Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

101

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?

102

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

103

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

104

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?

105

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?

106

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.

107

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?

108

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)!

109

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

110

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

111

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.

112

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!

113

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

114

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

115

"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"

116

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

117

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

118

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?

119

Sober thoughts on Israel's upcoming 78th birthday

Apr 20, 2026

30:25

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

120

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!

121

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)

122

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

123

Seder Thoughts 2026

Apr 1, 2026

40:33

Some ideas for your seder

124

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

125

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"!

126

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.

127

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!"

128

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.

129

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

130

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?

131

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!

132

"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?

133

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

134

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...

135

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

Mar 17, 2026

23:11

Man-made idols do not offer moral criticism!

136

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?

137

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

138

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

139

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?

140

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

141

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!

142

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

143

Abarbanel on Messianism Part 2. R Katz gives a historical introduction to Abarbanel's יְשׁוּעוֹת מְשִׁיחוֹ" עַל מַאַמׇרֵי חֲזַ"ל בְּסִפְרוּת הַתַּלְמוּד”

Mar 8, 2026

1:02:07

Abarbanel burns with indignation at the falsehoods to which the Jews had been subject at the Disputation of Tortosa (1413) and the hostile misrepresentations of Aggadah in Raymond Martini's infamous 'Pugio Fidei" cynically hurled at them

144

הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת פָּרָה תשפ"ו - The Red Cow as a Historiosophical Mystical Reality

Mar 6, 2026

23:36

That which becomes impure can be made pure again; a nation that becomes homeless can regain their home

145

פָּרָשַׁת כִּי תִּשָּׂא תשפ"ו - Why the Juxtaposition of the קְטֹרֶת and the עֵגֶל הַזָּהָב?

Mar 4, 2026

30:33

God can only be comprehended (to some extent) through history, not philosophy!

146

The shaky acceptance of Purim by the Jewish people back at the time of Mordechai

Mar 4, 2026

41:22

Why did the Jews stop observing Purim a few years after they originally accepted it?

147

Iran and Hamas: בּוֹר כָּרָה וַיַּחְפְּרֵהוּ וַיִּפֹּל בְּשַׁחַת יִפְעָל ("Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made.")

Mar 2, 2026

38:23

Has Sinwar ימ"ש caused the death of Khamenei and the fall of his regime? The ironies of the Purim season

148

Analyzing the קִיְּמוּ וְקִבְּלוּ episode. If it is actually a valid complaint, why were the Jews punished for sins in the Biblical Era?

Mar 2, 2026

36:24

Was the mountain held over their heads at Sinai to compel them to accept ALL the mitzvot? Did the Jews not want to accept ANY mitzvot? Or just some of them? In other words, what actually happened as a result of Purim?

149

The archaeology of a Dvar Torah - The כְּתַב סוֹפֵר on the last verse in the Megilah

Mar 1, 2026

37:42

Why would he deprecate the use of coercion on the non-frum? The answer lies in his own and his family's history...

150

Addendum to the podcast this morning re: הֵגֶא סְרִיס הַמֶּלֶךְ שֹׁמֵר הַנָּשִׁים

Feb 26, 2026

8:22

וְנָתַתִּי לָהֶם בְּבֵיתִי וּבְחוֹמֹתַי יָד וָשֵׁם טוֹב מִבָּנִים וּמִבָּנוֹת שֵׁם עוֹלָם אֶתֶּן לוֹ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִכָּרֵת