Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

Follow Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

To help support this podcast, please consider giving a tax deductible contribution here: http://support.rabbidovidkatz.com --- Rabbi Dovid Katz, PhD is lauded for his extensive knowledge of Jewish History, his engaging and insightful lecture series, and eye opening historical international tours.…

Rabbi Dovid Katz


    • Oct 5, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 40m AVG DURATION
    • 1,535 EPISODES

    4.7 from 285 ratings Listeners of Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz that love the show mention: jewish history, fascinating, thank you for sharing, incredible, knowledge, different, interesting, amazing, best, great, listen, rabbonim, minyanim, rabbi katz, r katz.


    Ivy Insights

    The Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz podcast is an absolute treasure for anyone interested in Jewish history. Rabbi Dr. Katz's extensive knowledge and unique perspective make every episode worthy of study. Even if one may disagree with certain aspects of his approach, the podcast offers a fresh way to see historical issues. It's truly amazing to witness the depth of knowledge that one person possesses, and I highly recommend this podcast to anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of Jewish history.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is Rabbi Dr. Katz's eye for detail and unmatched perspective. He has a talent for delving into historical topics and presenting them in an engaging and informative manner. His ability to connect various sources and present a cohesive narrative is truly impressive. Listening to his lectures feels like being transported back in time, as he brings these historical events to life with his expert storytelling skills.

    However, it's worth noting that there may be instances where listeners may disagree with Rabbi Dr. Katz's interpretations or conclusions. This is natural when studying history, as different scholars often have varying perspectives on certain events or figures. While Rabbi Dr. Katz provides a comprehensive understanding of Jewish history, it's important for listeners to approach the material critically and form their own interpretations based on additional research.

    In conclusion, The Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz podcast is an invaluable resource for those interested in Jewish history. Through his extensive knowledge, engaging storytelling skills, and unique perspective, Rabbi Dr. Katz provides listeners with a deep understanding of historical events and figures. While there may be room for differing interpretations, this podcast remains highly recommended for its informative and captivating content.



    Search for episodes from Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

    A Different Understanding of the Holiday of Sukkos

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2025 32:30


    It commemorates events that happened in Tishrei, not Nissan (acc. to R Akiva)

    Sukkos 2025 - The Symbolism of the sukkah under a tree

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2025 31:48


    Sukkah = Jewish Survival in Galus (Branches detached from the soil)Tree = Rootedness in the soilhttps://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    לִשְׁכַּת הַפַּרְוָה בַּעֲבוֹדַת יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים - Who was הַפַּרְוָה? Why does the High Priest purify himself there?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2025 19:16


    Was he an Iranian spy? A Zoroastrian clergyman? A Jewish BT who repented?

    The Pros and Cons of Publicly Confessing your sins to the rest of the congregation

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2025 27:45


    The Ancient Debate and the Concerns for the Social Consequences on the Community. What if everyone did the sin?!https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    מַפְטִיר יוֹנָה תשפ"ו - Compare and contrast with עֲקֵדַת יִצְחָק

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2025 26:48


    The Tragedy of Jonah after he saves Nineveh. What did he do wth the rest of his life?

    Some thoughts on the Early History of the Yom Kippur Liturgy: Eetz Yisrael in Late Antiquity

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2025 30:08


    Jewish religious creativity in Israel under the oppressive Christian regime of the Byzantine Empire: Piyutim!https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ תשפ"ו - Victory Middle Eastern Style

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2025 26:53


    What does complete victory look like to King David? Contrast it with Israel's current war situation.

    "פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ תשפ"ו "זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם, אֲבָל בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר וָדוֹר

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2025 30:16


    A historian (and the Jewish People!) must know the facts of their past, but then they must properly analyze them in order to use the knowledge correctly

    שַׁבַּת שׁוּבָה 2025 - Primordial or Mosaic?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2025 77:52


    If you don't fix your בֵּין אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, does it prevent forgiveness for the sins of בֵּין אָדָם לַמָּקוֹם?

    ?"הַפְטָרָה שַׁבַּת שׁוּבָה תשפ"ו "שׁוּבָה עַד?" אוֹ "שׁוּבָה אֶל

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2025 25:39


    One expectation from the elites, a different expectation from the masses

    Penance (not repentance!): Some famous cases in the Sefer Chasidim and Responsa of the Maharam Lublin

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2025 41:23


    The mindset of the person who soclcits the Penance from the Beis Din

    "פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּלֶךְ תשפ"ה "הֶסְתֵּר פָּנִים

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2025 32:45


    What is the actual meaning of "הֶסְתֵּר פָּנִים"? What is the meaning of הַשְׁגָּחָה כְּלָלִית as opposed to הַשְׁגָּחָה פְּרָטִית?

    The Debate in the Mishna whether the שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר should be מוֹצִיא the intelligent worshipers on רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה - שֶׁהוּא יוֹם הַדִּין

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2025 26:24


    Who was the first שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר in Jewish History?

    הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים "שׁוֹשׁ אָשִׂישׂ בַּשֵּׂם" - "Delighting in God. "How is that done?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2025 28:03


    Not relief. Not gratitude. Not romantic love. Delight! Not the love of bride and groom, but the delight at the wedding. https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    The Middle East: God's chess board. R Katz discusses current events in Egypt, Israel, Yemen, and Ethiopia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2025 28:37


    A suggested history of תְּקִיעַת שׁוֹפָר, involving the masses, the שָׂטָן, and חז"ל

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2025 34:00


    Thoughts re: the existential tension between the public and the religious elites in the Second Temple period and afterward.

    The Haredi who spied for Iran and committed sabotage on their behalf

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2025 23:31


    The disconnect between ritual practice and sound hashkafic fundamentals, particularly ahavah and achrayus for The Jewish People

    פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים תשפ"ה - Trying to match the glorious prophecy with recent Jewish history

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2025 30:51


    The ingathering of the alienated Jews: the נִדָּחִים מִקְּצֵה הַשָּׁמַיִם עַד קְצֵה הַשָּׁמָיִם https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    The Shofar, the Satan, and the Rabbis: Competing dynamics in the history of Jwish Practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2025 34:00


    The Sages endeavored to change the shofar blowing from an anti-Satan ritual to an exprssion of sublime philosophical monotheism cum Chosen People narrative (מלכויות, זכרונותת ושופרות)

    The "shouting match" between Primie Minister Sanchez of Spain and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel: The Freudian aspects

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2025 46:30


    Bibi's father wrote THE book on the Spanish Inquisition and Spain's successful persecution of the Jews, especially the sccessful (and brutal) erasure of the Jewish Identity of the Jewsforced to convert. IOW the Spanish "Holocaust"

    הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת כִּי תָּבֹא תשפ"ה - יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ בְּלִי מִלְחָמָה

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2025 28:00


    Isaiah's vision of a Messianic Era characterized, not by World War III, but by a world in moral darkness turning to Klal Yisroel for Enlightenment. A pain-free Geulahhttps://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    A suggested history of shofar blowing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 35:19


    What came first in Jewish History? The תְּקִיעוֹת דִמְיוּשָׁב or the תְּקִיעוֹת דִּמְעֻמָּד ?

    פָּרָשַׁת כִּי תָּבֹא תשפ"ה - "הַגֵּר אֲשֶׁר בְּקִרְבְּךָ יַעֲלֶה עָלֶיךָ מַעְלָה מָּעְלָה וְאַתָּה תֵרֵד מַטָּה מָּטָּה"

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2025 28:15


    Abarbanel - The gentile minority in Eretz Yisroel.Netziv - The gentiles who move into Jewish neighborhoods in the Diaspora and economically displace the Jews.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    R Katz analyzes the current Arab-Israeli conflict in in the face of the giant water crisis threatening the entire Middle East

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2025 20:44


    "The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest."George Washington's Farewell Address https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    Why doesa shofar have to be davka from a שְׁפוֹפֶרֶת, from a horn whose inside layer can be removed?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2025 27:55


    The symbolism of וּמַלְתֶּם אֵת עָרְלַת לְבַבְכֶם , removing the layer of "foreskin" on the "heart." A difficult task indeed.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    Why is Rosh Hashanah decribed as "covered up" or obscure? תִּקְעוּ בַחֹדֶשׁ שׁוֹפָר בַּכֵּסֶה לְיוֹם חַגֵּנוּ?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 32:03


    What if you hold the world was created in Nissan? And anyway, the story of Moshe Rabbenu pleading before Hashem a third time (Elul-Tishrei) is very unclear in the text of the Chumash.

    "הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת כִּי תֵּצֵא תשפ"ה - "הַרְחִבִי מְקוֹם אֲהָלֵךְ!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2025 26:27


    Isaiah predicts the expansion of Israel in the Messianic Era. Will Israel annex Turkey and Spain?!https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    Genazym is offering a personal letter from R Ovadia Yosef to R Shlomo Zalman Auerbach re: High Israeli Politics concerning the Shas Party

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2025 26:04


    The bitter politics surrounding the 1992 Knesset Elections (which led to the Oslo Agreement) and the bitter politics in the frum world surrounding the Shas Party's disobeying the political directives of the leadership of the "Litvish" Yeshiva World's leadership. https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    פָּרָשַׁת כִּי תֵּצֵא תשפ"ה - יְפַת תֹּאַר בְּעוֹלַם הַקַּבָּלָה

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2025 35:35


    How can "Righteous Soldiers" (like King David) lust on the battlefield? A mystical take.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    Genazym is offering the Prague 1595 edition of the famous Ramban theological essay דְּרָשַׁת "תּוֹרַת הַשֵּׁם תְּמִימָה"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2025 41:17


    In this essay, Ramban analyzes the grandeur of the Written Law , the תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב, refuting Christlogical readings and the skepticism of Spanish Jewish אֶפִּיקוֹרְסִים. This is the edition published in the Prague of the Maharal Era.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת שׁוֹפְטִים תשפ"ה - "סוּרוּ סוּרוּ צְאוּ מִשָּׁם, טָמֵא אַל תִּגְּעוּ!"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2025 30:30


    What kind of cultural "baggage" will Jews bring with them from their exiles when they return to Eretz Yisroel? https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    פָּרָשַׁת שׁוֹפְטִים תשפ"ה - What is the actual meaning of "צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹּף"?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 30:23


    There's צֶדֶק - justice in the sense of social-contract. Then there is צֶדֶק צֶדֶק, which is Justice with a capital J, the attainment of judicial righteousness, which is an ideal to be pursued (תִּרְדֹּף"), though never quite attained.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    Psalm # 2 and Israel's losing the current propaganda war

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 30:28


    Read this Kapitel and you will see the relevance to Israel's floundering in the current war of ideas and information. Israel is not successfully countering the demonization efforts of its enemies.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    Genazym: The First Printing of the classic בֵּית מֵאִיר (1787), the author's own copy with extensive handwritten glosses on the sides!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 50:09


    Rabbi Meir Posner of Danzig (1725-1807), one of the leading poskim of the entire 18th century. R Akiva Eger used to send him his questions! A classic אב"ד of the "Old School" https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    A recent find of of an ancient coin in Jerusalem, and thoughts about the Messianic Era . Some "dirt" re: Ptolemy III and Berenice II

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2025 51:31


    For some obscure reason, Egyptian Pharaoh Ptolemy III's invasion of Syria (246 BCE) to rescue his sister Berenice from a crazed mob is mentioned by the Angel Gabriel in Daniel Chapter 11 as being relevant to the events of יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ. The other day, a coin of Ptlemy's Queen Berenice II was discovered under a Jerusalem parking lot.The weird world of archaeology...https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    Genazym is auctioning the 15h century classic of Talmudic Methodolgy - הֲלִיכוֹת עוֹלָם, first complete edition (Constantinople 1510)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2025 42:09


    This methodological intro to the Talmud was held in high esteem, and R Yosef Karo wrote a commentary (סֵפֶר כְּלָלֵי הַגְּמָרָא) on it. One of the first Hebrew books ever printed https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    Moses' warning: אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל can easily become a קְלָלָה!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 39:44


    To prevent human sacrifce by the uneducated, the Temple is located on the Mountain of the עֲקֵדַת יִצְחָק

    Genazym is Auctioning an item (a סְמִיכַת חָבֵר) from the tension-laden Golden Age of Prague, the Era of the Noda BiYhudah and the remarkable R Meir Bumsla (1703-1769), the millionaire Rosh Yeshiva

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025 49:32


    A close student of R Yehonasan Eibeschutz, Bumsla nevertheless got along with the Noda BiYhudah, and the latter had a "prophecy" about Bumsla which he shared at the latter's funeral.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    הַפְטָרָה פָּרָשַׁת רְאֵה תשפ"ה - A future without fear? Really?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2025 25:05


    Isaiah 54:15 difficult to translate convincingly

    פָּרָשַׁת רְאֵה תשפ"ה - Keep the booze out of the house of the fellow in recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2025 32:25


    אַבֵּד תְּאַבְּדוּן אֶת הַמְּקוֹמוֹת - How does one destroy a place?

    R Naphtali Katz (1648-1719) Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2025 56:01


    After the Great Fire in Frankfurt: Battling the Sabbateans (Nechemiah Chayon). The very famous (and romantic!) Ethical Will https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    R Naphtali Katz (1648-1719): The בַּעַל "סְמִיכַת חֲכָמִים". Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2025 71:49


    Did he cause the Great Fire of 1711 which burned down the entire Jewish Ghetto of Frankfurt? Was it a case of קַבָּלָה מַעֲשִׂית gone awry?

    Moses and the Bones of Joseph: Two different models of Jewish leadership?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 25:46


    Joseph was the personification of Traditionalism. Moshe was the personification of חִנּוּךְhttps://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    Pirkei Avos Chapter 4: Why is the phrase אַל תִּפְרֹשׁ מִן הַצִּבּוּר associted with the Tanna R Tzadok?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 30:02


    Did the Rabbis of Eretz Yisroel learn the lesson of שִׂנְאַת חִנָּם in the wake of the Destruction of the בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ?

    הַפְטָרַת פָּרָשַׁת עֵקֶב תשפ"ה - The Revolution in Identity in the Messianic Era

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2025 29:30


    Millions of gentiles will discover they are actually Jews, which will necessitate territorial expansion of ארץ ישראל

    פָּרָשַׁת עֵקֶב תשפ"ה - וְנָשַׁל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֶת הַגּוֹיִם הָאֵל מִפָּנֶיךָ מְעַט מְעָט לֹא תוּכַל כַּלֹּתָם מַהֵר פֶּן תִּרְבֶּה עָ

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2025 37:36


    Why was the Conquest of the Land supposed to proceed slowly? who are the "Wild Beasts?"

    פָּרָשַׁת וָאֶתְחַנַּן תשפ"ה - זָכוֹר אוֹ שָׁמוֹר? Is the Sabbath theology or history?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2025 35:30


    Why is a nochri punished so severely for שְׁמִירַת שַׁבָּת?

    The curious but vital role of Egypt in the current Gaza War.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 41:48


    Egypt HATES Israel, but the Middle-Eastern political chessboard, both externally and internaly, compels the Egyptian regime to act in a manner fundamentally friendly to Israel, though this could never be acknowleged.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

    הַפְטָרַת שַׁבַּת נַחֲמוּ תשפ"ה - Prophets cannot provide comfort to survivors; Prophets are too "frum"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 27:36


    נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ עַמִּי doesn't work. So it has to be אָנֹכִי אָנֹכִי הוּא מְנַחֶמְכֶם

    פָּרָשַׁת וָאֶתְחַנָּן תשפ"ה - וְנוֹשַׁנְתֶּם

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 27:17


    What exactly transpired in Galus Bavel?

    15th of Av - Humpty-Dumpty Day?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 37:30


    Can machlokes and unilateralism ever be fully-repaired?

    Claim Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel