KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Rabbenu Yonah's Four Kitot 11: Lying for Peace and Quoting a More Accepted Authority, by Rav Gidon Rothstein Lies for peace and fabricating a quote!

Sheva Berakhot: Six, Five, Three or One? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom We are all familiar with "Sheva Berakhot", such that we even refer to the festive meals during the week of celebration as "Sheva Berakhot" A closer look at the sources tests our numbering - and may reveal something more fundamental about these Berakhot and their place at the Chuppa, as well as at the festive meals. Given in honor of the forthcoming wedding of Ariella Etshalom to Yoni Broth. We join in wishing a mazal tov, and eagerly anticipate much nachat from them as they build a trustworthy and beautiful home together. Source sheet >>

Rabbenu Yonah's Four Kitot 10: Bending or Breaking the Truth for Peace, by Rav Gidon Rothstein Situations when we may say what is not strictly true, and perhaps even untrue; what justifies it and what consequences does it bring.

A Different Type of Gadol: Hesped for Harav Chaim Meir Druckman zt"l

Chanuka | The Evolution of a Berakha, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom What is the meaning of the phrase "bayamim hahem bazeman hazeh" - both in birkat hanisim and al hanisim? The well-known and familiarly sung 2nd Berakha that accompanies the lighting of the Ner Chanuka is praise for God Who has wrought great miracles for our ancestors...בימים ההם בזמן הזה - "in those days at this time". These last four words were not always included in the berakha and in some versions, there was a conjuctive letter "vav" - בימים ההם ובזמן הזה that carries a different meaning. We trace the development of this berakha, propose its genesis and earliest sources and then, following the changes in wording, suggest that the earlier formulation reflected a distinct appreciation for the holiday of Chanuka (and much the same may be said about Purim). This shiur was given in memory of Mrs. Shirley Jungreis - שולמית בת משה העניך ז"ל. Source sheet >>

Rabbenu Yonah's Four Kitot 9: Misleading Rather than Lying, by Rav Gidon Rothstein Situations where we are allowed to mislead others, deliberately speak in a way they will take one way, when we secretly mean something else.

Eight for 8 Days of Chanuka, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb 1: The Centrality of the Jewish Home. 2: Mehadrin and Living a Life of Religious Aspiration 3: "Naaseh Nes L'Shoshanim:" Why Are We Compared to Roses? 4: The Power of Preparation 5: The Secular vs Sacred View of Money 6: Spiritual Gevurah - The Secret Weapon that Defeated the Greeks 7: The Deeper Reason Why We Add a Candle Each Night 8: Celebrating Our Salvation and Not the Death of the Greeks

Chanuka, Bein Mizrach leMaarav, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The famous Beraita which details the various standards of fulfillment of the Mitzva of Ner Chanuka (BT Shabbat 21b) is, on careful inspection, challenging and replete with both inherent and contextual difficulties. A careful examination of other relevant sugyot relating to מצות הדלקת נר חנוכה reveal that there was an essential difference in both practice and approach to this Mitzva between the Bavli practice and that maintained in Eretz Yisrael. By carefully reexamining that popular Beraita, we can discern a "Bavli layer" and an "Eretz Yisrael" layer which, once successfully woven together, present us with the unified hierarchy of practices. This shiur was given in memory of Mrs. Evelyn Graber z"l Source sheet >>

Rabbenu Yonah's Four Kitot 8: Staying Far from Untruth, by Rav Gidon Rothstein How far we are required to go to be sure we are involved in truth and not falsehood, or even approaching falsehood.

Rabbenu Yonah's Four Kitot 7: Rounding Out R. Yonah's Liars, by Rav Gidon Rothstein Liars with no specific profit, what they do wrong, with some exceptions, starting a discussion of where truth is necessary and where it can be bent.