The Kotzk Podcast

Kotzk Podcast 102: The suicide of Sarah?

This episode deals with an unusual and peripheral view that the biblical Sarah committed suicide after she heard that her son Isaac was bound on the altar. Suicide is a s

Kotzk Podcast 103: Oleksa Dovbush: A Ukrainian Baal Shem Tov?

This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Boris Czerny—examines some unusual similarities between the Baal Shem Tov (the founder of the Chassidic moveme

Kotzk Podcast 101: Was Maharal of Prague a philosopher or a veiled mystic?

In this episode—based extensively on the research by Dr Leore Sachs-Shmueli and Eynel Kapach examines the question of whether the Maharal of Prague  (1512-1609) was a phi

Kotzk Podcast 100: Maimonidean philosophy as a form of rationalist mysticism?

This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Gideon Freudenthal—explores the possibility of a unio mystica (mystical union) attainable through Maimonidean

Kotzk Podcast 099: The murder of Rabbi Avraham Kohn: A contested history

This article examines the contested history surrounding the murder of R. Avraham Kohn on September 6, 1848. He was a student of the Chief Rabbi of Prague, Shmuel Landau,

Kotzk Podcast 098: The Temple Mount in Religious Zionism: Yesterday’s radicals - today’s moderates?

This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Isaac Hershkowitz—examines the transformation of the Temple Mount from a previously marginal symbol to a curre

Kotzk Podcast 096: The Babylonian Talmud in its original Persian-Iranian context

The Babylonian Talmud in its original Persian-Iranian context: This article looks at recent research into possible Sasanian-Persian influences on the Babylonian Talmud (K

Kotzk Podcast 097: The Roaring Lion returns: A contemporary polemic against Jewish mysticism

This episode examines Jewish mysticism and Kabbalah from a historical, psychological and analytical perspective. If you prefer not to read such treatments of mysticism, y

Kotzk Podcast 095: 555) Resisting the friendship impulse: Relationships in the teachings of Ishbitz

This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Israel Koren—explores a most unusual approach to sociability, friendship and family, in the teachings R. Morde

Kotzk Podcast 094: Rabbinic perspectives on honour killings

This episode traces how Renaissance rabbis alternately absorbed and resisted Mediterranean honour codes in confronting honour killings (Kotzk Blog 554)

Kotzk Podcast 093: The forgotten legacy of Philo of Alexandria

This episode shows the circular route followed by Philo's teachings before they made their way back, in some form, to Judaism (Kotzk blog 553)

Kotzk Podcast 092: The added blessing in the Amidah: Who are we cursing?

The added blessing in the Amidah: Who are we cursing?This article examines a possible target of the curses as found in the extra blessing of the Amidah (veLamalshinim) (K

Kotzk Podcast 091: R. Joseph Ber Soloveitchik’s adaptation of German Volk elements.

R. Joseph Ber Soloveitchik’s adaptation of German Volk elements.This article examines how R. Soloveitchik adopted elements from German Volk ideology popular during the in

Kotzk Podcast 090: Likutei Halachot: Reinterpreting Halacha as a means to connect with the Tzadik

This episode examines the memory triggers (mnemonics) embedded within the writings of R. Natan, the student of R. Nachman of Breslov. (Kotzk Blog 550)

Kotzk Podcast 089: From Serafim to Sefirot: The Kedusha and the rise of human participation in the cosmic drama

This episode traces the shift in Jewish mysticism from a form of angelology and demonology to a more sophisticated system of theosophy and Sefirot.(Kotzk Blog: 549)

Kotzk Podcast 088: Early Mussar: Displacement of the Divine and demonic threat management (Kotzk Blog 548)

This episode examines the often daunting, if not intimidating genre of early Mussar writings, which tend to sideline both the Divine and human agency in the pursuit of mo

Kotzk Podcast 087: From the Nile to Safed: Egyptian Judeo-Sufism as an influence on Lurianic Kabbalah

This episode explores centuries of Jewish mystical engagement with Sufism, focusing on the Egyptian Judeo-Sufi Period and its possible link to Lurianic Kabbalah. Kotzk B

Kotzk Podcast 086: Jewish Mystics and Rationalists seeking Islamic Fatwas during the Maimonidean Conflicts

This article explores how Cairo Geniza documents may demonstrate how two opposing Jewish factions sought Islamic religious edicts (Fatwas) to settle internal theological

Kotzk podcast 085: Psychedelics: Cutting-edge science or shamanic ritual?

This article examines the claim of "cutting-edge academic research into psychedelics" as often touted by psychedelic adherents; and suggests we may be witnessing the birt

Kotzk Podcast 084: Acculturating Alcohol and Sanctifying Psychedelics: It’s time to stand up

This article discusses the increasingly widespread use of alcohol and psychedelics in our communities (Kotzk Blog 544)(http://kotzkblog.com)