Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

1

The רשב"א in the possibility or impossibility of נְבוּאָה בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Jun 2, 2026

35:09

From the case of the מְשִׁיחַ שֶׁקֶר of Avila (in 13th century Spain)

2

Maimonides vs. Abarbanel on the necessary Propaedeutics for Prophecy

May 28, 2026

23:32

Is the course of Propaedeutics for the purpose of intellectual comprehension? Or is it to elicit the proper emotional response?

3

הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת נָשׂוֹא תשפ"ו - מָנוֹחַ וְהַמַּלְאָךְ - שִׁיטַת הַמּוֹרֶה נְבוֹכִים

May 28, 2026

23:40

Did Manoah and is wife encounter an angel, or was it a (prophetic) dream? If a dream, who had the dream, Manoah or his wife?

4

פָּרָשַׁת נָשֹׂא תשפ"ו - Does Judaism have "Trial by Ordeal?"

May 27, 2026

35:17

A tricky person can manipulate the Sotah rules...

5

Some thoughts on the current situation in the Middle-East

May 26, 2026

24:24

Keep an eye on the following two relationships: a.) Syria-China b.) Syria-Hezbollah

6

שָׁבוּעוֹת תשפ"ו - מַתַּן תּוֹרָה: עַבְדוּת? אוֹ נִשּׂוּאִין?

May 20, 2026

35:26

Two trends in Jewish Memory - The Reception-History of The giving of the Torah in Jewish Mesorah.

7

King David and the "Moabitess Issue." Even after he became king?

May 18, 2026

34:06

Was David worried that the halachic שְׁאֵלָה of מוֹאָבִי וְלֹא מוֹאָבִית would be raised against him in future generations, who might choose to pasken גַּם מוֹאָבִי וְגַם מוֹאָבִית לֹא יָבוֹאוּ בִּקְהַל הַשֵּׁם and retroactively disqualify his entire dynasty?

8

More on Rambam and נְבוּאָה: The "physical process"

May 18, 2026

33:01

The רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם sends a message from the Active Intellect to the rational faculty (hopefully to filter out error) and from thereto the imaginative faculty. But what does this mean?

9

Milchigs on Shavuos - Historical background

May 17, 2026

35:04

Was this a reaction to the concentrated Christian theological attack on Judaism and its nomianism that reached its peak in the 13th century?

10

The Controversy over the Rambam's Real Opinion of נְבוּאָה

May 13, 2026

42:14

The Left-Wingers vs. the (non extreme) Right Wingers among the "מְפָרְשֵׁי הַ"מוֹרֵה נְבוֹכִים

11

From the Memoirs of מֵאִיר בַּר אִילָן: A visit to "The Frum German shul" in Baltimore in 1913

May 12, 2026

28:25

The Rabbi preaches about Zionism but the (anti-Zionist) בַּעֲלֵי בַּתִּים hear what they want to hear

12

פָּרָשַׁת בַּמִּדְבָּר תשפ"ו - The Beginnings of Bureaucracy in Jewish History

May 11, 2026

27:53

Who were the member of Moshe's secretariat? Who kept the records of the Jewish People's vital statistics?

13

הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת בַּמִּדְבָּר ("מָחָר חֹדֶשׁ") - Reading the Bible through the lenses of Talmudic Halachah

May 11, 2026

28:53

How could the women of Israel SING the praises of Saul and David as they passed by in triumph, what about אִסּוּר קוֹל בְּאִשָּׁה עֶרְוָה?

14

Does נְבוּאָה require הֲכָנָה (as per the מוֹרֵה נְבוֹכִים)? The Abarbanel's interpretation of the "Burning Bush" Account

May 7, 2026

33:29

A brilliant explication of the Tannaic dispute re: whether or not Moses did the right thing when he "hid his face" rather than look at God.

15

הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת בְּהַר-בְּחֻקּוֹתַי תשפ"ו - Jeremiah on the difference between Israel and the nations re: repentance

May 6, 2026

25:39

What is the meaning of the statement of חֲזַ"ל that the בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ pre-existed the physical-universe?

16

Parshas Behar-Bechukosai: The incredible stubbornness of the Jewish People

May 5, 2026

27:15

They are punished but do not repent. By the end of the תּוֹכֵחָה the punishments have been ratcheted-up 2400 times (7x7x7x7)!

17

An "Old Baltimore" Angle on the Controversy re: the Kashrus of Coca Cola

May 5, 2026

40:22

A tale from the era of problematic הֶכְשֵׁרִים from leading רַבָּנִים וְתַלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים

18

לָ"ג בָּעֹמֶר תשפ"ו - Two different approaches to hostile regimes: R Shimon vs. R Yehudah

May 4, 2026

36:01

Throughout Jewish History, גְּדוֹלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל followed the policy of R Yehudah, not R Shimon, though the Jewish People in its folk-wisdom came to celebrate the frank expressions of R Shimon bar Yochai. They admired the one who "called a spade a spade" even though in practice they imitated R Yehudah

19

What's with the burning of clothes at Meron on Lag b'Omer?

May 4, 2026

28:16

Throwing clothes onto a coffin was an (incorrect but emotionally understandable) practice in Talmudic days expressing an excess of grief. With Rashbi (described as ascending to Heaven in a Pillar of Fire), the tossing of clothes morphed into burning them to celebrate his unique petirah.

20

Interesting (and bizarre) aspects of the Portuguese Marranos in 17th Century France

Apr 29, 2026

33:52

The difference between Protestant notions of toleration in Early-Modern Europe vs. Catholic ones. Hypocrisy was not a problem!

21

Haftarah Emor: Good Kohanim vs. Bad Kohanim

Apr 27, 2026

23:38

Perhaps the special regulations in the haftorah (which caused so much controversy in the Talmud) are a reward for those kohanim who stayed loyal to the Torah at a time when others (kohanim and regular Jews) went off the derech

22

The מֶשֶׁךְ חָכְמָה and the מַהַרַ"ל on גֵּר שֶׁנִּתְגַּיֵּר כְּקָטָן שֶׁנּוֹלַד דָּמִי

Apr 27, 2026

23:35

The interesting distinction between one who voluntarily converts vs. one who is forced to convert

23

"פָּרָשַׁת אֱמֹר תשפ"ו "אֱמֹר וְאָמַרְתָּ

Apr 26, 2026

27:10

"Break the News to the Kohanim Gently. They are going to have even more marriage restrictions than those of regular Jews"

24

פָּרָשַׁת (אַחֲרֵי מוֹת) קְדוֹשִׁים תשפ"ו Part Two - "You will be different!" or "You should be holy" ?

Apr 22, 2026

27:30

Shabbos as a powerful enforcer through mimesis of the Jewish Family unit, with the parents playing roles reflecting their exalted status in the family-unit

25

הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת - קְדוֹשִׁים תשפ"ו - How are the Jews like Ethiopians?

Apr 22, 2026

32:32

The modern State of Israel already includes territory that is שְׁאֵרִית אֱדוֹם

26

An interesting responsum from the חֲתַם סוֹפֵר re: the מִצְוָה of כְּבוֹד מְלָכִים. Is it a חֹק?

Apr 21, 2026

36:04

Do you have to give honor and respect to a bad king? an antisemitic king?

27

Sober thoughts on Israel's upcoming 78th birthday

Apr 20, 2026

30:25

What mistakes has Israel made recently? How can they be fixed?

28

Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim: Some thoughts about the consequences of the עֲרָיוֹת laws

Apr 19, 2026

26:16

Their crying over it was not simply a matter of petulance!

29

The Two Metaphors of שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים: Individual spirituality and national chosennesss

Apr 5, 2026

35:40

The Left has tried to assimilate Jews, the Right to exterminate (because in their eyes assimilation does not work)

30

Some thoughts about "Schlissel Challah" (Really)

Apr 5, 2026

29:06

The Talmudic metaphor of מַפְתֵּחוֹת בְּיָדָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא and its culinary application in 18th century Hasidic Practice

31

Seder Thoughts 2026

Apr 1, 2026

40:33

Some ideas for your seder

32

Plagiarism in Rabbinical Literature - The case of the נוֹדַע בִּיהוּדָה

Mar 31, 2026

50:18

The passionate speeches of the נוֹדַע בִּיהוּדָה and his son against the theft of their intellectual property

33

Passover in Jewish history: Some Historical questions re: how it was celebrated

Mar 29, 2026

34:05

In Israel right now, people are praying the enemy missiles should "pass over"!

34

Shabbos HaGadol 2026

Mar 29, 2026

1:18:05

Some thoughts on בַּל יֵרָאֶה עַל בְּלִיעוֹת וְחָמֵץ הַטַּל בְּשִׁשִּׁים. Plus, plagiarism in rabbinic literature, eradicating bad traits, and other matters.

35

What's the first thing the Jews do after Pharaoh give the permisson to leave?

Mar 27, 2026

26:48

Why were the Jews told to lie to the Egyptians? Isn't that the ultimate חילול השם? "Jews are all about money!"

36

Tucker Carlson & Henry Ford - Compare and contrast

Mar 26, 2026

26:09

The poisonous rhetoric of both men. But the Ford Antisemitism called-forth an eloquent protest from America's leading non-Jews. R Katz reads this public letter on this episode.

37

פָּרָשַׁת צַו תשפ"ו (שַׁבָּת הַגָּדוֹל) - the מֶשֶׁךְ חָכְמָה and the theory of the two types of קָרְבָּנוֹת

Mar 26, 2026

24:31

The קָרְבָּנוֹת offered on the בָּמוֹת were (Maimonidean) concessions to popular superstitionsOTOH the קָרְבָּנוֹת offered in the בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ were sublime in nature and were (Nachmanidean) constituent-elements in the metaphysical universe

38

הַפְטָרַת שַׁבָּת הַגָּדוֹל תשפ"ו - Why is Elijah the one sent before "The Great and Terrible Day"?

Mar 23, 2026

30:20

Will תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים occur for the benefit of the Dead, or the benefit of the Living?

39

Rabban Gamliel and the Matzah at the Seder - the interpretation of Abarbanel

Mar 22, 2026

37:24

It is NOT about the affliction, it is about the hope for the messianic redemption in the near future. This is Abarbanel speaking to the battered Sephardim in 1496!

40

"The Chuck Norris Era" in American popular culture as it relates to the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Mar 22, 2026

26:51

Can "Christian Zionism" flourish in the aftermath of the Cold War? Or is it a phenomenon confined to older Americans?

41

More on Israel-German Relations (and Non-Relations) in the 1950s and 60s. And some comments on Trump's retort to the Japanese today

Mar 20, 2026

46:02

Trump joked about the Pearl Harbor Attack of 1941. Actually, this resulted in Hitler stupidly declaring war on the USA (thus sealing his own doom) , PLUS providing the Americans with an insight into his thinking, thanks to the blabbermouth Japanese Ambassador in Berlin Baron Oshima

42

R Katz analyzes aspects of the latest developments in the chaotic war-situation

Mar 18, 2026

28:28

Are Bibi and Trump encouraging the Syrians to invade Lebanon and "disarm" (i.e., exterminate) Hezbollah? Who gains from that? This is reminiscent of certain Biblical episodes...

43

הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּקְרָא תשפ"ו - Korbanos in Judaism and in Paganism

Mar 17, 2026

23:11

Man-made idols do not offer moral criticism!

44

Various definitions of אִשָּׁה חֲשׁוּבָה (Passover Seder)

Mar 17, 2026

34:14

Looks? Bucks? Yichus? Higher salary? Higher job position? Class? Equal Partner in the Marriage?

45

פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּקְרָא תשפ"ו - Rambam on Korbanos that don't make sense

Mar 15, 2026

37:38

For the first year after the original Passover, there were basically no korbanos (with a few exceptions) in Judaism

46

More Strange Bedfellows: Germany financed Israel's A- Bomb Project (Dimona) back in the 1960s. A story in the news today

Mar 13, 2026

53:19

Israel agreed not to "out" ex-Nazis in the West German Government. A grateful Germany bankrolled Israel's secret nuclear project. An previously unknown detail of the relationship between Ben Gurion and Konrad Adenauer

47

זֵכֶר יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם VS סִפּוּר יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם part 1

Mar 11, 2026

25:23

What did the Jews imagine was going to happen when they were told God would "pass over" their houses that night?

48

Some historical considerations re: Poles, Jews, Hitler, Food, and the Holocaust

Mar 10, 2026

36:41

The German food crisis of 1942 as a cause of the setting-up of industrial genocide centers in Occupied Poland in 1942

49

הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת הַחֹדֶשׁ תשפ"ו - Abrabanel: "ha-ha מְשֻׁמָּדִים וּמְסִיתִים וּמַדִּיחִים, don't tell me THIS prophecy is metaphorical!"

Mar 9, 2026

25:05

High- Office will have the power to tempt the powerful to be corrupt even in the Messianic Era!

50

פָּרָשַׁת וַיַּקְהֵל-פְּקוּדֵי תשפ"ו The Contrast between the מִשְׁכָּן-idea and the שַׁבָּת-idea

Mar 9, 2026

26:01

Shabbos - God the Creator of literally everything, hence beyond transcendentMishkan- God something that has a "presence" (שְׁכִינָה), hence somehow immanent