KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 39 | Ki Tavo, by Rav Eli Weber

How do we show gratitude to Hashem? How do we deal with failure in Avodat Hashem?

Rav Soloveitchik on Teshuva (11): Appreciating Our Dual Relationship With Hashem, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

What is the basis of our relationship with Hashem - what we inherit from our parents or something more personal? What does sin do to that relationship and how does teshuva repair the relationship?

Ki Tetze | 5785 | Sha'atnez, by Rav Tzvi Chaim Kaye

The issur appears twice in the Torah; what does the word itself mean?! And what processes are required to create a violation of this mitzva. This and more...

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 38 | Ki Tetze, by Rav Eli Weber

What is behind the order of the parshiot? What does the Torah say about the ethics of war? 

Rav Soloveitchik on Teshuva (10): The Secret Power that Makes Teshuva Possible, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

What is it that allows us to achieve atonement for our sins - what happened to "do the crime, do the time"?

Rav Soloveitchik on Teshuva (9): Deciding to Repent Even When the Temptation of Sin Remains, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

What's the thought process  of a person who decides to repent for a sin even though he/she is still tempted by that sin?

Rav Soloveitchik on Teshuva (8): Mourning Our Lost Selves and the Emotions of Repentance, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Eighth in a series of mini-shiurim on R Soloveitchik's approach to Teshuva based on his famous and incredible sefer Al HaTeshuva. 

What are the primary emotions associated with teshuva and how do they motivate us to repent?

Shoftim | 5785 | Appointing a King, by Rav Tzvi Chaim Kaye

Is it an option or a commandment? 

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 37 | Shoftim, by Rav Eli Weber

What is the role of the magistrate in the Torah? 

Rav Soloveitchik on Teshuva (7): Appreciating the Different Motivations for Repentance, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Seventh in a series of mini-shiurim on R Soloveitchik's approach to Teshuva based on his famous and incredible sefer Al HaTeshuva. 

Sometimes we're moved emotionally to change direction, and other times our motivations are more intellectual - does it matter why we chose to change? In what sense can sin be compared to illness or disease?

Sefer Devarim | Ekev | 5785 | The Ark of War, by Rav Alex Israel

Rashi suggests that there is not one Aron but two - one Ark is in the Mikdash and the second Aron is for the war-front. Why is there a necessity for a special war Aron? What does it contain? What does it symbolize? 

Devarim | Birkat HaMazon: Sources and Development (2), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Following up from our last shiur, we investigate several observations and proposals made by the Rishonim to discover how Birkat haMazon may have evolved over time. One key question that we address is how all 3 ברכות (at least!) are דאורייתא, if, as some Rishonim suggest, they weren't said at all for a significant period.

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Devarim | Birkat HaMazon (1), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

A ubiquitous prayer, one of the few commanded in the Torah, is sourced in this week's parasha. Devarim 8:10 - "When you eat and are satisfied you shall bless Hashem, your God, for the good Land which he has given you." - this is known as Birkat haMazon. In this shiur, we explore the textual sources for the three (or four, or five) Berakhot that are mandated by the Torah as part of Birkat haMazon and examine some core Talmudic passages which interpret these verses, in various fashion, to establish the...

Sefer Devarim | Vaetchanan | 5785 | Children, Identity, and Hope, by Rav Alex Israel

What does it mean to care for your parents? Why is it so important?
Rav Alex Israel '85 is an author, Tanakh teacher and international lecturer. He is a teacher at Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and at Midreshet Lindenbaum, and records a daily 929 podcast - The Tanakh Podcast. 

Sefer Devarim | Devarim |  5785 | Lessons of Empowerment, by Rav Alex Israel

How are we to view the way that Moshe retells episodes of the past in new ways with fresh details, different from accounts earlier in the Torah? 
We shall discover a common message in Moshe's opening stories in Devarim ch.1.
Rav Alex Israel '85 is an author, Tanakh teacher and international lecturer. He is a teacher at Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and at Midreshet Lindenbaum, and records a daily 929 podcast - The Tanakh Podcast. 

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 36 | Matot-Masei, by Rav Eli Weber

What is the meaning of living in Eretz Israel?

Sefer Bamidbar | Matot - Masei | 5785 | War of Midian, War of Vengeance, by Rav Ezra Bick

What is the difference between the vengeance of Israel and the vengeance of God? What does it actually mean to avenge the Midianites? Why did the people go out to do this in the name of Moses?

Eikha Rabbati: Rachel's Tears, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

How are we to understand the Midrash about Rachel's tears saving Am Yisrael? The Midrash Rabba collection on Megilat Eikha includes some of the most moving literature in the canon. A brief introduction to Midrash Agada, followed by a briefer introduction to Midrash Eikha, is followed by a study of a famous proem ("Petichta") involving the unsuccessful intervention by the Avot and Mosheh Rabbenu to defend the people - until Rachel speaks up and tells her story...

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Divrei Hesped for Mori V'Rebbi HaRav Yehuda Amital on his 15th Yahrzeit, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Empowering talmidim; Personalizing religion vs. submitting to religion; Life and religion are Complex; The cry of the baby or the roar of the wicked

For more shiuirim by Rav Taragin on Harav Amital zt"l: https://etzion.org.il/en/search?subjects=6103&contentTypes=&authors=5753&series=&tags=&organizations=&lang=en

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 35 | Pinchas, by Rav Eli Weber

Why do the daughters of Zelophehad say how he died? Why does Moshe appoint Yehoshua in front of all of Israel? Why are the musafim written in the end of our parasha? 

Sefer Bamidbar | Pinchas | 5785 | The Meaning of Family, by Rav Ezra Bick

Forty years later, the Jewish People are counted a second time. What is the difference in the census this time? One word makes all the difference.

Bein HaMetzarim 5785, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom. In memory of my father - הרב אשר אהרן בן אברהם בנימין ז"ל -Tammuz 21

Why do chakhamim set up a parallel between the events that befell our ancestors on each of 17 beTammuz and 9 beAv? 

The Mishna in Ta'anit presents a literary parallel between the events that befell our ancestors on 17 of Tammuz and those that happened on 9 beAv. We explore the lists and identify three types of events on each list - and the common features which all of the items on each list share. Using this analysis, an approach to understanding the underlying failure that led to each of these trage...

Sefer Bamidbar | Balak | 5785 | The Nature of Bilam's Prophecy, by Rav Ezra Bick

Why do we need to know what Bilaam said to Balak? What is the significance of the entire story of Balak's failed plan to enlist Bilaam to curse Israel?

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 34 | Balak, by Rav Eli Weber

Who is Bilam?

Balak | Mah Tovu Ohalekha Yaakov, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

What motivated Bil'am to bless as he did? Following the progression of Bilam's blessings.

The lyrical, uplifting blessings with which Bil'am blessed Bnei Yisrael are among the most elegant and moving series of passages in Tanakh. What motivated Bil'am to bless as he did - was he simply a mouthpiece of Hashem, or did he, at some point, identify with the mission to bless God's people? A careful look at the text of his blessings, along with the passages that stitch those blessings together, reveals a...

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 33 | Chukat, by Rav Eli Weber

What was the sin of Moshe and Aharon?

Sefer Bamidbar | Chukat | 5785 | Taking Initiative, by Rav Ezra Bick

What's the difference between the first generation in the midbar and the second? Three short incidents in the middle of the Parasha define the change in the Jewish people after thirty years.

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 32 | Korach, by Rav Eli Weber

Why is HaShem offended by Korach? What is Bnei Yisrael's challenge to Moshe?

Sefer Bamidbar | Korach | 5785 | The Holiness of Am Yisrael, by Rav Ezra Bick

How does the flowering of Aaron's staff answer the complaint of the Jews? More importantly, is not the argument of Korach, "all Jews are holy", correct?

Korach | Korach, Datan and Aviram: When and Why?  by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

What were Datan and Aviram challenging - as opposed to Korach?

The story of the rebellion(s) against Moshe is confusing; why are the rebels taking the stand against Moshe? What is their claim? When is this claim being presented? How do they die? A close analysis reveals two different stories being told.

Source sheet >>

Sefer Bamidbar | Shelach | 5785 | The Meaning of Ascent, by Rav Ezra Bick

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 31 | Shelach , by Rav Eli Weber

Did Moshe think sending the spies was a good idea?

Shelach | Bamidbar 15: Why Now, Why Here? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why are the mitzvot of Nesakhim, Challa, Tzitzit and more presented in the aftermath of the story of the "Meraglim"?

Erev Shabbat Behaalotekha 5785 | Thoughts over the Last 12 Hours, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Thoughts about the war in Israel and parashat Behaalotekha
Invoking the zechut of Jewish history and unity 
They are Hashem's enemies 
This time the two pesukim should end suffering

Behaalotekha | Re'uel, Yitro, Chovav, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Who was Moshe's father-in-law? In our Parasha, there is a curious conversation between Moshe and Chovav; does Chovav end up accepting Moshe's invitation to join Am Yisrael? Who is Chovav to Moshe and is he also known by other names? Was Yitro the Kohen Midian or was Reuel - and who was Tzippora's father? All of these are addressed in this shiur.

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Sefer Bamidbar | Behaalotekha | The Consecration Ceremony of the Leviim, by Rav Ezra Bick

What is the difference between the "purification" of the Leviim and the "sanctification" of the Kohanim?

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 30 | Behaalotekha, by Rav Eli Weber

Why did Jewish history change in Parashat Behaalotekha ? What was the great sin of Kivrot Hata'ava?

Naso | The Sotah Mystery Revisited, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

What do we anticipate will happen to the Sotah if she is guilty?
The Sotah ritual has alternatively been called an ordeal, a deterrent, a mollifier, a Divine judgement and much more. Following the lead of some recent research (cited on the source sheet), a new approach to understanding Sotah is proposed - with an interesting implication for a fresh understanding of Yehuda's judgment of Tamar (Bereishit 38)

Source sheet >>

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 29 | Naso, by Rav Eli Weber

Why does Hashem make a miracle to bring peace between a couple? When was Birkat Kohanim given? Why are the korbanot of the chieftains repeated?

Sefer Bamidbar | Naso | Religious Individualism and the Machaneh, by Rav Ezra Bick

Why are the Sota and the Nazir in the middle of parashat Naso?