Holidays

How did Mordecai & Esther know the contents of the private conversation between Haman and the King?

Holidays February 23, 2026

Ep. 1631 How did Mordecai & Esther know the contents of the private conversation between Haman and the King?

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:25:15

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Why did Moshe accept the עֵרוּב רַב and Mordecai the מִתְיַהֲדִים?

Holidays February 18, 2026

Ep. 1629 Why did Moshe accept the עֵרוּב רַב and Mordecai the מִתְיַהֲדִים?

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:25:15

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The new English translation of the Classic R Yehonasan Eibeschutz sefer on Megilas Esther

Biographies February 17, 2026

Ep. 1626 The new English translation of the Classic R Yehonasan Eibeschutz sefer on Megilas Esther

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:28:32

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The Fast of the Ninth of Teves and the Toldos Yeshu

Holidays December 30, 2025

Ep. 1584 The Fast of the Ninth of Teves and the Toldos Yeshu

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:33:54

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Final Chanukah 2025 Thoughts: וּלְךָ עָשִֽׂיתָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל וְקָדוֹשׁ בְּעוֹלָמֶֽךָ

Holidays December 22, 2025

Ep. 1578 Final Chanukah 2025 Thoughts: וּלְךָ עָשִֽׂיתָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל וְקָדוֹשׁ בְּעוֹלָמֶֽךָ

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:26:03

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

Holidays December 21, 2025

Ep. 1577 Another Apocryphal “Midrash” on the Chanukah Story, with interesting takes on the discovery of the jar of oil

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:35:40

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

Haftorah December 18, 2025

Ep. 1576 Haftarah Shabbos Chanukah: The Vision of Zachariah and its relevance to Chanukah

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:29:03

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

Holidays December 17, 2025

Ep. 1574 Chanukah, the Maccabean Wars, and the Civil wars in Seleucid Syria

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:24:41

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

Holidays December 15, 2025

Ep. 1573 Some thoughts on the Chanukah Story and its historiosophical relation to גָּלוּת יָוָן

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:31:32

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

Holidays December 9, 2025

Ep. 1570 How the Judith Story in the Apocrypha (or a different version of the story) entered orthodox rabbinic literature AND practice

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:42:02

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

Holidays December 8, 2025

Ep. 1567 Chanukah 2025: The Story of the Greeks depriving the Jews of doors and windows

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:43:03

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

Holidays December 3, 2025

Ep. 1563 Chanukah 2025: Was the oil in the jar in the Temple the only kosher oil available?

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:34:27

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Part 2: The Other “Hellenistic Judaism” – not the Chanukah villains

Holidays November 2, 2025

Ep. 1543 Part 2: The Other “Hellenistic Judaism” – not the Chanukah villains

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:43:09

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Part 1: The Other “Hellenistic Judaism” – not the Chanukah villains

Holidays October 30, 2025

Ep. 1541 Part 1: The Other “Hellenistic Judaism” – not the Chanukah villains

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:30:10

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The Strage history of Hoshanah Rabbah in the Temple: The Willow vs. the Palm Frond ( הַלּוּלָב שֶׁנִּפְרְדוּ עָלָיו)

Holidays October 13, 2025

Ep. 1531 The Strage history of Hoshanah Rabbah in the Temple: The Willow vs. the Palm Frond ( הַלּוּלָב שֶׁנִּפְרְדוּ עָלָיו)

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:40:40

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The Chasam Sofer, the Yad haMelech and the “Overused” Esrog – Haredi vs. Maskilic notions of aesthetics

Biographies October 10, 2025

Ep. 1530 The Chasam Sofer, the Yad haMelech and the “Overused” Esrog – Haredi vs. Maskilic notions of aesthetics

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:37:45

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נִעֲנוּעִים: The ritual of lulav-waving and its contemporary relevance in the year 5786 (2025)

Holidays October 9, 2025

Ep. 1529 נִעֲנוּעִים: The ritual of lulav-waving and its contemporary relevance in the year 5786 (2025)

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:25:34

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Sukkos 2025: What’s with the strange ritual of פָּרֵי הַחַג?

Holidays October 9, 2025

Ep. 1528 Sukkos 2025: What’s with the strange ritual of פָּרֵי הַחַג?

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:30:19

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Today is the (English) anniversary of the Yom Kippur War of 1973, another conflict in which Israel was surprise-attacked

Holidays October 6, 2025

The Four Minim and the Wars of Sichon and Og: A Different take on the אַרְבָּעָה מִינִים

Holidays October 6, 2025

Ep. 1527 The Four Minim and the Wars of Sichon and Og: A Different take on the אַרְבָּעָה מִינִים

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:32:32

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A Different Understanding of the Holiday of Sukkos

Holidays October 5, 2025

Ep. 1526 A Different Understanding of the Holiday of Sukkos

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:32:30

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Sukkos: The Symbolism of the sukkah under a tree

Holidays October 3, 2025

Ep. 1525 Sukkos: The Symbolism of the sukkah under a tree

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:31:48

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The Lishkas HaParvah in the Avodah of Yom Kippur- Who was הַפַּרְוָה? Why does the High Priest purify himself there?

Holidays October 1, 2025

Ep. 1524 The Lishkas HaParvah in the Avodah of Yom Kippur- Who was הַפַּרְוָה? Why does the High Priest purify himself there?

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:19:16

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Yonah: Compare and contrast with Akeidas Yitzchok

Holidays September 30, 2025

Ep. 1522 Yonah: Compare and contrast with Akeidas Yitzchok

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:26:48

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Late Antiquity in Eretz Yisroel (300-600 C.E.): The Early History of the Yom Kippur Liturgy

Holidays September 29, 2025

Ep. 1521 Late Antiquity in Eretz Yisroel (300-600 C.E.): The Early History of the Yom Kippur Liturgy

Rabbi Dovid Katz

0:00 00:30:08

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