KMTT - the Torah Podcast

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

From our Siddur to the Seder 6: The Four Sons, Answering the Question or Answering the Child, by Rav Menachem Leibtag In the shiur we study the famous Midrash that we quote in our Haggada, showing how the Midrash intentionally 'borrows' the questions from Chumash, but totally changes the answers - to teach how to relate the personality of each child based on his needs. Click here for the source sheet.

From our Siddur to the Seder 5: Rosh Chodesh Nisan – the Busiest Day in the Bible, by Rav Menachem Leibtag In this shiur, we trace the key events in the Torah from rosh chodesh Nisan in Egypt until rosh chodesh Nisan in the second year, when the Mishkan is assembled & God's shechina returns to the camp of Israel. Click here for sourcesheets.

From our Siddur to the Seder 4: Remembering the Exodus, Once a Year or Once a Day, by Rav Menachem Leibtag The thematic background for why the primary goal of our yearly celebration of the Exodus, is to enhance the practical meaning of our daily mention of the Exodus when we recite the shema in the morning and evening. Click here for sourcesheets.

From our Siddur to the Seder 3: Ha Lachma Anya and the Jewish Home, by Rav Menachem Leibtag The Biblical connection between the very first 'pesach' in Egypt and our own Seder, with a focus on the centrality of the Jewish home ["bayit"] in the very first commandment that Am Yisrael receives (in Shemot chapter 12). Click here for sourcesheets.

The Process of Pesak Halacha 22: The Role of Posek in Political Questions: The Case of Land for Peace, by Rav Jonathan Ziring The Role of Posek in Political Questions: The Case of Land for Peace What is the role of the posek in determining political and military realities?

Shiur #2 Kriat Shema and the Shemoneh Esrei, and their Connection to Yetziat Mitzrayim, by Rav Menachem Leibtag This shiur will discuss the logic behind the first three blessings of the "bakasha" section of the Amida - and afterward the connection between kriat shema and the shemoneh esrei, with a focus on the third parsha of kriat shema, and how it connects to the theme and purpose of "Yetziat Mitzrayim." Click here for sources.

The Process of Pesak Halacha 21: The Role of Posek in Halakhic-Medical Questions, by Rav Jonathan Ziring What is the role of the posek and how does he integrate medical decisions into answering halakhic issues?

From our Siddur to the Seder, a new series by Rav Menachem Leibtag, Part 1 Given the current Corona situation, we will begin this series with a discussion of the Biblical roots of the famous machloket between the Rambam & Ramban in regard to the nature of our obligation to pray; and the thematic connection between "tefilla" and "teshuva". Click here for sources.

Understanding Minhagim #18, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Kriat haTorah

The Process of Pesak Halacha 20: Pesak - Applying the Theory to Reality, by Rav Jonathan Ziring What is the role of poskim in determining the reality to which their decisions apply? Is there a difference between the theory and the application of the law?

Understanding Minhagim #17, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Purim

The Process of Pesak Halacha 19: Divergent Customs within a Family?, by Rav Jonathan Ziring Must a wife take on her husband's customs? Does it depend on circumstances or the specific custom?

Rules for Success, special sicha given to Bnei Chul at the yeshiva by Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier, Feb 26, 2020. Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier is the Director of the www.theShmuz.com.

Rav Soloveitchik on the Holiday of Purim, special shiur by Rabbi Hershel Schachter, posek and rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, Yeshiva University, given at the yeshiva to the Bnei Chul (Feb 24, 2020).

Understanding Minhagim #16, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Birkat HaMazon

The Process of Pesak Halacha 18: Should Customs be Distinct or Unified?, by Rav Jonathan Ziring Is the existence of different customs ideal or problematic? Should it practically be changed?

Understanding Minhagim #15, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Beracha Acharona Part 2

The Process of Pesak Halacha 17: Minhagim: Geographic, Familial, and Ethnic, by Rav Jonathan Ziring What are the implications of family customs? Geographic customs? Ashekenazi and Sefardi traditions?

Understanding Minhagim #14, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Beracha Acharona

The Process of Pesak Halacha 16: Minhag as a Form of Personal or Communal Neder, by Rav Jonathan Ziring Why are non-Halachic customs binding? From where are their authority derived?

Special Shiur - Mission to Abort, sicha with Bnei Chul, Feb 6, 2020, by Rav Aryeh Lebowitz, the director of Semikha at RIETS as well as the Mara D'atra of Beit Haknesset of North Woodmere.

Understanding Minhagim #13, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Havdala

Excuses in Avodat Hashem, by Rav Yonasan Sacks, Rosh HaYeshiva Landers College/ Beit Medrash L'Talmud. We thank Rav Sacks for coming to speak with our talmidim.

My Advocacy for Israel, a special sicha with Bnei Chul, by Colonel Richard Kemp, Feb 3, 2020. Col. Richard Kemp is a retired British Army officer who served from 1977 to 2006. Kemp was an infantry battalion Commanding Officer. Among his assignments were the command of Operation Fingal in Afghanistan from July to November 2003, and work for the Joint Intelligence Committee and COBR. Kemp has spoken on a range of social and political issues, including the British armed forces, the Middle East, and the European Union.

The Process of Pesak Halacha 15: The Importance of Lived Tradition in Psak Halacha, by Rav Jonathan Ziring Why does mimetic tradition blur the line between law and custom? Why are poskim hesitant to challenge custom, even in light of textual evidence?

Understanding Minhagim #12, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Lechem Mishna and Seudot Shabbat

The Process of Pesak Halacha 14: Minhag as Evidence of the Correct Halacha, by Rav Jonathan Ziring Why and when does custom act as a data point in determining the proper halacha?

Shame and Secrecy on the Internet: There is a Way Out, by Brad Salzman, LCSW, CSAT, Internet Addiction Therapy Expert, Director, Kivun Recovery Center Third of 3 sessions in the Mini Yom Iyun: Mental Health, The Internet and the Yetzer Harah, January 23rd, 2020 at the yeshiva for the Bnei Chul.

Plug Into Reality: Don't Let Yourself Be Controlled, by Noach Levin, award-winning Strategic Digital Marketer and Business Intelligence Analyst 2nd of 3 sessions in the Mini Yom Iyun: Mental Health, The Internet and the Yetzer Harah, January 23rd, 2020 at the yeshiva for the Bnei Chul.