The Kotzk Podcast

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)

Kotzk Podcast 083: Where are the first Chassidic texts?

The first Chassidic book appeared in 1780, two decades after the Baal Shem Tov’s passing. What, then, was the nature and content of the abundant manuscripts produced in t

Kotzk Podcast 082: Zoharic Kabbalah as mystical resistance to Christianity

This article examines how Zoharic Kabbalah may be read as a detailed mystical response to Christian polemics and persecutions. (Kotzk blog 542)

Kotzk Podcast 081: Theo-politics of early rabbinic printing and the race for first publication

This episode examines how the race to publish first, often shaped the scholarly priorities and study material of future generations. (Kotzk Blog 540)

Kotzk Podcast 80: The new Rebbe of Thieves

This episode looks at the resurgence of interest in Reb Shayele of Kerestir who had emerged the de facto protector of thieves and swindlers. (Kotzk Blog 539)

Kotzk Podcast 079: Rules for writing a Sefer Torah: Rabbinic innovation or reflection of an existing scribal tradition?

This episode—drawing extensively on the research of ProfessorEmanuel Tov, former Editor-in-Chief of the Dead Sea Scrolls Publication Project[1]—examinesthe rabbinic rules

Kotzk Podcast: 078: ‘Halachic Fiction’ and ex post facto justification in the modern Halachic process

This podcast explores an interesting idea known as Halachic fiction, that may have become a legal methodology in recent times (Kotzk Blog 536)

Kotzk Podcast 077: Suspending Judaism between depth and accessibility: Maimonides and Yeshaya of Trani

Was Judaism enriched by the radical thought of Maimonides, or narrowed by the conservative pragmatism of Yeshaya di Trani? (Kotzk Blog 535)

Kotzk Podcast 075: The Seven Laws of Noah: Then and now

Did the early rabbinic tradition understand the Seven Laws of Noah as a model for a universal religion for non-Jews? (Kotzk Blog 533)