KMTT - the Torah Podcast

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.

Mental Health: Depression and Anxiety, by Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski, Psychiatrist, Founder of Gateway Rehabilitation Center and author of more than 60 books First 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.

Positive Mitzvot of Shabbat 08: Tosefet Shabbat (Part 3), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb How does Tosefet Shabbat work? What does it mean to "make Shabbat early" if it's still Friday afternoon? Understanding the conceptual framework of Tosefet Shabbat will help explain numerous disputes that surround this fascinating halacha.

Understanding Minhagim #11, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Kiddush at night and during the day (continued)

Aseret HaDibbrot 11: Kriat HaTorah of Aseret HaDibbrot, by Rav Tzvi Kaye. Explaining the different customs; should one stand or sit, which tune to use, and what this teaches us about the Aseret HaDibbrot and Kriat HaTorah.

The Process of Pesak Halacha 13: Manuscripts in Halacha, by Rav Jonathan Ziring When considering the positions of previous poskim, how does one weigh new editions or newly found Rishonim? Does one reject these new discoveries or allow them to impact the way one determines halacha?

The Persona of Moreinu Harav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l, special shiur by Rabbi Michael Rosensweig, a Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University and the Rosh Kollel of the Beren Kollel Elyon. This shiur was given to the Bnei Chul at Har Etzion on Thursday January 16, 2020.

The Halachic Prenup, Special Shiur by Rav Mordechai Willig. Rav Mordechai Willig, Rosh Yeshiva at YU, will spoke with Bnei Chul on Tuesday Jan 14, 2020, on Halachic Solutions to the Aguna Problem. Rav Willig wrote the Prenuptial Agreement that is widely used today and is one of the leading experts in the field.

Understanding Minhagim #10, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Leil Shabbat Part 1

Aseret HaDibbrot 10: Lo Tachmod, by Rav Tzvi Kaye. Is the prohibition to actually take another person's property, and if so what is the difference between lo tachmod and lo tigzol, or is this a prohibition of the desire to take someone's property. If the prohibition is on the desire, what is the essential problem with having such desire?

The Process of Pesak Halacha 12: Halacha KeBatrai, by Rav Jonathan Ziring How do poskim weigh early and late poskim? Why and when are later poskim given more authority?

Positive Mitzvot of Shabbat 07: Tosefet Shabbat (Part 2), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb If a husband or wife accepts early Shabbat does that obligate his or her spouse? When does a "communal acceptance" obligate individuals? Can you ask a non-Jew to do melacha for you after you have accepted Shabbat? Can you ask a fellow Jew? Can you change your mind?

Understanding Minhagim #9, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Tefillin Part 3

Aseret HaDibbrot 9 - Bearing False Witness, by Rav Tzvi Kaye. Does the prohibition focus on the act of lying in court, or the abuse of the court system to attack another person?

The Process of Pesak Halacha 11: Choosing Authorities: Mara D'Atra Classic and Modern, by Rav Jonathan Ziring Why do certain communities follow particular poskim? How does this emerge from the category of Mara D'Atra, local rabbinic authority?

Positive Mitzvot of Shabbat 06: Tosefet Shabbat (Part 1), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb Review of the laws of accepting Shabbat "early". Topics discussed include: the source, who is obligated, when and how this is accomplished.

Aseret HaDibbrot 8 - Theft, by Rav Tzvi Kaye. What is the difference between geneiva and gezeila? Why is kidnapping and deceiving people referred to as types of geneiva?

The Process of Pesak Halacha 10: Ruling Based on Previous Authorities, by Rav Jonathan Ziring How does one determine which authorities to use for psak? Does one count the number of poskim? Look at their relative expertise? Other factors?

Understanding Minhagim #8, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Chanuka Part 2

Positive Mitzvot of Shabbat 05: Special Shiur - The Mitzvot of Shabbat Chanukah, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb How are the mitzvot of Shabbat impacted by Chanukah and how are the mitzvot of Chanukah impacted by Shabbat?

Aseret HaDibbrot 7 - Adultery, by Rav Tzvi Kaye. What are the differences between the prohibition on Jews and non-Jews. And what is the essence of the prohibition? Source sheet: gush.net/audios/kmtt/mekorot/aseret-hadibbrot-RTK-07-adultery.pdf

The Process of Pesak Halacha 09: The Ambiguity of Text, by Rav Jonathan Ziring Why don't poskim rely simply on their understanding of primary texts? Why do they need to take into account the interpretations of others, as well as the customs of Jews?