Jewish History With Rabbi Dovid Katz

Jews lit inside even when there is no danger

"I will overthrow regimes and destroy armies through civil wars!" 

Was Chanukah ordained as a day of הַלֵּל וְהוֹדָאָה? Or was it ordained as a day of שִׂמְחָה וְהַלֵּל?

Did the Maccabees know about this prophecy? How could they not?

Both involve the dream of a gentile king concerning his kingdom; both dreams contain a subtext for the future of Klal Yisroel 

Negotiating both Jewish as well as Egyptian identities: not an easy task

Which parts of  חֲנֻכָּה are דְּאוֹרָיְתָא, and which parts are דְּרַבָּנָן?

Bacchides massacres the trusting frummies under a flag of truce

What kind of peace should we pray for in Gaza?

History teaches that morality collapses among the very rich and the very poor

The trick is not to be jealous of any sibling's special talents, but rather to discover the talents of each, and follow that brother in his area of special excellence

The tight relationship between the two allowed for the frankest exchange of opposing ideas, totally free of rancor or disrespect

What exactly is the translation of the  חִתַּת אֱלֹ-ים after the massacre in Shechem?

There are moments when certain prayers are תְּפִלּוֹת שָׁוְא. This is not one of them!

Who exactly was Ovadiah? Has his prophecy come true?

The violation of Dina, the lethal response, and the current war in Gaza

Bibi's unilateral military moves there

A curiously tragic rabbinical figure, whose dictionary ruled the roost for one century

A curiously tragic rabbinical figure, whose dictionary ruled the roost for one century

The Devil and R' Shimshon of Ostropol