Episode
#199: Rav Yosef Karo II - The Maggid: A Voice From Heaven
- Published
- Sep 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2932
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Summary
Over a period of 30 years, Rav Yosef Karo wrote of his encounters with a divine messenger, an angel which identified itself as the living essence of the Mishna. The most public manifestation took place on an extraordinary night of Shavuos in Salonika in 1533. 19th-century critics dismissed the mystical journal as a complete fabrication, but ground-breaking research and archaeological evidence have vindicated its authenticity. The personal side of his halachic decision making is clearly evident throughout his numerous responsa, whereas the Printing Press allowed his Shulchan Aruch to become available across the Jewish world, despite various omissions - when publishers cut introductions to save space ! Timestamps: 00:00 – Printing omissions and errors in early Jewish texts00:32 – Introduction to History for the Curious01:12 – Episode dedication and sponsorship01:40 – Return from Radin and introduction to Part 202:33 – Pronouncing Rabbi Yosef Karo’s name and the episode’s main topics03:07 – The Maggid Mesharim: Rabbi Yosef Karo’s private spiritual diary03:37 – What is a Maggid?05:23 – How Rabbi Yosef Karo’s Mishnah study led to revelation06:10 – The Maggid’s guidance on Torah study and daily life08:02 – Other rabbis associated with Maggidim and heavenly revelations08:32 – The contents of the Maggid Mesharim09:25 – Using the Maggid’s teachings in public sermons10:24 – Practical halachic rulings attributed to the Maggid14:09 – Why Rabbi Yosef Karo recorded the Maggid’s words14:35 – The famous Shavuot-night revelation in Salonica16:24 – How the group recognized the Maggid’s voice16:51 – Can heavenly revelation influence halachic decisions?18:46 – The Maggid’s authority outside practical halacha19:30 – Chronological problems created by early editors21:00 – Claims that the Mag…