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Episode | Date |
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Haftarah Tazria-Mazora: Gechazi is "Attacked" by the Yetzer HaTov
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May 02, 2025 |
Parshas Tazria-Metzora: Biblical Leprosy and Its Role in Promoting Sincere Social Relations
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Apr 30, 2025 |
Rav Chaim Kohen Rappaport of Lvov (1699-1771), Pt. 1: A Great Gadol You Probably Never Heard of
|
Apr 30, 2025 |
The Rambam and his different discourses on korbanos & other matters, Pt. 2
|
Apr 27, 2025 |
הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת שְׁמִינִי תשפ"ה - Dovid vs. Nadav & Avihu
|
Apr 24, 2025 |
Parshas Shmini: Nadav and Avihu
|
Apr 24, 2025 |
Conditions in Eretz Yisroel in the early 19th century - life under the rapacious Muslims and hope from England
|
Apr 23, 2025 |
The Rambam and his different discourses on korbanos and other matters: Part 1
|
Apr 21, 2025 |
Haftarah Acharon shel Pesach: Discrepancies between the accounts of Hezekiah and Sennacherib
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Apr 18, 2025 |
Shevii Shel Pesach - The Splitting of the Sea: הֶאֱמִינוּ וְשׁוּב לֹא הֶאֱמִינוּ
|
Apr 17, 2025 |
The Historical Background to the 1830s controversy re: הַקְרָבַת קָרְבַּן פֶּסַח בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה - What was going on in Turkish Palestine at that time
|
Apr 16, 2025 |
Seder Thoughts 2025 (תשפ"ה)
|
Apr 11, 2025 |
When historical knowledge provides an insight into a Responsum: The Noda BiYhudah and the Ben Ish Chai
|
Apr 09, 2025 |
Pesach, Bitul Chametz, and the eternal battle of ideas between Jewish and Egyptian theological ideas. Really
|
Apr 09, 2025 |
The Rambam and His Thoughts About the Hagadah
|
Apr 07, 2025 |
Haftorah Shabbos Hagadol - Elijah: Unite or Die!
|
Apr 07, 2025 |
Parshas Tzav (Erev Pesach) - Changing attitudes towards the Temple Sacrifices
|
Apr 06, 2025 |
Haftarah Parshas VaYikra: "הֶעֱבַדְתַּנִי בְּחַטֹּאותֶיךָ הוֹגַעְתַּנִי בַּעֲוֹנֹתֶיךָ
|
Apr 03, 2025 |
The current war in light of וְהִיא שֶׁעָמְדָה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ וְלָנוּ שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר עוֹמְדִים עָלֵינוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנוּ וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַצִּילֵנוּ מִיָּדָם
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Apr 02, 2025 |
The Pesach Haggadah: רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר
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Mar 31, 2025 |
Parshas VaYikra: הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת לְעֻמַּת הַקָּרְבָּן פֶּסַח
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Mar 30, 2025 |
Parshas HaChodesh: The seemingly disjuncted narrative
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Mar 28, 2025 |
R’ Chaim Sinwani of Yemen and Israel (1897-1979)
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Mar 26, 2025 |
Haftarah HaChodesh: Princely corruption even in the time of the Third Temple?
|
Mar 24, 2025 |
Parshas Pekudei- מִי הָיוּ לֵצָנֵי הַדּוֹר
|
Mar 24, 2025 |
Trump, Polk, Bibi: Some cautionary lessons from the past
|
Mar 24, 2025 |
Haftarah Parshas Parah- Jewish misconduct in the lands of exile
|
Mar 20, 2025 |
Parshas VaYakhel- No fire outside the miskan, but yes fire inside the mishkan!
|
Mar 20, 2025 |
Purim live 5785 (2025)
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Mar 19, 2025 |
Tefilah: Why does God say to Moses : לֹא תוּכַל לִרְאֹת אֶת פָּנָי, but subsequently וְדִבֵּר הַשֵּׁם עִם מֹשֶׁה פָּנִים אֶל פָּנִים?
|
Mar 17, 2025 |
Donald Trump's fascination with America's 11th President James K. Polk (1845-1849)
|
Mar 17, 2025 |
a.) 17 Adar - tachnun? Anniversary of a massacre and rescue in Northern Syria of חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל in Northern Syria (מְגִלַּת תַּעֲנִית). Sound familiar
|
Mar 16, 2025 |
Two Short Purim Vorts
|
Mar 13, 2025 |
Is Israel becoming more religious in the wake of the Gaza War? Some thoughts upon reading an article in הָאָרֶץ
|
Mar 11, 2025 |
Purim 2025, Pt. 2: How Esther hid her identity-Didn't the Jews say אָחוֹת יֵשׁ לָנוּ בְּבֵית הַמֶּלֶךְ?
|
Mar 11, 2025 |
Haftarah Ki Sisah: Eliyahu at Har HaCarmel
|
Mar 09, 2025 |
Purim 2025 in the light of the October 7, 20243 Pogrom
|
Mar 09, 2025 |
Parshas Ki Sisa (Shoshana Purim): The Eigel and Purim
|
Mar 09, 2025 |
Purim 2025: What is the source in the Megilah for the opposing opinions of רשב"י and his talmidim ?
|
Mar 09, 2025 |
Circumcision and the Marranos - from the סֵפֶר הַזִּכְרוֹנוֹת מֵאֵת רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל אַבּוּהַב מִוֶנִיצִיׇהּ
|
Mar 04, 2025 |
Haftarah Zachor: The Story of Saul and Agag in the light of the current war with Hamas
|
Mar 02, 2025 |
Parshas Tetzaveh: Was Aaron chosen for the priesthood before the episode of the Golden Calf?
|
Mar 02, 2025 |
A selection of interpretations of the bizarre story of Rabbah killing R Zeira at a Purim party
|
Mar 02, 2025 |
The spontaneous prayers of the hostages during their captivity in Gaza
|
Feb 26, 2025 |
Rabbi Raphael Meldola of Bayonne, France (1686-1748) the שׁוּ"ת מַיִם רַבִּים
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Feb 26, 2025 |
R Katz analyzes the current Mid-East Situation, especially the Russian Role
|
Feb 23, 2025 |
From The Golden age of Spanish Jewish Poetry: Ibn Gabirol's שִׁנְאַנִּים שַׁאֲנַנִּים
|
Feb 19, 2025 |
Haftarah Mishpatim: Reneging on Emancipation
|
Feb 17, 2025 |
Parshas Mishpatim: Creating a sacred polity is harder than creating a holy individual
|
Feb 17, 2025 |
The Ramchal and the history of his most famous work, Mesilas Yesharim - Some thoughts
|
Feb 17, 2025 |
More on angels in Jewish Liturgy
|
Feb 16, 2025 |
Angels in our liturgy
|
Feb 13, 2025 |
Parshas Yisro: The oath Moshe swore to Yisro re: Gershom, Pt. 2
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Feb 13, 2025 |
What is the significance of Isaiah's prophetic career commencing with the death of King Uzziahu?
|
Feb 13, 2025 |
Parshas Yisro: Yisro brings Gershom, whom he has already "ruined," hence the tense relationship
|
Feb 12, 2025 |
The original printing of the famous עֵין יַעֲקֹב on the אַגָּדוֹת, being offered by Genazym
|
Feb 11, 2025 |
Genazym is auctioning a political-lobbying letter from R Chaim Brisker to his friend the בַּעַל "דּוֹרוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנִים"re: the elections for Chief Rabbi of the Turkish Empire
|
Feb 06, 2025 |
A Real Life Case in 19th Century Kurdistan-וֶהֱוֵי מִתְאַבֵּק בַּעֲפַר רַגְלֵיהֶם, וֶהֱוֵי שׁוֹתֶה בַּצָּמָא אֶת דִּבְרֵיהֶם
|
Feb 05, 2025 |
פָּרָשַׁת בְּשַׁלַּח תשפ"ה - Some Jews armed themselves to battle the Philistines when they left Egypt. Others were cowardly
|
Feb 05, 2025 |
More correspndence between Ramchal and R Yeshaya Bassani: Whose soul did R Yeshaya possess?
|
Feb 05, 2025 |
Haftarah BeShalach: Who exactly was Yael, Eshes Chever HaKeini? Which yeshiva did she learn in?
|
Feb 04, 2025 |
Genazym is offering the famous math book: "סֵפֶר הַמִּסְפָּר" מֵאֵת רַבִּי אֵלִיָּהוּ מִזְרָחִי הַמְפֻרְסָם (בַּעַל הָרְאֵ"ם עַל פֵּרוּשׁ רָשִׁ"י עַל הַחֻמָּשׁ)
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Feb 02, 2025 |
Haftarah Bo: Egypt will be devastated by a Babylonian invasion
|
Jan 30, 2025 |
Rabbi Katz Yahrtzeit Siyum on Mikvaos
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Jan 30, 2025 |
Sumptuary decrees of 1767 issued by the נוֹדַע בִּיהוּדָה
|
Jan 29, 2025 |
Psalm 90 - the Dearth of שמחה? Reflections of the aftermath of the Golden Calf?
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Jan 29, 2025 |
Parshas Bo: Were there apostates (משומדים) already at the time of יציאת מצרים?
|
Jan 27, 2025 |
Haftarah VaEra: Pharaoh the Crocodile
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Jan 23, 2025 |
Psalm 81 הַיּוֹם יוֹם חֲמִישִׁי בְּשַׁבָּת Commemorating the First Liberation
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Jan 23, 2025 |
Parshas VaEra: Redemption without repentance?
|
Jan 22, 2025 |
The Hostage Deal and the Current Matzav
|
Jan 20, 2025 |
Haftarah Shmos- "הַנִּדָּחִים בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם"
|
Jan 15, 2025 |
Psalm 94 - The Call for Revenge, when is it appropriate?
|
Jan 15, 2025 |
Ramchal and his Rebbe, Pt. 2. - More on the remarkable relationship
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Jan 14, 2025 |
Parshas Shmos: A Three Day Holiday?
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Jan 13, 2025 |
Asarah B'Teves: Then and Now
|
Jan 10, 2025 |
An Analysis of the Current Influence of Turkey in Syria and Israel
|
Jan 09, 2025 |
Dovid and Yoav: Why really did Dovid resent Yoav?
|
Jan 07, 2025 |
Why was there a military escort at Jacob's funeral?
|
Jan 06, 2025 |
The Shma Prayer in its original context
|
Jan 06, 2025 |
Haftarah VaYigash: Unity Before Geulah
|
Jan 02, 2025 |
Parshas VaYigash: Why did Joseph supply his brothers with literally all their need?
|
Jan 02, 2025 |
The Ruthless Use of Hostages: The assasination of Judah Maccabee's brother Shimon and its aftermath
|
Dec 31, 2024 |
נְחֹשֶׁת: דְּבַר תּוֹרָה לַחֲנֻכָּה תשפ"ה
|
Dec 31, 2024 |
Lighting Inside v. Lighting Outside: History of Controversy
|
Dec 30, 2024 |
The prophecy of 24 Kislev (סֵפֶר הַנָּבִיא חַגַּי) and current events in the Middle East
|
Dec 25, 2024 |
Al HaNissim- When was it composed?
|
Dec 23, 2024 |
Haftarah Shabbos Chanukah - Zechariah Magical Menorah
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Dec 23, 2024 |
Mikeitz and (metaphysical) Chanukah: The two dream stories - Joseph and Daniel
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Dec 23, 2024 |
Parshas Mikeitz: Joseph the first "galus yid" in history
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Dec 22, 2024 |
Seudas Chanukah: How old is this custom? Did it predate Rabbinic Literature?
|
Dec 22, 2024 |
Peacemaking with the enemy? A cautionary tale from the Book of Maccabees
|
Dec 19, 2024 |
What kind of peace should we pray for in The North?
|
Dec 19, 2024 |
Haftarah VaYeshev: Amos decries social injustice (at G-d's direction)
|
Dec 19, 2024 |
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 |
R' Yeshaya Bassan and the Ramchal: The remarkable correspondence between rebbe and talmid
|
Dec 17, 2024 |
Shechem - Some of the Brothers Killed, Other Brothers Looted (Parshas VaYishlach)
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Dec 12, 2024 |
Tefilah in the Context of the Current Situation in Syria
|
Dec 12, 2024 |
Sefer Ovadiah HaNavi (Haftarah VaYishlach)
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Dec 10, 2024 |
Parshas VaYishlach: The challenges of Jewish survival in hostile environments
|
Dec 09, 2024 |
An Analysis of the Latest Events on the Israel-Syria Border
|
Dec 09, 2024 |
R' Marcus (Mordecai) Jastrow (1829-1903), Pt. 2
|
Dec 09, 2024 |
R' Marcus (Mordecai) Jastrow (1829-1903), Pt. 1
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Dec 09, 2024 |
The Ramchal on Why People Avoid Learning Kabbalah
|
Dec 05, 2024 |
Haftarah VaYeitzei: The Kingdom of the North blows its last chance by retaining the Golden Calf
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Dec 04, 2024 |
Parsas VaYeitzei: What does Jacob mean by הָיָה הַשֵּׁם לִי לֶאֱלֹהִים?
|
Dec 03, 2024 |
The Recent Developments in Syria and the Middle East
|
Dec 01, 2024 |
Thanksgiving as an American (but not Christian) Religious Holiday
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Nov 28, 2024 |
Haftarah Toldos: Goofing off in the Bais HaMikdash
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Nov 27, 2024 |
The War in Lebanon and Psalm 110
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Nov 26, 2024 |
Parshas Toldos: The Palestinian (Plishti) Peace Proposal
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Nov 25, 2024 |
Are the Jews a religious group? A nationality? An ethnicity?
|
Nov 25, 2024 |
Haftarah Chayei Sarah: Adoniyahu or Shlomo
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Nov 20, 2024 |
Parshas Chayei Sarah: Oy shidduchim, shidduchim
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Nov 19, 2024 |
The Aleinu Prayer: What is its context?
|
Nov 19, 2024 |
The Hasmoneans and the Question of Drafting the Yeshiva Bachurim
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Nov 17, 2024 |
Haftarah VaYera: אֱלִישָׁע מְחַיֶּה הַמֵּת
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Nov 14, 2024 |
The Iranian-Israel Conflict in light of interesting internal developments in Iran
|
Nov 13, 2024 |
Parshas VaYera: The הַשְׁגָּחָה פְּרָטִית in the sequence of events in the Abraham story
|
Nov 11, 2024 |
R Shimon Sofer, Pt 2: Walking a political tightrope for Galician Jews trapped between Germans, Ukrainians, and Poles
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Nov 11, 2024 |
R Shimon Sofer (1820-1883), Pt. 1: The complexities of Jewish ethnic politics in Central Europe (Galicia) in the 19th century
|
Nov 11, 2024 |
Parshas Lech Lecha: The conquest of Semitic Israel by Hamitic invaders
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Nov 08, 2024 |
Haftarah Lech Lecha: The Dust of Abraham
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Nov 05, 2024 |
Parshas Lech Lecha: Abraham and Shem
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Nov 04, 2024 |
R' Katz discusses the newest Genazym auction, featuring (inter alia) the seal the famous Italian Rabbi Yeshaya Bassan (1673-1739)
|
Nov 04, 2024 |
Haftorah Parsha Noach: The Abandoned Wife Discovers She is not abandoned after all
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Oct 31, 2024 |
The Story of Nimrod- Who was he? (Parshas Noach)
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Oct 30, 2024 |
R' Shmuel Leib Kauder (1770-1835) Last of the Bohemian Gedolim
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Oct 30, 2024 |
The Simchas Torah Massacre in Cracow 1655
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Oct 28, 2024 |
Parshas V'Zos HaBrachah: G-d offers the Torah to the other nations but they turn down the offer
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Oct 23, 2024 |
The History and Meaning of the נִעֲנוּעִים
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Oct 21, 2024 |
Where is the Garden of Eden? (Parshas Bereishis)
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Oct 21, 2024 |
R' Katz speculates on the origins of the שִׂמְחַת בֵּית הַשּׁוֹאֵבָה
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Oct 20, 2024 |
The Original Sukkos: Was it BOTH Clouds of Glory and סֻכּוֹת מַמָּשׁ- first one and then the other?
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Oct 16, 2024 |
R' Katz on the Four Minim
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Oct 16, 2024 |
Sukkos in the Light of the Current War
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Oct 15, 2024 |
Was Columbus Jewish? R' Katz weighs in
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Oct 14, 2024 |
A Quick History of Israel's Diplomatic Relations (and lack of relations) with Moslem Countries
|
Oct 13, 2024 |
The Jonah Story: Some sober thoughts in light of current events
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Oct 13, 2024 |
Sair L'Azazel-"Is there a plain meaning?"
|
Oct 09, 2024 |
The Episode of Elephantine: A Jewish Garrison on the Egyptian-Sudan Border in the Times of Ezra, Nehemiah & Co.
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Oct 08, 2024 |
Confession on Yom Kippur: Competing Sensibilities
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Oct 07, 2024 |
Yom Kippur and the Oct. 7th Massacres: R' Katz Responds to a Query
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Oct 06, 2024 |
Haftarah Ha'azinu: The Power of Words
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Oct 02, 2024 |
Parshas Ha'azinu: The speech of Moshe to the elites (having given up on the masses)
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Oct 02, 2024 |
An Analysis of the Current Israeli Invasion of South Lebanon
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Oct 01, 2024 |
R' Katz speculates on the historical origin of the custom of blowing the shofar to confuse the Satan
|
Sep 30, 2024 |
The Historical Background of the Dispute Between the Geonim and the Rambam on the Break in the Tradition of What the Teruah is
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Sep 26, 2024 |
R' Katz analyzes the current situation in the Middle East
|
Sep 25, 2024 |
Haftarah Nitzavim-VaYelech: The United Nations will Applaud Israel ... in the Messianic Era!
|
Sep 25, 2024 |
Parshas Nitzavim-VaYelech: Above all, Moshe fears the hypocrites in his audience
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Sep 25, 2024 |
The Ben Ish Chai and Baghdad, Pt. 2: Thinking historically about the Ben Ish Chai and the remarkable Jewish community of Baghdad in the 19th century
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Sep 23, 2024 |
Tekiah Teruah Tekiah: Joy, Weeping, Joy: Symbolism in the Ritual
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Sep 20, 2024 |
Haftarah Parshas Ki Savo - Isaiah paints the Jewish Utopia
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Sep 19, 2024 |
The Ben Ish Chai and Baghdad, Pt. 1: Thinking historically about the Ben Ish Chai and the remarkable Jewish community of Baghdad in the 19th century
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Sep 18, 2024 |
Parshas Ki Savo: The Terrible Tochecha - Why is Devarim's worse than VaYikra's?
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Sep 18, 2024 |
Haftarah Ki Seitzei: The woman who medically could not bear children suddenly has sextuplets!
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Sep 12, 2024 |
Thoughts on the curved shofar vs. the straight shofar
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Sep 11, 2024 |
Parshas Ki Seitzei: Amalek in Our Parsha and the Attack on October 7
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Sep 10, 2024 |
The Expulsion from Prague (1745) and The Network of Rich European Jews: A Tale of Achdus, Pt. 2
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Sep 09, 2024 |
Haftarah Parshat Shoftim: Redemption comes to a battered and bloodied Jewish People
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Sep 06, 2024 |
Parshas Shoftim: The False Prophet in Jewish History
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Sep 06, 2024 |
The Expulsion from Prague (1745) and The Network of Rich European Jews: A Tale of Achdus, Pt. 1
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Sep 04, 2024 |
Elul and the Current Situation in the State of Israel
|
Sep 02, 2024 |
Haftorah Parshas Re'eh - The glorious house with the diamond chandeliers
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Aug 30, 2024 |
Pirkei Avos - אַל תַּעַשׂ תְּפִלָּתְךָ קֶבַע
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Aug 28, 2024 |
Parshas Re'eh: "V'Yishavtem Betach-" Secure Internally? Or Externally?
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Aug 26, 2024 |
The Great Semicha Controversy of Safed (צפת): The controversy in the 16th century within the broad framework of Jewish History
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Aug 26, 2024 |
Abraham haKohen Herera of Italy and Amsterdam (c. 1570-1635)
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Aug 25, 2024 |
Parshas Eikev: The 3 Great Dangers
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Aug 22, 2024 |
Haftarah Eikev: Isaiah predicts the rescue of the hostages in Gaza!
|
Aug 20, 2024 |
15th of Av 2024 - The Dance of the Maidens
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Aug 19, 2024 |
Pirkei Avos: אַל תִּתְחַבֵּר לָרָשָׁע
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Aug 19, 2024 |
The Role of Moshe in the "Second" Ten Commandments (Parshas VaEschanan)
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Aug 14, 2024 |
Haftarah Shabbos Nachamu: Glorious news to a battered people
|
Aug 14, 2024 |
Parshas VaEschanan: Gratitude and Ingratitude
|
Aug 14, 2024 |
Kinnos, Pt. 2
|
Aug 13, 2024 |
Kinnos, Pt. 1
|
Aug 13, 2024 |
Tisha b"Av 2024 (5784)
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Aug 12, 2024 |
Pirkei Avos, Ch. 4: R' Masia ben Cheresh
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Aug 12, 2024 |
Haftarah Parshas Chazon: Isaiah blasts the hypocrisy of the Jewish leadership class
|
Aug 07, 2024 |
Parshas Devarim: A Geographical Nightmare
|
Aug 07, 2024 |
Pirkei Avos, Chapter 2: Rabbi Gamliel Jr. and תּוֹרָה עִם דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ
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Aug 06, 2024 |
Glory, Tragedy, and Identity Fluidity: A tale of a modern Ger Tzedek in Germany a century ago
|
Aug 06, 2024 |
The Jewish general who commanded the Roman armies that destroyed the Bais HaMikdash
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Aug 05, 2024 |
Revenge, the Current Middle East Crisis and Parshas Matos
|
Aug 02, 2024 |
Haftorah Three Weeks - The Jewish Trait of Ingratitude (Jeremiah Ch. 2)
|
Aug 01, 2024 |
Pirkei Avos Ch.1: Why does it say Moshe got the Torah from Sinai? Sinai did not give him the Torah!
|
Jul 30, 2024 |
Parshas Matos-Masei: Why the Jews could not get Egypt out of their systems even after 42 journeys
|
Jul 30, 2024 |
Chinuch in the 20th Century from the Perspective of the 21st
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Jul 28, 2024 |
Pirkei Avos, Ch.6
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Jul 26, 2024 |
Haftarah Bein HaMitzarim
|
Jul 26, 2024 |
Parshas Pinchas: Bilaam, Pinchas and the Hamas Attacks
|
Jul 26, 2024 |
Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison and Their Impact on Jewish History
|
Jul 18, 2024 |
The two models of שְׁאֵרִית יַעֲקֹב בְּקֶרֶב עַמִּים רַבִּים
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Jul 15, 2024 |
Bilam and the modern Hamasniks ימ"ש
|
Jul 15, 2024 |
Why Abraham vs. Bilam? Why not Moshe vs. Bilam?
|
Jul 15, 2024 |
Rabbi Katz is having a lecture series starting next week on Zionism in its early years
|
Jul 15, 2024 |
A Dvar Torah on מסכת ברכות on the 16th Yahrtzheit of Rabbi Katz's Mother ע"ה
|
Jul 09, 2024 |
Was Yiftach Violent and Crimes Oriented ( in his first iteration)? Or a Kid Mistreated by the ציבור?
|
Jul 09, 2024 |
Pirkei Avos: What is the context of אַל תְּהִי בָז לְכָל אָדָם? Could it have involved שידוכים?
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Jul 08, 2024 |
Parshas Chukas: What EXACTLY was the sin of Moshe?
|
Jul 08, 2024 |
Two famous icons of anti-religious culture: What caused them to go OTD?
|
Jul 07, 2024 |
The “Old Haskalah” - Comfortably Nestled within Cultural Insularity
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Jul 05, 2024 |
Haftarah Korach: Do you fire a good leader because they are old?
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Jun 30, 2024 |
How could Korach successfully challenge the bona fides of Moses? After מַתַּן תּוֹרָה!
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Jun 30, 2024 |
The Social Interaction Aspect of Piety (Pirkei Avos, Ch. 3)
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Jun 30, 2024 |
Herzl and the British Offer to Create a State of Israel...in Africa!
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Jun 27, 2024 |
Haftarah Shelach: The Remarkable Career of Rachav
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Jun 25, 2024 |
Parshas Shlach and October 7th
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Jun 25, 2024 |
R’ Chanina Sgan Kohanim and His Conservative Political Philosophy (Avos Ch. 3)
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Jun 24, 2024 |
Herzl, Political Zionism, and the Campus Riots, Pt. 6
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Jun 20, 2024 |
Observations About Politics in the Dynasty of Hillel - Pirkei Avos, Ch. 2
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Jun 18, 2024 |
Haftarah BeHaaloscha: The prophet describes the intermarriage scandal, but in oblique language
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Jun 18, 2024 |
Parshas BeHaaloscha: Who is חוֹבׇב exactly?
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Jun 18, 2024 |
An Analysis of the Current Extremely Dangerous International Situation?- Are we headed for World War
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Jun 17, 2024 |
The Bach: One of the Leading גדולים of the Golden Age of Polish Jewry (16th-17th Centuries)
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Jun 16, 2024 |
Shavuos: Grass, Trees, and Roses. Was there vegetation at Mount sinai?
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Jun 11, 2024 |
Was Hashem originally planning to do מתן תורה at another location?
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Jun 10, 2024 |
The Rambam's Philosophical Problems with מַעֲמַד הַר סִינַי
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Jun 10, 2024 |
A Renaissance Edition of Azarya de Rossi's Controversial Book - Being Auctioned by Genazym
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Jun 09, 2024 |
Hosea tells the Jews not to turn away from Hashem and trust their "allies"
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Jun 05, 2024 |
What was the relationship between the two luchos and the rest of the Torah?
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Jun 05, 2024 |
Theodore Herzl, Political Zionism, and the Current Campus Riots - Part 5
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Jun 04, 2024 |
Yom Yersushalyim: No country recognizes Jerusalem as legally being Israeli territory
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Jun 03, 2024 |
Hereditary Elites vs. Meritocratic Elites (Pirkei Avos, Ch. 6)
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Jun 02, 2024 |
Haftarah Bechukosai: Jeremiah (לְפִי הָאַבַּרְבָּנֵאל) discusses the chemistry of הִשְׁתַּדְּלוּת and בִּטָּחוֹן
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May 30, 2024 |
Parshas Bechukosai: The תוכחה was pronounced right after the Ten Commandments
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May 29, 2024 |
The David-Jonathan Friendship: Was it a two-way street?
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May 28, 2024 |
Herzl and Political Zionism, Pt. 4 - Zionism's Relationship to Marxism and Frum Judaism
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May 27, 2024 |
The ibn Ezra: More on his particular historical context, and the time before the fall
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May 27, 2024 |
Lag b'Omer: When did רשב"י write the Zohar?
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May 26, 2024 |
Parshas Behar: The theory that both בְּהַר בְּחֻקּוֹתַי were pronounced in פָּרָשַׁת מִשְׁפָּטִים
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May 24, 2024 |
Haftarah Behar: Jeremiah and the land deal - Preserving hope among the doomed
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May 22, 2024 |
Biden: It's a good thing we have a President who grew up with the JEWISH version of the Holocaust
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May 21, 2024 |
R’ Akiva’s Students - When exactly did the 24,000 students die? What was the historical context?
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May 21, 2024 |
The Bitter, Non-Frum Opposition to Herzl and His Proposal -Theodore Herzl, Political Zionism, Pt. 3
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May 20, 2024 |
Gain Mastery of Hilchos Shabbos in This Online Program
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May 20, 2024 |
Haftarah Emor: Who are the people referred to strangely as הַכֹּהֲנִים ַלְּוִיִּי?
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May 16, 2024 |
Parshas Emor: The existential struggle against worshipping כּוֹחוֹת הַטֻּמְאָה
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May 14, 2024 |
Israel’s PR Battle: Why is Israel doing a poor job on PR in this war? Why is Hamas beating them?
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May 14, 2024 |
Theodore Herzl, Political Zionism and the Current Campus Riots, Pt. 2
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May 13, 2024 |
R’ Sherira Gaon on Sefer Shiur Komah:
Does being a rationalist preclude a belief in mysticism?
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May 12, 2024 |
Unconditional Surrender in American History and Its Relevance to the Gaza War
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May 08, 2024 |
Rationalism in Gaonic Responsa - Generated by Empirical Evidence, and Sound Theology
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May 07, 2024 |
Haftarah Kedoshim: The most controversial Haftarah of the year?
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May 07, 2024 |
Parshas Kedoshim: Does one size fit all?
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May 06, 2024 |
Theodore Herzl, Political Zionism and the Current Campus Riots, Pt. 1
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May 06, 2024 |
Rationalism (as opposed to rationality): An example from שׁוּ"ת רַב הַאי גָּאוֹן
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May 05, 2024 |
The Campus Riots' Objective: Excising Zionism from the bounds of civil discourse
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May 03, 2024 |
Haftarah Acharei Mos: The Prophet Amos and the Parable of the Sieve
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May 02, 2024 |
Parshas Acharei Mos: Was Aharon a born אוֹהֵב שָׁלוֹם וְרוֹדֵף שָׁלוֹם, or did he become one?
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May 01, 2024 |
The Campus Demonstrations and Anti-Semitism: Parallels between 2024 and 1391
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Apr 28, 2024 |
Shir HaShirim and Passover - What is the Connection?
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Apr 28, 2024 |
The Meaning of the Dry Bones in the Prophecy of Yechezkel (Haftarah Shabbos Pesach)
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Apr 26, 2024 |
Did you ever realize the slavery in Egypt commenced shortly before the birth of Moses?
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Apr 22, 2024 |
Did the slaves view their plight from within an Egyptian pagan narrative?
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Apr 21, 2024 |
The שיטות that one may keep חמץ at the home of a gentile on פסח without selling it
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Apr 21, 2024 |
What were the theological perceptions of Jews on the night of Pesach? Maimonidean? Astrological?
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Apr 17, 2024 |
Haftarah Shabbos HaGadol: Why was it chosen? What does it have to do with Passover?
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Apr 14, 2024 |
Parshas Metzora: Why Did Tzaraas Cease
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Apr 14, 2024 |
The Iran Attack on Israel: Why did Jordan help Israel shoot down the Iranian missiles?
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Apr 14, 2024 |
What's with the debates as to how many plagues were there @the Red Sea?
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Apr 12, 2024 |
Pesach: Why was it necessary to go through the first nine plagues?
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Apr 10, 2024 |
Moses Hess and R’ Yehosef Zechariah Stern on אַהֲבַת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְחִבַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל
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Apr 09, 2024 |
Haftarah Tazria: Naaman & Elisha - A Repetition of the Abraham and Pharaoh Story?
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Apr 08, 2024 |
Parshas Tazria: If the marchers for Hamas were stricken with צרעת, would they change?
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Apr 07, 2024 |
משך חכמה על "בשעה שיש מצה ומרורים (לא הפסח!) מונחים לפניך"
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Apr 05, 2024 |
Pesach: The Original Passover, the Plague of Darkness, & the Din of מְנוּיִים
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Apr 03, 2024 |
Italian Jewry and Playing Tennis on Shabbos and Yom Tov
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Apr 02, 2024 |
The Arab tactic of demonstrating in front of synagogues in America
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Apr 01, 2024 |
Haftarah HaChodesh: The prophecy of Ezekiel includes crowd and traffic control
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Apr 01, 2024 |
Parshas Shmini: A reason for the deaths of Aaron's two sons
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Apr 01, 2024 |
מִי הוּא הַ"נָשִׂיא" בְּהַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת הַחֹדֶשׁ?
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Mar 31, 2024 |
Parshas Shmini: What is the meaning of the statement that Nadav & Avihu were שְׁתוּיֵי יַיִן?
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Mar 31, 2024 |
Haftarah Parah: The Strictly Ceremonial Nature on an Individual Level in Terms of Taharah
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Mar 29, 2024 |
Parshas Tzav: The concept of sacrifice in the Temple, as well as in the current war in Gaza
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Mar 27, 2024 |
An Analysis of the Current State of the Gaza War and Its Fallout, by Rabbi Katz
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Mar 27, 2024 |
R’ Yehuda Brieli of Mantua 17th century -Another Italian גָּדוֹל -צַדִּיק-מַשְׂכִּיל
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Mar 25, 2024 |
Purim Mesiba 2024
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Mar 25, 2024 |
Purim: Why was it Esther (not Mordechai) who pressured the חכמים to make Purim a holiday?
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Mar 21, 2024 |
Parshas VaYikra: The Primarily Educative Nature of the Korbanos
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Mar 20, 2024 |
Haftarah Zachor: Exactly why did Saul spare Agag, after wiping out his people?
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Mar 20, 2024 |
The Baltimore Background to the Billion Dollar Gift to Einstein Medical School
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Mar 19, 2024 |
The Letter of Haman: Its demonization of Jews and ordering their death
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Mar 18, 2024 |
Purim and Parshas VaYikra: What's Up With the Angels, the Korbanos, and Vashti?
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Mar 17, 2024 |
The Consequences of Jewish Disunity and Irresponsibility During the Current War
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Mar 15, 2024 |
Why is Purim not on the day of the victorious fight, but on the day after?
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Mar 15, 2024 |
R’ Moshe Provenzalo of Renaissance Italy (Mantua)
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Mar 13, 2024 |
Haftarah Pekudei: Why did Shlomo stash-away his father's gold?
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Mar 11, 2024 |
Parshas Pekudei: When is a Mishkan a Full-Blown Mishkan? And When is it Just a Glorified בָּמָה?
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Mar 11, 2024 |
Recent Trends in Antisemitism in America - An Analysis by R’ Katz
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Mar 06, 2024 |
The מַחְבֶּרֶת of Menachem Ben Siruk- The New Edition of This Tragic 10th Century classic
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Mar 05, 2024 |
Haftarah VaYakhel: Hiram of Tyre, King Solomon's " Michaelangelo?"
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Mar 04, 2024 |
Parshas VaYakhel: Why Make Keruvim After the Fiasco of the Golden Calf?
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Mar 03, 2024 |
Parshas Ki Sisah: What ever happened to the tablets Moshe shattered?
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Mar 01, 2024 |
The 1555 Edition of HaChasid Yavetz on Pirkei Avos Being Offered by Genazym
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Feb 28, 2024 |
The Confusing Story of 12 Adar - יוֹם טְרָיׇנוּס
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Feb 28, 2024 |
Haftarah Ki Sisah: Elijah "Twists the Arm of G-d" (כִּבְיָכוֹל)
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Feb 26, 2024 |
Sefer Shalsheles HaKabbalah, the Renaissance Classic, is Being Offered in the New Genazym Catalog
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Feb 26, 2024 |
Parshas Ki Sisah: What exactly was the אִסּוּר of making an image of Hashem?
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Feb 25, 2024 |
Haftarah Tetzaveh: The Building of the Second Temple
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Feb 21, 2024 |
Historic Handwritten Letter by R’ Chaim Brisker from 1909 Auctioned by Genazym
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Feb 20, 2024 |
Parshas Tetzaveh: Use of the Spoils of Egypt for the Mishkan
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Feb 19, 2024 |
Mantua Zohar, Pt. 3. The "Litvish"Defense by R’ Moshe Provençal of Mantua
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Feb 18, 2024 |
The Mantua Zohar Controversy, Pt. 2: Arguments Pro and Con
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Feb 18, 2024 |
The Mantua Zohar Controversy of 1558-1560, Pt. 1: Should Kabbalah be put into the public domain?
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Feb 16, 2024 |
Haftarah Terumah: Was Shlomo's labor force Jewish? Canaanite? Converts?
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Feb 14, 2024 |
Parshas Terumah: Will the Third Temple have any technology?
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Feb 13, 2024 |
R’ Yehudah Moscato and his Commentary, Kol Yehudah, on the Kuzari
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Feb 12, 2024 |
The Prosposed Jewish University in Mantua at the Time of Moscato
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Feb 11, 2024 |
Some thoughts on the Gaza War as it enters its 4th month
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Feb 07, 2024 |
Isaiah 66: The Temple of the Future Will Have Many Non-Jews (Haftarah Mishpatim)
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Feb 07, 2024 |
Parshas Mishpatim: Warning About the Keruvim in the Temple
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Feb 06, 2024 |
R’ Yehudah Moscato (1532-1590), Pt. 2: Famous Italian תַּלְמִיד חָכָם וְדַרְשָׁן
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Feb 05, 2024 |
Yisro v. Ruth: Two Archetypes
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Feb 04, 2024 |
Haftarah Yisro:Unlike Moshe, the prophetic experience of יְשַׁעְיָהוּ is a mediated one
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Feb 01, 2024 |
The Famous R’ Yehudah Moscato of 16th Century Italy: A Recently Discovered Remarkable Episode
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Jan 31, 2024 |
Parshas Yisro: Was Yisro a good guy? The arguments in favor
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Jan 30, 2024 |
Moshe Rabbenu: Intellectual or Emotional?
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Jan 29, 2024 |
Parshas Yisro: What is the meaning of the babyish truculence of the Jews at the Red Sea?
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Jan 28, 2024 |
Parshas Beshalach: The Connection Between Circumcision and Krias Yam Suf
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Jan 22, 2024 |
Haftarah Bo: The Two Babylonian iInvasions of Egypt? Who Cares?
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Jan 19, 2024 |
R’ Mordecai Banet (1753-1829): Chief Rabbi of Moravia
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Jan 18, 2024 |
Parshas Bo: Why Exactly is Moses Commanded לַחֲלֹק כָּבוֹד לַמַּלְכוּת?
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Jan 17, 2024 |
Parshas Bo: What does G-d mean when He says He will punish the gods of Egypt?
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Jan 16, 2024 |
The Famous Yad Malachi of Livorno (1700-1771)
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Jan 12, 2024 |
What is Going on With the Conversation re: אֶהיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה? (Parshas VaEra)
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Jan 10, 2024 |
Ezekiel: Egypt will suffer because it cynically & unscrupulously"played" Israel and Judah
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Jan 10, 2024 |
Parshas VaEra: How Did the Jews Maintain Their Family Units Under Slavery ?
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Jan 09, 2024 |
The UN Vote to Recognize the State of Israel, and the Arabs and Jews Prepare for War
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Jan 09, 2024 |
Haftarah Shmos: Isaiah Blasts the Drunken Tyrants of the Northern Kingdom
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Jan 04, 2024 |
Parshas Shmos: If they had yeshivos in Egypt, why did most Jews go off the derech?
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Jan 03, 2024 |
Galus as a Core Component of Judaism and Jewish history
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Jan 01, 2024 |
American Judaism a Century Ago (1880-1950)- Some Thoughts
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Jan 01, 2024 |
Parshas VaYechi: Joseph's class-act in burying Jacob next to Leah
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Dec 27, 2023 |
Haftarah VaYechi: David is Enraged at Joab. Why, Exactly?
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Dec 27, 2023 |
R’ Eliyahu Mizrachi of Istanbul, the Greatest Romaniote Gadol
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Dec 26, 2023 |
Arafat, Hamas and Terrorism: The Aftermath of Oslo
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Dec 26, 2023 |
Parshas VaYechi: An Original Interpretation of Why Yehudah Got the Malchus- from the מֶשֶׁךְ חֲכָמָה
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Dec 25, 2023 |
The Israeli Offensives in the War for Independence: Brilliant Successes and Devastating Failures
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Dec 22, 2023 |
Yosifon's Counterhistory of the Translation of the Torah into Greek
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Dec 22, 2023 |
Haftarah VaYigash: After the Dry Bones Comes the Achdus, Then מִלְחֶמֶת גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג
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Dec 20, 2023 |
Asarah B’Teves: Fasting to Mourn the Septuagint Translation?
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Dec 19, 2023 |
Parshas VaYigash: Joseph's References to His Kavod
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Dec 19, 2023 |
What exactly is זֹאת חֲנֻכָּה ?
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Dec 15, 2023 |
Again, Why Didn't Viceroy Joseph Contact His Father? (Parshas Mikeitz)
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Dec 14, 2023 |
Reflections on Hellenists, Then and Now
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Dec 13, 2023 |
Haftorah Mikeitz: King Solomon and the two "mothers"
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Dec 12, 2023 |
Parshas Mikeitz: Joseph uses his prison time to learn Egyptian culture and politics
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Dec 12, 2023 |
Judah Maccabee Storms Gaza- עַל פִּי יוֹסִיפוּן
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Dec 10, 2023 |
Rambam in אִגֶּרֶת תֵּימָן: the "two-pronged" attack on Judaism... and Chanukah
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Dec 08, 2023 |
Outbreak of the Revolt - 3 different versions of the story (Chanukah)
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Dec 08, 2023 |
Chanukah: Why does Josephus call the holiday not Chanukah, but Festival of אוֹר?
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Dec 06, 2023 |
Haftarah Chanukah: The High Priest is Given a Pass in the Heavenly Court, as a Shoah Survivor
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Dec 05, 2023 |
Parshas VaYeshev: Oy, מַעֲשֵׂה אָבוֹת סִימָן לַבָּנִים in a Negative Way - the Sale of Joseph
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Dec 05, 2023 |
Henry Kissinger: Good for the Jews? Bad?
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Dec 03, 2023 |
Haftarah VaYishlach: Who Exactly was Ovadiah? When Did He Live?
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Dec 01, 2023 |
The Israeli Hostages - Is the Story of David Rescuing the Hostages Relevant to Gaza?
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Nov 30, 2023 |
Parshas VaYishlach: Shimon & Levi - Proportionate Response?
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Nov 27, 2023 |
Rambam, Rav Zevin, & the Kehillos Yaakov on Fear in Combat
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Nov 26, 2023 |
Thanksgiving and Jewish History: Were the Pilgrims of 1620 Antisemites, Philosemites or Both?
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Nov 23, 2023 |
The Hostage Deal and Psalm 140: References to the Effective Propaganda Offensive of the Enemy
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Nov 23, 2023 |
Hostage Deals in Jewish History
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Nov 22, 2023 |
Haftarah Vayetzei: Remarkably Relevant to Current Events in Israel Over the Last Year
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Nov 22, 2023 |
Parshas VaYetzei: Jacob's Character Development in This Parsha
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Nov 21, 2023 |
Thoughts on President Kennedy on the Anniversary of his Assassination 11/22/63
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Nov 19, 2023 |
Rabbanim and Chazzanim in the Past Two Centuries
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Nov 16, 2023 |
Ahab and Ben Hadad: A Cautionary Tale
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Nov 15, 2023 |
Haftarah Toldos: The Inherent Problem of Hereditary (as Opposed to Meritocratic) Authority
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Nov 14, 2023 |
Parshas Toldos: The Difference Between the Relationships of יִצְחָק וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל vs. יַעֲקֹב וְעֵשָׂו
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Nov 13, 2023 |
Rabbinic Influences on Voting: In the Old Autonomous Kehilos, and in Modern Democratic Elections
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Nov 10, 2023 |
Psalm 91 and the Fighting in Israel and Gaza - Fits Like a Glove
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Nov 08, 2023 |
Haftarah Chayei Sarah: The Central Role of Nathan the Prophet
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Nov 06, 2023 |
Parshas Chayei Sarah: Abraham and Ephron in Light of Current Events
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Nov 06, 2023 |
Iran’s Machiavellian Role in the Current Conflict - The Significance of Sunni vs. Shiite
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Nov 05, 2023 |
Haftarah VaYera: Why Did Elisha Stay Davka at Her House?
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Nov 03, 2023 |
Psalm 140 - The Massacre, the Booby Traps, the Rockets
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Nov 02, 2023 |
Parshas VaYera: Why was Abraham Personally Invested in the Fate of Sodom?
|
Nov 01, 2023 |
The Current Amalekite Demonstrations Against the Jews in America
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Oct 31, 2023 |
The Chazon Ish and Medinat Yisrael: Aspects of the Life and שִׁיטוֹת of the חֲזוֹן אִי"שׁ
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Oct 31, 2023 |
Hashkafic Look at Psalm 79 in Light of War Against Hamas
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Oct 27, 2023 |
Haftarah Lech Lecha: Isaiah Predicts the Current War Against Hamas Tunnels
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Oct 26, 2023 |
Parshas Lech Lecha: The First Hostage Rescue Mission in History
|
Oct 25, 2023 |
Judaism and Proselytizing: Has Judaism Ever Sought Converts in its History
|
Oct 24, 2023 |
The Dilemma of Civilian Casualties in Urban Warfare
|
Oct 23, 2023 |
A Short History of the Hamas Tunnels in Gaza
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Oct 20, 2023 |
A Hashkafic Look at Current Events and a Hostile Media
|
Oct 19, 2023 |
A Two Front War in Israel? - R’ Katz analyzes the latest events in the Gaza War
|
Oct 18, 2023 |
The Yom Kippur War, Part 3: Affliction
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Oct 18, 2023 |
Haftarah Noach: Isaiah 54:17 in Light of the War Against Hamas
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Oct 17, 2023 |
The Jews Who Support Hamas - The Jewish " Rachavs"
|
Oct 15, 2023 |
Tehillim and the Current War in Gaza: Read Psalms 79 and 60 and See the Parallels
|
Oct 12, 2023 |
Isaiah discusses the current situation in the Middle East. Really
|
Oct 12, 2023 |
Hamas' Error of Judgment? - More Analysis of the Current War Against Hamas
|
Oct 11, 2023 |
The Yom Kippur War, Part 2: Affliction
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Oct 11, 2023 |
Thoughts on the Current War With Gaza
|
Oct 10, 2023 |
Parshas Bereishis: G-d Decided to Take the Land Away From Them and Give It to Us.
|
Oct 09, 2023 |
The Yom Kippur War, Part 1: Affliction
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Oct 09, 2023 |
Shmini Atzeres: Its Role as Part of Sukkos, Not as a רֶגֶל בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ
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Oct 06, 2023 |
R’ Katz Criticizes the Current Wave of Spitting in Light of Jewish History
|
Oct 05, 2023 |
An Analysis of the עֲרָבָה Ceremony on the Temple, and the Various Versions of How They Did It
|
Oct 04, 2023 |
R’ Aharon Shimon Shapiro of 17th Century Prague: One of the Greatest Gedolim You Never Heard of
|
Oct 04, 2023 |
Hashanah Rabbah: What is the meaning of יֹפִי לְךָ מִזְבֵּחַ?
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Oct 04, 2023 |
Parshas V’Zos HaBrachah: An Explication of the Enigmatic Passage מְעוֹנָה אֱלֹהֵי קֶדֶם
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Oct 02, 2023 |
Koheles: Money (Like the Sukkah) is a Symbol of Impermanence
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Oct 02, 2023 |
Two Different Models on Unity: The Sukkah & the Arba Minim
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Sep 29, 2023 |
The Buildup to the Yom Kippur War
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Sep 28, 2023 |
King Solomon and the אַרְבַּע מִינִים
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Sep 28, 2023 |
Unlike RH and Yom Kippur, Sukkos and ארבע מינים Cannot Be Done By a שָׁלִיחַ
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Sep 28, 2023 |
Sukkos: What Happened at the Town of Sukkos in Egypt?
|
Sep 27, 2023 |
The Yom Kippur War of 1973: Thoughts on the 50th Anniversary
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Sep 27, 2023 |
Yom Kippur: What If You Do a Partial Teshuvah?
|
Sep 24, 2023 |
The Fast of the 7th of Tishrei (אֹרַח חַיִּים תק"פ)
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Sep 21, 2023 |
R’ Tzvi Hirsch Kaidenover and His 17th Century Classic, the Kav HaYashar
|
Sep 21, 2023 |
Haftarah Shabbos Shuva: Hoshea HaNavi Calls for the Religious Reform of the Northern Kingdom
|
Sep 20, 2023 |
Parshas HaAzinu: The Powerful Pessimism of HaAzinu
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Sep 18, 2023 |
Rosh HaShanah: The Basic Three Sets of Blasts Correspond to מַלְכִיּוֹת זִכְרוֹנוֹת וְשׁוֹפָרוֹת
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Sep 15, 2023 |
Observations on Devarim: Why is Moshe's Rhetoric Harsher in סֵפֶר דְּבָרִים Than Elsewhere in the Chumash?
|
Sep 13, 2023 |
Eating Before Shofar: The Historical Source for the Yeshivos Having a Kiddush Before Shofar-Blowing
|
Sep 13, 2023 |
R’ Joseph Ottolenghi: The One Whose Work You Skip Over in the Back of the Gemara
|
Sep 10, 2023 |
Rabbi Katz is leading a tour of the Bible Museum in DC on חול המועד סוכות
|
Sep 08, 2023 |
R’ Menachem Mendel Gluskin of Minsk and Leningrdad: Trying to Be Jewish Under Stalin
|
Sep 08, 2023 |
The First Zohar Ever Printed-Cremona 1559 - Offered by Genazym
|
Sep 06, 2023 |
Haftarah Netzavim-Vayelech: Isaiah's Vision of the Future - Redemption, But Not Followed By Peace
|
Sep 06, 2023 |
Parshas Netzavim-VaYelech: Moses' Demand for Perfection Runs into Human Nature
|
Sep 05, 2023 |
Elul: No Protection Against the Satan This Year on the First Day of Rosh Hashanah
|
Sep 04, 2023 |
Responsa Mahari ben Lev From Genazym (1598)
|
Sep 04, 2023 |
More on the New שׁוּ"ת חוּט הַשָּׁנִי Edition and the Famous Controversies of Yesteryear
|
Sep 03, 2023 |
Parshas Ki Savo: Abarbanel Applies the תּוֹכָחָה to the Marranos
|
Aug 31, 2023 |
The Strange History of Shevarim
|
Aug 30, 2023 |
Haftarah Ki Savo: Isaiah's Brilliant Use of אוֹר וְחֹשֶׁךְ, Not as Physical Light and Darkness
|
Aug 29, 2023 |
Sefer HaManhig: Genazym is Offering the Original Edition, By a Talmid of the ר"י בעל התוספת
|
Aug 28, 2023 |
Genazym Auction: Original סֵפֶר "תּוֹרַת הָעוֹלׇה" לִרְמָ"א
|
Aug 27, 2023 |
The שו"ת חוּט הַשָּׁנִי: Three Generations of Bacharachs
|
Aug 27, 2023 |
Elul: Why Do We Blow Shofar on Rosh Chodesh? Why the Rest of the Month?
|
Aug 23, 2023 |
Haftarah Ki Seitzei: Will We Be Ashamed of Our Many Past Sins in the Messianic Era?
|
Aug 23, 2023 |
Parshas Ki Seitzei: Is the Yefas Toar Just פָּשׁוּט פְּשַׁט, or is It a Wider Metaphor Too?
|
Aug 21, 2023 |
A Conversation w/ Gabe Aaronson, Chief Numbers-Cruncher for the OU
|
Aug 21, 2023 |
The Mateh Ephraim: The Richest Gadol in Many Centuries - How Did He Excel in Business and Torah?
|
Aug 20, 2023 |
Rosh Chodesh Elul: Why is There a זֵכֶר for the Third Round of 40 Days, But Not for the Second?
|
Aug 17, 2023 |
Abraham Drabkin (1844-1927): A Reform Rabbi in Czarist Russia?
|
Aug 17, 2023 |
Isaiah Says Only הקב"ה Can Provide Genuine Comfort for All the Sufferings of the Jews Down the Ages
|
Aug 15, 2023 |
The Drashos HaRan on Analyzing the Distinction Between Shoftim and Kings
|
Aug 14, 2023 |
The Great R’Shlomo Dovid Kahana, Pt. 3: Spirited out of the Warsaw Ghetto to Rav of the Old City
|
Aug 14, 2023 |
Parshas Re'eh and Jewish History: The Existential Tension in Jewish History Between the Centralizers and the Decentralizers
|
Aug 09, 2023 |
Kabbalist Questions (Summum Bonum): The Consequences of Stating That the Soul is a חֵלֶק אֱלֹהַּ מִמַּעַל
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Aug 08, 2023 |
Haftarah Re’eh: Isaiah Envisions a World Where G-d Tells the Jews Which Minhag He Likes
|
Aug 07, 2023 |
Parshas Re'eh: What is the Meaning of לְשִׁכְנוֹ תִדְרְשׁוּ וּבָאתָ שָׁמָּה?
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Aug 06, 2023 |
R' Shlomo Dovid Kahana, Pt. 2: Warsaw and Its Yeshivas
|
Aug 06, 2023 |
The Arizal and Summum Bonum: If People Have Multiple "Souls," Which Ones Go Where?
|
Aug 03, 2023 |
Tu B’Av: Is יוֹם שֶׁהֻתְּרוּ הַשְּׁבָטִים לָבֹא זֶה בָּזֶה the same as יוֹם שֶׁהֻתַּר בִּנְיָמִין
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Aug 02, 2023 |
Haftarah Eikev: Did G-d Divorce the Kingdom of Yisroel (Not Judah)?
|
Aug 02, 2023 |
Parshas Eikev: Why the Strange Phrase "וְאָכַלְתָּ אֶת כָּל הָעַמִּים "?
|
Aug 01, 2023 |
R’ Shlomo Dovid Kahana: The Greatest Gadol of the 20th Century You Never Heard of, Part I
|
Aug 01, 2023 |
The Radbaz (Who was Big in Both נִגְלֶה וְנִסְתָּר) Describes the Rambam's Attitude Towards Gehinnom
|
Jul 26, 2023 |
Parshas VaEschanan: Moshe Says That the חֻקִּים Will Inspire the Admiration of the Gentiles. Why?
|
Jul 25, 2023 |
Tisha B'Av and Mesilas Yesharim: What is a Chasid (in the Classical Sense of the Term) Supposed to Think on Tisha B'Av?
|
Jul 25, 2023 |
Lewis Strauss - A Story About a Famous Reform Jew and His Connection to Klal Yisroel
|
Jul 25, 2023 |
Robert Oppenheimer and מִדָּה כְּנֶגֶד מִדָּה
|
Jul 24, 2023 |
Rabbi Katz’s Tisha B'Av Schedule This Year
|
Jul 24, 2023 |
Haftarah Devarim: Isaiah Does Not Mention Idolatry as the Problem, But Social Injustice!
|
Jul 20, 2023 |
Parshas Devarim: Why Are Some Laws Only in Devarim?
|
Jul 20, 2023 |
RFK Jr. and Dangerous Rhetoric re: Jews and Corona
|
Jul 18, 2023 |
שְׂכַר הַצַּדִּיקִים לְפִי הָרַמְחַ"ל
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Jul 17, 2023 |
Ramban's Anxious Letter to His Son Who Lived With the Rich Jews at the Royal Court
|
Jul 13, 2023 |
Haftarah of the Three Weeks: Digging wells that turn out to have no water
|
Jul 13, 2023 |
Parshas Matos: Wars of Revenge?
|
Jul 13, 2023 |
Traditionalist Jews in Israel and the Question of Religious Coercion
|
Jul 10, 2023 |
Bastille Day 2023 - The Riots in France, and Jewish History
|
Jul 09, 2023 |
Shivah Assar B’Tammuz: Who was Apostomus? What Exactly Did He Do?
|
Jul 06, 2023 |
Haftarah Pinchas: Jeremiah, the Descendant of רָחָב הַזּוֹנָה
|
Jul 05, 2023 |
Parshas Pinchas: What is the Meaning of the Vague Phrase: אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂר?
|
Jul 04, 2023 |
More on the Fourth of July and Klal Yisroel
|
Jul 04, 2023 |
Cordovero's extremely vivid description of the different "departments" of heaven and hell
|
Jul 03, 2023 |
Thoughts on the Historical Legacy of R’ Yaakov Ruderman
|
Jul 03, 2023 |
The Fourth of July and the Jews
|
Jul 02, 2023 |
Haftarah Balak: What is the מוּסָר הַשְׂכֵּל the Prophet extracts from the Bilam story?
|
Jun 30, 2023 |
Parshas Balak: Unlike Balaam, the Patriarchs built 7 altars but did not offer sacrifices on them
|
Jun 29, 2023 |
Parshas Chukas: Are the Two Stories of Hitting the Rock (בשלח and חוקת) One and the Same?
|
Jun 29, 2023 |
Korach as a Leadership Type in Jewish History in the Diaspora
|
Jun 26, 2023 |
Dvar Torah on כריתות at yahrtzeit siyum for R Katz's mother
|
Jun 23, 2023 |
Haftarah Korach: Why Did G-d (and Samuel) Choose the Inexperienced Saul?
|
Jun 23, 2023 |
The Burning of the Talmud in Paris on Parshas Chukas- Memory vs. History
|
Jun 22, 2023 |
Parshas Korach: Korach and the Power of "Spin"
|
Jun 21, 2023 |
R’ Cordovero on the Summum Bonum- different departments of Heaven
|
Jun 20, 2023 |
Capsali's History of the Turkish Empire
|
Jun 19, 2023 |
Haftarah Shelach: Was Rachav HaZonah an Idealist or an Opportunist?
|
Jun 14, 2023 |
Parshas Shelach: What is the Meaning of כִּי לַחְמֵנוּ הֵם?
|
Jun 14, 2023 |
R’ Eliyahu Kapsali, Pt. 2: His Account of the Expulsion from Spain
|
Jun 12, 2023 |
Summum Bonum: The Style of the Kabbalists in Relating to All the Differing Chazals on Olam Haba, etc
|
Jun 11, 2023 |
The 20th of Sivan: R’ Katz Analyzes Some Cossack Massacres from the Perspective of 2023
|
Jun 11, 2023 |
Haftarah BeHaaloscha: What will the gentiles do in the Messianic Era?
|
Jun 08, 2023 |
Parshas BeHaaloscha: Did Moshe Marry an Ethiopian גִּיּוֹרֶת after מַתַּן תּוֹרָה?
|
Jun 07, 2023 |
R’ Elyahu Kapsali (1480-1550): A Rare Case of a Rov Who was Also a Historian
|
Jun 06, 2023 |
Intro to Cordovero (רמ"ק הקדוש) on the Summum Bonum
|
Jun 05, 2023 |
Parshas Naso: Some Thoughts re: The approach of HaRav Gershon Edelstein, זצ"ל
|
Jun 01, 2023 |
Simon Wolf (1836-1923): American Reform Jew Who Saved Vast Numbers of Eastern European Jews
|
Jun 01, 2023 |
Haftarah Naso: Why do Chazal Say Manoach was an Am HaAretz?
|
May 30, 2023 |
A 15th Century Letter Inviting All Ashkenazic Jews to Leave Germany and Move to Turkey
|
May 29, 2023 |
What Were the "Crowns" of Shavuos?
|
May 25, 2023 |
The Angel מְטַטְרוֹן and the Revelation on Shavuos
|
May 23, 2023 |
Shavuos: The Symbolism of the Waving of the Breads and the Sheep Together
|
May 23, 2023 |
Abraham Benvniste and the Yeshiva of Zamora in Castile: The Spanish "Lakewood" of the 15th Century
|
May 23, 2023 |
Shavuos: The רמ"א in תּוֹרַת הָעוֹלָה connects the שְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם to מַתַּן תּוֹרָה
|
May 21, 2023 |
Another reason שבועות is not mentioned as זמן מתן תורתנו in the חומש
|
May 19, 2023 |
Hosea, Himself Married to a Faithless Wife, Blasts the Jews for Being Unfaithful to G-d
|
May 18, 2023 |
Shavuos and Matan Torah: Famous Critiques of the Chinuch-System of the Old Days
|
May 17, 2023 |
Parshas Bamidbar: The Logistics of the March from Sinai to the Promised Land
|
May 16, 2023 |
An Infinitely-More Complex Understanding of Life After Death and Reward and Punishment
|
May 16, 2023 |
Three Items from the Era of Sabbatean Fights (Genazym)
|
May 15, 2023 |
Abraham Benveniste (15th Century): Restored Yiddishkeit to a Bleeding Spanish Jewry
|
May 15, 2023 |
Genazym Offers a חומש from Prague from the בַּעַל שׁוּ"ת תְּשׁוּבָה מֵאַהֲבָה & His Close Catholic Friend
|
May 12, 2023 |
A Venetian Jewish MD and Spy in the 17th Century, Liked by Both Sides
|
May 10, 2023 |
The Prophet Jeremiah attacks syncretism & demands radical severance from paganism
|
May 09, 2023 |
Bechukosai: The Historical Significance of וְאֶתְכֶם אֶזָּרֶה בַּגּוֹיִם
|
May 09, 2023 |
Lag B'Omer: Why was Only R’ Akiva's Yeshiva Hit?
|
May 08, 2023 |
Genazym Offers the Notorious Giustiniani Edition of the Rambam, a Capitalist Fight of Long Ago
|
May 07, 2023 |
The Coronation of King Charles III: What is the Role of a King in Jewish Thought?
|
May 07, 2023 |
Rabbi Isaac Cantarini of Padua (1644-1723), Rov & MD, and the pogrom of 1684
|
May 05, 2023 |
Haftarah Emor: The Bad Kohanim Who "Went-Along," and the Good Ones Who Remained Loyal
|
May 04, 2023 |
Chasdai Crescas: Is G-d Omnipotence? Omniscience? Or Love?
|
May 03, 2023 |
Parshas Emor: Did the Blasphemer Curse G-d? Or G-d's Name?
|
May 02, 2023 |
A Famous Story About Abraham Benveniste, an Honest King, and an Attempted Blood Libel
|
May 01, 2023 |
Abarbanel & Kli Yakar Summarize Opinions on Sumum Bonum
|
Apr 27, 2023 |
Amos' Summum Bonum in the Here and Now: A Rebuilt Prosperous Kingdom in אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל (Haftarah)
|
Apr 26, 2023 |
Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim: Blood and the "Battle" Between the Beis HaMikdash and the Bamos
|
Apr 26, 2023 |
Shem Tov ben Shem Tov: Looking for reasons for the Holocaust of 1391. Part 1
|
Apr 24, 2023 |
Haftarah Shabbos Rosh Chodesh: How will Christians and Muslims Feel in the Messianic Era?
|
Apr 20, 2023 |
The Political Crisis in Israel: Drafting the Bnei Torah, and Ketores Considerations
|
Apr 20, 2023 |
What's the Meaning of Isaiah's Reference to a New Heaven & Earth? (Sumum Bonum)
|
Apr 18, 2023 |
Parshas Tazria-Metzora: What is Unique About the Leprous House?
|
Apr 17, 2023 |
Shlomo Alami's contemporary harsh criticism of Spanish Jewry in the wake of 1391
|
Apr 16, 2023 |
Crescas: Will the Moshiach be a Greater Prophet than Moshe?
|
Apr 10, 2023 |
The Rambam vs Shem Tov on the Theological Significance of קְרִיעַת יַם סוּף
|
Apr 10, 2023 |
The Crisis in Spanish Jewry 1391-1492: The Shem Tovs and Their Differences
|
Apr 09, 2023 |
The Abarbanel's fascinating connecting the Jewish fate in Egypt to the מְכִירַת יוֹסֵף
|
Apr 03, 2023 |
Haggadah 2023: What Does It Mean, "The רשע Would Not Have Been Redeemed?" Many Were!
|
Apr 02, 2023 |
The colloquy between the Wise Son and his father: a Second Temple Convers
|
Mar 31, 2023 |
Why Davka Elijah the Prophet as the Great Reconciler? (Haftarah Shabbos HaGadol)
|
Mar 29, 2023 |
Parshas Tzav: The Two Types of Sin Offerings: Outer and Inner
|
Mar 28, 2023 |
The Korban Pesach: Why is a Goat OK? For the Original Passover in Egypt?
|
Mar 27, 2023 |
The Alshich - From the Golden Age of Safed in the 16th Century
|
Mar 26, 2023 |
The Four Sons historically considered
|
Mar 24, 2023 |
Did ALL the Jews Do the Original Korban Pesach?
|
Mar 23, 2023 |
The Great Philosopher Chasdai Crescas on תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים
|
Mar 21, 2023 |
Haftarah Vayikrah: The Three Big Sins of the First Temple Era
|
Mar 20, 2023 |
Parshas Vayikrah: Speaking to Moshe From the אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, Not From the Adjacent Mt. Sinai
|
Mar 20, 2023 |
Yeshiva Politics from Nosson HaBavli: The Extreme Formality of the Yarchei Kallah - Gaonic Gossip
|
Mar 19, 2023 |
Ramban on Olam Habah as a New Physical World
|
Mar 16, 2023 |
Haftarah Vayakhel-Pekudei: Will Korbanos and other Mitzvos Change in the Messianic Era?
|
Mar 14, 2023 |
Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei: The Human Logistics of the Fundraising Campaign (Mishkan)
|
Mar 13, 2023 |
A Frum Cassandra: Zorach Wahrhaftig in 1939-‘40 Lithuania
|
Mar 13, 2023 |
Haftarah Ki Sisa: Elijah the Religious Radical - “If you are not frum, get out of here!”
|
Mar 09, 2023 |
Parshas Ki Sisa: The Second Tablets Contained More Than the First Tablets
|
Mar 09, 2023 |
Ramban's Complicated Description of Gan Eden - The One "Downstairs" and the One "Upstairs"
|
Mar 08, 2023 |
Gaonic Gossip: The Famous Description of the Inaugural Ceremonies of the Reish Galusah in Baghdad
|
Mar 08, 2023 |
Rabbi Katz Responds to a Mischaracterization re: a Recent Podcast
|
Mar 06, 2023 |
The 7 year Machlokes Between Saadia Gaon and the Reish Galusah - Gaonic Gossip
|
Mar 05, 2023 |
Gaonic Gossip from Nasan HaBavli: The Deposition of Ukvah the Reish Galusah
|
Mar 03, 2023 |
How Did They Know Heaven had Confirmed Purim (קִיְּמוּ לְמַעְלָה מַה שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ לְמַטָּה)?
|
Mar 02, 2023 |
Parshas Tetzaveh: The Moreh Nevuchim's Take on the Splendid Bigdei Kehunah
|
Mar 01, 2023 |
Purim: Esther’s Hidden Identity
|
Feb 28, 2023 |
The Ramban's Detailed Description of the Sinner in Gehinnom - R’ Katz Discusses
|
Feb 22, 2023 |
Haftarah Terumah: Shlomo's Corvee was the Fulfillment of the Warning of שְׁמוּאֵל הַנָּבִיא
|
Feb 21, 2023 |
When was the Mishkan Commanded? During the First 40 days, or During the Third 40 days?
|
Feb 21, 2023 |
The Controversial but Popular מַסֶּכֶת פּוּרִים (Venice 1552) from the Genazym
|
Feb 20, 2023 |
Sherira Gaon and Jewish Politics in 10th Century Babylonia
|
Feb 20, 2023 |
Haftarah Shekalim: Why Didn't the King Just Raise the Money for the Temple by Appealing to the Public?
|
Feb 17, 2023 |
Nahmanides on Gehinnom - Sinners Do Actually Burn in a Certain Kind of Fire. It's Not an Allegory
|
Feb 16, 2023 |
A יְרוּשַׁלְמִי שְׁקָלִים from the Famous Bomberg ש"ס of the 1520s - For Sale at Genazym
|
Feb 16, 2023 |
The unscrupulous "richie-riches" free the Hebrew slaves whom they have held too long
|
Feb 15, 2023 |
The connection between the מִשְׁפָּטִים and the Yisro incident
|
Feb 13, 2023 |
R’ Judah Mintz (1405 -1508), Who Turned Padua into the "Lakewood " of Italy
|
Feb 13, 2023 |
Ramban's Theory of the Sumum Bonum
|
Feb 10, 2023 |
Isaiah's Vision of G-d Seated on a Throne etc. Subjective Reality vs. Objective Reality
|
Feb 08, 2023 |
Chaim Grade (1910-1982): Some Thoughts About the Yiddish Novelist
|
Feb 08, 2023 |
What exactly did Yisro mean that Moshe should be מוּל הָאֱלֹהִים ?
|
Feb 06, 2023 |
Eliyahu HaBachur HaAshkenazi (1470-1549)
|
Feb 06, 2023 |
The Aftermath of the Maimonidean Controversies, Lecture 7 of 7
|
Feb 06, 2023 |
Rambam on Resurrection (which is not part of nature)
|
Feb 01, 2023 |
Haftarah Beshalach: How is the Story of Pharaoh Similar to That of Sisera?
|
Feb 01, 2023 |
Parshas Beshalach: The Complaints Against Moshe's Leadership - "Heading the Wrong Way!"
|
Jan 30, 2023 |
R’ Moshe Alashkar: One of the Greatest Sefardi Gedolim Who Left Spain in 1492
|
Jan 30, 2023 |
Did Abraham and Sarah Actually Exist? The Fight over Philosophical Homiletics (Part 6 of 7)
|
Jan 27, 2023 |
Parshas Bo: Why Does Moshe Deviate from His Instructions?
|
Jan 26, 2023 |
Rambam vs. Raavad and Others on the Difference Between תְּחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים וְעוֹלָם הַבָּא
|
Jan 24, 2023 |
Jews Burning Books? (Part II) The Controversy in Montpelier and the Aftermath
|
Jan 22, 2023 |
Moses Mendelssohn, Part 3
|
Jan 22, 2023 |
Moses Mendelssohn, Part 2
|
Jan 19, 2023 |
Jews Burning Books? The Controversy in Montpelier
|
Jan 18, 2023 |
Haftarah VaEra: Egypt will Suffer a Nuclear Holocaust and will be Empty for 40 Years
|
Jan 17, 2023 |
Parshas VaEra: The Role of Aaron in the Exodus Story - Negotiator with the Egyptians, acc. to Rashi
|
Jan 17, 2023 |
Parshas Shmos: The Individual Unique Experience of G-d vs. the Common Joint Experience
|
Jan 15, 2023 |
The First of the Maimonidean Controversies: Attacking the “Live Lion” (Pt. 3 of 6)
|
Jan 12, 2023 |
Maimonides the Great Popularizer - The Maimonidean Controversies (Part 2 of 7)
|
Jan 10, 2023 |
The Maimonidean Controversies: Revelation, Rationality and Rationalism In the Middle Ages - Pt. 1
|
Jan 08, 2023 |
Rabbi Katz Will Be in the Hospital This Week…
|
Jan 05, 2023 |
A Dying David Has to Weigh Killing שִׁמְעִי בֶּן גֵּרָא for Insulting & Cursing Him
|
Jan 03, 2023 |
Asarah B’Teves: Why Do We Specifically Commemorate the BEGINNING of the Siege of Jerusalem?
|
Jan 03, 2023 |
Where Did Joseph Acquire His Knowledge of Public Administration and of Macro-Economic Planning?
|
Jan 02, 2023 |
Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1785), Pt. 1: The Frum Member of the "Republic of Letters"
|
Jan 02, 2023 |
In His Mishnah Torah, the Rambam Gets into Greater Detail re: Summum Bonum - עוֹלָם הַבָּא.
|
Dec 30, 2022 |
Why did the Sages condemn the translation into Greek? Why is it different than Artscoll?
|
Dec 29, 2022 |
Ezekiel: First the Dry Bones Come Alive, Then They Join the Jewish People in a Real Unity
|
Dec 29, 2022 |
Parshas VaYigash: Joseph has a Whole Plan of Revenge, but in the End He Couldn't Go-Through With It
|
Dec 27, 2022 |
Chanukah and the current war in the Ukraine
|
Dec 26, 2022 |
Rambam on the Sumum Bonum - הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא
|
Dec 25, 2022 |
Chanuka in the Context of History: A Q&A w/ Rabbi Katz
|
Dec 23, 2022 |
The affairs of the High priest Joshua & his sons foreshadow the Chanukah strife of the priesthood
|
Dec 23, 2022 |
Joseph: A Rare Case of a Victim Finding Healing, Not Just Forgetfulness
|
Dec 21, 2022 |
The History of the Practice of הַדְלָקַת נֵרוֹת חֲנֻכָּה
|
Dec 21, 2022 |
Judah Maccabee: The Actual Historical Figure
|
Dec 21, 2022 |
שִׁיטַת הַ"כּוּזָרִי" עַל שָׂכָר וְעֹנֶשׁ
|
Dec 16, 2022 |
The Hellenistic Jews: What Exactly Provoked Them to Persecute the Frum?
|
Dec 14, 2022 |
Amos: You (אֶפְרַיִם וּמְנַשֶּׁה) whose ancestor was unjustly sold, how can you do it yourselves?
|
Dec 13, 2022 |
Parshas VaYeshev: How Did Joseph Handle His Mistreatment Psychologically? I Mean, נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים!
|
Dec 12, 2022 |
רַבִּי אַבְרָהָם אֲחִי הַגְּרָ"א בַּעַל סֵפֶר "מַעֲלוֹת הַתּוֹרָה ". (1722 -1804)
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Dec 12, 2022 |
The view of שְׁלֹמֹה אִבְּן גַּבִּירוֹל מִסְּפָרַד on the nature of שְׂכַר וְעֹנֶשׁ
|
Dec 09, 2022 |
Rabbi Katz's Israel Trip is a Month Away!
|
Dec 07, 2022 |
Sefer Yosippon: A Historical Classic NOT Identical With the Books of Flavius Josephus!
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Dec 07, 2022 |
Parshas VaYishlach: Esav Felt Cheated, but Didn't Allow that to Define His Life - He Built His Own
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Dec 05, 2022 |
R’ Dovid Kimchi, the Radak (1260-1335) as Grammarian - The World of דקדוק
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Dec 05, 2022 |
R' Hai Gaon: Aspects of His Messianic Theology
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Dec 02, 2022 |
Haftarah VaYetzei: The Prophet Hosea Analyzes the Faults of Shevet Ephraim, Particularly Their Resentment of David
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Dec 02, 2022 |
The Shechita Book of R' Yaakov Weil (15th century) - One of the Most Popular Books in Jewish History
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Dec 01, 2022 |
R’ Yehoshua of Cracow (1578-1648): The Original פְּנֵי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ
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Nov 30, 2022 |
Parshas VaYeitzei: Why did Yaakov Kiss Rachel? Why did He Cry?
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Nov 29, 2022 |
The 5th of Kislev - A Fast Day?
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Nov 28, 2022 |
R’ Baruch Schick (1744-1808): A Maskil of the Type Approved by the Gra
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Nov 25, 2022 |
Malachi Blasts the Schmoozers & Boozers in Shul. What's the Problem with Jews & Davening, Anyway?
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Nov 25, 2022 |
Saadia Gaon's Version the Messianic Process - Two Alternative Scenarios
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Nov 24, 2022 |
Parshas Toldos: Why was it Predestined That in This Family, the Siblings Should Not Get Along?
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Nov 22, 2022 |
R’ Avraham ben HaGra: A Great Talmid Chacham But Also Interested in"Kosher Haskalah"
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Nov 22, 2022 |
שִׁיטַת גְּאוֹנֵי בָּבֶל עַל יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ
וּתְחִיַּת הַמֵּתִים. תְּשׁוּבַת רַב הַאי גָּאוֹן
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Nov 18, 2022 |
Abraham in his old age has a faithful-reliable Eliezer. King David has no one
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Nov 16, 2022 |
Parshas Chayei Sara: Abraham, Efron, and "The Art of the Deal"
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Nov 15, 2022 |
The Israeli Supreme Court and Its Critics: A Discussion on the Controversy in Israel
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Nov 13, 2022 |
Look at how Elisha conducts himself around the woman
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Nov 11, 2022 |
R Katz begins a new series, on Jewish theories of the Summum Bonum in לְעָתִיד לָבוֹא
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Nov 09, 2022 |
G-d, Abraham, and Theodicy. For Once G-d Explains Himself (Sodom)
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Nov 09, 2022 |
Yaakov Anatoli (1195-1256): Controversial Jewish Intellectual During the Maimonidean Controveries
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Nov 07, 2022 |
Join Rabbi Katz's Jewish History Tour of Israel, January 9-15, 2023
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Nov 07, 2022 |
Is מוֹדִים thanks for the protection of the nation, or is it thanks for our individual survival?
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Nov 04, 2022 |
Isaiah salutes Abraham, who turned down the spoils of war because he was interested in higher things
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Nov 02, 2022 |
Flavius Josephus' Description of Abraham's "Visit" in Egypt and It's Long Lasting Significance
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Nov 01, 2022 |
רַבִּי יִצְחָק אַבּוּלַפִיָּה מִדַּמֶּשֶׂק בַּעַל שׁוּ"ת "פְּנֵי יִצְחָק " 1824-1910
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Oct 31, 2022 |
R Ovadia Yosef and Edmund Burke
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Oct 31, 2022 |
Isaiah Compares the Assyrian Holocaust to a Biblical Flood
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Oct 23, 2022 |
The Flood - Who Won in the End G-d or the Snake? (Parshas Noach)
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Oct 23, 2022 |
Is על הצדיקים a ברכה composed AFTER the preceding paragraph ( ולמלשינים )? Why the גירי הצדק?
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Oct 21, 2022 |
The Texts Debated at the Medieval Disputations Between Christians & Jews from Isaiah 42
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Oct 19, 2022 |
Parshas Bereishis: Is It the Snake or the Yetzer Hara?
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Oct 19, 2022 |
Hoshana Rabbah 1946 (0ctober 16, 1946) When They Hanged the Nazi War Criminals
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Oct 16, 2022 |
Hoshana Rabbah’s Historical Development
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Oct 14, 2022 |
The shaking of the lulav in six directions. What does it mean?
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Oct 13, 2022 |
Isaac Leeser, Rabbi Rice, and the Esrogim Controversy of 1847 - A Slice of American Jewish History
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Oct 13, 2022 |
The קְטֹרֶת vs. the אַרְבָּעָה מִינִים: Two Different Models of Jewish אַחְדוּת
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Oct 09, 2022 |
The "sicknesses" that are the subject of בִּרְכַּת "רְפָאֵנוּ" בִּשְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה
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Oct 07, 2022 |
The Intermediate Days Between Yom Kippur and Sukkos in Light of Parshas Haazinu - An Analysis
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Oct 07, 2022 |
Sukkos - Two Different Experiences: The Communally Shared? Or the Individual Family History?
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Oct 06, 2022 |
Haftarah Haazinu: Isaiah "Calls Out" the Repugnant "Frum-Capitalist Fast".
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Oct 03, 2022 |
Parshas Haazinu: Did receiveing the Torah leave Moshe physically and psychologically spent?
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Oct 03, 2022 |
Jewish Disunity: Do We Mourn it or Just Accept it Like the Air?
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Oct 03, 2022 |
The Difference Between Yom Kippur in the Biblical Era, and Afterwards
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Oct 02, 2022 |
Hashiveinu HaShem- A Mystical Prayer, or a Rational One?
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Sep 29, 2022 |
Parshas VaYelech: G-d Tells Moshe It Will All Fall Apart After He Dies
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Sep 29, 2022 |
Three Women and the Prayers on Rosh Hashanah
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Sep 25, 2022 |
Isaiah's Graphic Metaphors of the Messianic Era (Haftarah Nitzavim)
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Sep 23, 2022 |
Parshas Nitzavim: What Exactly are the נִסְתָּרוֹת וְהַנִּגְלוֹת? The Approach of Gersonides
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Sep 23, 2022 |
Psalm 27 (לְדָוִד הַשֵּׁם אוֹרִי) as a Mystical Plea for Ecstatic רוּחָנִיּוּת
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Sep 22, 2022 |
Was Shofar Blowing Moved to Before Mussaf to Accommodate the Marannos?
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Sep 20, 2022 |
The British Empire: R’ Katz Analyzes its Rapid Rise and Rapid Fall in Relation to Klal Yisroel
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Sep 19, 2022 |
Another Tale from Old Baltimore: Henry P. Cohn and the " Yaldei Teheran" Scandal (1943)
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Sep 19, 2022 |
Before Elizabeth II: The Most Famous Eulogy for a Queen in Rabbinic Literature
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Sep 15, 2022 |
What Will be the Role of the Gentiles in the Messianic Era? (Haftarah Ki Savo)
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Sep 14, 2022 |
The Real Reason G-d, Not the Jews, Buried Moses
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Sep 14, 2022 |
Wanting to Repent but Addicted to a Sin - The Curved Shofar
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Sep 13, 2022 |
Nathan Adler Sr. and Rabbi Shimon Schwab: A Baltimore Story
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Sep 11, 2022 |
Is the Davening on the High Holidays Communal or Individualistic?
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Sep 09, 2022 |
Isaiah Discusses the SHAME of Galus (Haftarah Ki-Seitzei)
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Sep 08, 2022 |
Luzzatto's מַאֲמָר עַל הָאַגָּדוֹת: Knowing the Decoding "Grid"
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Sep 07, 2022 |
How Could the Jews Back a בֵּן סוֹרֵר וּמוֹרֶה ( Absalom) as King? (Parshas Ki Seitzei)
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Sep 05, 2022 |
The Very Unusual History of Prusbul: According to the Historical Reconstruction of Rabbeinu Tam
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Sep 04, 2022 |
Isaac Leeser (1806-1868): A Noble but Tragic Figure in American Orthodox Judaism in the 19th Century
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Sep 02, 2022 |
The Oldest (?) paragraph of the Shmoneh Esrei: הָשִׁיבָה שׁוֹפְטֵינוּ כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה
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Sep 01, 2022 |
Thoughts About Russia and the Jews - Occasioned by the Death of Gorbachev
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Aug 31, 2022 |
The Machzor Bnai Roma: One of the Oldest נֻסְחָאוֹת , Now in Danger
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Aug 31, 2022 |
The Role of the Gentiles in the Messianic Process (Haftarah Shoftim)
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Aug 30, 2022 |
Parshas Shoftim: The Strange Attraction Egypt Exercises on Jews
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Aug 29, 2022 |
R' Zundel Salant: The Hero of R' Yisroel Salanter & the Mussarists, a Highly-Original Person
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Aug 28, 2022 |
Jewish Courts in Christian Europe: The Age of the Rishonim
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Aug 28, 2022 |
The Takanos of Frankfurt of 1603 and the Mesirah That Almost Led to Disaster
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Aug 25, 2022 |
R Yosef Albo (1380-1444): His Sefer HaIkarim is Among the Most Popular Books of Religious Philosophy
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Aug 25, 2022 |
No מַחְלֹקֶת When You are Taught Directly by G-d
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Aug 24, 2022 |
The Debate re: בָּנִים אַתֶּם לַיי in the Context of a Dysfunctional Family
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Aug 24, 2022 |
The Great Mussarist R' Aharon Yosef Bakst: An Episode (and Conflicting Versions of It)
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Aug 23, 2022 |
"V'Kabtzeinu Yachad-" How Exactly is That Supposed to Play Out?
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Aug 21, 2022 |
Isaiah the "Novardoker"
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Aug 17, 2022 |
Who was the Leader the Jews Chose to Lead Them Back to Egypt in the Last Year of Moses' Life?
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Aug 17, 2022 |
Praying for Help with Depression: The עִנּוּי in רְאֵה בְּעָנְיֵנוּ
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Aug 16, 2022 |
Rav Hirschprung's Realistic Holocaust Memoir
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Aug 15, 2022 |
Jewish Courts in the Islamic World: The Problem of the Impenetrable
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Aug 14, 2022 |
The Meaning of the גְּאֻלָּה in בִּרְכַּת "רְאֵה נָא בְּעָנְיֵנוּ"
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Aug 11, 2022 |
Why does Isaiah have to COMMAND the Jews to be comforted?
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Aug 10, 2022 |
The Attempts of the Tzfas Beis Din of R' Yosef Karo to Exercise the Authority of a Sanhedrin from Afar
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Aug 09, 2022 |
What is the Significance of מוּל בֵּית פְּעוֹר as the Place Moses Repeated the 10 Commandments? (Parshas VaEschanan)
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Aug 08, 2022 |
Rabbi Katz's schedule on תשעה באב
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Aug 05, 2022 |
Tisha B'Av - The Historical Interpretations of יַעֲרוֹת דְּבַשׁ וְהַמֶּשֶׁךְ חֲכָמָה
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Aug 05, 2022 |
A Human Tale re: טומאת הכהנים in the 18th Century
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Aug 05, 2022 |
Why Did the שְׁכִינָה Depart? Why Do You Think It Will Return With the Way We Act?
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Aug 04, 2022 |
R’ Elchanan Wasserman: Aspects of Who He Was
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Aug 03, 2022 |
Haftarah Shabbos Chazon: When Exactly was This Prophecy Uttered?
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Aug 02, 2022 |
Parshas Devarim: The Strange Story of the Invasion Og's Kingdom
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Aug 01, 2022 |
Sefardim and Ashkenazim - Some Thoughts
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Jul 31, 2022 |
Jeremiah blasts the Rosh Yeshivas (Haftarah Matos-Maasei)
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Jul 28, 2022 |
Parshas Matos-Maasei: The Massacre of the Women and Children
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Jul 27, 2022 |
Rabbi Katz's Schedule in Teaneck this Shabbos
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Jul 26, 2022 |
A Broad Review of Classic Frum Historiography
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Jul 26, 2022 |
The Parts of the שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה Dealing With Aspects of a Future Utopia
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Jul 25, 2022 |
History of the Jews of Galicia, Pt. 3
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Jul 22, 2022 |
The Famous Piyut for This Shabbos, by the Buddy of רגמ"ה, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן הַגָּדוֹל מִמַּגֶנְצׇה
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Jul 22, 2022 |
Haftarah Pinchas: The Significance of the 13th Year of the Reign of Josiah
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Jul 20, 2022 |
Parshas Pinchas: After 40 years of Miracles Etc., the Jews Came This-Close to Extermination...
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Jul 20, 2022 |
R’ Shlomo Ganzfried (1804-1886) Mr. קִצּוּר שֻׁלְחָן עָרוּךְ . The "Goldilocks" Law Code
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Jul 20, 2022 |
R’ Yosef Kapach (1917-2000): The Most Famous Yemenite Scholar of Modern Times
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Jul 17, 2022 |
שִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּתַמּוּז : The Military Facts
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Jul 15, 2022 |
On Bastille Day (July 14th), R’ Katz Analyzes the Effect of the French Revolution on the Jews
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Jul 15, 2022 |
A קִינָה of the Ibn Ezra on the Almohad Massacres of the Jews in Spain and Morocco
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Jul 14, 2022 |
Famous Jewish Historians: Simcha Assaf - Saturday Night Lecture Series
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Jul 13, 2022 |
Haftarah Balak: The Jews as Pillars of Ingratitude
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Jul 13, 2022 |
Parshas Balak: In Hiring Bilaam, was Balak Confusing Cause and Effect?
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Jul 12, 2022 |
Rabbi Ruderman: A Sociological Consideration, in Light of the Approach of R’ Yisroel Salanter
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Jul 11, 2022 |
עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת חֻקַּת שְׂרֵפַת הַתַּלְמוּד בְּפָרִיס - "שַׁאֲלִי שְׂרוּפָה בְּאֵשׁ"
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Jul 08, 2022 |
R’ Joshua Boaz - The שִׁלְטֵי הַגִּבּוֹרִים: A Short, Meteoric, Career Renaissance Italy (1518-1555)
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Jul 06, 2022 |
Similarities of the Ammonite-Israel Territorial Dispute and Today’s Kineret Sovereignty Dispute
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Jul 05, 2022 |
Parshas Chukas: Moses Deviates from His Instructions re: Edom, and Pays the Price
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Jul 05, 2022 |
The History of the Jews of Galicia, Pt. 2
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Jul 04, 2022 |
The Shalosh Shevuos and Zionism: Yahrtzeit Siyum on כְּתֻבּוֹת
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Jul 01, 2022 |
History vs עֲשָׂרָה הֲרוּגֵי מַלְכוּת Metahistory
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Jun 30, 2022 |
Samuel’s Farewell Address: Bitter but Classy (Haftarah Korach)
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Jun 28, 2022 |
Korach and the Art of Timing (Parshas Korach)
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Jun 28, 2022 |
R' Moshe Schneider (1884-1954): Rosh Yeshiva of the First Lithuanian "Kiruv" Yeshiva Over 100 Years Ago
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Jun 26, 2022 |
Operation Barbarossa: Bigger than כ סיון and One of the Most Tragic Days in Jewish History
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Jun 23, 2022 |
Abarbanel 's Acute Analysis of Joshua's Intelligent Method of Choosing and Dispatching the Spies (Haftarah Shelach)
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Jun 22, 2022 |
The Creation of “Galicia” and the Subjugation of the Jews to the Bureaucratic Absolutist State, Pt 1
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Jun 22, 2022 |
Parshas Shelach: The מְרַגְּלִים Then...and Now
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Jun 21, 2022 |
Reform Rabbi Solomon Freehof (1892-1990)
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Jun 20, 2022 |
The Liturgy of the 20th of Sivan, the Remarkable Epic-Poem of the ש"ך
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Jun 19, 2022 |
R Obadiah Sforno 1470-1580 the Renaissance Gadol
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Jun 17, 2022 |
Why Do We Recite וַיְהִי בִּנְסֹעַ הָאָרוֹן When We Open the Ark?
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Jun 16, 2022 |
What were Joshua's Dirty Clothes? A Different Explanation (Haftarah BeHaaloscha)
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Jun 16, 2022 |
Parshas BeHaaloscha: A Storehouse of Biblical Rhetoric From Moshe and From HaShem
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Jun 15, 2022 |
R’ Dovid Zvi Hoffmann, Pt. 5: Pioneer in Researching the מִדְרְשֵׁי הֲלָכָה
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Jun 12, 2022 |
Thinking About בִּרְכַּת "לַעֲסֹק בְּדִבְרֵי תּוֹרָה" in the Context of the ספר "חובות הלבבות "
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Jun 10, 2022 |
Samson: Raised to a Life of Abstinence But Then - Delilah? (Haftarah Naso)
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Jun 08, 2022 |
Parshas Naso: Why are Sotah and Nazir Davka in This Week's Parsha?
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Jun 08, 2022 |
Parshas Bamidbar: Recruiting an Army That was Not Destined to Fight
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Jun 02, 2022 |
Habakkuk: The Gog-Magog Assault on the Messiah, and the Divine Intervention
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Jun 01, 2022 |
Answering A. Gluck's Question: Why Has Davka Limud-HaTorah Been the Glue? (Shavuos Pt. II)
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May 31, 2022 |
The Famous and Beautiful אַזְהָרוֹת Poem of ibn Gabirol, Traditionally Tecited on Shavuos (Tefilah)
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May 30, 2022 |
Shavuos, Pt. I: Two Models of קַבָּלַת הַתּוֹרָה - First day of שבועות vs. Second Day
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May 30, 2022 |
R’ Dovid Tzvi Hoffman, Pt. 4: Historian of the Mishna
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May 29, 2022 |
Yom Yerushalayim: Thinking About the Shalosh Shavuos and the Day
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May 29, 2022 |
The Future Redemption: Why Will It Be More Impressive Than the Exodus from Egypt? (Haftarah Bechukosai)
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May 26, 2022 |
Does G-d Remember the Kindnesses the Patriarchs Performed for Him? Or Those He Performed for THEM ?
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May 25, 2022 |
Was the Holocaust Indeed the Tochacha? - An Analysis (Parshas Bechukosai)
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May 25, 2022 |
Limud HaTorah: Historically Considered Within the Context of Jewish Survival in a Non-Decadent Way
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May 24, 2022 |
R' Dovid Zvi Hoffmann, Pt. 3: The Only Gadol Who Wrestles with the Arguments of Bible Criticism, Including All the Opinions of the Gentile Scholars
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May 22, 2022 |
Jeremiah Does a Real-Estate Deal Just as the Churban is Seemingly About to Render Such Deals Pointless. Or Is It?
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May 18, 2022 |
G-d is Not Only the Author, He is Also the Editor (Parshas Behar)
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May 17, 2022 |
A Story About a Lady Who Screams at G-d, and is Rewarded (Tefilah)
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May 16, 2022 |
R’ Aharon ben Chaim of Morocco (1545-1632): Author of the Korban Aharon on the Sifra
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May 16, 2022 |
Parshas Emor: Nowadays We Have to Warn the קְטַנִּים re: the גְּדוֹלִים!
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May 11, 2022 |
Does One Need a Class in Formal Logic to Daven Properly (חוֹבוֹת הַלְּבָבוֹת )?
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May 11, 2022 |
Haftarah Emor: Were Gentiles Doing the עֲבוֹדָה in the בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, or was It Just Bad Kohanim?
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May 10, 2022 |
Secular Israeli Culture - How Did It Evolve? Is It Non-Frum or Anti-Frum?
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May 09, 2022 |
R’ Dovid Zvi Hoffmann, Pt. 2 - His Responsa
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May 08, 2022 |
The Rise of Zionism in the Modern Era, and in the Wake of the Collapse of Traditionalism
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May 05, 2022 |
Amos: The Jews' Possession of Israel Will Be Iffy Until the Messianic Era
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May 04, 2022 |
The Remarkable Historical Context of בִּרְכַּת הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב
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May 04, 2022 |
Parshas Kedoshim: What Does Hashem Mean When He Says He is קָדוֹשׁ
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May 03, 2022 |
Rabbi David Tzvi Hoffmann (1843-1921) Pt. I, and Hildesheimer Seminary
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May 03, 2022 |
Psalm 59: An Early Example of Personal Prayer, By a Terrified David Who Questions G-d's (In)justice
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Apr 29, 2022 |
The Anguish of Saul as He Tries to Escape His Destiny (Haftarah Machar Chodesh)
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Apr 28, 2022 |
Parshas Acharei Mos: What Error of Aaron's Sons is Rectified?
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Apr 27, 2022 |
Thoughts on the Holocaust, Jewish Demographics, and the יַד הַשֵּׁם
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Apr 27, 2022 |
Announcing a public lecture on the controversial history of Galicia this Wednesday night
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Apr 25, 2022 |
The Intro to the Epic Poem About Krias Yam Suf by the Giant of Ashkenazic Religious Poetry (Tefilah)
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Apr 20, 2022 |
Isaiah's Messianic Prophecy on the Parallels With Yetzias Mitzraim (Haftarah Last Day of Pesach)
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Apr 20, 2022 |
The Jews Drive Moshe Crazy by the Splitting of the Sea (Seventh Day of Pesach)
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Apr 19, 2022 |
The Four Sons in Modern Times
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Apr 19, 2022 |
What was the 50th Level of Tumah?
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Apr 18, 2022 |
The Piyut of Kaliri and Tosafos Megilas 25a
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Apr 14, 2022 |
Seder Thoughts: The Difference Between the Sedorim of B'nai Brak and Lud (Rabbam Gamliel)
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Apr 13, 2022 |
Rambam vs. Raavad - Why the Egyptians Were Punished If It Was All Prophecied Beforehand
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Apr 12, 2022 |
The Cause of the Slavery and Suffering: The Abarbanel's Masterful Essay
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Apr 12, 2022 |
Rabbi Yaakov Mazeh of Moscow (1858-1924: The Best of the רַבָּנִים מִטַּעַם in Czarist Russia
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Apr 11, 2022 |
Erdogan and Turkey’s Jew-Policy in Light of the History of the Last Century
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Apr 11, 2022 |
Pesach: Why Exactly Did the Jews Leave Early?
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Apr 11, 2022 |
Piyut for Shabbos Hagadol by R Yosef Bonfils, pre-Rashi. Not the halachic poem
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Apr 07, 2022 |
The Special-Role of Hyssop in Purifying Tzaraas and in the Original Passover (Parshas Metzora)
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Apr 06, 2022 |
What Exactly is the Nature of Eliyahu HaNavi's "Kiruv-Project?" (Haftarah Shabbos HaGadol)
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Apr 05, 2022 |
The Connection Between Charoses and the Blood Libel: An Argument by Rabbi Katz
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Apr 04, 2022 |
The Historic Evolution of the Seder Over the Centuries: An Analysis by Rabbi Katz
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Apr 04, 2022 |
Rav Moshe A. Amiel of Antwerp and Tel-Aviv (1882-1946)
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Apr 03, 2022 |
The Strange and Controversial Passage in Ezekiel That Almost Got the Book Buried (Haftara HaChodesh)
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Mar 31, 2022 |
Rabbi Katz discusses Red Wine on Passover and the Blood Libel
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Mar 31, 2022 |
Parshas Tazria: Lashon Hara and צָרַעַת. Did Everyone Who Spoke It Get Tzaraas? It Doesn't Seem So
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Mar 30, 2022 |
Origins of the Passover Seder: An Analysis on the Creation of the Seder and Its Historical Context
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Mar 29, 2022 |
The Maharal on the Egyptianized Jews and Rabbi Katz’ Reflections
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Mar 27, 2022 |
The Famous Piyut of Kaliri on the The Red Heifer Ceremony: אֲצוּרָה וּמֻפְרָשָׁהּ
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Mar 25, 2022 |
Haftarah Shmini: A Bitter Prediction of a Glorious Future for an Undeserving Jewish People
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Mar 24, 2022 |
Parshas Shmini: Aaron was Publicly, Ashamed, But Not Moses! (The Noam Elimelech vs. the Kli Yakar)
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Mar 23, 2022 |
Putin’s Mind: Rabbi Katz Analyzes What's Going on Inside His Head
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Mar 21, 2022 |
The Unknown Story of Rabbi Margulies and the Fight for Yiddishkeit in Modern Italy and Florence
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Mar 20, 2022 |
Jeremiah Blasts the Degeneration of the Korbanos-System to the Point of Human-Sacrifice
|
Mar 18, 2022 |
Did You Notice Esther Never Actually Bows?
|
Mar 16, 2022 |
Purim: The Theme of אֹנֶס in the Purim Story
|
Mar 15, 2022 |
Parshas Tzav: Why Does Hashem Want Presents (מְנָחוֹת)?
|
Mar 14, 2022 |
The Establishment of Public Prayer in Judaism After the Purim Story. A Coincidence?
|
Mar 13, 2022 |
R Shlomo Alkabetz (1505-1584). Author of the Purim Classic מָנוֹת הַלֵּוִי
|
Mar 13, 2022 |
The Famous and Controversial Piyut of אָץ קוֹצֵץ, Hated by the Maskilim
|
Mar 11, 2022 |
The Amalekites Turning Themselves into Sheep - A Midrash?
|
Mar 09, 2022 |
Parshas Zachor and Parshas Vayikra: Contrasting the Rhetoric in Vayikra and the Rhetoric of Samuel's Criticism of Saul
|
Mar 09, 2022 |
Queen Esther - Bacon or Veggies?
|
Mar 07, 2022 |
The Rivam (R' Yitzchak ben Mordechai) vs. Rabbeinu Tam on the Esther Story - Teacher Disproven by Student
|
Mar 06, 2022 |
A Tosafistic History of the Use of the #15 in Prayer
|
Mar 04, 2022 |
Parshas Pikudei: When Moshe Spoke to G-d, Why Did He Care What All the Hockers Were Saying?
|
Mar 03, 2022 |
Why Did Shlomo Reject the Money His Father Had Amassed for Constructing the Temple? (Haftarah Pikudei)
|
Mar 02, 2022 |
Ukrainian Massacres of the Jews in Uman: A Repetition of גְּזֵרוֹת תַּ"ח וְתַּ"ט
|
Feb 28, 2022 |
The War in Ukraine: An Analysis by Rabbi Katz in Its Historical Context and Implications for Israel
|
Feb 27, 2022 |
רָאָה בְּעָנְיֵנוּ, רָפְאֵנוּ: Prayers for Health? Or for Help in Crises?
|
Feb 24, 2022 |
Who Exactly was This Guy Hiram? How Many People With That Name Were There? (Haftarah VaYakhel)
|
Feb 24, 2022 |
The Gold and Silver: Was It Originally From the Egyptians or From the Jews? (Parshas VaYakhel)
|
Feb 23, 2022 |
Parshas VaYakhel: Was the Mishkan a Physical "Substitute" for Moshe to Steady the People?
|
Feb 23, 2022 |
The 16th of Adar: An Enigmatic Date in Megilas Taanis….R’ Katz Speculates
|
Feb 20, 2022 |
Compare & contrast Moshe and Eliyahu on how they dealt with idolatry
|
Feb 18, 2022 |
G-d Shows Moses How to Pray and How He Likes to be Prayed to (Tefilah)
|
Feb 17, 2022 |
The Golden Calf: Who Exactly Made It? (Parshas Ki Sisa)
|
Feb 16, 2022 |
R’ Moshe Feinstein: How Come the אִגְּרוֹת מֹשֶׁה Took-Off Where So Many Others Did Not?
|
Feb 15, 2022 |
Prayer in the Mishkan: Music? Singing? Lyrics? What Happened to the Songs?
|
Feb 09, 2022 |
Why is Ezekiel Talking About the Third Temple When the Second Temple Had Not Even Been Built? (Haftarah Tetzaveh)
|
Feb 08, 2022 |
The Tzitz - What Exactly was Its Role? The Interpretation of the Rashbam (Parshas Tetzaveh)
|
Feb 06, 2022 |
The 9th of Adar: The Sad Birthday of Talmudic מַחְלֹקֶת
|
Feb 06, 2022 |
Rosh Chodesh Tefillah: Why Don't We Pray for Health on Rosh Chodesh?
|
Feb 03, 2022 |
Why Did Shlomo Build the Temple With Forced Labor? Why Conscript Converts to Judaism? (Haftarah Terumah)
|
Feb 02, 2022 |
The Command to Build a Mishkan - A Response to Moshe's Request to See G-d's Face? (Parshas Terumah)
|
Jan 31, 2022 |
הַ"זֶרַע אֱמֶת" רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל הַכֹּהֵן מִמּוֹדֶנָּה 1723-1811
|
Jan 30, 2022 |
Is Shabbos Only for Jews or is There a Part of It That Applies to Gentiles? (Parshas Mishpatim)
|
Jan 27, 2022 |
Chronology and the Torah: The Narration Our Parshas MIshpatim and the Debate About Whether It is in Chronological Order
|
Jan 26, 2022 |
Yishtabach: When did Hashem Choose Shirei Zimrah? (Tefillah)
|
Jan 25, 2022 |
Jeremiah Persuades Them to Free the Hebrew Slaves, But They Change Their Minds (Haftarah Mishpatim)
|
Jan 24, 2022 |
The 23rd of Shvat: Anniversary of the פִּילֶגֶשׁ בְּגִבְעָה Tragedy
|
Jan 24, 2022 |
The Pri Chadash (1659-1698): "רַב חִזְקִיָּה דִּי סִילְבָה הַ"פְּרִי חָדָשׁ
|
Jan 23, 2022 |
The Ten Commandments in Jewish Liturgy - Two Conflicting Dynamics
|
Jan 20, 2022 |
Isaiah and the Curse of Toxic Discourse (Haftarah Yisro)
|
Jan 18, 2022 |
The History of Jewish Political (Coercive) Communities: The 150 Year Hiatus and Its Consequences
|
Jan 18, 2022 |
Is Unity More Important Than Mitzvah-Observance? (Parshas Yisro)
|
Jan 17, 2022 |
Tefilin: Its Historical Context and Why it’s Integral to Tefilah?
|
Jan 13, 2022 |
The Water Problem in the Desert: Why Didn’t HaShem Just Make it Rain Every Day Over the Jewish camp?
|
Jan 13, 2022 |
Was Deborah a Member of the Sanhedrin? Or a Sought-After Arbitrator? (Haftarah Beshalach)
|
Jan 11, 2022 |
Moses the Rhetorician (Parshas Beshalach)
|
Jan 10, 2022 |
The Rescue of the Belzer Rav in the Holocaust…Some Thoughts
|
Jan 09, 2022 |
The Events of the 2nd of Shvat
|
Jan 06, 2022 |
Jeremiah on the Invasion of Egypt by Nebuchadnezzar (Haftarah Bo)
|
Jan 04, 2022 |
Professor Kotsuji (1899-1974): A Ger Tzedek Who was in the Right Place at the Right Time
|
Jan 03, 2022 |
Parshas Bo: Moshe was Relentlessly Recruited for His Suffering When Other Jews Suffered
|
Jan 03, 2022 |
הַדְרָן הִיסְטוֹרִית עַל יְרוּשַׁלְמִי בֵּיצָה
|
Jan 03, 2022 |
Teshuvah and the Chaim Walder Scandal
|
Dec 30, 2021 |
Pharaoh as the Crocodile in the Desert, the Ultimate "Fish Out of Water" (Haftarah VaEra)
|
Dec 29, 2021 |
Jews and Real-Estate in Egypt, Pt. II: Who? How?
|
Dec 28, 2021 |
Rabbi David Nieto (1654-1728): Semicha, a PhD, an MD, and the Hakham of the Spanish Portuguese Community in London During the 18th Century
|
Dec 26, 2021 |
The Famous Sefer Abudarham: The Greatest Work on Jewish Prayer in History
|
Dec 22, 2021 |
"Shaking-Up" of the Middle East in the Messianic Era - What Does the Prophet Mean? (Haftarah Shmos)
|
Dec 22, 2021 |
Parshas Shmos: Did the Jews Cause Their Enslavement By Their Real-Estate Tactics?
|
Dec 20, 2021 |
Joseph Shlomo Delmedigo, the “Yashar MiKandia” (1590-1655)
|
Dec 19, 2021 |
Rabbi Katz's Schedule This Shabbos in Lawrence, NY
|
Dec 16, 2021 |
Tefilah Translations: Tefilah Had Always Existed in Two Tracks
|
Dec 16, 2021 |
How Old is Shlomo in this Haftorah? 12? 20? (Haftarah VaYechi)
|
Dec 15, 2021 |
Parshas VaYechi: Did Yaakov Give Shechem to the Descendants of Prince Shechem?
|
Dec 14, 2021 |
The Jews of Djerba, Tunisia - A Community Still in Existence and All Shomrei Shabbos
|
Dec 12, 2021 |
The Shelah: The Gilded Career of R’ Yeshaya Horowitz (1558-1630)
|
Dec 10, 2021 |
The Prophecy of the Two Sticks: The Two Charismatic Brothers (Haftarah VaYigash)
|
Dec 09, 2021 |
עֲשָׂרָה בְּטֵבֵת: The Famous Selichah About the 3 Tragedies in 3 days
|
Dec 08, 2021 |
Parshas VaYigash: Why Present a Whole Story on How Joseph Bought Up All the Real-Estate?
|
Dec 07, 2021 |
The Day After Chanukah - What Happened?
|
Dec 06, 2021 |
How Old is the Practice of Lighting Chanukah Candles? Did it Come Later?
|
Dec 03, 2021 |
הִדְלִיקוּ נֵרוֹת בְּחַצְרוֹת קָדְשֶׁךָ: Huh?
|
Dec 03, 2021 |
The Vision of Zechariah and How It Impacted the Maccabean Revolt (Haftarah Shabbos Chanukah)
|
Dec 01, 2021 |
Joseph's Economic Plan: Did G-d Tell Him or Did He Come Up With It on the Spot? (Parshas Mikeitz)
|
Nov 29, 2021 |
The Untold Story of Chanukah
|
Nov 29, 2021 |
The Other חנוכה: Inaugurating the Second Temple on the 25th of Kislev (from חגי הנביא)
|
Nov 28, 2021 |
Was עַל הַנִּסִּים Composed as an Anti-Karaite Polemic? (Tefillah)
|
Nov 26, 2021 |
Amos: The Problem is Not Idolatry, It is Social Injustice! Capitalism on Steroids (Haftarah VaYeshev)
|
Nov 26, 2021 |
Parshas VaYeshev: Did the Brothers Realize Their Father Would Never Get Over It?
|
Nov 24, 2021 |
Haskalah and the Internet: Has the Internet Generated a Kind of Haskalah in the Frum World?
|
Nov 22, 2021 |
שַׁבָּת "אוֹת הִיא בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם" Two's company, three's a crowd
|
Nov 19, 2021 |
Is Obadiah Referring to His Own Time, or to the Messianic Era? (Haftarah VaYishlach)
|
Nov 18, 2021 |
Jacob & Esau: A Mediated Encounter vs. Shechem & Dinah: An Unmediated Encounter (Parshas VaYishlach)
|
Nov 17, 2021 |
Rabbi Bernard Revel (1885-1940): Creator of "YU" Whose Lofty Vision Failed Because of Insufficient Funds
|
Nov 16, 2021 |
R' Katz in Rochester at Beth Haknesses Hachodosh Next Week
|
Nov 12, 2021 |
What Do We Mean When We Pray for Osher V'chavod? (Tefillah)
|
Nov 12, 2021 |
Do You Follow Halacha If It Stands in the Way of Scientific Progress? Do Values Govern Technology, or Vice Versa? (Haftarah VaYeitzei)
|
Nov 10, 2021 |
Parshas VaYetzei: Yaakov's State of Mind When He Stops and Dreams
|
Nov 09, 2021 |
The Raavad (1110-1198): The Most Magnificent Figure of a Lost Civilization; if he was one of the four greatest Rishonim, why is he not better-known
|
Nov 08, 2021 |
The Prayer of V'Yitein Lechah M'Tal HaShamayim: What Do Those Words Mean? (Tefillah)
|
Nov 05, 2021 |
Malachi Blasts the Guy Standing By the Kotel Chatting on His Cellphone (Haftarah Toldos)
|
Nov 03, 2021 |
The Story of Rivkah: What Was Her Age? Did She Go to Shem V’Ever or Have an Epiphany on Mt. Moriah?
|
Nov 02, 2021 |
R’ Tzvi Hirsch Kalisher: Mr. אַתְחַלְתָּא דִּגְאֻלָּה -based on the Model of King Cyrus
|
Nov 01, 2021 |
The Sixth Psalm: What Sin is it About?
|
Oct 29, 2021 |
Adonijah: Leader or Dupe? (Haftarah Chayai Sarah)
|
Oct 28, 2021 |
Eliezer - The Snoopy Shadchan (Parshas Chayai Sarah)
|
Oct 27, 2021 |
R' Menahem Kasher: A Brilliant, Atypical Hasid, Determined to Get the Torah Tmimah "Right"
|
Oct 25, 2021 |
Rabbi Katz in Monsey for Shabbos
|
Oct 22, 2021 |
Elisha Helps Ovadiah’s Widow: She Has to Go to the Prophet for a Miracle-But Where’s the Public?
|
Oct 21, 2021 |
"?וְלֹא לִידֵי נִסָּיוֹן" Why Not
|
Oct 20, 2021 |
The War of the Four Kings: Abraham "Chills" with His Non-Jewish Friends and Reaches Prophetic Levels
|
Oct 18, 2021 |
Nissan Back: Unusual Hasidic Pioneer of the Old Yishuv in Palestine
|
Oct 18, 2021 |
Announcement About Rabbi Katz’ History of the State of Israel Winter Lecture Series
|
Oct 15, 2021 |
"V'LeYerushalayim Irchah": If the Messiah Showed Up Tomorrow, How Would We Act? Really (Tefillah)
|
Oct 14, 2021 |
Isaiah: G-d Would Not Have Invested So Much in Abraham Unless He Meant It For the Long Term
|
Oct 13, 2021 |
Why Does Lot Resent Abraham? Family Tensions (Parshas Lech Lecha)
|
Oct 13, 2021 |
The Rizhiner Rebbe: Disneyland and the Bueaucratic-Absolutist State
|
Oct 11, 2021 |
Announcements and Updates from Rabbi Katz
|
Oct 08, 2021 |
The Dispersed Jews: "Return our scattered brethren" - To whom does this refer? (Tefillah)
|
Oct 08, 2021 |
Greece (Yefes) - Ironically Blessed for Covering a Naked Body (Parshas Noach)
|
Oct 06, 2021 |
The Tower of Babel - According to the Drashos HaRan
|
Oct 04, 2021 |
General John Monash (WWI): Literally, the Greatest Jewish General You Never Heard of
|
Oct 04, 2021 |
Parshas Noach: Noah After the Flood - A Different Form of Paradise Lost
|
Oct 03, 2021 |
Parshas Bereishis: What Does G-d Mean When He Says " Adam is Like One of Us?"
|
Oct 01, 2021 |
The History of Simchas Torah: An Invented Holiday, Which Took-Off Like Wildfire. Why?
|
Sep 27, 2021 |
The Strange History of Hoshanah Rabbah: A Lesser-Known Aspect of the Biblical Sukkos Holiday
|
Sep 26, 2021 |
Ketores and Arba Minim: two types of unity, five days apart
|
Sep 24, 2021 |
The Arbah Minim: How Do the Arbah Minim Defeat the Four Kingdoms of Exile?
|
Sep 23, 2021 |
Chanoch ben Moshe (10th century, Spain): Torah, Brilliance, and Machlokes
|
Sep 20, 2021 |
Sukkos: A Holiday to Be Celebrated in Israel, Yet Commemorating Galus…Strange
|
Sep 20, 2021 |
Yom Kippur: Why Does the Chumash Not Mention Teshuvah on Yom Kippur, Just Kapparah?
|
Sep 15, 2021 |
Parshas Haazinu: Just Before He Dies, Moshe Has the Jews Memorize a Scary Poem
|
Sep 15, 2021 |
The Tashbetz: MD, PhD Gadol and Posek
|
Sep 13, 2021 |
An Insight into a Passage in the Rambam's הִלְכוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה
|
Sep 10, 2021 |
Shabbos Shuva Announcement: The Relationship Between Yom Kippur and Repentance- A Short History
|
Sep 10, 2021 |
Rosh HaShanah: Why is שְׁבָרִים "Male"? Why is תְּרוּעָה "Female"?
|
Sep 06, 2021 |
Which Tekios are the Ones Which Confuse Satan? - The Baal HaMaor and The Raavad
|
Sep 05, 2021 |
Scratching Beneath the Surface of the Debate About Blowing Shofar During the Silent Amidah
|
Sep 03, 2021 |
How Did Christianity Become Identified with Edom? (Haftarah Nitzavim)
|
Sep 02, 2021 |
Parshas Nitzavim: Moses Fears That Nostalgia for Egypt May Trump 40 Years of Miracles in the Desert
|
Sep 01, 2021 |
Rabbi Dr. Bernard Illowy (1814-1871): The Only Talmid Chacham in Mid-19th Century America, Other Than Rabbi Abraham Rice
|
Sep 01, 2021 |
The Shofar Mystery: How Did Rabbi Avahu Get the Jewish people to Change the Way They Had Always Blown Shofar?
|
Aug 26, 2021 |
Utopia on Steroids: The Glorious Future Predicted By the Prophet Isaiah (Haftarah Ki Savo)
|
Aug 25, 2021 |
A History of the Piyutim Controversies: The Classic Debates About Adding Piyutim to the Liturgy
|
Aug 25, 2021 |
Parshas Ki Savo: Is the Speech We Read Identical With the One Delivered By Moses? Or is It Edited?
|
Aug 23, 2021 |
Selichos: Its Origins and Evolution - Several Completely Different Paradigms
|
Aug 22, 2021 |
Isaiah's Prophecy: The Childless Woman Suddenly Has Five Sets of Triplets! (Haftarah Ki Seitzei)
|
Aug 19, 2021 |
Elul, Pt. 2: The Ran on the Original Elul - Did the Jews Pray? Or Just Moses?
|
Aug 19, 2021 |
T’kah Bshofar Gadol:Shofar As Audial Wakeup Call, Flag As Visual Wakeup Call. What's the Difference?
|
Aug 18, 2021 |
Parshas Ki Seitzei: The Strange Law About the Captive Woman.
|
Aug 18, 2021 |
The Maharil: " Mr. Ashkenazi Minhag"
|
Aug 17, 2021 |
Elul, Pt.1: What Exactly Happened That Original Elul?
|
Aug 12, 2021 |
Parshas Shoftim: How Can You Raise an Army If You Let All the "Chickens" Leave?
|
Aug 11, 2021 |
Will Jews Be Nostalgic for Galus When Returning to Israel in the Messianic Era? (Haftarah Shoftim)
|
Aug 11, 2021 |
רַבִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל אִיסֶרְלַיין בַּעַל "תרוּמַת הַדֶּשֶׁן Super charisma in the wake of holocaust
|
Aug 10, 2021 |
Parshas Shoftim: Moses' Seemingly Confusing Political System
|
Aug 10, 2021 |
Elul and the Connection Between the Arei Miklat (Tefillah)
|
Aug 08, 2021 |
Krias Shema: The Most Demanding of Prayers?
|
Aug 05, 2021 |
Will There Be Anti-Semitism in the Messianic Era? (Haftarah Re'eh)
|
Aug 05, 2021 |
Parshas Re’eh: Moses Warns Against Seeking Novel Religious Experiences
|
Aug 03, 2021 |
The Mordechai: R’ Mordecai Ben Hillel - The Greatest of the Melaktim
|
Aug 03, 2021 |
Why Didn't Hashem Take the Jews to Some Safe Empty Prosperous Island, Far from Gentile Influence?
|
Jul 29, 2021 |
Isaiah's Predictions of a Glorious Future: Zion Discovers She is Not Childless (Haftarah Eikev)
|
Jul 29, 2021 |
Parshas Eikev: Was Moshe Responding Emotionally to the Faces and Expressions of His Audience?
|
Jul 28, 2021 |
Hashivah Shofteinu K’Vahrishinah: The Original Meaning, and the Current Meaning (Tefillah)
|
Jul 26, 2021 |
The Meam Loez: The First ArtScroll, Torah as Middlebrow Culture
|
Jul 25, 2021 |
Isn’t It Out of Order?: רְאֵה נָא בְּעָנְיֵנוּ
|
Jul 23, 2021 |
How Much Should We Mourn After Tisha B'Av? R’ Joshua and the Extremes
|
Jul 22, 2021 |
Nachamu Nachamu: What was the Context of This Prophecy of Isaiah’s? (Haftarah Shabbos Nachamu)
|
Jul 21, 2021 |
Parshas VaEschanan: Why Was Moses Commanded to "Buck-Up" Joshua?
|
Jul 21, 2021 |
Shlomo ibn Gabirol (11th Century): The Greatest of the Medieval Poets
|
Jul 19, 2021 |
Kinnos with Rabbi Dovid Katz (2019)
|
Jul 17, 2021 |
Rabbi Katz’ Kinnos Will Be Live-streamed on Sunday Morning at 9:30am On His Youtube Channel
|
Jul 16, 2021 |
Why a Haftarah from Isaiah, and Not Jeremiah? (Haftarah Shabbos Chazon)
|
Jul 15, 2021 |
Why Do We Only Say Tefillas Nachem at Minchah on Tisha B’Av? (Tefillah)
|
Jul 15, 2021 |
Parshas Devarim: Are These Moshe's Actual Words? Or G-d's Editing of Them?
|
Jul 14, 2021 |
Edmond Rothschild and His Strange Relationship to His Own Judaism
|
Jul 12, 2021 |
Jeremiah Blasts the Jews - "You're not just unfaithful, you're stupid!" (Haftarah Matos-Masei)
|
Jul 08, 2021 |
The Brachah of Attah Chonen and Its Meaning
|
Jul 07, 2021 |
Parshas Matos-Maasai: Is Revenge a Jewish Value? Nationally? Individually?
|
Jul 06, 2021 |
Montefiore: The Greatest Jewish Layman - The First to Act for Klal Yisrael
|
Jul 05, 2021 |
R’ Katz Discusses the Maimonidean Controversies of the 13th Century
|
Jul 02, 2021 |
How Old Was Jeremiah When He Started to Prophesy? (Haftarah Pinchos)
|
Jun 30, 2021 |
Parshas Pinchos: Did the Sin of Moabite Women Really Deserve Total Extermination?
|
Jun 29, 2021 |
The Barech Aleinu Brachah: Help Us Against the Unscrupulous Capitalist Hoarders
|
Jun 28, 2021 |
Shivah Assar B’Tamuz: What Exactly Happened? Why are the Fast Days Destined to Be Feast Days?
|
Jun 27, 2021 |
They Want to Know HOW to Repent, for Real and Michah’s Reply (Haftarah Balak)
|
Jun 24, 2021 |
The V’Lamalshinim Brachah in Shemonah Esrei: Are We Supposed to Hate Our Enemies?
|
Jun 24, 2021 |
Bil'am: Father of "Woke" culture
|
Jun 22, 2021 |
The Merkeves HaMishnah on the Rambam
|
Jun 20, 2021 |
Was Yiftach a Shofet of Klal Yisroel or Just Captain-General of Ever HaYarden? (Haftarah Chukas)
|
Jun 17, 2021 |
Parshas Chukas: The Well of Miriam - What Exactly Was It?
|
Jun 16, 2021 |
Learning and Davening for the Non-Frum in the Context of the State of Israel
|
Jun 15, 2021 |
Yosef Ben Yehudah and the Rambam: The Difficult But Fascinating Quest for Emunah Tzerufah
|
Jun 13, 2021 |
Aleinu (The Second Paragraph): A Prayer of Pure Universalism, Something Most Unusual in Jewish Liturgy
|
Jun 11, 2021 |
Is Prayer Real? - Maimonides Guide to the Perplexed III 32 (Tefillah)
|
Jun 10, 2021 |
Samuel's Humiliation: What Goes Around Comes Around? (Haftarah Korach)
|
Jun 08, 2021 |
Parshas Korach: Moses v. Korach - The Fickle Public Went For the Rich Guy in the Empty Suit
|
Jun 08, 2021 |
Anniversary of the Spanish Pogroms of 1391 - Rosh Chodesh Tamuz
|
Jun 06, 2021 |
How to Talk to G-d Without Committing the Error of Idolatry (Tefillah)
|
Jun 03, 2021 |
Rachav and Her Odyssey From Zonah to Ger Tzedek
|
Jun 02, 2021 |
Parshas Shelach: The Meraglim and the Canaanites - Who Was More Scared?
|
Jun 02, 2021 |
The 1648 Massacre and the 1171 Massacre
|
Jun 01, 2021 |
Jeroboam Builds His "Berlin Wall"
|
May 31, 2021 |
Why is the Kedushah Done Communaly? (Tefillah)
|
May 27, 2021 |
Intermarriage: Whose Fault is It? (Haftarah BeHaaloscha)
|
May 26, 2021 |
Parshas Behaaloscha: The Political Message of the Menorah
|
May 25, 2021 |
NEW Youtube Lecture Series on Yiddish! Beginning This Week
|
May 23, 2021 |
R Eleazar Fleckeles, the last of the great rabbis of Prague. Sworn foe of Frankists
|
May 23, 2021 |
The Saducees: Theology? Cult? Political party?
|
May 21, 2021 |
Praying for “Peace” - What Do You Have in Mind? (Tefillah)
|
May 21, 2021 |
Parshas Naso: The Adulterous Wife vs. the Hypocritical Husband
|
May 20, 2021 |
Samson's Nezirus: Training for Espionage? (Haftarah Naso)
|
May 19, 2021 |
The Aseres HaDibros in Epic Poem Form - A Religious and Literary Masterpiece (Tefillah)
|
May 13, 2021 |
Parshas Bamidbar: The Flags - The Existential Struggle Between the Different Forces in Klal Yisroel
|
May 12, 2021 |
The Prophet Hosea and His Theme of "Idolatry = Marital Infidelity" (Haftarah BaMidbar)
|
May 11, 2021 |
Shavuos: Two Messages of the Book of Ruth - The Timely and the Timeless
|
May 10, 2021 |
The 3rd Paragraph of Shmoneh Esrei: Why “V’Shimchah Kadosh?” (Tefillah)
|
May 09, 2021 |
Rabbi M. Cahn of Fulda, Imperial Germany: Torah Im Derech Eretz in Action and a Lobbyist Supreme
|
May 09, 2021 |
Shavuos: Was Matan Torah Experienced as an Uplifting, or as a Depressing, Event?
|
May 06, 2021 |
Performing a Real-Estate Deal on the Titanic - Jeremiah Ch. 32 (Haftarah Behar-Bechukosai)
|
May 06, 2021 |
The Tchebiner Rav: The Greatness of the Galitzianers - Really
|
May 05, 2021 |
Parshas Behar-Bechukosai: The Tochachah - The Fate of the Survivors, the Nisharim.
|
May 04, 2021 |
Shavuos: Zman Matan Torasainu or Zman Matan Aseres Hadibros?
|
May 03, 2021 |
The Second Brachah of Shemonah Esrei: Why Did They Make It All About Resurrection? (Tefillah)
|
May 02, 2021 |
Lag B’Omer: R Akiva Teaching R’ Shimon bar Yochai After His Students Perished?
|
Apr 28, 2021 |
The Passage in Ezekiel That Almost Got the Book Banned (Haftarah Emor)
|
Apr 28, 2021 |
The First Three Paragraphs of the Shemonah Esrei
|
Apr 26, 2021 |
Parshas Emor: The Kohen vs. the Talmid Chacham. Two Different Models of Elitism
|
Apr 26, 2021 |
Orobio de Castro: The Marrano Champion of Judaism
|
Apr 25, 2021 |
Henry Morgenthau: An Assimilated Jew Encounters His Jewish Identity in the Crucible of the Shoah
|
Apr 23, 2021 |
Amos Tells the Jews They Could Lose Israel Very Easily (Haftarah Acharei Mos-Kedoshim)
|
Apr 21, 2021 |
The Chaotic World of Unregulated Synagogues in the Second Temple Era (Tefillah)
|
Apr 21, 2021 |
Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim: What is the Precise Meaning of “Kedoshim Tihiyu?”
|
Apr 20, 2021 |
Romanian Jewry: The Fascinating Observations of a Hungarian Rav on Romanian Jewry in the Holocaust
|
Apr 18, 2021 |
Parshas Tazria-Metzora: Leprosy a Punishment for Lashon Hara - Really?
|
Apr 15, 2021 |
Prayer in the Second Temple Era, Part II (Tefillah)
|
Apr 13, 2021 |
Was Gechazi a Moral Hero? Or an Expedient Opportunist? (Haftarah Tazria-Metzorah)
|
Apr 13, 2021 |
R’ Yitzchak Alfasi - “The Rif” (1013-1103): The Pluses and Minuses of the "Reader's Digest" Approach
|
Apr 12, 2021 |
Parshas Shmini: Nadav and Avihu - What Exactly Happened?
|
Apr 08, 2021 |
Prayer in the Second Temple Era, Part I (Tefillah)
|
Apr 08, 2021 |
Was King David Right in Introducing "Carlebach" Music in the Aron Parade? (Haftarah Shmini)
|
Apr 06, 2021 |
Nathan Birnbaum (1864-1937): The Most Famous and Controversial Baal Teshuva of 100 Years Ago
|
Apr 06, 2021 |
Haftarah Last Day of Pesach: The End of Passover and the Violent (?) Messianic Process
|
Apr 02, 2021 |
Last Day of Pesach: Pharaoh and the Eirev Rav
|
Apr 01, 2021 |
Piyutim and Shul Fighting: A Poem from the 13th Century
|
Mar 31, 2021 |
Judah Al-Charizi (12th Century): Greatest (?) of the Sefardic Poets of the Golden Age
|
Mar 31, 2021 |
Seder Thoughts: The "Three-Model" vs. the "Four-Model"
|
Mar 26, 2021 |
HaRav Yosef Tov Elem's Tour de Fource: The Famous Piyut ""Elokei Ruchos L'Chol Bassar"
|
Mar 24, 2021 |
The Mission of the Prophet Elijah in the Messianic process (Haftarah Shabbos HaGadol)
|
Mar 23, 2021 |
Parshas Tzav: Reciting Korbanos vs. Understanding Korbanos
|
Mar 22, 2021 |
Haggadah Thoughts: Two competing Seders? R’ Akiva vs. R’ Gamliel
|
Mar 21, 2021 |
Dr. Elijah Montalto (1567-1616): Among the Most Famous Marranos Who Returned to Judaism and the Most Famous MD
|
Mar 21, 2021 |
Tefillah: A New Series on Prayer and Prayers in Jewish History
|
Mar 18, 2021 |
Isaiah's Bitter Diatribe Against Jewish Willful Stupidity During the Reign of Ahaz (Haftarah VaYikrah)
|
Mar 17, 2021 |
Parshas VaYikrah: King David's Anguish at His Inability to Defend the Korbanos in Debate with Gentiles and Heretics
|
Mar 16, 2021 |
R' Aryeh Levin (1885-1969): The Only Tzadik Genuinely Venerated By Both Frum and Non-Frum in Modern Times
|
Mar 15, 2021 |
The Most Difficult Haftorah of the Year (Haftarah Parshas HaChodesh)
|
Mar 10, 2021 |
Parshas VaYakhel-Pekudei: Which Has Worked Better? Mishkan or Shabbos?
|
Mar 09, 2021 |
Rabbi Leone Modena of Venice - A Posek Who Taught Dancing (and Many Other Subjects)
|
Mar 08, 2021 |
Ezekiel's Prophecy of an Undeserved Redemption (Haftarah Ki Sisah)
|
Mar 03, 2021 |
Parshas Ki Sisa: Where Does It Say You May Not Make an Idol of Hashem?
|
Mar 01, 2021 |
"The Akedah" - R’ Yitzhak Arama (15th Century Spain): Author of the "Cheater-Book" Used By Generations of Pulpit Rabbis
|
Mar 01, 2021 |
Esther vs. Ezra: Competitive Narrative-Sensibilities
|
Feb 24, 2021 |
Parshas Tetzaveh: Aaron's Splendid Clothes and His Splendid Temperament
|
Feb 22, 2021 |
A Purim Insight of R’ Y. Eibeschutz in Its Historical Context
|
Feb 21, 2021 |
Thoughts on Purim: Three Open-Ended Questions About the Purim Story
|
Feb 18, 2021 |
Parshas Trumah: Why Did G-d REQUEST a Mishkan, But Seemed Not Interested At All in a Bais Hamikdash?
|
Feb 17, 2021 |
Haftarah Zachor: Saul and the Amalekites - Why Did He Think of Them as Innocent?
|
Feb 15, 2021 |
The "Levush": The "Goldilocks” Version of the Shulchan Aruch - and In the 16th Century!
|
Feb 14, 2021 |
The Story of Joash Repairing the Temple. What had Athaliah Done? Two Versions - (Haftarah Shekalim)
|
Feb 11, 2021 |
Parshas Mishpatim: Onkelos, His Audience, and Seeing G-d Standing Next to a Sapphire Brick
|
Feb 09, 2021 |
The 23rd of Sivan: Another Holocaust Which Did Not Happen
|
Feb 07, 2021 |
Isaiah is Told of Impending Doom for the Kingdom of Judah, and Nothing Will Stop It - Haftarah Yisro
|
Feb 03, 2021 |
Parshas Yisro: Why the Preoccupation With Staying Away From the Mountain?
|
Feb 01, 2021 |
The "Rashba" - R’ Shlomo ben Adret (1235-1310): Baal HaBayis, Rosh Yeshiva, Posek and Royal Troubleshooter
|
Feb 01, 2021 |
Deborah: What Kind of a Judge Was She, Exactly? - Haftarah Beshalach
|
Jan 28, 2021 |
Parshas Beshalach: Why Did Miriam Organize a Dance at the Red Sea?
|
Jan 28, 2021 |
R’ Eliezer Silver: The Successes and Failures of the Agudas HaRabbonim - Pt. 1
|
Jan 27, 2021 |
Jeremiah Blasts the Jews Who Flee to Egypt: "You Are Fleeing to Hiroshima!" - Haftarah Bo
|
Jan 20, 2021 |
Parshas Bo: Why Does G-d Deceive Pharaoh With That Request to Leave for Only Three Days?
|
Jan 19, 2021 |
The Sheldon Adelson Phenomenon: An Interpretation Based on the Noda B'Yehudah and the Yaaros Dvash
|
Jan 17, 2021 |
The Crocodile Dropped Into the Sahara - Haftarah VaEra
|
Jan 14, 2021 |
Parshas VaEra: Why Show Respect to a Bum Like Pharaoh?
|
Jan 13, 2021 |
R Yehiel Weinberg - "The Seridei Aish" (1884-1966): Can One Be Yeshivish and Not Yeshivish At the Same Time?
|
Jan 12, 2021 |
Isaiah Predicts Destruction Followed By Restoration - Haftarah Shmos
|
Jan 07, 2021 |
Parshas Shmos (2020): Unpacking the Hotel Incident - Did G-d Really Intend to Kill Moses After so Heavily Recruiting Him?
|
Jan 05, 2021 |
Rabbi Moshe Oster of Brody (1710-1785): Life in the Kloiz of the Early Modern Era
|
Jan 03, 2021 |
David and Joab: A Complex of Emotions National-Security Issues - Haftarah VaYechi (2020)
|
Dec 31, 2020 |
Parshas VaYechi (2020): Why Did Yaakov Have a "Gentile" funeral?
|
Dec 30, 2020 |
The "Ksav Sofer" of Pressburg (1825-1872): Steering the Ship Through Stormy Waters.
|
Dec 29, 2020 |
The Sticks of Moses vs. the Sticks of Ezekiel - Haftarah VaYigash (2020)
|
Dec 23, 2020 |
Parshas VaYigash: The Revelation, Shock, and Heart-Attacks in the Parsha
|
Dec 23, 2020 |
Shlomo Molcho (1500-1532) - Who Wanted to Raise a Jewish Army to Conquer Israel in the 16th century
|
Dec 21, 2020 |
Solomon’s Wisdom: What Kind of Wisdom Did He Request? What Kind Did He Get? -Haftarah Mikeitz (2020)
|
Dec 18, 2020 |
Parshas Mikeitz (2020): Had They Succeeded in Killing Joseph, Would They Have Survived the Famine?
|
Dec 16, 2020 |
Chanukah (2020): Who Were the "Greeks" of the Chanukah Story?
|
Dec 13, 2020 |
The Prophecy of Haggai: Did It "Cause" the Miracle of Hanukkah?
|
Dec 09, 2020 |
Chanukah (2019): Women Refraining from Work the Entire Eight Days of Chanukah
|
Dec 09, 2020 |
Parshas VaYeshev (2020): Why Doesn't Joseph Try to Contact His Father?
|
Dec 09, 2020 |
Menashe ben Israel of Amsterdam (1604-1657): "The Jonathan Sacks of the 17th Century"
|
Dec 08, 2020 |
Halacha Headlines Podcast
|
Dec 03, 2020 |
Haftarah VaYishlach (2020): Who was Ovadia? Why Does He Hate Edom?
|
Dec 02, 2020 |
Parshas VaYishlach (2020): Did Yaakov's Children Really Have Idols? The Aftermath of the Massacre
|
Dec 01, 2020 |
R' Moshe Hayyim Luzzatto (1707-1747): The Genius Who Didn't Fit Into the Regular Yeshivish Patterns.
|
Nov 29, 2020 |
Hoshea's Gloom and Doom - Haftarah (VaYetzei)
|
Nov 26, 2020 |
Parshas VaYetzei: Where is the Yeshiva of Shem? Why is Yaakov There?
|
Nov 25, 2020 |
The Aruch LaNer - R' Yaakov Ettlinger (1798-1871): Last of the "Old School" Geonim in Germany, First of the "New School"
|
Nov 24, 2020 |
The Book of Malachi and Its Critique of
Formal Religion - Haftarah (Toldos)
|
Nov 19, 2020 |
Parshas Toldos (2020): The Portentous Oracle - “Rav Yaavod Tzair”
|
Nov 19, 2020 |
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: The Only Orthodox Rabbi to Make a Kiddush Hashem in "the World."
|
Nov 17, 2020 |
Adonijah: Is This a Coup? Is This a Rebellion? - Haftarah Chayai Sara
|
Nov 12, 2020 |
Parshas Chayai Sara: The Strange and Enigmatic Keturah Story
|
Nov 11, 2020 |
“The Maharik” (R’ Joseph Colon): The Greatest Gadol in Italian History
|
Nov 11, 2020 |
The "Gechazi Phenomenon" Then and Now - Haftarah Vayera
|
Nov 06, 2020 |
Parshas VaYera: Whatever Happened to Lot, Anyway?
|
Nov 03, 2020 |
Rabbi Abraham Rice, the First Rov in the USA. Tragedy of a Talmid Chacham in a Philistine Jewish Community
|
Nov 02, 2020 |
Parshas Lech Lecha: Abraham and the Two Fateful Interviews With Sodom and Malki Tzedek
|
Oct 29, 2020 |
R' Aryeh Tzvi Fromer: One of the Last of the Great Poilishe Geonim and Author of the Fascinating Responsa Eretz Tzvi
|
Oct 29, 2020 |
Parshas Noach: Why Couldn't G-d Think of an Alternative to Mass Genocide?
|
Oct 23, 2020 |
The Maharashdam- R' Shmuel de Medina of Salonika (1505-1589): One of the Greatest Sephardic Responsa Writers of All Time
|
Oct 21, 2020 |
R’ Katz's new lecture series will be livestreamed Saturday nights at 9:00 PM
|
Oct 16, 2020 |
Parshas Bereishis: Blaming the Snake
|
Oct 16, 2020 |
R Shmuel Landau, Son of the Noda B'Yehudah (1750-1834): The Challenge of Being a Great Man's Son
|
Oct 14, 2020 |
Rabbi Samson Morpurgo of Ancona: Classic Italian "Torah u-Madda"
|
Oct 07, 2020 |
R' Hile Wechsler: Yekke Critic of German Jewry, Criticized by Contemporaries But Vindicated (Terribly) by History
|
Oct 06, 2020 |
The Meaning of the Ushpizin Ceremony - Perception vs. Reality (Sukkos 2020)
|
Oct 05, 2020 |
Sukkos 2020: The History of the Sukkah as a Diras Kevah?
|
Oct 02, 2020 |
R' Betzalel Ransburg (1760-1820): The Great Prague Scholar With a Gift for Making Lomdus Chatty
|
Sep 30, 2020 |
Parshas Haazinu: The Interplay Between Divine Providence and Antisemitism
|
Sep 24, 2020 |
Yaakov HaLevi Lifschitz (1838-1922): The Brilliant and Controversial Secretary of R’ Y.E. Spector
|
Sep 21, 2020 |
Rosh HaShanah 5781: If the Jewish People Unite, Do They Need to Repent?
|
Sep 16, 2020 |
R' Meir Malbim (1809-1879): The Only Gadol in Lomdus Who Decided to Concentrate on Explaining Tanach
|
Sep 15, 2020 |
Parshas Nitzavim-VaYelech: What Does V’Hashevosah El L’Vovechah Mean and Can It Be Translated?
|
Sep 10, 2020 |
The Maharatz Chayas, R’ Tzvi Hirsch Chayes of Galicia (1805-1855) - A Gadol, Historian and Maskil
|
Sep 09, 2020 |
The Marcheshes (1864 - 1941): R’ Chanoch Agus of Vilna
|
Sep 07, 2020 |
The Tochachah - Warnings About Life in the Diaspora?
|
Sep 02, 2020 |
The Lehren Bros. and the Old Yishuv: Learning and Nothing But Learning
|
Aug 31, 2020 |
Parshas Ki Seitzei: Moshe Calls Attention to Various Dangerous Behaviors Between the Sexes
|
Aug 27, 2020 |
The Margoliyos HaYam (1889-1971) and the Haredi Haskalah
|
Aug 24, 2020 |
Parshas Shoftim: How to Be One's Own Judge and Policeman
|
Aug 21, 2020 |
R’ Nesanel Weil: Chief Rabbi of Karlsruhe, Who Became Famous For His Commentary on the Rosh.
|
Aug 18, 2020 |
A Short History of Talmudic Translations and Their Cultural Significance
|
Aug 16, 2020 |
Parshas Re’eh: Moses Admonishes the Jews Not to Destroy the Bais HaMikdash....Hmm
|
Aug 12, 2020 |
Steinsaltz and the Revolution in the Popularization of Gemara; An Unforeseen Event in Judaism
|
Aug 10, 2020 |
The Genre of Midrash: A Long Discussion
|
Aug 06, 2020 |
Dr. Deutschlander: Not Just an Educator, But an Educationist! A Tragic Life Full of Accomplishments
|
Aug 04, 2020 |
Parshas VaEschanan: Shabbos- Theology or Gratitude?
|
Jul 31, 2020 |
Is Tisha B’Av a day of despair? Washing Hands on Tisha B’Av From a Mystical Perspective
|
Jul 27, 2020 |
Parshas Devarim: Does the Word “Devarim” Mean "Words" or "History"
|
Jul 23, 2020 |
The Aftermath of the Bar Kochva War: Retooling for the Long Haul - Ep. 6 (Final Episode)
|
Jul 22, 2020 |
R’ Alexander Shor of Galicia: Author of the Popular Sefer on Shechitah, "The Simlah Chadashah"
|
Jul 20, 2020 |
The War of Bar Kochva: The Hadrianic Persecutions - Searching for the Facts; Ep. 5
|
Jul 19, 2020 |
Parshas Matos-Masei: Is Lebanon Part of Israel?
|
Jul 17, 2020 |
The Jews and Hadrian: Background to the Great Revolt - Ep. 4
|
Jul 15, 2020 |
Rav Kook (1865-1935): A Complicated Gadol
|
Jul 14, 2020 |
The “Five Good Emperors”: The Jews Under Nerva and Trajan - Ep. 3
|
Jul 13, 2020 |
Jews and Romans in the Aftermath of the Destruction: Ep. 2 - Enduring the Unimaginable Pt. 2
|
Jul 12, 2020 |
Jews and Romans in the Aftermath of the Destruction: Episode 1 - Enduring the Unimaginable
|
Jul 09, 2020 |
Parshas Pinchas: Strange Yichus - Pinchas, Potiphar, Shechem
|
Jul 09, 2020 |
The Baal HaTurim, R' Yaakov ben Asher: The Private Scholar Who Wrote the Araba Turim- The Model for the Shulchan Aruch
|
Jul 06, 2020 |
Parshas Balak 2020: The Obscurities in the Account of the Punishment that Followed the Bnos Moav Story
|
Jul 01, 2020 |
R' Esriel Hildesheimer (1820-1899): The Other Great Leader of Orthodox Jewry in Germany (Besides R' Hirsch)
|
Jun 30, 2020 |
Korach, Moses, and the Politics of Ingratitude
|
Jun 25, 2020 |
Rabbi Tzirelson of Kishinev (1859-1941): Founder of Both the Mizrachi and the Agudas Yisrael
|
Jun 21, 2020 |
Parshas Shelach: Canaanite Consumerism?
|
Jun 19, 2020 |
Saadia Gaon (882/892-942): Rosh Yeshiva and Founder of Medieval Haskalah
|
Jun 17, 2020 |
Parshas BeHaaloscha: The Menorah as a Symbol of Moral Leadership, Not Political
|
Jun 11, 2020 |
R’ Yaakov Weil, the Great Ashkenazic Posek of the 15th Century
|
Jun 09, 2020 |
Parshas Naso: Can Sexuality Be Divorced From Prurience?
|
Jun 04, 2020 |
R' Ephraim HaKohen, the Shaar Ephraim (1616-1678): From Vilna to Budapest, an Unusual Combination
|
Jun 03, 2020 |
A Conversation About Jewish Federations, Surveys, and "Unbiased" Statistics
|
Jun 03, 2020 |
R’ Chaim, Brother of the Maharal (1520-1568): Profound Literary- Critic of Halakhic Literature
|
May 26, 2020 |
Parshas Bamidbar: The First Jewish Army in History?
|
May 22, 2020 |
Rabbi Ovadia of Bartenura (1445-1515): The "Second Rashi," the Virtuoso of Tochacha
|
May 20, 2020 |
Parshas Behar-Bechukosai: Is Recurring-Catastrophe a Basic Part of Jewish Destiny?
|
May 14, 2020 |
Rabbi Shmuel Mohilever (1824-1898): "Zionism is the Antidote to Assimilation." True or Not True?
|
May 13, 2020 |
Lag B'Omer in Meta-History and Popular Imagination
|
May 11, 2020 |
Parshas Emor: Are Kohanim Still Holy Nowadays?
|
May 08, 2020 |
UPDATES on Rabbi Dr. Katz's Lectures and Daily Zoom Classes
|
May 05, 2020 |
Rabbi Zerach Eidlitz of Prague (1725-1780): Author of "Ohr LaYesharim," One of the Best Drasha Books
|
May 03, 2020 |
Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim: What Does “קדושים תהיו” Mean Nowadays? Really
|
Apr 30, 2020 |
The Chacham Tzvi (1656-1718): The Ashkenaz Gadol with a Sephardi Semicha
|
Apr 27, 2020 |
Parshas Tazria-Metzora: The House That is Tamei
|
Apr 24, 2020 |
Did the Students of Rabbi Akiva Die on the Original Lag B'Omer?
|
Apr 20, 2020 |
Parshas Shmini 2020 - The Mishkan as a National (Not Tribal) Institution
|
Apr 17, 2020 |
R Yehudah Rosanes of Istanbul (!657-1727): "Author" of the Mishneh L'Melech and the Parshas Derachim
|
Apr 14, 2020 |
Passover 2020: An Insight Into the Positive Psychological Aspect of " Bitterness"
|
Apr 12, 2020 |
Lettuce or Horseradish? A Philosophical Debate
|
Apr 08, 2020 |
Rabbi Avraham Dov Ber Kahana-Shapiro, the "Kovner Rov" (1870-1943) הי"ד
|
Apr 08, 2020 |
Six Passovers in the Bible? A Post Shabbos HaGadol Talk for the Corona Era
|
Apr 05, 2020 |
Whose Truth How Jews and Egyptians Battled Over the Passover Narrative 2000 Years Ago
|
Apr 05, 2020 |
When an Epidemic Strikes, Should You Run or Self-Quarantine?: A brief look at the history of a law in the Shulchan Aruch
|
Apr 01, 2020 |
Rabbi Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg, "HaKesav VaHakabbalah," Rav of Koenigsberg, Prussia (1830-1865) - A Highly Original Commentator
|
Mar 30, 2020 |
Moving from the Top of the Mountain to Its Base: The Story of the Ohel Moed
|
Mar 29, 2020 |
Parshas Vayikra: The "Sacrifice" of Self- Isolation: The Case of Moses
|
Mar 26, 2020 |
Sara Schnirer and Esther Rubenstein - Vilna vs. Cracow
|
Mar 24, 2020 |
Parshas Vaykhel-Pekudei (Parshas HaChodesh) 2020: Two Concepts of “Shevisah” in the Coronavirus Era
|
Mar 19, 2020 |
The "Aruch HaShulchan" Rabbi Yechiel Michel HaLevi Epstein (1929-1908) - One of the Leading Rabbis of the Russian Empire in the 19th Century
|
Mar 18, 2020 |
Rabbi Alexander Ziskind of Grodno - the “Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah” (1720-1794)
|
Mar 13, 2020 |
Parshas Ki Tisa: What’s Worse - Amalek or the Golden Calf?
|
Mar 11, 2020 |
Purim Mesibah 5780: Ad D'Lo Yada, Mordechai and Achdus
|
Mar 10, 2020 |
Parshas Zachor: Was Saul Really Responsible for Haman?
|
Mar 06, 2020 |
R’ Meir of Rothenberg (1215-1293): The Strange Story of His Arrest and Bizarre Imprisonment
|
Mar 04, 2020 |
Parshas Terumah: Was the Mishkan Commanded During the First 40 Days of Moses on the Mountain?
|
Feb 28, 2020 |
The Great Italian Kabbalist R' Immanuel Chai Ricchi (1687-1743) - His Life, Fame and Tragic End
|
Feb 28, 2020 |
R Shabtai Cohen - The "Shach" (1621-1662): Foremost Commentator on the Shulkan Arukh
|
Feb 21, 2020 |
Parshas Mishpatim. "Going up" to the Tetragramaton
|
Feb 19, 2020 |
Parahas Yisro: The Unusual Relationship Between Moshe and Tziporah.
|
Feb 14, 2020 |
R’ Dovid Sinzheim (1745-1812), Napoleon’s Sanhedrin and Alsatian Jewry.
|
Feb 10, 2020 |
Parshas Beshalach: Weren't They Supposed to Head Towards Mt. Sinai Anyway?
|
Feb 07, 2020 |
Rabbenu Nissim ben Reuven (1315-1375): The " RaN in the Back of the Gemara"
|
Feb 04, 2020 |
This Coming Weekend 1/31/20-2/2/20 in the New Jersey-Monsey Area
|
Jan 30, 2020 |
The Tzemach Tzedek - R’ Menachem Mendel Krochmal, (1600-1661): A Fascinating Sefer of Responsa
|
Jan 30, 2020 |
Parshas Bo: The "Borrowers"
|
Jan 29, 2020 |
Parshas VaEra: The Ten Plagues as They Would Have Appeared to Egyptians and to Hebrews
|
Jan 24, 2020 |
Chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler (1803-1890)
|
Jan 21, 2020 |
Parshas Shemos: The Jews Who Didn't Want to Leave
|
Jan 17, 2020 |
Yosef ibn Naghrela - Son of Shmuel HaNagid and Vizier of the Kingdom of Granada, Spain (1035-1066): A Brilliant and Tragic Figure in the Golden Age of Spanish Jewry.
|
Jan 13, 2020 |
Parshas VaYechi: Canaanite Ancestors?
|
Jan 10, 2020 |
"The Shvus Yaakov" - Rabbi Yaakov Reischer (1661-1733)
|
Jan 07, 2020 |
Parshas Vayigash: The Gaping Holes in the Narrative
|
Jan 03, 2020 |
The Chavos Yair (1639-1702) - R’ Yair Chaim Bacharach: A Famous Posek With No Luck in the Rabbinate
|
Dec 31, 2019 |
Parshas Mikeitz: The Fifth Galus - Egypt
|
Dec 27, 2019 |
The " Sedei Chemed" (1834-1904) - Rabbi Haim Hezekiah Medini and Crimean Jewry
|
Dec 26, 2019 |
Is Chanukah a Biblical Holiday?
|
Dec 24, 2019 |
Parshas VaYeshev: Disunity in the Family
|
Dec 19, 2019 |
Abraham Maimonides (1186-1237): Son of the Rambam, a Rishon in His Own Right
|
Dec 17, 2019 |
Parshas VaYishlach: The Rape of Dina in Kabbalistic Terms
|
Dec 12, 2019 |
The Maharshal (1510-1573) - The Most Colorful Rabbinic Personality of the Golden Age of Polish Jewry
|
Dec 11, 2019 |
Parshas VaYetzei: The Lavan Challenge in Jewish History and Meta-History
|
Dec 05, 2019 |
The Maharsha (1555-1631)
|
Dec 04, 2019 |
Parshas Toldos: Yitzchak and the Palestinians, 4,000 years ago
|
Nov 27, 2019 |
R‘ Shalom Shachna of Lublin (1490-1559), the Golden Age of Polish Jewry
|
Nov 26, 2019 |
Parshas Chayai Sarah: Death and Shidduchim
|
Nov 22, 2019 |
R’ Yitzhak Eizik Chaver (1789-1853) - Lithuanian Kabbalist
|
Nov 21, 2019 |
Parshas Vayeira: Sodom - Then and Now
|
Nov 14, 2019 |
The "Radbaz" - Rabbi Dovid ibn Abi Zimra of Spain and Egypt (1479-1573)
|
Nov 12, 2019 |
Parshas Lech Lecha The adventures of the childless couple
|
Nov 08, 2019 |
Rabbi Jonah of Gerona (Spain), 1210-1264 Author of the שערי תשובה
|
Nov 05, 2019 |
Parshas Noach: Disturbing Stories
|
Nov 01, 2019 |
Isaac Abravnel, “The Abarbanel,” (1437-1508)-King of Pshat
|
Oct 28, 2019 |
Bereishis: Eden, Hell, Flaming Swords, and Circumcision
|
Oct 25, 2019 |
Chasam Sofer (1762-1839)
|
Oct 23, 2019 |
Sukkos-A Few Thoughts
|
Oct 13, 2019 |
Parshas Haazinu: Moses’ History of the Future
|
Oct 11, 2019 |
Parshas Vayelech: Pessimism on Shabbos Shuva?
|
Oct 04, 2019 |
The Chayai Adam - R’ Avraham Danzig ( 1748 - 1820)
|
Oct 03, 2019 |
Join R’ Katz on the 1st Day of Chol HaMoed Sukkos on a Special Trip to D.C.’s Museum of the Bible
|
Oct 03, 2019 |
Parashas Nitzavim and Rosh HaShanah
|
Sep 27, 2019 |
Rabbi Yehonasan Eibeschutz (1694-1764)
|
Sep 25, 2019 |
The Tochecha: Trying to Relate It to History and Current Events- Parshas Ki Savo
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Sep 20, 2019 |
The Maharal of Prague (1520-1610)
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Sep 18, 2019 |
דברה תורה כנגד יצר הרע: Parshas Ki Seitzei
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Sep 13, 2019 |
The Rivash (1326-1408): Rabbi Isaac ben Sheshet Prefet of Aragon (in Spain)
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Sep 10, 2019 |
Parshas Shoftim: Political Science
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Sep 06, 2019 |
The Tosafos Yom Tov-Rabbi Yom Tov Lippman Heller (1579-1654)
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Sep 04, 2019 |
Parshas Re’eh- Moses’ Prescient Warnings Against Syncretism
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Aug 29, 2019 |
The Netziv of Volozhin 1816-1893: The Pilot Who Steered the Yeshiva Through Endless Storms-Until Not
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Aug 28, 2019 |
Crusaders and Jews, Pt. 3: The Cyclone Forms-The First Crusade and the Ashkenazic Jews
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Aug 25, 2019 |
Eikev: The Mystery of the Ark of Moses
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Aug 23, 2019 |
Son of the famous R’ Aryeh Levine and One of the Leading עילויים of the Jerusalem of a Century Ago
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Aug 22, 2019 |
R’ Chaim “Brisker” Soloveitchik (1853-1918) and His Historical Significance
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Aug 21, 2019 |
Old Jewish Baltimore Tour-THIS WEEKEND (Aug. 25th)
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Aug 19, 2019 |
Parshas VaEschanan ואתחנן
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Aug 18, 2019 |
Crusaders and Jews, Pt.2: The Age of Rabeinu Gershom and Rashi-Ashkenazic Civilization Develops
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Aug 18, 2019 |
Rav Itzele Peterburger (1937–1907): The Main Disseminator of the Teachings of R’ Yisroel Salanter
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Aug 13, 2019 |
Crusaders and Jews, Pt.1: The Age of Rabeinu Gershom and Rashi-Ashkenazic Civilization Develops
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Aug 11, 2019 |
Parshas Devarim: The Censorious Speech of Moses and Its Connection with תשעה באב
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Aug 09, 2019 |
Preview of Upcoming Saturday Night Lecture Series: Crusaders and Jews: The Massacres of 1096
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Aug 09, 2019 |
R’ Chaim Ozer Grodzinski (1863-1940): A Study in Non- Hasidic Charisma
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Aug 08, 2019 |
Parasha: פרשת מטות מסעי
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Aug 02, 2019 |
The Shaagas Aryeh - R’ Aryeh Leib ben Asher of Minsk and Metz: A Gaon Who Broke the Mold
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Jul 30, 2019 |
Some Insights into Violence, Middle Eastern Politics, and the Shidduch Crisis of the דור המדבר
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Jul 25, 2019 |
Rav Yitzchak HaLevi Herzog (1888-1959)- A Unique Figure, a Gaon and a PhD
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Jul 22, 2019 |
Murdering Jews for Something they did not do: The 20th-21st Centuries The Struggle Goes On - Part 5 (Series Finale)
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Jul 21, 2019 |
Parshas Balak- The Phenomenon of Moses' Inability to Respond to Direct Challenges to His Authority
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Jul 19, 2019 |
Post-Tour Reflections: A Cautionary Judaic Tale
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Jul 18, 2019 |
Some Historical Reflections by Rabbi Katz on the History of Hungarian Jewry in the Modern Era.
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Jul 15, 2019 |
Murdering Jews for Something they did not do: Czarist Russia and the Blood Libel in Modern Times- Part 4
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Jul 14, 2019 |
Vienna Tour: Rabbi Katz and Some Jewish History Thoughts in Vienna
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Jul 11, 2019 |
Prague Jewish History Tour: Reflections on the Jews and Prague
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Jul 09, 2019 |
Murdering Jews for Something they did not do: The Blood Libel in Modern Times - Part 3
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Jul 07, 2019 |
Parshas Korach: Provoking the Nuclear Option
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Jul 04, 2019 |
Fourth of July, USA: Reflections in Jewish History
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Jul 04, 2019 |
Murdering Jews for Something They did not do: Blood Libels: German Madness and Greed in the Middle Ages Part 2
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Jun 30, 2019 |
פרשת שלח Parshas Shelach
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Jun 26, 2019 |
20 Sivan: Anniversary of the Massacres in France, Ukraine and Hungary
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Jun 26, 2019 |
Blood Libels: Murdering Jews for Something They Did Not Do-German Madness in the Middle Ages Part I
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Jun 22, 2019 |
Does the Torah Require Any 'Secular' Knowledge?
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Jun 21, 2019 |
Rabbi Yosef Ergas (1685-1730), The שומר אמונים - Personalities in Jewish History
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Jun 18, 2019 |
Blood Libels: Murdering Jews for Something They Did Not Do- French Madness in the Middle Ages
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Jun 15, 2019 |
Parshas Nasso - Deference for Consensus
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Jun 14, 2019 |
Rabbi Dovid Pardo (1718-1790) of Venice and Sarajevo - Personalities in Jewish History
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Jun 12, 2019 |
The Rema (1525-1572)
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Jun 12, 2019 |
Avraham Ben Avraham | The Ger Tzedek - Vilna 1749 - Personalities in Jewish History
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Jun 04, 2019 |
Saturday Night Lecture Series Preview- Blood Libels: Murdering Jews for Something They Did Not Do
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Jun 02, 2019 |
Parshas Bechukosai-The Tocahachah and Modern Times
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May 30, 2019 |
Rabbi Yitzchak of Volozhin 1780-1849 and the Challenges of Czarist Russia
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May 29, 2019 |
From Chanukah to Tishabav: The Great Revolt, the Civil Wars, and the Churban (Part 4) - Saturday Night Lecture Series (Series Finale)
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May 26, 2019 |
Lag B’Omer- Parshas Behar
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May 24, 2019 |
A Personal Request from Rabbi Katz
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May 23, 2019 |
From Chanukah to Tishabav: The Background to the Great Revolt; the Tragedy of Roman-Jewish Relations (Part 3) - Saturday Night Lecture Series
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May 19, 2019 |
Parshas Emor
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May 17, 2019 |
Maharam Lublin: R’ Meir Lublin 1558-1616 - Personalities in Jewish History
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May 15, 2019 |
From Chanukah to Tishabav (Part 2) - Saturday Night Lecture Series
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May 12, 2019 |
Parshas Kedoshim and the Passion - Imperative
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May 10, 2019 |
Rabbi Yaakov Sasportas 1610-1698 of the Sephardi "Diaspora" - Personalities in Jewish History
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May 08, 2019 |
From Chanukah to Tishabav - SERIES PREMIERE (Part 1) - Saturday Night Lecture Series
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May 05, 2019 |
Parshas Acharei Mos
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May 02, 2019 |
Rabbi Joseph ibn Migash of Spain (1077-1141) - Personalities in Jewish History
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May 01, 2019 |
Something to say @the seder #3
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Apr 18, 2019 |
Something to say at the seder #2
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Apr 17, 2019 |
Nahmanides (רמב"ן) - Personalities in Jewish History
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Apr 16, 2019 |
Something to say @the Seder #1
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Apr 15, 2019 |
פרשת מצורע-Parshas Metzora-Shabbos HaGadol
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Apr 12, 2019 |
Rabbi Shmuel Yehudah Katzenellenbogen of Venice ( 1521-1597) Personalities in Jewish History
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Apr 11, 2019 |
Famous Jewish Historians: Fritz Baer - Saturday Night Lecture Series
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Apr 07, 2019 |
Parshas Tazria - Parshas Hachodesh - Parsha Perspective
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Apr 05, 2019 |
Avrahan Gershom of Kutov, 1701-1761: Personalities in Jewish History
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Apr 03, 2019 |
Famous Jewish Historians: The Doros HaRishonim (HaLevy) - Saturday Night Lecture Series - Part 4
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Mar 31, 2019 |
Parshas Shmini: Nadav and Avihu - Parsha Perspective
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Mar 29, 2019 |
Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin-The Moadim B’Halachah: Personalities in Jewish History
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Mar 27, 2019 |
Famous Jewish Historians - Heinrich Graetz - Saturday Night Lecture Series - Part 3
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Mar 24, 2019 |
Parshas Tzav - A text or a code? - Parsha Perspectives
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Mar 22, 2019 |
@ the Purim Sueda with Rabbi Katz
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Mar 21, 2019 |
Famous Jewish Historians - Azaria dei Rossi - Saturday Night Lecture Series - Part 2
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Mar 15, 2019 |
Parshas Zachor - Where's Amalek? - Parsha Perspectives
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Mar 15, 2019 |
The Kli Yakar: Rabbi Ephraim Luntshitzer (1540-1620) - Personalities in Jewish History
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Mar 13, 2019 |
Famous Jewish Historians: Flavius Josephus - Saturday Night Lecture Series - Part 1
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Mar 10, 2019 |
Parshas Pekudei - Parsha Persepctives
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Mar 08, 2019 |
“Galitzianer Jewry” and The 'Shoel Umayshiv': Personalities in Jewish History
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Mar 07, 2019 |
History of the Jews in Poland: Poles and Jews Since the Fall of Communism- Pt. 6
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Mar 03, 2019 |
Parshas ויקהל - Parsha Perspectives
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Mar 01, 2019 |
R’ Yitzchok Elchonon Spector, 1817 - 1896: Personalities in Jewish History
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Feb 27, 2019 |
History of the Jews in Poland: Poles and Jews in the Holocaust and After- Pt. 5
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Feb 24, 2019 |
Parshas Ki Sisa - Why would they make the Golden Calf? - Parsha Perspective
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Feb 22, 2019 |
Italian Jewry and Rabbi Azarya Figo 1579-1647 - Personalities in Jewish History
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Feb 20, 2019 |
History of the Jews in Poland: Jews in the Reborn Republic of Poland (1918-1939)- Pt. 4
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Feb 17, 2019 |
Old Ashkenazic Jewry and Rabbi Yehuda HaChasid (1150-1217): Personalities in Jewish History
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Feb 13, 2019 |
Parshas Tetzaveh: Parsha Perspectives
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Feb 12, 2019 |
Parshas Teruma: Parsha Persepctives
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Feb 08, 2019 |
History of the Jews in Poland: Jews Under Czarist Rule- Pt. 3
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Feb 07, 2019 |
The Ibn Ezra: Personalities in Jewish History
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Feb 05, 2019 |
Parshas Mishpatim: Parsha Perspectives
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Feb 01, 2019 |
Greece! An exciting Jewish-History tour of Greece with Rabbi Dovid Katz May 13-20, 2019
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Jan 31, 2019 |
History of the Jews in Poland: Crisis! Downfall of the Polish Kingdom (18th Century)- Pt. 2
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Jan 31, 2019 |
History of the Jews in Poland: How Poland Became Home to the Freest Jewish Community- Pt. 1
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Jan 27, 2019 |
Parshas Yisro - Fathers-in-law
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Jan 25, 2019 |
The Pnei Yehoshua: Personalities in Jewish History
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Jan 20, 2019 |
Parshas Beshalach - Faith or Conviction?: Parsha Perspectives
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Jan 18, 2019 |
The Rashash: Personalities in Jewish History
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Jan 16, 2019 |
History of Israel-Considering the Future from the Perspective of the Past - 1952-56 (Season Finale)
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Jan 15, 2019 |
Parshas Bo: Employer- Employee Relationships: Parsha Perspectives
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Jan 11, 2019 |
History of Israel-Zionism in Triumph and Crisis 1952-1956
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Jan 08, 2019 |
History of Israel-The World of American Jewry 1952-1956
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Jan 05, 2019 |
פרשת וארא The Perils of Rationalism
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Jan 04, 2019 |
History of Israel-The Suez Crisis and the Sinai Campaign 1952-1956 (Part 2)
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Jan 03, 2019 |
History of Israel-The Suez Crisis and the Sinai Campaign 1952-1956 (Part 1)
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Dec 29, 2018 |
Shemos: 'Goshens' Does Success Carry its own Ingredients for Failure?: Parsha Perspectives
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Dec 27, 2018 |
Shemos - Moshe the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter: Parsha Perspectives
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Dec 26, 2018 |
Veyechi: Communicating...or not: Parsha Perspectives
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Dec 21, 2018 |
Va'yigash: Joseph, Not a Dreamer but a Master of Dreams: Parsha Perspectives
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Dec 14, 2018 |
חנוכה 2018 Chanukah
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Dec 07, 2018 |
Shabtai Tzvi - After the Bubble Bursts-Part 5
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Nov 30, 2018 |
Shabtai Tzvi: His Era-Part 4
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Nov 16, 2018 |
Shabtai Tzvi: His Era-Part 3
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Oct 18, 2018 |
Noach: The Tower of Babylon: Parsha Perspectives
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Oct 15, 2018 |
Shabtai Tzvi: Kabbalah and Kabbalistic Messianism-Part 2
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Oct 11, 2018 |
Shabtai Tzvi: Messianism in Judaism-Part 1
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Oct 04, 2018 |
Sukkos: An Unusual Take
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Sep 23, 2018 |
History of Israel-Strange Bedfellows: Israel & France 1952-1956
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Aug 12, 2018 |
Adam, Eve, and Sheva Brachos
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Aug 10, 2018 |
History of Israel-The Bear Enters the Middle East: Israel, the USSR, and the Cold War 1953-1956
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Aug 05, 2018 |
History of Israel-Nasser & Arab Nationalism 1952-1956
|
Jul 22, 2018 |
A Tale of the Nine Days in 2018
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Jul 20, 2018 |
History of Israel-The State of Israel and the Jewish Religion 1952-1956
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Jul 15, 2018 |
History of Israel-The Snake-Pit-1952-1956
|
Jul 08, 2018 |
Happy Birthday America
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Jul 06, 2018 |
History of Israel-The Border Wars: Infiltration, Terrorism, Reprisal-Raids 1952-56
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Jul 01, 2018 |
History of Israel-Trying to Get It Right: Israel, Aliyah, Racism 1952-1956
|
Jun 24, 2018 |
History of Israel-Around the (Jewish) World in 80 Minutes in 1953
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Jun 19, 2018 |
History of Israel-Jews in the Shadow of the Holocaust: Coping by Ignoring-1952-1956
|
May 29, 2018 |
European Revolutions: The Twisted Legacy of the Liberal Revolutions on Jewish Religion-Part 6
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May 24, 2018 |
European Revolutions: The Great Liberal Revolutions of 1848 and the Impact on the Jews-Part 5
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May 18, 2018 |
European Revolutions: The Anti-Semitic Reaction of Europe-Part 4
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May 16, 2018 |
European Revolutions: The French Revolution and the Political Fate of the Jews-Part 2
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May 11, 2018 |
European Revolutions: Sufferance is the Badge of Our Tribe-Part 1
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May 10, 2018 |
War Against the Jewish Book: Censorship of Jewish Books, 1600-1900- Part 6
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May 09, 2018 |
War Against the Jewish Book: Popes and the Counter-Reformation- Part 5
|
May 09, 2018 |
War Against the Jewish Book: The Burning of the Talmud- Part 2
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May 08, 2018 |
War Against the Jewish Book: The Late Middle Ages- Part 3
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May 08, 2018 |
War Against the Jewish Book: The Renaissance and New Technology- Part 4
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May 08, 2018 |
War Against the Jewish Book: The First Half of the Middle Ages- Part 1
|
May 06, 2018 |
Rabbis, Presidents, & Immigration
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Apr 25, 2018 |