Jewish History with Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz
Rabbi Dr. Dovid Katz
To help support this podcast, please consider giving a tax deductible contribution here:
https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz
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.
Follow him weekly. New content released each week, including Personalities in Jewish History, Insights into Tefillah and Perspectives on the Haftarah and Parshah. Sponsorships of podcasts are available. He can be reached at the following email: rabbidkatz@gmail.com.
https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz
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.
Follow him weekly. New content released each week, including Personalities in Jewish History, Insights into Tefillah and Perspectives on the Haftarah and Parshah. Sponsorships of podcasts are available. He can be reached at the following email: rabbidkatz@gmail.com.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 30, 2025 • 34min
The Fast of the Ninth of Teves and the Toldos Yeshu
More excursions into the world of the "Frum Apocrypha." Sigh
Dec 28, 2025 • 40min
The Israel-Somaliland Connection: Why is this so controversial?
The extraordinarily complex geopolitical situation in the "Horn of Africa," and its relation to Israel and Israel's haters. A classic case of international hypocrisy on the part of the latter.https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast
Dec 24, 2025 • 29min
Parshas VaYigash: Not saying dumb things that will hurt the Jewish People
See how Joseph doesn't trust his brothers. He stage-manages their encounter with Pharaoh and the Egyptians, micromanaging every aspect of the conversation, like a trial-lawyer with a client. (יוֹסֵף הַפִּקֵּחַ not יוֹסֵף הַצַּדִּיק)
Dec 24, 2025 • 24min
Haftarah Parshas VaYigash: The vision of grafting the two trees together
Will the tribes retain their individual identities and consciousness in the future Messianic Utopia?
Dec 23, 2025 • 28min
Greece under the Metaxas Regime and a Siddur from 1941
A fascinating siddur published in Greece in 1941 which omits the word Yavan from Al HaNisim-At that moment, Greece under the Metaxas Regime was saving the Jews from Hitler and Mussolini
Dec 22, 2025 • 33min
Parshas VaYigash: Was Joseph actually the VICEROY, the ruler of Egypt? Or czar of the economy?
The role of the Jew in the Egyptian economy foreshadowed the role of the Jew in later economies: find a niche not occupied by the native inhabitants.לע"נ יששכר מאיר בן ברוך סטפנסקי
Dec 22, 2025 • 26min
Final Chanukah 2025 Thoughts: וּלְךָ עָשִֽׂיתָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל וְקָדוֹשׁ בְּעוֹלָמֶֽךָ
"Olamecha" also means hidden or invisible. Through the miracle of the oil, an Invisible God became "visible" (so to speak)
Dec 21, 2025 • 36min
Another Apocryphal "Midrash" on the Chanukah Story, with interesting takes on the discovery of the jar of oil
The jar of oil was located under the altar. Had they not torn down the existing altar (as an act of piety, to replace it with a new, unblemished altar), they would not have found the famous פַּךְ שֶׁמֶן https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast
Dec 18, 2025 • 29min
Haftarah Shabbos Chanukah: The Vision of Zachariah and its relevance to Chanukah
The Menorah that stayed lit for eight days was being fueled by the two (spiritual) olive trees in Zachariah's prophetic vision https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast
Dec 18, 2025 • 26min
Parshas Mikeitz: Yosef, the first "Court Jew"
Comparing & Contrasting Yosef with Hasdai ibn Shaprut, Shmuel haNagid, Benjamin Disraeli, and Henry Kissinger
