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Gaonic Gossip: The Famous Description of the Inaugural Ceremonies of the Reish Galusah in Baghdad
The obsession with elaborate ceremony and protocol in Gaonic culture
3 years, 7 months ago
Rabbi Katz Responds to a Mischaracterization re: a Recent Podcast
Falsely conflating the case of Saul and the Amelakites with Israelis and Palestinians
3 years, 7 months ago
The 7 year Machlokes Between Saadia Gaon and the Reish Galusah - Gaonic Gossip
And the grand reconciliation on תענית אסתר. Followed by a memorable סְעוּדַת פּוּרִים
3 years, 7 months ago
Gaonic Gossip from Nasan HaBavli: The Deposition of Ukvah the Reish Galusah
The famous chronicler of Yeshiva politics in the תְּקוּפַת הַגְּאוֹנִים 1000 years ago
3 years, 7 months ago
How Did They Know Heaven had Confirmed Purim (קִיְּמוּ לְמַעְלָה מַה שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ לְמַטָּה)?
Did Jews sell-themselves in an effort to escape impending death?
3 years, 7 months ago
Parshas Tetzaveh: The Moreh Nevuchim's Take on the Splendid Bigdei Kehunah
Overawe the masses and win them away from competing pagan temples. The masses go by externals, not by the inner (essential) realities.
3 years, 7 months ago
Purim: Esther’s Hidden Identity
How could Esther hide her identity when she had been married to Mordecai? The brilliant effect of כָּל אֻמָּה נִדְמְתָה לָהּ כְּאֻמָּתוֹ
3 years, 7 months ago
Haftarah Zachor: What Actually Prevented Saul from Repenting? Wasn't He a Tzadik?
Why was Saul, heavily engaged in war with the Philistines, suddenly ordered to break-off & redirect against one group of Amelkites?
3 years, 7 months ago
The Ramban's Detailed Description of the Sinner in Gehinnom - R’ Katz Discusses
Using mystical and (interestingly) psychological concepts to describe the suffering there
3 years, 7 months ago
Haftarah Terumah: Shlomo's Corvee was the Fulfillment of the Warning of שְׁמוּאֵל הַנָּבִיא
Was it really wise for Shlomo to have close (even if transactional) relations with Tyre?
3 years, 7 months ago