KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Matot | "Do Not Bring Us Across the Jordan" - When Did Bnei Yisrael Learn of Moshe's Fate? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Examining several of the interactions between Bnei Yisrael and Moshe after the decree (Bamidbar 20) that he was not to lead them into the Land gives us the impression that Bnei Yisrael were unaware of that Divine fiat - which leads us to inquire: When did Bnei Yisrael learn that their leader, who had led them out of Egypt and through the desert, brought them to Sinai and was the focal point of revelation - would not lead or even accompany them across the Jordan. We explore several key passages in Sefer Devarim and propose a surprising answer which allows for an even more surprising possibility as to the immutability of that Divine punishment. Given in memory of Rav Etshalom's father הרב אשר אהרן בן אברהם בנימין ז"ל Source sheet >>

Megillat Eikha 4 - Chapter 3, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Frustrated in his attempts to get the city to turn inwards, to find solace in God's everlasting kindness and to have the courage to look inwards, repair her ways and commit to turn back to God's ways, the mekonen shares his own painful story of abandonment, desolation and darkness - and his realization that turning his fortunes around was up to him. Having shared this, he then turns to the bereft populace and encourages them to look inwards and upwards; combining self-reflection with heartfelt prayer. Does it work?

From Redemption to Consolation: Between Pesach and 9BeAv. Our Best Strategies for Bi'at Ha-Go'el. #11 The Trumpet Call and Lessons to Learn, by Rav Gidon Rothstein Blowing the chatzotzerot - why are they one mitzva for both good and sad occasions, and what is that meant to teach us?

Pinchas | כצאן אשר אין להם רעה Moshe's Demand that Hashem Appoint a Successor, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The most popular verse in the entire canon - וידבר ה' אל משה לאמר - is inverted one time, in the middle of פרשת פנחס. After the census and the assignation of the Land division, Hashem tells Moshe to prepare to "be gathered to his people" but Moshe resists and "commands" Hashem to appoint a successor so that the nation should not be like "a flock without a shepherd". This leaves us wondering what God's original plan was - why wouldn't a ready successor be in place for Moshe to publicly hand over the mantle of leadership, just as Aharon did with Elazar, his son? By looking at this interaction in the larger context of these final chapters of Bamidbar, we discover a surprising "alternate" future that was, perhaps, reshaped by Moshe's demand. Source sheet >>

Megillat Eikha 3 - Chapter 2, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom As the desolate city burrows deeper into her isolation, she reflects on the loss of Divine protection and the frightening turnabout where God has aimed His arrows at her heart, conspiring against her and following through on that anger. She cannot find solace, but the mekonen adjures her to arise, weep at night and beseech God - but to no avail.

From Redemption to Consolation: Between Pesach and 9BeAv. Our Best Strategies for Bi'at Ha-Go'el. #10 Overconfidence and the Destruction of Two Temples, by Rav Gidon Rothstein In Yirmiyahu and in the Gemara, we see people too sure of their way of averting destruction; we can hope to learn from them to look more carefully and tread where Hashem wants.

Special sicha. Rav Yosef Blau, mashgiach ruchani at RIETS, honored us with a short dvar Torah on the parasha, followed by an open conversation with the bnei chul at yeshiva, discussing the complexity of the founding Roshei Yeshiva and the Rav zt'l. Introduced by Rav Eli Weber.

Balak | Making Sense of Bilam's Blessings, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In engaging in the study of the curses-turned-blessings of the wizard Bilam, we typically approach our task with two assumptions. First - that Balak's aim in hiring Bilam was to eradicate Am Yisrael. Second - that each of Bil'ams curses-turned-blessings stands alone, as he had no way to know that Balak would ask him to try again from another vantage point. We demonstrate the likelihood that both of these are misconceptions and using a fresher understanding of both Balak's stated aim as well as Bilam's literary strategy, we propose a new understanding of these marvelous and elegant blessings.

Megillat Eikha 2 - Chapter 1, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The bereaved widow, abandoned by all of her friends and separated from her children, cries out in the pain of her desolation. This first chapter of Eikhah is a dialogue between the mekonen (Yirmiyahu) and the city, giving the eternal readership both first person as well as eyewitness perspectives on the fundamental devastation felt in Yehudah in that summer of 586 BCE.

From Redemption to Consolation: Between Pesach and 9BeAv. Our Best Strategies for Bi'at Ha-Go'el. #9 Fasts with Lessons, 10 Tevet and 17 Tammuz, by Rav Gidon Rothstein The fasts of 10 Tevet and 17 Tammuz are more than historical: they point to fundamental errors of the past that we can avoid for the future.