KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Explaining the Wisdom of Harav Yehuda Amital zt"l (Parts 32-33), by Rav Moshe Taragin In light of the recent publication of the sefer לעולם יהא אדם, מתורותיו של הרב יהודה עמיטל, Rav Taragin discusses with his talmidim many of the issues brought up in his rebbe's sichot: #32: Rabbis Should Be Humans Not Angels; Too Much Kavod?; Rav Amital's Honest and Brilliant Confession; Gaining the Respect of the "Rebetzin" #33: Encountering the Modern Culture; "I Have No Easy Solutions ("Patentim" in Hebrew); Avoiding Simplistic Faith

Vaetchanan | The Second "Version" of the Decalogue, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The dibrot are repeated in Devarim, but with some significant (and some subtle) variations. The Decalogue is repeated in Devarim, but with some significant (and some subtle) variations. An approach to understanding all of these variations - large and small - is proposed, in light of the significantly different station of the generation born in the desert. Source sheet >>

KMTT - Explaining the Wisdom of Harav Yehuda Amital zt"l (Parts 30-31), by Rav Moshe Taragin In light of the recent publication of the sefer לעולם יהא אדם, מתורותיו של הרב יהודה עמיטל, Rav Taragin discusses with his talmidim many of the issues brought up in his rebbe's sichot: Torah Wisdom of HaRav Amital #30: Two Ways To Understand the "Eternity of Torah"; Torah Isn't Meant to Be Heavy; Focus on Chumra Saps Religious Energy for Internalism #31: Naturalist Religion: Avodas Hashem of Volition or of Compulsion?; The Maharal's Calibration ;Holiness Isn't Esoteric or Detached from Daily Routine; Can "Values" Become Mitzvot?

Tisha BeAv | Why Were the Keruvim Hugging at the Time of the Churban? by Rav Dovid Gottlieb The Romans couldn't understand why they found the keruvim in a loving embrace when they destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. As a result they ridiculed us for this seemingly base display of affection. How do WE understand this phenomenon? What should we know that they were missing? A number of new approaches to understand the symbolism of the keruvim's embrace at the time of the churban: Hashem's enduring love of the Jewish people, Hashem comforting us - and us comforting Him, advice about the need to be active, mindful and serious about Yiddishkeit in galut.

Eicha | "Cheit Chat'a Yerushalayim" by Rav Dovid Gottlieb On the power and potential of our actions Chazal seem to emphasize that we - the Jewish people - are uniquely responsible for our actions and their impact on the events of history - how do we understand this and why is it fair?

Ramban on the Torah | 54 | Devarim, by Rav Eli Weber Why are some mitzvot only written down in Sefer Devarim? What do the Meraglim have to do with Moshe not entering Eretz Israel? Why does Hashem make the goyim fear Am Israel?

Amos | The Opening Oracles Against the Nations, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Many of our literary prophets issued rebukes, warnings and dire threats against the nations surrounding Israel and Amos's opening chapters are often cited as the paradigm for this genre of prophetic oratory. Yet, a closer look at these prophecies and their setting reveals that Amos, who indeed coined a significant number of prophetic stylings and nuances, had a different agenda in presenting these oracles to his Israelite audience. This shiur was given as part of Michlelet Herzog's ימי עיון בתנ"ך. Source sheet >>

9 BeAv | Text Study of Psalm 137 - על נהרות בבלת, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom When and why was על נהרות בבל composed? Psalm 137, the dirge of the Levi'im "at the waters of Babylon" is an intricate and multi-layered psalm that evokes a surprisingly hopeful and defiant message. (This session was held in Ramat Beit Shemesh; thank you to the Reichs for their hospitality.)

The "Sin of the Spies" and Tish'a BeAv, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom By analyzing the accounts in both Shelach and Devarim, we will assess the connection between these two events? Chazal, in a famous Aggada (at the end of Masekhet Ta'anit) generate a calendar in order to "time" the arrival of the scouts at the camp on the afternoon of the 8th of Av so that the weeping "that night" coincides with Tish'a BeAv. The connection between these two events, along with the commands (mentioned at the beginning of Devarim) that we are not to conquer "the land of the children of Lot" is assessed. Source sheet >>

KMTT - Explaining the Wisdom of Harav Yehuda Amital zt"l (Part 29), by Rav Moshe Taragin In light of the recent publication of the sefer לעולם יהא אדם, מתורותיו של הרב יהודה עמיטל, Rav Taragin discusses with his talmidim many of the issues brought up in his rebbe's sichot: Torah Wisdom of HaRav Amital #29: Building Religion Upon a Human 'Frame"; Accepting Human weakness and Emotional Fluctuations; The Karliner Chasid Who Shouted Too Loud During Davening and the Response of the Gerer Rebbe