KMTT - the Torah Podcast

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

Topics in Practical Halakha #23, Chol HaMoed part 1, by Rav Mordechai Friedman

Tribute to Harav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l - The Sweep of a Gadol, by Rav Moshe Taragin. Shiur given on 17th of Tammuz, July 5, 2015 at Congregation Bnei Ya'akov Shaarey Tziyon during a Yom Iyun in Memory of Harav Lichtenstein zt"l.

The Weekly Mitzva Parshat Pinchas, Tefillot were modelled after the Tamid offering, by Rav Yair Kahn The shiur deals the significance of basing the prayer service on the tamid model and upon the distinction between the musaf service and other prayer services.

Topics in Practical Halakha #22, The 9th Day of Av, by Rav Mordechai Friedman

Parshat Balak, Bilam and Balak, written by Rav Ezra Bick

The Weekly Mitzva Parshat Balak, by Rav Yair Kahn "They wanted to establish the Balak section in kri’at shema (Berachot 12b) We will deal with meaning of this request and with the significance of reciting krita shema both in the morning and the evening

Parshat Chukat, The Emergence of the Second Generation, written by Rav Yair Kahn The Torah presents strikingly and surprisingly parallel descriptions of the generation of Israelites that merited to enter the land of Israel and their parents - the generation that was fated to die in the wilderness. What is the meaning of this dichotomy, and in what way does the second generation stand apart

The Weekly Mitzva - Chukat, Spoils of War, by Rav Yair Kahn Chazal derive that spoils of war belong to the victor, from the war against Sichon. We will discuss the nature and paramaters of this unique law.

Topics in Practical Halakha #21, Muktza, by Rav Mordechai Friedman

The Weekly Mitzva - Korach, The Requirement of Ben Brit for Shlichut by Rav Yair Kahn The shiur will discuss the paramaters and nature of the law requiring that a shaliach be a ben brit.

Parshat Korach, The Election of the Tribe of Levi, written by Rav Ezra Bick How does the blossoming staff of Aharon, inscribed with his name but serving as a symbol for his tribe the Levites, represent the nexus of the personal and the communal in the service of God?

Topics in Practical Halakha #20, The Three Weeks and the 9 Days - Part 2, by Rav Mordechai Friedman