KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Female Wartime Leadership: Devora HaNevia and Her Message Why was a woman chosen to lead Bnei Yisrael at a time of war? Devora Hanevia (and the other women in the story) bring a message that is very relevant to us right now. To uncover this message, though, we need to read the story carefully and pay attention to the geography of Eretz Yisrael. Shiur given to GPATS students at Stern College, Nov 16, 2023, during Swords of Iron. May we hear besorot tovot.

Swords of Iron | Maintaining Unity after the War, by Rav Alan Haber '86 Discussion on the challenge of maintaining our blessed newly-found unity after the war is over. Given at the Synagogue of the Suburban Torah Center in Livingston, NJ, Nov 14, 2023

Nichum Aveilim: What - and What Not - to Do at a Shiva Visit, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb An halakhic shiur given on Nov 22, 2023 at Kehillat HaEla (Ramat Beit Shemesh). In addition to the dedications mentioned by Rav Gottlieb, we add Alon Shevut's latest tragedy, may this be for an iluy neshama for Eitan Dov Rosensweig, ben Uzi veChagit, HY"D.

Vayetze | Who Knew What and When - Revisited, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Was Rachel aware that she was Yaakov's promised bride? Continuing our inquiry from last year's shiur, we explore the description of Lavan's "deception" of Yaakov regarding his marriage to (Rahel) Leah then Rahel and explore what each of the players in this dramatic sequence may have known or believed about the dramatic and meta-historically significant wedding night. We contrast the straightforward read of the text with the Midrashic approach and explain the role that each plays in our study of this scene and of the complex relationship between Yaakov and Lavan. Source sheet >>

Ramban On The Torah | 21 | Vayetze, by Rav Eli Weber

Lessons Learned from 6 Weeks at War, by Rav Dovid Gottlie "I am in love with the Jewish people." A sicha given Motzaei Shabbat Parashat Toldot 5784, Nov 18, 2023, at Beit Midrash Torani Leumi Melavah Malka in Beit Shemesh

Aging and the Aging Parent (3): Kibbud Av vaEim Dilemmas (2), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb An halakhic shiur given on Nov 12, 2023 at Kehillat HaEla (Ramat Beit Shemesh). Taking care of a parent and what halakhot are entailed in that role reversal situation. Part 2. What are the child's financial responsibilities. Are there things a child may not physically do for their aging parents. Source sheet >>

Aging and the Aging Parent (2): Kibbud Av vaEim Dilemmas (1), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb An halakhic shiur given on Oct 26, 2023 at Kehillat HaEla (Ramat Beit Shemesh). Taking care of a parent and what halakhot are entailed in that role reversal situation. Part 1. To what extent are we allowed to delegate those responsibilities? Source sheet >>

Aging and the Aging Parent (1): The Challenges and Blessings of Old Age, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb An hashkafic shiur given on Oct 26, 2023 at Kehillat HaEla (Ramat Beit Shemesh). People get older. It beats the alternative. Source sheet >>

Toldot | The Riddle of Esav's Wives, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In Parashat Toldot, we are told about Esav's first two wives - Yehudit and Basemat, both Hittites. We learn that his parents are embittered by these wives - but not why. At the end of the story, after Yaakov flees, Esav, realizing that his father doesn't approve of his wives, takes a third wife, a daughter of Yishmael. Two oddities provoke our curiosity here - why didn't Yitzchak and Rivka like Esav's wives - and how would adding a third wife to his already troubling marriages make his parents feel any better? The problems become exacerbated when we see the genealogical listing of Esav (Bereishit 36) which identifies three wives - with different, or switched names. We explore the issue of polygamy, both in Bereishit and from the later perspective of the end of the prophetic era (Malakhi) and, after sharing several approaches taken by the Rishonim to solve the puzzle of their names, suggest, based on Ramban's explanation, an approach that solves both the mystery of the changed names as well as the source of Rivka and Yitzchak's bitter feelings towards Esav's first wives. This shiur was given in memory of ליבא ביילע בת משה ז"ל Source sheet >>