'Creating' sacred sites: Who is buried there, and does it matter? (Kotzk Blog: 520)

This episode examines the sometimes-spontaneous emergence of burial sites attributed to Sages and biblical figures, raising the question of whether historical accuracy should play a role in how such sacred spaces are recognized.

When rabbis dared to challenge the Divine: The case of Midrash Tehillim (Kotzk Blog: 519)

This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Dov Weiss[1]— examines the rise and decline of rabbinic protest theology. It looks at the audacious attempts by some Mishnaic rabbis to defy a general ethos of protest prohibition, particularly upheld by the schools of R. Akiva and R. Elazar. By tracing the gradual evolution of rabbinic protest theology through the Talmudic period to its peak in post-Talmudic times, Weiss maps a distinct theological arc that eventually waned and merged into modern times as a subdued tradition.

Messianic Immunity—The Perfect Storm: The case of R.

This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Abraham Ofir Shemesh(1) examines an extreme case of messianic immunity. In the sixteenth century, a medical doctor, haRofeh, under the influence of the *Sabbatian* messianic movement of Shabbatai Tzvi, felt he could administer harmful drugs to non-Jews in order to kill them. Because he believed he was living in the stirrings of the messianic era, he also believed he could do so with impunity—if not hasten the full awakening of the messianic age as he saw it unfolding before his very eyes.

A historical context to Midrashim (Kotzk blog 517)

This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Gary Porton [1](https://d.docs.live.net/cf7c519617ad128d/Documents/KOTZK%20BLOG%20517.docx#_ftn1) — investigates the historical conditions that may have fostered the complex and often elusive evolution of *Midrash*. *Midrashim* are the creative and often fanciful interpretations of the biblical text that dramatically expand its plain meaning. While some adopt a literal approach to the interpretation of *Midrashim,* others opt for an allegorical methodology. Based on a reading of *Talmudic* texts, Porton suggests a more diachronic or historical approach based on how and where *Midrashim* were first taught.

When Midrash is too much for the Midrash (Kotzk blog 516)This episode—based extensively on the research by Rabbi Dr Zvi Ron—examines various Midrashim that have been rejected by an unofficial form of collective rabbinic consensus. These include Midrashim from lesser known sources as well as, surprisingly, those from classical Midrashic sources such as Mechilta, Sifra, Sifri, Midrash Raba and Midrash Tanchuma

Missing in Manuscript: The additional biblical verses added to the Mishna (Kotzk blog 515)

This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor Jason Kalman—examines the question of additional biblical verses, cited as proof texts added to our versions of the Mishna. Based on comparisons between our Mishna texts and their earlier manuscripts and printings, in almost twenty per cent of the cases, these scriptural citations are missing in the earlier and more original versions. This means that one out of five biblical verses, acting to compliment or support a contemporary Mishna text, is a later insertion. 

Kabbalah: From Obscurity to the Defining Essence of Judaism (Kotzk blog 514)

This episode—based extensively on the research by Professor David Malkiel—explores the thirteenth-century rise of Kabbalah in Spain and its subsequent peaking in sixteenth-century Safed. Since the Safed period, Kabbalah has come to be widely regarded as embodying the very essence and greatest depths of Judaism in the popular imagination. How did this transformation take place? Some would suggest that this is a natural progression towards messianic times. But any study of Jewish messianism shows that we have always believed we've been living in imminent messianic times. There may be additional ways of tracking the development of Kabbalah.

Secret Mystical and Chassidic societies (Kotzk blog 513)This Episode—based extensively on the research by Rabbi Dr Zvi Leshem—examines several secret mystical societies from biblical times to pre-war Europe, with a particular focus on the secretive group established by R. Kalonymus Kalmish (Kalman) Shapira of Piasecnzo (Piasetzna) (1889-1943). 

Secret mystical circles and societies are not well-known in Judaism, but they have always existed. 

This podcast - based extensively on the research by Professor Bernard Dov Cooperman[1]—explores how the Italian rabbinic world dealt with their dynamic differences in theological expression during the early Modern period (Kotzk blog 512)

This podcast—based extensively on the research by Dr Assaf Tamari[1]—examines the Zohar’s unusual depiction of the exiled Shechina (the feminine aspect of the Godhead) as a patient requiring urgent treatment. (Kotzk blog 511)

According to the Zohar, several deviant sexual activities were necessary for the Davidic messianic dynasty to emerge. This is known as ‘redemption through sin’ and is connected to the Aramaic word  Tikla used by the Zohar which refers to a spinning wheel in the sky.

Kotzk Blog: 371) ‘Tikla’ and the zoharic concept that sin can bring redemption

This podcast —based extensively on the research by Professor Eitan Fishbane[1]—examines the rabbinic notion of the authenticity of a teaching or text being reliant on the perceived authority of its transmitter or originator. In other words, the greater the rabbi the more authentic the teaching, regardless of the independent status, nature and validity of the actual teaching itself.  (Kotzk Blog 509)

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 Israel until the Messiah arrives, and the desire to settle in the Land. The Three Oaths were designed to engender a non-militaristic and exilic ethos within the Jewish people after the defeats of the Bar Kochba revolts against the Romans. It also touches upon the biblical notion of מלחמת מצווה, Mitzvah or Holy War.

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 that the rabbis who participated in such enterprises were always Kabbalists and often respected Halachists as well.

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) based on R. Avraham Ibn Ezra (1089-1164) who had preceded him by almost four centuries. Moshe ben Yakov is also known as Moshe haGoleh (the ‘exile’) miKiev.[2] 

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 (northeastern Spain). With this emergence, there was now a rapid interest in, and wide reception of, the notion of Sefirot (Divine emanations). Although the term ‘Sefirot’ was used in the earlier mystical work of the Bahir, it suddenly took on a specific meaning in thirteenth-century Spanish Zoharic Kabbalah. 

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)