Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz

Jaksot

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  Major Alfred Mordecai US Army (1804-1887): Can one stay frum at West Point? 14.09.2026 50min

  Robert E Lee chose the Confederacy. George Thomas chose the Union. Which side did Major Mordecai choose?
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  Rosh Hashanah and the Dangers of AI: An interpretation of the theme of Malchiyos 10.09.2026 29min

  Also: The historical origins of וְכֵן תֵּן פַּחְדְּךָ
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  A Historical Introduction to the Drashos HaRamban to Rosh HaShanah, Pt. 2 09.09.2026 52min

  Ramban, a Sephardi, spars with his Ashkenazic audience
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  A Historical Introduction to the Drashos HaRamban to Rosh HaShanah, Pt. 1 07.09.2026 1t 3min

  A Sephardi take on עִנְיְנֵי רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה delivered in an Ashkenazi yeshiva (in the Capital of the Crusader Kingdom) in 1267
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  Rosh Hashanah: A Suggested History of Malchiyos, Zichronos and Shofros in the Common Liturgy (5787) 06.09.2026 37min

  Did the predecessors of R’ Abahu also combine different meanings of תְּקִיעַת שׁוֹפָר that were "out there" into a single standard liturgy for all Jews? Was he merely following their example of uniformization?
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  Haftarah Nitzavim-VaYelech: Angelology and the Final Redemption 04.09.2026 26min

  Will Hashem Himself kill Edom? Or will it be the Archangel Michael? Different strands of Jewish Tradition.
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  Parshas Nitzavim-VaYelech: "הַנִּסְתָּרוֹת וְהַנִּגְלוֹת" לְמַה בְּדִיּוּק מִתְכַּוֵּן הַתּוֹרָה? 03.09.2026 39min

  Are courts, shul-rabbis, teachers, roshei-yeshiva and mashgichim, principals etc. obligated to organize spies and snitches in the institutions under their control?
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  R’ Yeshayahu di Trani- “The Tosafos Rid” (1150s-1240s): THE Gadol of Italy & the Byzantine Empire 02.09.2026 37min

  Classic case of a Rishon (among the greatest, according to his contemporaries) whose writings were forgotten for centuries and then rediscovered in the Modern era.
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  What is the exact history of the practice of 30 shofar blasts? Part 2 31.08.2026 37min

  A Hasidic-Kabbalistic metahistorical narrative from the בְּנֵי יִשָּׂשכָר
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  Haftarah Ki Savo: The Nations of the World "See the Light" 27.08.2026 32min

  In the Messianic Era, will the Jews influence the gentiles to respect Judaism, or will the gentiles' respect for Judaism influence the Jews to value their own religion?
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  Tekias Shofar as part of anti-Karaite/Sadduceean Rabbinic Judaism 27.08.2026 29min

  Aspects of the laws of תְּקִיעַת שׁוֹפָר reflect anti-heretical practices which are such an interesting part of Rabbanite Judaism
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  Did World War Two end widespread antisemitism in America? 26.08.2026 34min

  Already in 1945 organizations like the ADL & Co. feared some future technology (like the internet) which would empower antisemitic groups and even enable them to win elections
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  Rabbi Aharon of Narbonne (Luniel), late 1200s-early 1300s, the אָרְחוֹת חַיִּים 24.08.2026 51min

  Thoughts on the social-history of rabbinic literature: How come some seforim take-off (like the Tur), while others remain obscure, despite their quality?
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  What is the exact history of the practice of 30 shofar blasts? Part 1 24.08.2026 35min

  Talmud Bavli, Rambam, Zohar
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  Haftarah Ki Seitzei: The Childless woman discovers she has children! 19.08.2026 26min

  The sharp (and deep) conversation between בְּרוּרְיָה and the Jew for J
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  Parshas Ki Seitzei: Moshe Switches From Mussar to Halacha 17.08.2026 26min

  Do these laws originate with Moshe, just Hashem confirms them? Were they told to him at an earlier time?
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  The Imprisonment of the Tosafos Yom Tov in the Historical Context of the Thirty Years War 17.08.2026 1t 5min

  Worthy of its own miniseries: Rabbi Yom Tov Lipman Heller, Jacob Bassevi, Albrecht von Wallenstein and The Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II
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  Some Original Thoughts about the Original Elul 16.08.2026 35min

  Moshe was up on the Mountain for the third time with two blank tablets waiting for writing to appear...
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  Haftarah Shoftim: Don't give up hope for a Glorious Future! 13.08.2026 26min

  Isaiah endeavors to inspire hope in a Jewish People suffering (understandably) from depression and hopelessness because of so much persecution. The future is brighter than you can imagine!
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  Parshas Shoftim: Moses Shifts Gears From Mussar Schmooze to Practical Directions for Government 13.08.2026 40min

  Also, Rambam vs. Ramban re: whether the Canaanites must be exterminated or not