KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Ramban On The Torah | 01 | Shelach, by Rav Eli Weber

Shelach | Why Did Yehoshua and Kalev Rend Their Clothes? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In addressing Yehoshua and Kalev's clothes-rending response to the people's insurrection, we examine the phenomenon of Keriat Begadim in Tanakh and its direct and consistent association with contrition. We also address a broader methodological issue of how we are often blinded to the development of characters in Tanakh as we imagine the final stanza of their life to be their lifelong refrain, imagining away development, growth, and change - for the better or for the worse. We then briefly examine the meaning of the word Efes which bridges the positive report about the land with the data about the resident nations. We then suggest a surprising approach to understanding the role of our two protagonists in the historically shattering dialogue. Source sheet >>

Behaalotekha | "The Loyalty of Your Youth" Pesach, Clouds, Trumpets and Travels, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Whereas many ask why there was only one instance of bringing the Pesach during the forty years in the desert - in our Parasha), the opposite question might be posed - why was it brought at all? Based on the instructions given to Bnei Yisrael at the Exodus, Korban Pesach was to brought (only) once they arrived in the Land. In addition to addressing this question, we also look at the next sequence of passages which seem to be out of order. First, there is an idyllic description of the people's loyalty to Hashem in their travels, then the command to fashion cornets - which should have come first. We explore the entire passage in this shiur dedicated to the upcoming marriage of Aharon Etshalom and Ariella Berman - זכרתי לך חסד נעורייך... Source sheet >>

Beirakhnukhem MiBeit Hashem: The Final Chapter of Hallel, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In this, the final shiur in the series, we explore the longest chapter in the collection which we refer to as "Hallel Mitzrayim" and note the seemingly jagged switches from the public call to thanksgiving, the intensely private confession of salvation from a mortal threat, to the national song of thanksgiving, culminating in the farewell blessing of the Levi'im to the pilgrims as they complete their festival visit to the Mikdash. We propose seeing the chapter as a series of quatrains, with one crescendo verse just before the end, and a coda of farewell blessing. The curious crescendo of pleading for salvation seems atonal in the context of salvation-thanksgiving; we address this anomaly and suggest a deeper view of our Hallel experience. Source sheet >>

Shabchuhu Kol HaUmim: The Fifth Chapter of Tehillim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In this, the 5th shiur in the series, we explore the abrupt turn from the personal and subjective praise of psalm 116, which is presented in the singular and, as I proposed, led by an individual who has come to the Mikdash with a קרבן תודה in thanksgiving to God for personal salvation. Our short psalm - the shortest chapter in Tanakh - is more than tribal or national - it is a universal call to the nations of the world to praise God. We explore the awkward interplay between the 2 verses and the enigmatic "כי" that connects them, emerging with a message that integrates this psalm into the Hallel seamlessly. This shiur is given in honor of Yom Yerushalayim, the 56th anniversary of the restoration of Jewish sovereignty to our eternal capitol. Source sheet >>

The Four Ripple Effects of the Six Day War, by Rav Moshe Taragin Shiur given to talmidot at Migdal Oz.

After the Fire: The Lasting Message of Lag BaOmer, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb. What's the true meaning of Lag BaOmer and how can we take that message with us throughout the year? Shiur given at Kehillat Haela (RBS).

Mah Ahavti: The Fourth Chapter of Tehillim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In this, the fourth shiur in this series, we explore the notion of contextuality and authorship as regards Tehillim. We then study the text of the fourth chapter with an eye towards the four goals in any study of Tehillim - (1) the meaning of the words (2) the poetic structure of the psalm (3) the message of the psalm and (4) its place at that point in the liturgy, along with one added consideration - why this chapter is one of the two that is partially skipped - and why it is the first half that is deliberately elided on some days. This shiur was given in anticipation of the celebration of Yom Yerushalayim, the 56th anniversary of the reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty over our eternal capitol. What does the psalmist mean when he rues thinking "all men are deceitful" (כל האדם כזב)? Source sheet >>

Shavuot | Mi-macharat Ha-Shabbat Revisited, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The fiercest intra-Jewish dispute in the first half of the first century CE was over control of the calendar. The flashpoint of this disagreement revolved around two words in Vayikra 23, where the Omer was to be offered ממחרת השבת. Whereas our tradition dictates that the "שבת" in question is the first day of פסח, regardless of which day of the week on which it falls, the sectarians held that "שבת" meant "Shabbat" and, therefore, argued that the Omer ought to be offered on a Sunday and, seven weeks later, Shavuot be celebrated on a Sunday. We explore the range of rabbinic arguments in favor of the traditional interpretation, from the Talmudic era through the Rishonim and one recent one - along with a new proposal. Source sheet >>

Lo Lanu: The Third Chapter of Tehillim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom One of the highlights and most debated points regarding the celebration of Yom haAtzmaut is the recitation of Hallel (Tehillim 113-118). In this, the third shiur in this series, we explore the recurring polemic against idolatry in Tanakh along with the background to "skipped Hallel". We then study the text of the third chapter with an eye towards the four goals in any study of Tehillim - (1) the meaning of the words (2) the poetic structure of the psalm (3) the message of the psalm and (4) its place at that point in the liturgy, along with one added consideration - why this chapter is one of the two that is partially skipped - and why it is the first half that is deliberately elided on some days. This shiur was given on our 75th יום העצמאות. Source sheet >>