Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

151

פָּרָשַׁת וָאֵרָא תשפ"ו - Two opposing traditions re: what language the Jews spoke in Egypt

Jan 11, 2026

30:45

Did God speak Hebrew or did He speak Egyptian when he addressed the Jews at the Ten Commandments?

152

"Persian Gulf" in Chronology Part 1 : three takes on the discrepancy in ancient sources

Jan 11, 2026

57:23

This is the first part of a two-part series

153

הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת שְׁמוֹת תשפ"ו - A Glimpse into Isaiah's Utopia

Jan 8, 2026

29:30

If the אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם would allow the Jews' undisputed possession of אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל and follow the highest teachings of the Torah, the Human race would enter a Utopian Era

154

How Maimonides' Messianic Doctrines were a reflection of his times

Jan 7, 2026

45:51

Rambam had a hard life, full of physical and religious challenges, and frustrations at the false ideas of his fellow-Jews, and his ideas re: Mashiach reflect this

155

A short history of פְּשַׁט vs. דְּרַשׁ in Jewish Bible Interpretation

Jan 7, 2026

33:13

A response to Karaism in e Early Medieval Period and later to Christian interpretation in the High Middle Ages

156

פָּרָשַׁת שְׁמוֹת תשפ"ו Yaakov the Successful Parent

Jan 5, 2026

30:28

A Jewish Baby-Boom in our own country is celebrated. A A Jewish Baby-Boom in someone else's country is considered a threat justifying a Holocaust!https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

157

A סִפְרִי re: Yaakov refraining from chastising his sons out of fear they will defect to "Eisav" - The "vengeful meshumad "in Jewish History

Jan 4, 2026

43:11

The Jew who defects to another faith out of conviction or opportunism vs. The Jew who defects out of resentment. Sources used by Candace Owens...https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

158

הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת וַיְחִי תשפ"ו -- David, Solomon, Joab - the problem of getting the right kind of subordinates

Jan 2, 2026

29:08

David, who came to the throne in his 30s, was confident enough to surround himself with strong personalities who didn't always obey . Shlomo, a boy of 12, cannot afford to do so, though the alternative is to be surrounded by "yes-men"

159

Some thoughts about שִׂנְאַת חִינָם in Jewish History

Jan 1, 2026

38:41

A problem that cannot be solved, only managed. Some preliminary observations.

160

Parshas VaYechi: What was the “Acharis HaYamim” that Yaakov wanted to reveal to his sons?

Jan 1, 2026

35:53

Why didn't Joseph ask Pharaoh directly for permission to bury his father in Canaan?

161

The Fast of the Ninth of Teves and the Toldos Yeshu

Dec 30, 2025

33:55

More excursions into the world of the "Frum Apocrypha." Sigh

162

The Israel-Somaliland Connection: Why is this so controversial?

Dec 28, 2025

40:20

The extraordinarily complex geopolitical situation in the "Horn of Africa," and its relation to Israel and Israel's haters. A classic case of international hypocrisy on the part of the latter.,https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

163

Parshas VaYigash: Not saying dumb things that will hurt the Jewish People

Dec 24, 2025

29:16

See how Joseph doesn't trust his brothers. He stage-manages their encounter with Pharaoh and the Egyptians, micromanaging every aspect of the conversation, like a trial-lawyer with a client. (יוֹסֵף הַפִּקֵּחַ not יוֹסֵף הַצַּדִּיק)

164

הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּגַּשׁ תשפ"ו - The vision of grafting the two trees together

Dec 24, 2025

24:02

Will the tribes retain their individual identities and consciousness in the future Messianic Utopia?

165

R Katz discussesa fasinating siddur published in Greece in 1941 who omits the word יָוָן from עַל הַנִּסִּים

Dec 23, 2025

27:53

At that moment, Greece under the Metaxas Regime was saving the Jews from Hitler and Mussolini

166

פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּגַּשׁ תשפ"ו - Was Joseph actually the VICEROY, the ruler of Egypt? Or just the czar of the economy?

Dec 22, 2025

33:28

The roe of the Jew in the Egyptian economy foreshadowed the role of the Jew in later economies: find a niche not occupied by the native inhabitants.לע"נ יששכר מאיר בן ברוך סטפנסקי

167

Final Chanukah 2025 Thoughts: וּלְךָ עָשִֽׂיתָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל וְקָדוֹשׁ בְּעוֹלָמֶֽךָ

Dec 22, 2025

26:04

"Olamecha" also means hidden or invisible. Through the miracle of the oil, an Invisible God became "visible" (so to speak)

168

Another Apocryphal "Midrash" on the Chanukah Story, with interesting takes on the discovery of the jar of oil

Dec 21, 2025

35:41

The jar of oil was located under the altar. Had they not torn down the existing altar (as an act of piety, to replace it with a new, unblemished altar), they would not have found the famous פַּךְ שֶׁמֶן https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

169

Haftarah Shabbos Chanukah: The Vision of Zachariah and its relevance to Chanukah

Dec 18, 2025

29:04

The Menorah that stayed lit for eight days was being fueled by the two (spiritual) olive trees in Zachariah's prophetic vision https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

170

פָּרָשַׁת מִקֵּץ תשפ"ו - Yosef, the first "Court Jew"

Dec 18, 2025

25:47

Comparing & Contrasting Yosef with Hasdai ibn Shaprut, Shmuel haNagid, Benjamin Disraeli, and Henry Kissinger

171

Chanukah, the Maccabean Wars, and the Civil wars in Seleucid Syria

Dec 17, 2025

24:42

The Jews' final victory was due to the political disintegration of the Syrian state at that time

172

Some thoughts on the Chanukah Story and its historiosophical relation to גָּלוּת יָוָן

Dec 15, 2025

31:33

Two opposite models: A.) Alexander bows to the Kohen Gadol B.) Antiochus forces the High Priest and the Temple to "bow" to himhttps://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

173

Some thoughts on today 24 Kislev and its famous prophecy in סֵפֶר חַגַּי (תְּרֵי עָשָׂר)

Dec 14, 2025

41:22

Does it prophecy the Maccabean Wars? The Messianic Wars? The current situation in Syria and the Middle East?

174

פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּשֶׁב תשפ"ו חֵלֶק ב - Yaakov and Yosef "wake up," but too late!

Dec 11, 2025

27:51

Yosef was one his way to talk to his brothers in an altogether different tone, but they never gave him a chance. Yaakov was going to by colored coats for the other brothers too, but the bloody coat killed THAT plan!https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

175

How the Judith Story in the Apocrypha (or a different version of the story) entered orthodox rabbinic literature AND practice

Dec 9, 2025

42:03

Some old widespread chanukah customs had no source in REGULAR rabbinic literature, but were accepted (despite some opposition) by basing them on sources in IRREGULAR Jewish literature

176

הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּשֶׁב תשפ"ו - Amos blasts the social injustice prevalent in his time

Dec 8, 2025

27:38

NOT the idolatry! Although there WAS idolatry, it is the abuse of the poor and helpless that will cause the חֻרְבַּן!

177

פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּשֶׁב תשפ"ו - The remarkable tale of the character-development of Joseph

Dec 8, 2025

28:40

From oblivious to the impact of his actions and words on others (in Canaan) to the extreme-opposite in Egypt. A lesson for us all?https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

178

Chanukah 2025: The Story of the Greeks depriving the Jews of doors and windows

Dec 8, 2025

43:03

From (apocryphal?) non-mainstream midrashim on the Hellenistic persecutions. This one is mentioned by Rambam in his אִגֶּרֶת הַשְׁמַד

179

The Current Big Threat to Israel from ... Turkey

Dec 7, 2025

30:27

Turkey today is more of a threat than Iran!

180

הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּשְׁלַח תשפ"ו מִי הָיָה עוֹבַדְיָה? - Who exactly was Ovadiah?

Dec 5, 2025

27:04

Past history PLUS future historical (cyclical?) patternshttps://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

181

Israel & France (and Syria) : Connecting Dots

Dec 4, 2025

35:12

The two faces of France in its dealings with Israel

182

Chanukah 2025: Was the oil in the jar in the Temple the only kosher oil available?

Dec 3, 2025

34:28

If you go by the Talmudic literature, there was other oil available, but they started with the oil in the famous jar and it burned for eight days.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

183

"פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּשְׁלַח תשפ"ו "תַּרְיָ"ג מִצְווֹת שָׁמַרְתִּי - Why does Jacob say this to Esau?

Dec 2, 2025

27:22

Why didn't Jacob send messengers to his father Yitzchak? Instead of to Esau?https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

184

The "בַּת עַיִן" in Historical Context (1765-1840)

Dec 1, 2025

1:11:47

The challenges of living in צְפַת in the terrible 1830sHow to live in the old אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל without being victimized by the חֲלֻקָּה system

185

Haftarah VaYeitzei: Hoshea 11:7, an extremely difficult verse to parse

Nov 27, 2025

30:24

Sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. Mordy Gardyn 'in honor of my parents may they have אֲרִיכַת יָמִים וְשָׁנִיםand sponsored by "a member of the local fan club"🙂 How can you get a unified response to crisis when the theological causes are not clear? וְאֶל עַל יִקְרָאֻהוּ יַחַד לֹא יְרוֹמֵםhttps://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

186

What's with this Israeli preoccupation with the bodies of their dead, killed by Hamas & Co.?

Nov 27, 2025

32:05

Why does Israel release live Arab terrorists (who admit they will kill again if they can!) in exchange for the corpses of Jewish dead? Is this a Halachic thing? A Zionist thing?

187

Parshas VaYeitzei: What is Yaakov afraid of?

Nov 25, 2025

30:52

Let's examine the image of the ladder closely

188

November 25, 2025

Nov 25, 2025

30:52

189

Some thoughts on Self-Hating and Self-Denying Jews in the current antisemitic climate, now and a century ago

Nov 25, 2025

33:20

When Arabs slaughtered (literally) the Jew in Hebron in 1929, the Communist Party said it was the fault of the Jews and the Arabs were in the right. And Jewish Communists sided with the Party! Similar things are happening today ...https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

190

Answering a listener's query re: allegorical interpretations of Biblical stories in ultra-orthodox sources

Nov 24, 2025

27:15

If the Hebrew language pre-existed the physical world, then it is not subject to the rules of linguistic evolution, and if is constitutive of the physical world and its history, then the non physical interpretations are NOT at the expense of the literal meanings. https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

191

Today's Posthumous Promotion of Alfred Dreyfus to General in the French Army

Nov 20, 2025

47:23

Was Alfred Dreyfus really a self-hating or self-denying assimilated Jew?

192

Haftarah Toldos: Quantity vs. quality in the performance of mitzvos. An age-old problem. Sigh

Nov 19, 2025

26:16

"אֶת עֵקֶב אָהַבְתִּי וְאֶת עֵשָׂו שָׂנֵאתִי" - ?Why

193

Manasseh Ben Israel's (very recently translated from the Latin) "Thirty Problem Concerning מַעֲשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית"

Nov 18, 2025

28:24

Giving the Jewish POV of Genesis to the world of European Intellectuals in the 17th Century

194

Parshas Toldos: Was Yitzchak Avinu poverty-stricken (Ibn Ezra)?

Nov 17, 2025

26:13

Yaakov acquires claim to Israel through purchase, a sale subsequently resented by the seller. Sounds like Jewish History in Israel 1880-1948https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

195

The recent 50th anniversary (November 10, 1975) of Moynihan's great speech at the UN excoriating the אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם for offcially branding Zionism as Racism

Nov 13, 2025

29:55

One of the great speeches in the English language of the 20th century חֲבָל עַל דְּאָבְדִין וְלָא מִשְׁתַּכְחִיןhttps://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

196

Rabbi Michoel Forshlager of Baltimore: His recent yahrtzeit and some thoughts on this remarkable gadol

Nov 13, 2025

54:09

Whole busloads come to Baltimore every week to pray at the kever of a person who, a short time ago, was unknown...

197

הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת חַיֵּי שָׂרָה תשפ"ו Adonijah vs. Shlomo: the Background

Nov 13, 2025

28:01

Was it just a case of political intrigue? Or did people sincerely distrust Nathan re: the David Bathsheba story?

198

Parshas Chayei Sarah: Why does Avrohom adjure Eliezer not to take a wife from the Bnos Knaani for Yitzchok?

Nov 10, 2025

34:32

Abraham's visit to his relatives in אֲרַם נַהֲרַיִםhttps://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

199

Some thoughts on the current dispute Christian dispute between philosemites and antisemites

Nov 10, 2025

25:23

It all goes back to 1657 and that strange episode of English Christian would-be missionaries who sent money to Jerusalem to save the starving Jews there.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

200

הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּרָא תשפ"ו אֱלִישָׁע וְהַשּׁוּנַמִּית

Nov 7, 2025

23:13

Elisha does not blame the death of the child on the woman's sins. "The Buck stops here!"