KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Shiur given in commemoration of the eighth yahrzeit, at Cong. Rinat Yisrael (Teaneck, NJ)

Recollections of Rav Aharon Lichtenstein zt"l - on His 8th yahrzeit, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Tazria | אם לנקבה ואם למקרא: Limitations and Flexibility in Reading and Interpreting the Text of the Torah, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The opening passage in פרשת תזריע, the rule of the יולדת, includes an awkward word when detailing the duration of her impurity when giving birth to a girl: וטמאה שבעים כנדתה. The key word שבעים, is vocalized "Shevu'ayim" (i.e. "a pair of weeks") and that is, indeed, the Halakha. A curious passage in the Sifra seems to include a proposal that the word be read "Shiv'im" - (70) which would extend her period of impurity by 8 weeks. The defense is first presented as a structural consideration - and then is anchored in the phrase "יש אם למקרא" - which seems to mean "we interpret the word exclusively as it is vocalized" - yet a careful look at the text of the Midrash Halakha proves to be puzzling. In this shiur, we try to unravel the puzzle. Source sheet >>

BeTzeit Yisrael MiMitzrayim: The Second Chapter of Tehillim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom One of the highlights - and perhaps the ultimate purpose - of the Seder evening is the recitation of Hallel (Tehillim 113-118), the first two chapters of which are sung at the end of Maggid. We explore the general framework of Hallel, the rabbinic discussion about its authorship and the various "Hallels" that we have in our liturgy. We then study the text of the second 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. The shiur includes an introduction to the literary analysis of Biblical poetry introduced by Aryeh Strauss and by Meir Weiss. Source sheet >>

Pesach | Hallelu Avdei Hashem, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom What is the message behind the first chapter of Hallel? One of the highlights - and perhaps the ultimate purpose - of the Seder evening is the recitation of Hallel (Tehillim 113-118), the first two chapters of which are sung at the end of Maggid. We explore the general framework of Hallel, the rabbinic discussion about its authorship and the various "Hallels" that we have in our liturgy. We then study the text 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. Source sheet >>

Pesach | The Meaning of Matzah: Between Becoming and Being, by Rav Chanoch Waxman Shiur given at the Etzion Foundation Annual Dinner, March 20, 2023

The Obligation to Reexperience the Exodus, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom What is the source for the obligation to reimagine ourselves as having personally participated in the Exodus? The Mishna (Pesachim 10:5) establishes the obligation - in every generation - for a person to view himself (or, per Rambam's nuanced wording, "to show himself") as if he was personally part of the Exodus. It is not at all clear, however, that this passage is part of the original Mishna. In addition to this possible addendum to the Mishna, our Haggadot add a second passage afterwards - "It is not only our ancestors whom God took out, rather He took us out with them". Each of these statements is followed by its own distinct prooftext. We explore the obligation, the difference between the two statements and how each prooftext supports a unique perspective on multi-generational participation and presence in that great foundational event. Source sheet >>

Rabbenu Yonah's Four Kitot 20: Rambam and Ramban on Nivul Peh, by Rav Gidon Rothstein Conclusion to the series, Rambam and Ramban on nivul peh, and a wrap up of the messages of this series, of Rabbenu Yonah's closing the 3rd sha'ar with these four groups.

Ki Tisa | Inspiration: Day by Day, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The Parashiot of the Mishkan direct us how to construct a dwelling place for Hashem. This ideal is introduced at the outset of the commands as its goal: "They shall fashion a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them" (25:8) - but is also reiterated, with greater clarity, at the conclusion of the core commands, with the directive to offer a "constant Olah", twice daily - which will not only ensure God's presence among the people, but that they will also understand that is the reason that He took them out of Egypt - to dwell among them. We explore the balance between the excitement and inspiration of the original donation with the commitment to daily worship. The shiur is given in loving memory of Steve Lazar z"l. יהי זכרו ברוך Source sheet >>

From Bereishit to Esther: A Midrashic Journey, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Chazal take the position that "Esther was the end of the (era of) miracles" (BT Yoma 29b). We explore how the Ba'alei haMidrash were guided by this perspective, seeing the story of Mordekhai and Esther as the ultimate resolution of remaining tensions that were created in the stories in Bereshit. Understanding the Purim story as the end of a long epoch of a particular type of Divine immanence, the Midrashim see numerous circles, opened in Bereishit, as successfully closing in the 5th century BCE in Shushan. Source sheet >>