Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

451

Haftarah VaEra: Pharaoh the Crocodile

Jan 23, 2025

24:09

Why did the Jews always allow themselves to get "played" by the cynical Egyptians?

452

Psalm 81 הַיּוֹם יוֹם חֲמִישִׁי בְּשַׁבָּת Commemorating the First Liberation

Jan 23, 2025

22:16

The extraordinary transformation of Joseph in Egypt, foreshadowing the later Exodus. And Divine frustration at the obtuseness of the liberated

453

Parshas VaEra: Redemption without repentance?

Jan 22, 2025

25:02

The Jewish slaves cried out to God in pain. But they did not repent!

454

The Hostage Deal and the Current Matzav

Jan 20, 2025

30:41

R Katz analyzes the sobering reality of no victory, balanced by the need to not give in to יֵאוּשׁ, and creating new countermeasures

455

Haftarah Shmos- "הַנִּדָּחִים בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם"

Jan 15, 2025

30:16

Who are the Jews Cast Off in the Land of Egypt? Did 4/5 die in Egypt? Or did they assimilate?

456

Psalm 94 - The Call for Revenge, when is it appropriate?

Jan 15, 2025

27:44

The Historical Context of Psalm 94, and its relevance to the current מַצָּב

457

Ramchal and his Rebbe, Pt. 2. - More on the remarkable relationship

Jan 14, 2025

55:28

Ramchal in Amsterdam (1730s-1740s), where he wrote the works that made him famous

458

Parshas Shmos: A Three Day Holiday?

Jan 13, 2025

31:02

Who was Moshe deceiving? Pharaoh? Or the Jews!

459

Asarah B'Teves: Then and Now

Jan 10, 2025

31:15

The theme of siege in Torah Judaism and Jewish Memory

460

An Analysis of the Current Influence of Turkey in Syria and Israel

Jan 9, 2025

30:12

Is Erdogan trying to recreate the old Turkish Empire in 21st century form?

461

Dovid and Yoav: Why really did Dovid resent Yoav?

Jan 7, 2025

26:24

Was David's reign an ideal era in Jewish History?

462

Why was there a military escort at Jacob's funeral?

Jan 6, 2025

28:26

Jacob's insistence that his grandchildren not touch his coffin?

463

The Shma Prayer in its original context

Jan 6, 2025

30:57

Jacob & Sons in Egypt. what was the challenge שמע addressed?

464

Haftarah VaYigash: Unity Before Geulah

Jan 2, 2025

23:22

Was the modern State of Israel created "out of order?"

465

Parshas VaYigash: Why did Joseph supply his brothers with literally all their need?

Jan 2, 2025

33:01

Altruism or Cynicism?

466

The Ruthless Use of Hostages: The assasination of Judah Maccabee's brother Shimon and its aftermath

Dec 31, 2024

36:30

The assassins used hostages to get away with their crimes: a cautionary tale re: Gaza?

467

נְחֹשֶׁת: דְּבַר תּוֹרָה לַחֲנֻכָּה תשפ"ה

Dec 31, 2024

34:20

Yavan, Copper, and the Copper Snake

468

Lighting Inside v. Lighting Outside: History of Controversy

Dec 30, 2024

41:48

Jews lit inside even when there is no danger

469

The prophecy of 24 Kislev (סֵפֶר הַנָּבִיא חַגַּי) and current events in the Middle East

Dec 25, 2024

24:12

"I will overthrow regimes and destroy armies through civil wars!"

470

Al HaNissim- When was it composed?

Dec 23, 2024

27:30

Was Chanukah ordained as a day of הַלֵּל וְהוֹדָאָה? Or was it ordained as a day of שִׂמְחָה וְהַלֵּל?

471

Haftarah Shabbos Chanukah - Zechariah Magical Menorah

Dec 23, 2024

22:44

Did the Maccabees know about this prophecy? How could they not?

472

Mikeitz and (metaphysical) Chanukah: The two dream stories - Joseph and Daniel

Dec 23, 2024

28:46

Both involve the dream of a gentile king concerning his kingdom; both dreams contain a subtext for the future of Klal Yisroel

473

Parshas Mikeitz: Joseph the first "galus yid" in history

Dec 22, 2024

27:02

Negotiating both Jewish as well as Egyptian identities: not an easy task

474

Seudas Chanukah: How old is this custom? Did it predate Rabbinic Literature?

Dec 22, 2024

28:12

Which parts of חֲנֻכָּה are דְּאוֹרָיְתָא, and which parts are דְּרַבָּנָן?

475

Peacemaking with the enemy? A cautionary tale from the Book of Maccabees

Dec 19, 2024

22:31

Bacchides massacres the trusting frummies under a flag of truce

476

What kind of peace should we pray for in The North?

Dec 19, 2024

25:18

What kind of peace should we pray for in Gaza?

477

Haftarah VaYeshev: Amos decries social injustice (at G-d's direction)

Dec 19, 2024

27:55

History teaches that morality collapses among the very rich and the very poor

478

Parshas VaYeshev: Contrasting the sibling relationships between the 12 brothers of the Joseph story and the 5 brothers of the Macabee story

Dec 17, 2024

26:38

The trick is not to be jealous of any sibling's special talents, but rather to discover the talents of each, and follow that brother in his area of special excellence

479

R' Yeshaya Bassan and the Ramchal: The remarkable correspondence between rebbe and talmid

Dec 17, 2024

58:26

The tight relationship between the two allowed for the frankest exchange of opposing ideas, totally free of rancor or disrespect

480

Shechem - Some of the Brothers Killed, Other Brothers Looted (Parshas VaYishlach)

Dec 12, 2024

19:04

What exactly is the translation of the חִתַּת אֱלֹ-ים after the massacre in Shechem?

481

Tefilah in the Context of the Current Situation in Syria

Dec 12, 2024

26:13

There are moments when certain prayers are תְּפִלּוֹת שָׁוְא. This is not one of them!

482

Sefer Ovadiah HaNavi (Haftarah VaYishlach)

Dec 10, 2024

23:12

Who exactly was Ovadiah? Has his prophecy come true?

483

Parshas VaYishlach: The challenges of Jewish survival in hostile environments

Dec 9, 2024

30:23

The violation of Dina, the lethal response, and the current war in Gaza

484

An Analysis of the Latest Events on the Israel-Syria Border

Dec 9, 2024

25:45

Bibi's unilateral military moves there

485

R' Marcus (Mordecai) Jastrow (1829-1903), Pt. 2

Dec 9, 2024

29:09

A curiously tragic rabbinical figure, whose dictionary ruled the roost for one century

486

R' Marcus (Mordecai) Jastrow (1829-1903), Pt. 1

Dec 9, 2024

49:50

A curiously tragic rabbinical figure, whose dictionary ruled the roost for one century

487

The Ramchal on Why People Avoid Learning Kabbalah

Dec 5, 2024

26:19

The Devil and R' Shimshon of Ostropol

488

Haftarah VaYeitzei: The Kingdom of the North blows its last chance by retaining the Golden Calf

Dec 4, 2024

29:03

זֹבְחֵי אָדָם עֲגָלִים יִשָּׁקוּן

489

Parsas VaYeitzei: What does Jacob mean by הָיָה הַשֵּׁם לִי לֶאֱלֹהִים?

Dec 3, 2024

26:39

The tension in monotheistic religion between universalism and paticularism

490

The Recent Developments in Syria and the Middle East

Dec 1, 2024

24:16

We may be seeing revolutionary developments in the non-Jewish states that may benefit Israel

491

Thanksgiving as an American (but not Christian) Religious Holiday

Nov 28, 2024

39:11

The unique historical nature of "American" Religion

492

Haftarah Toldos: Goofing off in the Bais HaMikdash

Nov 27, 2024

29:43

Donating sub-par animals to the Temple for a "kodashim write-off"

493

The War in Lebanon and Psalm 110

Nov 26, 2024

22:48

"An army with the resolution of volunteers, fighting for values of holiness"

494

Parshas Toldos: The Palestinian (Plishti) Peace Proposal

Nov 25, 2024

28:10

"We hate you, but we fear you, so let's make peace"

495

Are the Jews a religious group? A nationality? An ethnicity?

Nov 25, 2024

40:10

R' Katz on current court cases and the Hamas demonstrations at the universities

496

Haftarah Chayei Sarah: Adoniyahu or Shlomo

Nov 20, 2024

25:02

In Politics, Timing is everything...

497

Parshas Chayei Sarah: Oy shidduchim, shidduchim

Nov 19, 2024

26:06

What's more important, good middos or halachic observance?

498

The Aleinu Prayer: What is its context?

Nov 19, 2024

30:29

Three options: a.) Absolute Monotheism b.) Modified Monotheism c.) Absolute Polytheism

499

The Hasmoneans and the Question of Drafting the Yeshiva Bachurim

Nov 17, 2024

30:34

How he Hasmonean rulers fought their wars and handled the "Bnei Torah Problem" 2,000 years ago

500

Haftarah VaYera: אֱלִישָׁע מְחַיֶּה הַמֵּת

Nov 14, 2024

24:14

How come Elisha's servant Gechazi did not believe his master could revive the child?