibition against carrying on  Shabbat . The specific textual prohibition against carrying on Shabbat first begins with Yirmiyahu’s (Jeremiah’s) prohibition aga...

Are Halachic rulings (Piskei Halacha) open to critical analysis or do they represent Divine Will? (Kotzk Blog 492) This episod – based extensively on the research by Professor Adiel Schremer [1]  − takes an in-depth and forthright look at the sometimes mysterious process of  Halachic  decision-making as practised by the  Posek  ( Halachic  judge or decisor). The Torah teaches that if any matter of...

A source trail defending the Baal haTanya’s definition of the soul as ‘a part of G-d’ (Kotzk Blog 491) Sunday 27 October 2024491) A source trail defending the Baal haTanya’s definition of the soul as ‘a part of G-d’ This podcast based extensively on the research by Rabbi Dr Louis Jacobs (1920-2006) [1]  − traces possible sources that the author of the  Tanya , R. Schneur Zalman of Liadi, also know...