KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Parshat Beshalach - The Wanderings of Benei Yisrael in the Desert, written by Harav Yaakov Medan

Parshat Bo - This Month Shall Be for You, written by Harav Yaakov Medan The Jewish dating system in common use today bears little resemblance to the system used in the Tanakh, whose roots can be found in this week's parasha. What is the history behind this discrepancy, and how should this inform our choice of dating system today?

Parshat Va'era - I Shall Harden Pharaoh's Heart, written by Harav Yaakov Medan What does it mean when God "hardens the heart" of a sinner in the Tanakh - as He did to Pharaoh in Egypt - and how can a person be held accountable for his sins in such a case?

Parshat Shemot - They Were Fruitful and Multiplied, written by Harav Yaakov Medan The number of years that the people of Israel were enslaved in Egypt is subject to debate among the commentators. What can the answer to this question tell us about the incredible growth of the nation in Egypt from seventy souls to a vast multitude?

Parshat Vayechi - Rachel's Death and Burial, by Harav Yaakov Medan What is the reason for Rachel's unique, eternal role in our tradition, and how does this connect to the perennial dispute over the location of her burial site?

Asara BeTevet, by Rav Binyamin Tabory

Parshat Vayigash - Yosef and Yehuda, written by Harav Yaakov Medan The respective narratives of Yehuda and Yosef contain several clear parallels. What does the Torah's attitude toward these two brothers teach us about the quality of leadership throughout the history of the nation of Israel?

Parashat Miketz - The Meaning of Yosef's Estrangement, written by Harav Yaakov Medan The Torah's description of Yosef's evolving relationship with his family contains many unusual and inexplicable elements. How can understanding Yosef's mindset and mentality throughout his harrowing narrative help explain many of these incongruences?

Special Chanuka Shiur, Using the Chanuka Oil, by Rav Ezra Bick Given to Bnei Chul during Mifgash Chanuka 5776 (Dec 8, 2015)

Parshat Vayeshev - From the Valley of Chevron to the Valley of Dotan: In the Footsteps of Yosef and the Midrash, written by Harav Yaakov Medan What can Yosef's journey to find his brothers - and Chazal's commentary on this journey - teach us about the intricate interpersonal relationships at play in this episode?

Parshat Vayishlach - Anyone Who Says Reuven Sinned, written by Harav Yaakov Medan Our Sages were torn over whether the incident between Reuven and Bilha was a terrible sin or a minor misdemeanor. What can our analysis of the incident teach us about Reuven's role in his interactions with his various family members and about his legacy as a would-be leader of the nation of Israel?

Parshat Vayetze - Beit El, written by Harav Yaakov Medan Beit El plays a critical role in Parashat Vayetze, and indeed, in several places throughout the Tanakh. What can Beit El's location and its relationship with Jerusalem tell us about its sanctity and its significance for the people of Israel?

Recollections of Harav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l, by Rav Hershel Schachter R. Schachter explains why he could not speak about R. Aharon immediately after he passed away, and spends 41 minutes describing his rebbe, R. Aharon. "R. Aharon had such a tremendous influence on all of us." He cries, and laughs, and at times both.

Parshat Toldot - Esav's Merit, written by Harav Yaakov Medan Chazal's portrayal of Esav as a wicked murderer does not quite match the relatively mild description of Esav in the actual text of the Torah. How can we explain this discrepancy, and what does it mean for us today?

Parshat Chayei Sara, Ketura, written by Harav Yaakov Medan What is the connection between the rabbinic dispute over the identity of Ketura and the people of Israel's covenantal claim to the Greater Land of Israel, between the Nile and the Euphrates?

Parshat Vayera - The Way of God and the Way of Righteousness and Justice, written by Harav Yaakov Medan How can examining the events of Sedom help us understand Avraham's complicated relationship with God's will on the one hand and the values of righteousness and justice on the other?

Parshat Lekh Lekha - Berit Bein HaBetarim: The Covenant between the Parts, shiur written by Harav Yaakov Medan While the Covenant between the Parts is mostly remembered for God's promise that Avraham's descendants will become a great nation, it also promises that they will endure slavery and suffering in Egypt. What is behind Chazal's varied approaches to the reason Avraham deserved such a harsh punishment?

Parshat Noach, Then I Shall Bring Upon the Nations a Clear Language, written by Harav Yaakov Medan What is the connection between the colorful midrashim about the Tower of Bavel and various stories from other place in the Tanakh?

The Weekly Mitzva - VeZot HaBeracha, Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe, by Rav Yair Kahn The shiur deals with the obligation to instill the significance and importance of Torah to young children

Parshat Haazinu, Shira, shiur written by Rav Ezra Bick The song of Ha'azinu is unique for a variety of reasons - both in the context of the narrative of Sefer Devarim and compared to other examples of shira in the Torah. By analyzing the content and character of Ha'azinu, how can we come to understand the true purpose of this memorable song?

Gedola Teshuva #4, by Rav Ezra Bick Conclusion: Redemption

Parashat Vayelekh - Torah and Song, Heaven and Earth, written by Rav Amnon Bazak As the people of Israel prepare to enter into the land, Moshe appoints a series of metaphorical witnesses to the covenant between God and Israel, and all that it entails. What are these pairs of "witnesses" and what deeper meaning does each one signify?

Gedola Teshuva #3, by Rav Ezra Bick Ahava and Yir'ah

The Weekly Mitzva - Vayelekh, Mitzvat Hakhel, by Rav Yair Kahn The shiur will survey the various formulations of the hakhel ceremony, putting special emphasis on the position of the Rambam

Harav Amital's "When God is Near" - interview with Rabbi Reuven Ziegler

Rosh Hashana 5776 Greeting 1, by Rosh Hayeshiva Harav Mosheh Lichtenstein

Rosh Hashana 5776 Greeting 2, by Rabbanit Esti Rozenberg, Rosh Beit HaMidrash LeNashim Migdal Oz

As We Approach Rosh Hashana 5776... by Rav Moshe Taragin A Day of Voices: Recalling the Messages of Our Roshei Yeshiva Harav Amital and Harav Lichtenstein zt"l

KMTT - Parashat Nitzavim, written by Rav Ezra Bick Much of the content of Parashat Nitzavim, relating to the message of sin and punishment, seems to have been covered already last week in Parashat Ki Tavo. In what way does Parashat Nitzavim break new ground, and what can we learn from this about the nature of our covenant with God?

The Weekly Mitzva - Nitzavim, "And you shall return to Hashem," by Rav Yair Kahn The commandment to repent, specifically with respect to the disagreement between the Ramban and the Rambam as to the source of the mitzva

Gedola Teshuva #2, by Rav Ezra Bick "Teshuva suspends a prohibition of the Torah"

Parashat Ki Tavo - The Covenant of Moav, written by Rav Yair Kahn What are the fundamental ideas that underpin the blessing and curse sections of Parashat Ki Tavo, and how can we make organizational sense of these sections in light of these ideas?

Gedola Teshuva #1, by Rav Ezra Bick

The Weekly Mitzva Ki Tavo - Tefillin shel rosh, by Rav Yair Kahn We will discuss the mitzva of tefillin, focusing specifically on the difference between tefillin shel yad and tefillin shel rosh.

Parashat Ki Tetze - The Speech of the Torah, shiur written by Rav Yair Kahn The principle of lo dibra Torah ela keneged yetzer ha-ra seems to imply that the Torah lowers its moral standards in certain situations, such as the case of the beautiful female captive in our parasha. How can we accept and understand such a radical statement?

The Weekly Mitzva Ki Tetze - Matnot aniyim (gifts to the poor), by Rav Yair Kahn We will deal with two distinct models matnot aniyim, maaser ani on the one hand, and leket shikcha and peah on the other.

Parashat Shoftim - Zion Shall Be Redeemed Through Justice, shiur written by Rav Yair Kahn

The Weekly Mitzva Parshat Shoftim, A war of self defense, by Rav Yair Kahn The Rambam defines a defensive war as a milchemet mitzva. We will discuss the source and signficance of this opinion.

The Weekly Mitzva Parshat Re'eh, The Three Festivals, by Rav Yair Kahn A discussion of the obligations which apply upon arriving at the mikdash during the three festivals

Parshat Re'eh, The Chosen Place, written by Rav Yair Kahn What does Parashat Re'eh's seemingly repetitive use of the phrase "the place that Hashem will choose" teach us about the prohibition on bringing sacrifices outside the Temple?

The Weekly Mitzva Parshat Ekev, Birkat Ha-mazon, by Rav Yair Kahn What types of food generate an obligation of birkhat ha-mazon and how does that reflect upon the nature of the mitzva

Parshat Ekev, Balancing Dependence and Independence, written by Rav Ezra Bick What can Moshe's description of the people of Israel's experience in the wilderness teach us about the balance between dependence and independence in our relationship with God?

The Weekly Mitzva Parshat Va-etchanan, Davening Immediately Following the Berakha of Redemption, by Rav Yair Kahn A discussion of the halakhic paramaters and spiritual significance of the requirement to daven immediately after the berakha of redemption.

Parshat Va'etchanan, Remembering Sinai, written by Rav Yair Kahn Why is Moshe's account in Parshat Va'etchanan of the revelation at Sinai riddled with discrepancies from the Torah's earlier account in Parshat Yitro.

Parshat Devarim, Moshe's Interpretation of the Torah, written by Rav Yair Kahn In Moshe's review of the events that occurred to the people of Israel in the wilderness beginning in this week's parasha, he seems to misremember the exact nature of several incidents. Were these discrepancies simply the result of Moshe's faulty memory, or was some other factor at work here.

The Weekly Mitzva Parshat Devarim, The Requirement of Beit Din for Conversions, by Rav Yair Kahn We will discuss the comparison between conversions and other court cases and the halachic ramifications of that comparison.

Parshat Matot - Masei, Moshe and Midyan, written by Rav Ezra Bick

My Rebbe Harav Yehuda Amital zt"l, by Rav Moshe Taragin, recorded three years after his petira. Marking his 5th yahrzeit, yehi zikhro barukh. http://kmtt.libsyn.com/webpage?search=amital&Submit=Search For details of the yahrzeit program at yeshiva, click here.

The Weekly Mitzva Parshat Matot, Nedarim and other subjective prohibitions, by Rav Yair Kahn We will discuss the sugya known as "shavyeh anafshei chaticha d'issura," with a focus on the understanding that the prohibition is rooted in the concept of neder.

Parshat Pinchas, Families, written by Rav Ezra Bick