KMTT - the Torah Podcast

From Redemption to Consolation: Between Pesach and 9BeAv. Our Best Strategies for Bi'at Ha-Go'el. #5 Wiping out Amalek or Not? by Rabbi Gidon Rothstein In this fifth installment, we will discuss why wiping out Amalek should come before building the Beit HaMikdash, why Amalek is so bad, and what they are supposed to mean to us?

The Development of Sefirat HaOmer, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The Mitzva of "Sefirat ha'Omer" does not appear in Tannaitic literature and only seems to emerge at the end of the Amoraic era (4th generation). Indeed, it isn't at all clear why the command to "reckon" 7 weeks to arrive at Shavuot would have to be done out loud. Based on the research of Prof. David Henshke, we share his observations about the unusual statement of אמימר in מנחות - that he would only count "days" and not weeks, based on the reasoning that זכר למקדש הוא. By assessing the difference between the two passages concerning ספירת העמר - one in ויקרא and the other in דברים - we note that they serve different functions and, therein, may lie the understanding of both the אמימר practice as well as the development of verbalized counting. Sourcesheet >>

Parashat Naso with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Commentators - Judaism's Approach to Physical Pleasure #2 - Contemporary Commentators - The Rewards and Risks of the Birkas Kohanim #3 - Midrash - Unified Diversity - Appreciating the Gifts of the Nesiim #4 - Sparks of Chassidus - Separating In Order to Connect: A Profound Insight from the Sefas Emes #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Mysterious Minhagim: The Case of the Disappearing Daily Duchening in the Diaspora #6 - Sparks of Musar - The Ideal Way to Serve Hashem - A Part of this World And Not Apart from It

Appreciating the Beauty of Yerushalayim, special shiur, english adaptation of hebrew drasha given on Yom Yerushalayim 5782, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

From Redemption to Consolation: Between Pesach and 9BeAv. Our Best Strategies for Bi'at Ha-Go'el. #4 Why a King? by Rabbi Gidon Rothstein In this fourth installment, we will discuss what is challenging in the commandment to make a king, the reasons the Torah would want us to have a king, and how we can make ourselves more ready for one.

Al haNissim for Yom Yerushalayim, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom. Text composed together with Dr. Avi Shmidman Since the miraculous days of June 1967, we have celebrated the reunification of Yerushalayim, the city of our chief joy. Along with reciting Hallel, there have been various liturgical poems (פיוטים) written for the occasion. In order to be able to incorporate thanks to Hashem for the great miracle of the restoration of Jewish sovereignty over the Eternal City of Yerushalayim, we have composed a text of על הנסים, which retells the long years of distance, the threat and subsequent miraculous victory, the explosion of jubilation that followed and the commitment that we all have to keep Yerushalayim and her welfare as our chief joy. Besides the source sheet, a link to the text, along with English translation and additional sources is included. Sourcesheet >> https://alhanisimforyomyerushalayim.blogspot.com/

Parashat Bamidbar with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Commentators - Why Does It Matter How the Shevatim Were Organized in the Midbar? #2 - Contemporary Commentators - The Purpose - and Danger - of the Flags: A Profound Insight from R. Yaakov Kaminetzky #3 - Midrash - What Does Moshe Have to Do With Ahron's Children? #4 - Sparks of Musar - "The Torah Was Given With Fire, Water and In the Desert" - What Does That Mean? #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Pidyon HaBen - Understanding he Scope of the Father's Obligation #6 - Sparks of Chassidus - Counting Everyone because Everyone Counts

What is So Important about Yerushalayim? by Rav Dovid Gottlieb, shiur given to the weekly women's group in Kehilat Ha'Ela Appreciating the dual religious purpose of the holy city will also help us appreciate the modern miracle of Yom Yerushalayim. Sourcesheet >>

From Redemption to Consolation: Between Pesach and 9BeAv. Our Best Strategies for Bi'at Ha-Go'el. #3 Shavuot as the Culmination of Pesach, by Rabbi Gidon Rothstein In this third installment, we will discuss how the offering of two loaves of leavened bread on Shavuot unlocks key lessons of the holiday of Shavuot and the progression from Pesach to Shavuot. An alumnus of Har Etzion (1982), Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein has served in the community rabbinate and in educational roles at the high school and adult level. He is an author of Jewish fiction and non-fiction, most recently "We're Missing the Point: What's Wrong with the Orthodox Jewish Community and How to Fix It."

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 Classical Commentators - The Torah's Approach to Real Estate #2 Modern Commentators - How Do We Survive Galus? The Meshech Chochma's Incredible Insight #3 Midrash - Making the Right Choices - A Midrashic Perspective #4 Sparks of Chassidut - What is True Freedom? A Profound Thought from the Sefas Emes #5 Halacha from the Parsha - Balancing Bitachon and Hishtadlut: The Torah's Approach to Doctors and Medicine #6 Contemporary Commentators - Rav Moshe Feinstein: Why Do We Do Mitzvos? #7 Sparks of Musar - The True Test of Religious Success: Does Your Torah "Have Legs"? #8 Sparks of Musar - The Shared Lesson of Shemitta and Shabbat: I'm Not the Boss