Jewish History With Rabbi Dovid Katz

David, who came to the throne in his 30s, was confident enough to surround himself with strong personalities who didn't always obey . Shlomo, a boy of 12, cannot afford to do so, though the alternative is to be surrounded by "yes-men"

A problem that cannot be solved, only managed. Some preliminary observations.

Why didn't Joseph ask Pharaoh directly for permission to bury his father in Canaan?

More excursions into the world of the "Frum Apocrypha." Sigh

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

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)

Will the tribes retain their individual identities and consciousness in the future Messianic Utopia?

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

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

"Olamecha" also means hidden or invisible. Through the miracle of the oil, an Invisible God became "visible" (so to speak)

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

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

Comparing & Contrasting Yosef with Hasdai ibn Shaprut, Shmuel haNagid, Benjamin Disraeli, and Henry Kissinger

The Jews' final victory was due to the political disintegration of the Syrian state at that time

Two opposite models: A.) Alexander bows to the Kohen Gadol B.) Antiochus forces the High Priest and the Temple to "bow" to himhttps://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

Does it prophecy the Maccabean Wars? The Messianic Wars? The current situation in Syria and the Middle East?

Yosef was one his way to talk to his brothers in an altogether different tone, but they never gave him a chance. Yaakov was going to by colored coats for the other brothers too, but the bloody coat killed THAT plan!https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast

Some old widespread chanukah customs had no source in REGULAR rabbinic literature, but were accepted (despite some opposition) by basing them on sources in IRREGULAR Jewish literature

NOT the idolatry! Although there WAS idolatry, it is the abuse of the poor and helpless that will cause the חֻרְבַּן!

From oblivious to the impact of his actions and words on others (in Canaan) to the extreme-opposite in Egypt. A lesson for us all?https://thechesedfund.com/rabbikatz/support-rabbi-katzz-podcast