KMTT - the Torah Podcast

R. Yerucham Gorelick z"l, 3 Tishrei 5744, by Rav Binyamin Tabory, originally given for Parshat Nitzavim 5768

Pre Rosh Hashana Ideas with Rav Dovid Gottlieb Teshuva: Not About What We Do and Say, It's About Who We ARE Akeidas Yitzchak and Rosh Hashana: Leveraging the Legacy of Our Spiritual DNA To Cry or Not to Cry - What Is Rosh Hashana Really About?

Hacham Ben Zion Meir Chai Uziel z"l, 24 Elul 5713, by Rav Binyamin Tabory, originally given for Parshat Ki Tavo 5768

Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelekh with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - "Va'yeilech Moshe" - Where Did Moshe Go and Why Did He Go? #2 - Achronim - The Gift and Responsibility of Teshuva: An Awesome Insight of the Meshech Chochma #3 - Chazal - "Lo Bashamayim Hi" - The Amazing Interpretation of Chazal #4 - Sparks of Chassidus - Rav Tzadok Hakohen: Success is Only Possible Because Failure IS an Option #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Is Teshuvah a Mitzvah?

R. Elya Lopian z"l,19 Elul5730, by Rav Binyamin Tabory, originally given for Parshat Ki Tavo 5767

Rav Yehuda Leib ben Bezalel - The Maharal of Prague z"l, 18 Elul 5369, by Rav Binyamin Tabory, originally given for Parshat Ki Tetze 5767

Parshat Ki Tavo with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Accepting the Validity of Torah - Even More Important than Observance #2 - Contemporary Meforshim - Appreciating the Kedusha of Eretz Yisrael: A Beautiful Thought from Rav Schwab #3 - Midrash - Learning Without Observing the Mitzvos is Worse Than Not Learning At All! #4 - Sparks of Chassidus - Bikkurim and Eretz Yisroel: The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Beautiful Explanation #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Birkas HaMitzvos: What's The Relationship Between the Beracha and the Mitzvah?

R. Yaakov Gesundheit z"l, 13 Elul 5638, by Rav Binyamin Tabory, originally given for Parshat Ki Tetze 5768

The Power and The Glory of Rosh Hashana: Analyzing the 30 Pesukim of Shofar, special Elul shiur by Rav Moshe Taragin, given over zoom to the Rabbinic Conference of South Africa, August 31, 2020

Parshat Ki Teitzei with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Eishet Yefat Toar: What is the Torah Thinking? #2 - Achronim - Parenting Lessons from the Ben Sorrer U-Moreh: Rav Hirsch's Brilliant Insight #3 - Midrash - Integrating Converts from Egypt: 2 Relevant Lessons Derived by the Midrash #4 - Sparks of Chasssidus - Going Out to Spiritual War - Strategic Advice from the Sefas Emes #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Is There a Mitzva to Get Married?

Parshat Shoftim with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Rabbinic Authority - Even if They're Wrong? #2 - Contemporary Meforshim - Political Leaders as Religious Role Models - The Inspiring Vision of the Oznayim Le'Torah #3 - Midrash - Is Judaism Really Pro Monarchy? #4 - Sparks of Chassidus - Healthy and Balanced Religiosity - The Kotzker's Remarkable Insight #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Why Do We Have to Keep Rabbinic Mitzvos?

R. Reuven Margolios z"l, 7 Elul 5731, by Rav Binyamin Tabory, originally given for Parshat Shoftim 5768

Parshat Re'eh with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - The False Prophet - If He's "False" Then How is He a "Prophet"? #2 - Achronim - The Twin Benefits of the Mikdash and Centralized Worship #3 - Midrash - A Life of Blessing or Curse - The Choice is Ours #4 - Sparks of Musar - The INABILITY to Sin: A Profound Religious Insight #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - The Mitzva of Tzedaka

Parshat Ekev with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Is Yiras Shamayim a "Small Thing"?! #2 - Modern Meforshim - How Can We "Bless Hashem"? Rav Hirsch's Revolutionary Approach #3 - What Makes Us Worthy of Eretz Yisroel? #4 - Sparks of Musar - Why Do We Bentch? The Amazing Insight of the Meshech Chochma #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Is There is a Mitzvah to Daven?

Parshat Vaetchanan with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Loving Hashem - The Rambam's Perspective #2 - Moshe's Desire to Enter Eretz Yisroel - And Ours #3 - Kibud Av V'Em: The Important Lessons Learned from non-Jews #4 - Sparks of Chasidus - Praying to be Able to Pray: The Powerful Insight of R. Levi Yitzchok #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Kibud Av V'Em In Deed, Word, and Thought

Two Seminal Stories of Harav Amital zt"l and How They Impacted My Life, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Parshat Devarim and Religious Zionism, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Parshat Devarim with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - What's Devarim About? The Ramban's Theory #2 - Contemporary Meforshim - Who Was Responsible for the Cheit Ha-Egel - Hashem or the Jewish People? #3 - Midrash - Learning How to Give - and Grow From - Cristicism #4 - Sparks of Chasidus - Emunah "Conquers" Machshava and Maaseh - A Beautiful Thought from the Sefas Emes #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Kavod Ha-Beriyos: Human Dignity as a Halachic Value

The Goals of Conquering Land In and Beyond Eretz Yisrael (Including an Insight from Moreinu HaRav Yehuda Amital zt'l on his 10th Yahrtzeit), by our alumnus Rabbi Michael Taubes. The shiur was given by zoom on July 16, 2020. Sourcesheet available here. Rabbi Taubes is Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) of Yeshiva University and the spiritual leader of Congregation Zichron Mordechai in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Parshat Matot-Masei with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Why Do We Need to Know About Alllll of the Stops in the Midbar? #2 - Contemporary Meforshim - The Basis of Jewish Morality: An Amazing Insight from R. Moshe Feinstein #3 - Midrash - Obsessing Over Money: The Tragic Mistake of Benei Gad and Reuven #4 - Sparks of Musar - The Importance of Being Inspired: Rav Schwab's Beautiful Insight into Am Yisroel's Journeys #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - The ABCs of Tevilas Keilim

Kamtza and Bar Kamtza - Special Shiur given in honor of the 10th Yahrzeit of Moreinu Harav Amital zt"l. Yehi zikhro barukh. The well-known Agadah about Kamtza and Bar-Kamtza (in which, by the way, Kamtza never makes an appearance) is filled with riddles and oddities; by studying the Midrash's version (Eikhah Rabbah Ch. 4) of this story, closer to the events in both time and place, events, personalities and adages become much clearer.

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