The rise of contemporary Religious-Zionism (Kotzk Blog 507) This article—based extensively on the research by Professor Yoav Peled[1]—examines the rise of the Religious Zionist movement from relative non-dominance in 1948 to a position of unquestionable hegemony in the last decades.

Reading the biblical word אות (‘sign’) in its earlier context (Kotzk Blog 506) This episode—based extensively on the research by Professors Idan Dershowitz and Na’ama Pat-El[1]—examines possible lost meanings of the Hebrew word אות (‘ot’) which is usually simply translated and commonly understood as a ‘sign.’…

The ‘Three Oaths’: Theologies of Cancellation and Resurrection (Kotzk Blog 504) This episode– based extensively but not exclusively on the research by Professor Reuven Firestone[1] ꟷ examines the Talmudic concept ofשלוש השבועות or Three Oaths. It focuses on the theological tension between the Three Oaths, which prohibit a return to the Land of Isra…

Sebastianism: Crossover messianism that predated Sabbatianism (Kotzk Blog 503)This Episode ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Matt Goldish[1] ꟷ examines the unusual notion of messianic crossover between Jews, Christians and Muslims that developed around the sixteenth century. What is even more unusual, from a Jewish perspective, is th…

Kotzk Podcast 047: Moshe haGoleh of Kiev: a critical devotee of Avraham Ibn Ezra (Kotzk Blog 502) This episode ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Eric Lawee[1] ꟷ examines a little-known and somewhat neglected exegete and commentator, R. Moshe ben Yakov (1448-1520) who compiled a supper-commentary (i.e., a commentary on a commentary) b…

Kotzk Podcast 046: Were some early Spanish Kabbalists defending a Maimonidean position? (Kotzk Blog 501) This episode ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Tzahi Weiss[1] ꟷ examines an interesting and unusual approach to understanding how thirteenth-century Kabbalah suddenly emerged in Provence (southern France) and Catalonia (northeaste…

Kotzk Podcast 045: Mining Chassidic stories for kernels of historicity (Kotzk Blog 500) This episode ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Glynn Dynner[1] ꟷ examines a possible methodology to extract aspects of historical truths from the often exaggerated and venerating style of Chassidic storytelling.…

This episode examines various versions of the provenance of the iconic picture of the Alter Rebbe, the first Rebbe of Chabad. It offers a critical analysis as well as a possible defence of the authenticity of the portrait. Ultimately, though, the question is left open-ended (Kotzk Blog 499)

Did the Babylonian Talmud create the authoritative rabbi and the passive Jew? (Kotzk Blog 498) This episode – based extensively on the research by Rabbi Dr Amir Mashiach[1] − explores the emergence of the rabbinic class after the failed Jewish revolts against the Romans during the first two centuries CE. Up to that point, the rabbis did not feature…

Language as incubators of theological ideas (Kotzk Blog 497) This Episode – based extensively on the research by Professor Edward Ullendorff (1920 -2011) – examines languages as distinct incubators of theological ideas. In other words, we are going to see to what extent “different languages reflect different realities” (Ullendorff 1966:273) which, …

Kabbalah: To print or not to print the ‘lost’ mystical tradition (Kotzk Blog 496) This article ꟷ based extensively on the research by Avraham Oriah Kelman[1] ꟷ examines the little-known crisis in Kabbalistic transmission that became evident between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries.

Inverted hierarchies: Humans making G-d more moral (Kotzk Blog 494)This article ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Dov Weiss[1] ꟷ examines how late Palestinian Midrashim, particularly the Tanchuma Yelamedeinu (fourth to ninth centuries CE), depict humans challenging G-d over morally problematic issues expressed in the Torah. In these …

Carrying on Shabbat: From Jeremiah to the Mishna (Kotzk blog 493) This episode ꟷ based extensively on the research by Professor Alex P. Jassen[1] ꟷ examines how four pre-Mishnaic texts show evidence of the origin and expansion of the prohibition against carrying on Shabbat. The specific textual prohibition against carrying on Shabbat first begins w…

Are Halachic rulings (Piskei Halacha) open to critical analysis or do they represent Divine Will? (Kotzk Blog 492)This episod – based extensively on the research by Professor Adiel Schremer[1] − takes an in-depth and forthright look at the sometimes mysterious process of Halachic decision-making as practised by the Posek (Halachic judge or decisor)…

A source trail defending the Baal haTanya’s definition of the soul as ‘a part of G-d’ (Kotzk Blog 491) Sunday 27 October 2024491) A source trail defending the Baal haTanya’s definition of the soul as ‘a part of G-d’ This podcast based extensively on the research by Rabbi Dr Louis Jacobs (1920-2006)[1] − traces possible sources that the author of th…

This episode examines the methodology and the moment in history when the rabbinic class (Pharisees) unseated the priestly class (Sadducees) who had previously dominated the Temple for a thousand years. It examines the eye of the revolutionary storm as Hillel emerged as the new style of rabbinic leader defining the future Judaism we know today. (Kot…

Pharisees and Sadducees: The politics of Sages and Priests (Kotzk Blog 489) This chapter – based extensively on the research by Professor Eyal Regev[1] − examines the theological differences between the Sadducees (צָדוֹקִים - Tzadokim) and Pharisees (פְּרוּשִׁם - Perushim). It identifies the differences between the early class of Jewish priests, kno…

Gershom Scholem’s messianic claim (Kozk Blog 488)Based extensively on the research by Professor Boaz Huss[1] and Professor Michael Brenner[2] − explores aspects of the life story and personal thought of Gershom (Gerhard) Scholem (1897-1982), the first researcher and professor of Jewish mysticism.

Kotzk Podcast 031: Self-promotion or natural authority of the Halachic decisor: The case of Chavot Yair ⁠(Kotzk Blog 487)⁠ based extensively on the research by Professor Jay Berkovitz⁠[1]⁠ − examines the charismatic image and commanding authority of the Halachic decisor, known as the Posek, whose task is to determine Jewish religious law. In this c…

Kotzk Podcast 031: Self-promotion or natural authority of the Halachic decisor: The case of Chavot Yair (Kotzk Blog 487) based extensively on the research by Professor Jay Berkovitz[1] − examines the charismatic image and commanding authority of the Halachic decisor, known as the Posek, whose task is to determine Jewish religious law. In this case,…

An ancient (pre)text of Deuteronomy? (Kotzk Blog 486) This article – based extensively on the research by Professor Idan Dershowitz[1] − examines a work that for many years was regarded as a forgery, but, arguably, turned out to be one of the most significant textual finds of the nineteenth century.

Is a Halachic environmental discourse even possible? (Kotzk Blog: 485)

Babylonian Talmudic notion of 'Temporary Marriage' (Kotzk Blog 484)

Religion and (or) Social Justice: A Jewish Perspective (Kotzk Blog 481)

What did the Kotzker Rebbe say? (Kotzk Blog 480) based extensively on the research by Professor Yaakov Levinger[1] − examines the authenticity of many of the sayings popularly attributed to the Chassidic Rebbe, Menachem Mendel of Kotzk (1787-1869).

R. Yitzchak of Warka and the rise of the Chassidic movement in Poland (Kotzk Blog 479) This article explores the rise of Chassidism in early nineteenth-century Poland as Rebbes had to embrace the notion of ‘Shtadlanut’ (politics and statesmanship) in a more modern setting.

'Fixing' broken Messiahs The extreme messianic mysticism of the students of the Vilna Gaon (Part II) (Kotzk Blog 478)

The extreme messianic mysticism of the students of the Vilna Gaon (Kotzk Blog: 477)

Did the Vilna Gaon’s Religious Zionism precede modern Secular Zionism? (Kotzk Blog: 476)

This article explores the surprising and radical messianism as expressed by what is usually considered to be the sober school of the students of the Vilna Gaon: Kotzk Blog: 475) Messianic Mitnagdim

A mind in motion: Maimonides correcting Maimonides (Kotzk Blog: 474)

‘Der Pintele Yid’ − the evolution of the term and concept (Kotzk blog 473)

EXPANDING ON RABBINIC DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE TITLES AND TEXTS OF THE PSALMS.

Tzafnat Paneach – a ‘counter Rashi’ commentary (Kotzk Blog: 471)

This article examines Jewish messianism during the nineteenth century.https://www.kotzkblog.com/2024/05/470-nineteenth-century-jewish-messianism.html

Examining an unknown manuscript of the Zohar (Kotzk Blog 469)

The implications of common textual layering within the Zohar (Kotzk Blog: 468)

Separating the text from the context: an early Chassidic approach to Torah study

Did R. Chaim of Volozhin intentionally alter the image of the Vilna Gaon?

Jews from Turkey and some Syrian communities have the unusual practice of waving to one another just prior to reciting the silent Amidah prayer. This ancient custom was first described in writing in the 17th century, and although many mystical and technical explanations have been advanced, its true origin remains unknown. In this episode, Gavin and…

Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (1865-1935) was a fiercely independent thinker, and one of the leading figures of the emerging Religious Zionist movement in pre-State Mandatory Palestine. He held "unorthodox" views that were condemned by the religious world in his era, and the study of his writings is discouraged in many communities even to this day. In t…

Most Jews would readily agree that angels exist in Judaism -- they are mentioned in many places in the Chumash, and we incorporate them into hymns such as Shalom Aleichem. Interestingly, the Mishnah does not mention angels at all, and there was a vigorous debate among the Rishonim commentators as to the reality of angels. In this episode, Gavin and…

What's the proper course of action when one arrives late to synagogue, and the service has already begun? Though traditional sources emphasize the importance of reciting the Amidah with the community, and recommend that latecomers change the order of their tefillot to accomodate this, many people have the practice of reciting the entire service in …

In the time of the Mishnah and Talmud, the Halachic tradition was passed down orally, from teacher to student. The canonization of the Talmud in written form provided new pathways for the dissemination of Rabbinic teaching, and by the time of the Tosafists (12th-13th c., northern France), influential Rabbis were asserting the right to teach and eve…

Jewish mysticism of 11th century Ashkenaz (Germany and northern France) was not Lurianic Kabbalah, but rather a much more primal form of mysticism based on the Merkava and Heichalot texts of the Rabbinic or Geonic periods. Despite some statements to the contrary, it appears that the great commentator Rashi -- known for his extensive and comprehensi…

The Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides (often referred to by his Hebrew acronym, RaMBaM) has come to be seen as the intellectual leader of the rationalist approach to Jewish tradition. However, his writings attracted fierce opposition from the Egyptian Jewish community of his day, which was deeply influenced by the mystical approaches of its Musli…

The Babylonian Geonim were the successors of the Rabbis of the Talmudic era, and were the pre-eminent Rabbinic authorities between the 7th and 11th centuries. On the death of Rav Hai Gaon -- the last of the Geonim -- in 1038, the centre of gravity of the Jewish world shifted westward. The major Jewish communities in Europe and North Africa each wis…

The siege and mass suicide of the Zealots at Masada in 73 CE is legendary in Jewish history, but the Rabbis of both the Mishnaic and subsequent eras do not mention it at all. In this episode, Gavin and Jordan explore some possible reasons for this, and discuss how suicide for theological or military reasons has been addressed in halacha. Original l…

R' Yaakov Koppel Lifschitz was an early-18th-century Kabbalist whose key writings -- the Sha'ar Gan Eden ("Gateway to the Garden of Eden") and the Siddur Kol Ya'akov -- evinced strong Sabbatean influences. They, in turn, were held in very high esteem by the Ba'al Shem Tov. In this episode, Gavin and Jordan explore Lifschitz as a possible link betwe…

The events surrounding messianic claimant Shabbetai Tzvi's rise to fame coincided with the emergence of newspapers in western Europe. In this episode, Gavin and Jordan discuss how Shabbetai Tzvi was portrayed in these newspapers, both during his heyday in the mid-17th century and after his apostasy and imprisonment in 1666. Read the source article …