The Great Semicha Controversy of Safed (צפת): The controversy in the 16th century within the broad framework of Jewish History
The Great Semicha Controversy of Safed (צפת): The controversy in the 16th century within the broad framework of Jewish History
Aug 26, 2024
50:35
The attempt to revive a Jewish "church" and why it was destined to fail when the Jews were in גלות
552
Abraham haKohen Herera of Italy and Amsterdam (c. 1570-1635)
Abraham haKohen Herera of Italy and Amsterdam (c. 1570-1635)
Aug 25, 2024
59:40
The strange world of the Marranos who were seriously into Kabbalah
553
Parshas Eikev: The 3 Great Dangers
Parshas Eikev: The 3 Great Dangers
Aug 22, 2024
28:43
Underconfidence, Overconfidence, and Smug Self-Righteousness
554
Haftarah Eikev: Isaiah predicts the rescue of the hostages in Gaza!
Haftarah Eikev: Isaiah predicts the rescue of the hostages in Gaza!
Aug 20, 2024
24:21
By The times of the Messiah, most Jews will have given up on Geulah
555
15th of Av 2024 - The Dance of the Maidens
15th of Av 2024 - The Dance of the Maidens
Aug 19, 2024
25:46
Did the "shidduch system" break down? When? Why?
556
Pirkei Avos: אַל תִּתְחַבֵּר לָרָשָׁע
Pirkei Avos: אַל תִּתְחַבֵּר לָרָשָׁע
Aug 19, 2024
33:44
R' Samson Raphael Hirsch vs. R' Chaim Brisker?
557
The Role of Moshe in the "Second" Ten Commandments (Parshas VaEschanan)
The Role of Moshe in the "Second" Ten Commandments (Parshas VaEschanan)
Aug 14, 2024
26:07
Moshe changes some of the wording to fit his audience, who were not present at the Revelation on Sinai
558
Haftarah Shabbos Nachamu: Glorious news to a battered people
Haftarah Shabbos Nachamu: Glorious news to a battered people
Aug 14, 2024
27:57
The happy aspect of the Messianic Process (unlike other parts of the Bible)
559
Parshas VaEschanan: Gratitude and Ingratitude
Parshas VaEschanan: Gratitude and Ingratitude
Aug 14, 2024
27:10
What's with the references to Peor, Bais Peor and Baal Peor? The chink in the armor of Klal Yisroel
560
Kinnos, Pt. 2
Kinnos, Pt. 2
Aug 13, 2024
44:06
Kinnos on Tisha B'Av 2022, given by Rabbi Katz
561
Kinnos, Pt. 1
Kinnos, Pt. 1
Aug 13, 2024
3:47:37
Kinnos on Tisha B'Av 2022, given by R' Katz
562
Tisha b"Av 2024 (5784)
Tisha b"Av 2024 (5784)
Aug 12, 2024
25:18
They cannot penetrate our defenses unless we ourselves open a breach for them
563
Pirkei Avos, Ch. 4: R' Masia ben Cheresh
Pirkei Avos, Ch. 4: R' Masia ben Cheresh
Aug 12, 2024
27:57
The pertinent observations of a Rosh Yeshiva in the City of Rome, far from "the scene of action"
564
Haftarah Parshas Chazon: Isaiah blasts the hypocrisy of the Jewish leadership class
Haftarah Parshas Chazon: Isaiah blasts the hypocrisy of the Jewish leadership class
Aug 7, 2024
25:40
When misfortune strikes, don't check your mezuzah, check your חֹשֶׁן מִשְׁפָּט!
565
Parshas Devarim: A Geographical Nightmare
Parshas Devarim: A Geographical Nightmare
Aug 7, 2024
31:05
Did Moshe harangue them in nine places? Or about their misdeeds in nine? Or in a place with nine geographical markers?
566
Pirkei Avos, Chapter 2: Rabbi Gamliel Jr. and תּוֹרָה עִם דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ
Pirkei Avos, Chapter 2: Rabbi Gamliel Jr. and תּוֹרָה עִם דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ
Aug 6, 2024
26:06
R Tarphon - Learning Torah like a businessman
567
Glory, Tragedy, and Identity Fluidity: A tale of a modern Ger Tzedek in Germany a century ago
Glory, Tragedy, and Identity Fluidity: A tale of a modern Ger Tzedek in Germany a century ago
Aug 6, 2024
42:26
Baron von Manstein and his times (Kaiser, Weimar Republic, Third Reich)
568
The Jewish general who commanded the Roman armies that destroyed the Bais HaMikdash
The Jewish general who commanded the Roman armies that destroyed the Bais HaMikdash
Aug 5, 2024
36:12
The strange tale of Tiberius Julius Alexander, nephew of Philo, chief of staff to Titus
569
Revenge, the Current Middle East Crisis and Parshas Matos
Revenge, the Current Middle East Crisis and Parshas Matos
Aug 2, 2024
31:02
G-d says avenge the wrong done to Israel by Midian; Moses says avenge the wrong done to G-d by Midian
570
Haftorah Three Weeks - The Jewish Trait of Ingratitude (Jeremiah Ch. 2)
Haftorah Three Weeks - The Jewish Trait of Ingratitude (Jeremiah Ch. 2)
Aug 1, 2024
28:21
Why is it the Jews were unfaithful in times of prosperity but faithful in times of persecution?
571
Pirkei Avos Ch.1: Why does it say Moshe got the Torah from Sinai? Sinai did not give him the Torah!
Pirkei Avos Ch.1: Why does it say Moshe got the Torah from Sinai? Sinai did not give him the Torah!
Jul 30, 2024
26:03
Pirkei Avos and the language of philosophy, not Midrash
572
Parshas Matos-Masei: Why the Jews could not get Egypt out of their systems even after 42 journeys
Parshas Matos-Masei: Why the Jews could not get Egypt out of their systems even after 42 journeys
Jul 30, 2024
27:45
The main complainers were the "house slaves," not the plantation slaves
573
Chinuch in the 20th Century from the Perspective of the 21st
Chinuch in the 20th Century from the Perspective of the 21st
Jul 28, 2024
50:02
Rabbi Moshe Shuvalsky and his times (chinuch)
574
Pirkei Avos, Ch.6
Pirkei Avos, Ch.6
Jul 26, 2024
26:12
Why is Rabbi Meir preoccupied with לשמה?
575
Haftarah Bein HaMitzarim
Haftarah Bein HaMitzarim
Jul 26, 2024
26:52
Jeremiah, Josiah, and the misguided masses
576
Parshas Pinchas: Bilaam, Pinchas and the Hamas Attacks
Parshas Pinchas: Bilaam, Pinchas and the Hamas Attacks
Jul 26, 2024
29:40
Bilam, Pinchas, and Hamas
577
Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison and Their Impact on Jewish History
Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison and Their Impact on Jewish History
Jul 18, 2024
46:34
The Presidential Elections of 2024 vs. the Presidential Elections of 1892
578
The two models of שְׁאֵרִית יַעֲקֹב בְּקֶרֶב עַמִּים רַבִּים
The two models of שְׁאֵרִית יַעֲקֹב בְּקֶרֶב עַמִּים רַבִּים
Jul 15, 2024
30:06
God's Fingers versus God's Hand
579
Bilam and the modern Hamasniks ימ"ש
Bilam and the modern Hamasniks ימ"ש
Jul 15, 2024
29:27
Why didn't Moshe respond to Bilam?
580
Why Abraham vs. Bilam? Why not Moshe vs. Bilam?
Why Abraham vs. Bilam? Why not Moshe vs. Bilam?
Jul 15, 2024
25:10
Bilam's עַיִן רָעָה: An incapacity for honest self appraisal?
581
Rabbi Katz is having a lecture series starting next week on Zionism in its early years
Rabbi Katz is having a lecture series starting next week on Zionism in its early years
Jul 15, 2024
7:23
The series will explore the controversies regarding Zionism and the political and religious spheres in the early years of the movement. Seven lectures in Baltimore
582
A Dvar Torah on מסכת ברכות on the 16th Yahrtzheit of Rabbi Katz's Mother ע"ה
A Dvar Torah on מסכת ברכות on the 16th Yahrtzheit of Rabbi Katz's Mother ע"ה
Jul 9, 2024
25:17
Why does Dovid say Saul is a רוֹדֵף? Isn't Saul the מלך? A מלך is not a רוֹדֵף !
583
Was Yiftach Violent and Crimes Oriented ( in his first iteration)? Or a Kid Mistreated by the ציבור?
Was Yiftach Violent and Crimes Oriented ( in his first iteration)? Or a Kid Mistreated by the ציבור?
Jul 9, 2024
31:15
Why didn't he say, "When I needed you, you didn't help me. Now that you need me,. I'm not going to help you!"
584
Pirkei Avos: What is the context of אַל תְּהִי בָז לְכָל אָדָם? Could it have involved שידוכים?
Pirkei Avos: What is the context of אַל תְּהִי בָז לְכָל אָדָם? Could it have involved שידוכים?
Jul 8, 2024
28:31
How was רבי צדוק מקיים the dictum אַל תִּפְרֹשׁ מִן הַצִּבּוּר?
585
Parshas Chukas: What EXACTLY was the sin of Moshe?
Parshas Chukas: What EXACTLY was the sin of Moshe?
Jul 8, 2024
30:08
R’ Katz offers an entirely different explanation
586
Two famous icons of anti-religious culture: What caused them to go OTD?
Two famous icons of anti-religious culture: What caused them to go OTD?
Jul 7, 2024
31:18
R’ Katz analyzes two stories from a recent book on Polish Jewry as reflecting personal as well as cultural reasons for leaving Yiddishkeit
587
The “Old Haskalah” - Comfortably Nestled within Cultural Insularity
The “Old Haskalah” - Comfortably Nestled within Cultural Insularity
Jul 5, 2024
1:28:09
From Rabbi Katz’ 2017 Summer Lecture Series entitled: Kulturkampf-Haskalah: The Haskalah Wars - Lecture 1
588
Haftarah Korach: Do you fire a good leader because they are old?
Haftarah Korach: Do you fire a good leader because they are old?
Jun 30, 2024
25:42
The prophet Samuel's Class Act
589
How could Korach successfully challenge the bona fides of Moses? After מַתַּן תּוֹרָה!
How could Korach successfully challenge the bona fides of Moses? After מַתַּן תּוֹרָה!
Jun 30, 2024
30:57
Did the Korach episode really happen in פָּרָשַׁת כִּי תִּשָּׂא?
590
The Social Interaction Aspect of Piety (Pirkei Avos, Ch. 3)
The Social Interaction Aspect of Piety (Pirkei Avos, Ch. 3)
Jun 30, 2024
34:00
הַכֹּל צָפוּי וְהָרְשׁוּת נְתוּנָה- An outstanding example of the difference between Ashkenaz and Sephard
591
Herzl and the British Offer to Create a State of Israel...in Africa!
Herzl and the British Offer to Create a State of Israel...in Africa!
Jun 27, 2024
59:31
Herzl’s unsuccessful attempts to find a country who would get the Turks to give up Palestine
592
Haftarah Shelach: The Remarkable Career of Rachav
Haftarah Shelach: The Remarkable Career of Rachav
Jun 25, 2024
23:59
What about לֹא תְחַיֶּה כָּל נְשָׁמָה?
593
Parshas Shlach and October 7th
Parshas Shlach and October 7th
Jun 25, 2024
29:03
Intelligence has two parts: a.) Information gathering b.) Information assessment (connecting the dots)
594
R’ Chanina Sgan Kohanim and His Conservative Political Philosophy (Avos Ch. 3)
R’ Chanina Sgan Kohanim and His Conservative Political Philosophy (Avos Ch. 3)
Jun 24, 2024
31:00
Living through the horrors of Jewish anarchy, he preferred Roman tyranny with all its faults
595
Herzl, Political Zionism, and the Campus Riots, Pt. 6
Herzl, Political Zionism, and the Campus Riots, Pt. 6
Jun 20, 2024
59:29
Why was political Zionism perceived as מְטַמֵּא אֶת הַטְּהוֹרִים אֲבָל מְטַהֵר אֶת הַטְּמֵאִים?
596
Observations About Politics in the Dynasty of Hillel - Pirkei Avos, Ch. 2
Observations About Politics in the Dynasty of Hillel - Pirkei Avos, Ch. 2
Jun 18, 2024
27:32
Realistic evaluations of politics and politicians based on long experience in שְׁתַדְּלָנוּת
597
Haftarah BeHaaloscha: The prophet describes the intermarriage scandal, but in oblique language
Haftarah BeHaaloscha: The prophet describes the intermarriage scandal, but in oblique language
Jun 18, 2024
25:02
To get the full picture, read the last chapters of the book of Ezra
598
Parshas BeHaaloscha: Who is חוֹבׇב exactly?
Parshas BeHaaloscha: Who is חוֹבׇב exactly?
Jun 18, 2024
34:33
If Jethro's son, had he befriended Moshe when he lived with Jethro? Was חוֹבׇב turned-off by the Jews blaming the גֵּרִים for the Golden Calf?
599
An Analysis of the Current Extremely Dangerous International Situation?- Are we headed for World War
An Analysis of the Current Extremely Dangerous International Situation?- Are we headed for World War
Jun 17, 2024
30:46
Russia, China, Iran, Turkey- all obsessed with recovering glorious pasts, even at the risk of nuclear war
600
The Bach: One of the Leading גדולים of the Golden Age of Polish Jewry (16th-17th Centuries)
The Bach: One of the Leading גדולים of the Golden Age of Polish Jewry (16th-17th Centuries)
Jun 16, 2024
1:16:23
Genazym auctioning the first edition, plus a historic תשובה בכתב יד from the ב"ח himself