KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Bein haMetzarim: The Symmetry of Tragedies, shiur by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom, July 8, 2020, 17 Tamuz, in advance of the 3 Weeks. The period between the fasts of 17 Tamuz and 9bAv became known as "Bein haMetzarim" in the late medieval period. The origins of pairing these fast days together, however, is anchored in the Mishna in Taanit which identifies five tragedies that befell Am Yisrael on each of these days. We explore the relationship within the lists and between the lists to discover the underlying themes of each fast day and how they represent and symbolize the (temporary) failure of both of Israel's covenants with Hashem: Brit Sinai and Brit Tziyyon. Sourcesheet available here.

Rabbinic alumni assembled in this special zoom session to share memories and lessons from HaRav Amital zt"l , held July 14th, 2020, in advance of Harav Amital's 10th Yahrzeit.

The Process of Pesak Halacha 33: The Limits of Shaat HaDechak: The Case of Kevod HaBeriyot, by Rav Jonathan Ziring What is the nature of the dispensation of "human dignity"? What can its limits teach us about the nature of halachic reasoning?

Parshat Pinchas with Rav Dovid Gottlieb Pinchas 1 - Hashem Rewards Pinchas (part 1) - What is the "Bris Shalom"? Pinchas 2 - Hashem Rewards Pinchas (part 2) - What is the "Bris Kehunah"? Pinchas 3 - Midrash - Yehoshua's Selection and the Sensitive Question of Succession Pinchas 4 - Sparks of Chassidus - Multiple Paths Up the Mountain: Religious Individuality in the Thought of the Sefas Emes Pinchas 5 - Halacha form the Parsha - Tadir VeShe'eino Tadir" - Which Mitzvah Comes First?

The Process of Pesak Halacha 32: Monetary Loss as a Model of Shaat HaDechak, by Rav Jonathan Ziring How do poskim weigh objective and subjective "pressure"? How broad of a perspective can poskim take when determining what counts as an extenuating circumstance?

Parshat Balak with Rav Dovid Gottlieb Balak 1 - Classical Meforshim - Did Hashem Give Balaam Permission to Go? Yes, No, Maybe Balak 2 - Achronim / Contemporary - Bilaam vs Moshe: The Surprising Source of Moshe's Superiority Balak 3 - Midrash - Why Didn't Moshe Act When Confronted By Zimri? A Relevant Message from the Midrash Balak 4 - Sparks of Chassidus - "Am K'Lavi Yakum" - The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Amazing Insight into Jewish Resilience Balak 5 - Halacha - Why Do We Wait for the Rabbi? What About Tircha DTzibura

We are happy to introduce a new series by Rav Dovid Gottlieb on the Parsha, each weekly shiur comprised of 5 parts, Classical Meforshim, Achronim, Midrash, Chassidus, and Halacha. Enjoy. Chukat #1 - Classical Meforshim - What Was Moshe's Sin? 3 Approaches in the Rishonim Chukat #2 - Achronim / More Recent - "Misas Tzadikim Mechaperes" - Rav Kook's Inspiring Interpretation Chukat #3 - Midrash - Why Was Moshe Scared of Og? A Profound Teaching from the Midrash Chukat #4 - Sparks of Chassidus - Why Use a Copper Snake? A Beautiful Thought from the Sefas Emes Chukat #5 - Halacha - Ta'amei HaMitzvos - Can the WHY Impact the WHAT?

The Process of Pesak Halacha 31: Principles that Affect the Legislation and Adjudication of Halacha: The Case of Monetary Loss, by Rav Jonathan Ziring How do monetary concerns affect the way law is formulated and how existing law in interpreted.

Special Shiur - Questions in Philosophy - Conversation with Rav Ezra Bick continues. CONFRONTATIONS - A brand new series of conversations with Rav Ezra Bick Judaism and Modernity: When they clash, how they clash and why they clash Rav Bick returns for a new series of conversations with Gavriel Rosen. In this series we will be tackling the most challenging issues that a Jew faces when encountering modern western society. Among the topics on the agenda for this first episode of CONFRONTATIONS: Individualism, Moral Relativism, Reductionism and much much more Gavriel Rosen posed Gush talmidim's Machshava questions to Rav Bick in a live interview, June 23rd, 2020.

The Process of Pesak Halacha 30: Chillul Hashem as a Factor in Pesak and Halachic Policy, by Rav Jonathan Ziring How does the concern for Chillul Hashem generate both halachic policy and shape halachic decision making itself? How does this play out both in lenient and stringent directions?

Understanding Minhagim #29, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Wedding Customs

Special Shiur - Conversation with Rav Ezra Bick #3, Questions in Philosophy - OnThe Problem of Evil. Gavriel Rosen posed Gush talmidim's Machshava questions to Rav Bick in a live interview.

A Religious Response to the George Floyd Protests; The Religious Roots of Social Equality, a special shiur by Rav Moshe Taragin. Zoom Shiur Delivered to Asbee Congregation, Memphis, USA Sources are available here.

The Process of Pesak Halacha 29: Theoretical or Practical Pesak - Which is Better? by Rav Jonathan Ziring Which kind of halachic analysis is more trustworthy? That offered without the pressure of a practical question, or that offered in response to a real issue?

Understanding Minhagim #28, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Pikuach Nefesh: Reb Chaim

Exceptionalism, Excellence, Responsibility and Culpability: Four Interlocking Perspectives of Chosenness, guest shiur by Rabbi Yitzchak Etshalom During these challenging times, a moment of reflection on what it means to be an exceptional people and how that obligates us towards the rest of the world.

Pirkei Avot 7 - "Pas B'Melach Tochal" - Is Money Really Incompatible with Torah? (Avos 6:4), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb This shiur was initially given gearing up to Shavuot.

Special Shiur - Conversation with Rav Ezra Bick #2, Questions in Philosophy - On Talmud Torah. Gavriel Rosen posed Gush talmidim's Machshava questions to Rav Bick in a live interview.

The Process of Pesak Halacha 28: Why is Psak Binding? by Rav Jonathan Ziring Why is one bound to follow a pesak? How does asking a halachic question grant authority to a posek?

Understanding Minhagim #27, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Tzitzit

Dr. Richard Joel, former president of Yeshiva University, in conversation with Rav Moshe Taragin, sharing memories about Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm zt"l. Zoom session June 3, 2020

The Process of Pesak Halacha 27: Slippery Slope (2): Transparency, by Rav Jonathan Ziring Is it better to be open about what is a protective measure and what is the primary law, or to blur the line to ensure compliance of both?

Understanding Minhagim #26, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Lo Ta'achilum

The Process of Pesak Halacha 26: Slippery Slope (1): What Motivates Rabbinic Protective Measures?, by Rav Jonathan Ziring When do rabbis set up protective measures? What concerns limit when they make such rules?

Understanding Minhagim #25, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Shavuot

The Process of Pesak Halacha 25: Psak as Persuasion, by Rav Jonathan Ziring It is not just important that a decision be issued, but that people be willing and able to follow it. How do poskim achieve the trust necessary to get to that point?

Parshat Behar-Bechukotai: Insight and Inspiration, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Gush session, May 15th 2020

Understanding Minhagim #24, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Rosh Chodesh Part 2

Lag B'Omer (and Sefirat Ha-Omer) in the Thought of Rav Asher Weiss, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb How Does the celebration of Lag B'Omer relate to the prior mourning of the Omer period? Through the brilliant sichot of R. Asher Weiss we discover the deeper connection.

Pirkei Avot 6 - How Should We Relate to Money? (Avot 5:10), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb What should our attitude towards money be? The mishna outlines and evaluates 4 different approaches, ranging from extremely generous to extremely stingy and everything in between.

The Process of Pesak Halacha 24: Psak: Considering Language, Media, and Audience, by Rav Jonathan Ziring Who is the audience of psak? How does the way a posek writes and communicates reflect and determine this?

Special Shiur - Conversation with Rav Ezra Bick, Questions in Philosophy. Gavriel Rosen posed Gush talmidim's Machshava questions to Rav Bick in a live interview. Hear the wit and wisdom of Rav Bick – with Gavriel Rosen in Tochnit Machshava. Thank you both for a most interesting hour!

Pirkei Avot 5 - The Reward for a Mitzva is a Mitzva - Really? (Avot 4:2), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb In what way is a mitzva the reward for doing a mitzva? And how does that relate to the idea of "mitzva goreret mitzva"?

The Process of Pesak Halacha 23: Halakhic Policy Making by Rav Jonathan Ziring How do poskim take into account Torah values and communal needs that are not reducible to black and white law?

Understanding Minhagim #23, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Rosh Chodesh

Pirkei Avot 4 - Charting the Journey of Religious Excellence (Avos 3:1), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb From What, To Where, and Before Whom?

The Mechayev of Mitzvat Kvod Rabo, In memory of Harav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l, a shiur marking his 5th yahrzeit, by Rabbi Eliav Silverman. Rabbi Eliav Silverman '95 is a member of the Beren Kollel at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University and is the coordinator of the Yeshiva's Presidential Bekiut Program. We thank him for sharing this shiur with us.

"If two sit together and there are no words of Torah between them," (Avot 3:2). A memorial tribute, by Rabbi Etshalom '83, in honor of the 5th Yahrzeit of his rebbe, Harav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l.

Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, zt'l, on the Response to Suffering, A Presentation in Commemoration of his Fifth Yahrtzeit, 3 Iyar, 5780, by Rabbi Michael Taubes '77. Click here for a source sheet. Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) of Yeshiva University and at the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy–Yeshiva University High School for Boys. He is also the spiritual leader of Congregation Zichron Mordechai in Teaneck, New Jersey, delivering regular Shiurim and lectures both there and at the Beis Medrash of Bergen County. Thank you Rabbi Taubes for sharing this shiur with us.

Thoughts Upon the 5th Yahrzeit of HaRav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Recollections of Harav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l, sicha by Rabbi Hershel Schachter, given at yeshiva in 5777. Released in advance of Moreinu's 5th yahrzeit, Rosh Chodesh Iyar.

Pirkei Avot 3 - What to Do, What to Think and What to Remember: A Guide to Spiritual Success, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

"Be From the Students of Aharon" - How Everyone Can Become a "Virtual Kohen," second in the series on Pirkei Avot, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

"Al Shelosha Devarim HaOlam Omed" - Reconnecting to the Foundations of the World, the first in a new series on Pirkei Avot, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Understanding Minhagim #22, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Sefirat HaOmer

She'elot uTeshuvot #09, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Binyan Av - Harav Eliyahu Bakshi Doron zt"l

Understanding Minhagim #21, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Pesach Part 2

Understanding Minhagim #20, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Pesach

Understanding Minhagim #19, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - K'riat HaTorah Part 2