KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Can You Invite Non-Religious Guests for Shabbat or Yom Tov Meals?? by Rav Dovid Gottlieb In the last shiur we saw 16! different possible mitzvot when relating to non-frum Jews. Today we will discuss invitations, especially relevant as we are coming upon the Pesach Seder.  Most people have non-Orthodox relatives and/or co-workers - can you invite them for a Shabbat meal or to the Seder if you know...

Shemini | Who Are "Those Who Are Close To Me"? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom What did Moshe mean when he said הוא אשר דבר השם בקרובי אקדש? The dramatic and climactic narrative of the "Eighth Day" is shattered by the tragic death of Nadav and Avihu, which is followed by Moshe's words (of consolation? encouragement?) to Aharon and then by the Divine command, given (for the only time) exclusively to Aharo...

Ramban on the Torah | 40 | Shemini, by Rav Eli Weber When does Moshe give Aharon a pep talk? When was Birkat Kohanim actually said? What was the sin of Nadav and Avihu?

Loving our Fellow Jews: The Obligations and Limits of Kiruv, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb First in a series on our relationship with fellow Jews distant from yiddishkeit. What we are fortunate enough to experience, we forget is only relevant to a painful minority, even here in Israel. A shiur in practical halakha given at Kehillat Haela, Ramat Beit Shemesh, on March 27th, 2024

Tzav |  What is Torat Ha-Olah? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why doesn't the opening section of Parashat Tzav actually talk about the korban ha-olah - even though it's titled zot torat ha-olah? The first seven chapters of Vayikra are devoted to detailed instructions regarding the various קרבנות; the first five, which make up פרשת ויקרא, present nearly all of the offerings from the perspective of the do...

Ramban on the Torah | 39 | Tzav, by Rav Eli Weber How is Tzav different from Vayikra? Is Derekh Eretz a requirement or a suggestion? In what order did these parashot happen? And more...

Ramban on the Torah | 37 | Pekudei, by Rav Eli Weber Why does the Torah repeat the fact that the Mishkan was built as Moshe was commanded? Why does the Torah tell us how the golden thread was made? What is the meaning of the means of a mitzva? 

Ramban on the Torah | 38 | Vayikra, by Rav Eli Weber What is the purpose of Chumash Vayikra?  What is the meaning of the Korbanot? Why does the mitzvah of Zachor exist?

Zakhor | Who Is Responsible For Eradicating Amalek? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom אמחה or תמחה? Upon the successful completion of the war against Amalek, led by Yehoshua and directed by Moshe, Hashem commands Moshe to "write this for a memorial in the (a?) scroll and place it in the ears of Yehoshua, for I will utterly wipe out the memory of Amalek..." These two odd phrases - "כתב זאת זכרון בספר" and t...

Pekudei | On the First Day: The Commemorative Function of the Mishkan, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why was the Mishkan's inauguration commanded to take place on Rosh Chodesh of the first month (Nissan)? As Sefer Shemot moves towards its festive conclusion, Moshe is commanded to raise up the Mishkan on the "First day of the first month" - language reminiscent of the beginning of this long journey, bac...

Purim | Hiding in Plain Sight, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb The magic and miracle of Purim. A shiur in practical halakha given at Kehillat Haela, Ramat Beit Shemesh, on March 6th, 2024. 

Israel at War: Faith in War Time. Episode 4 in Conversations with Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg and Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein Swords of Iron Day 153 | In this episode, Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg and her mother Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein discuss what it means to have faith in God in times of crisis, and they don't shy away from big questions: Is it reasonable to ask what God wants from us? Do we have the right to...

Ramban On The Torah | 36 | Vayakhel, by Rav Eli Weber Why does Moshe gather all of Am Israel? What is the relationship between the Mishkan and Shabbat? What is the difference between "נשאו ליבו" and "נדבה רוחו" ? Why is it important that Bnei Yisrael brought more than was needed for the Mishkan?

A Tale of Two Adars, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why do we delay celebrating Purim until Adar Sheini?  The Mishna in Megila addresses the circumstance where after fully celebrating Purim, the Beit-Din decided to add another month to the year; although the Tosefta records a dissenting opinion, the Mishna rules (and such is the Halakha) that the Megila must be re-read in the "added" Adar - as well as t...

Ki Tisa | What Was Written On the Second Set of Tablets? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom After Moshe breaks the Luchot - which, until that point, were only referred to as לוחות העדות ("Tablets of Testimony") - Hashem commands him to carve out new ones and Hashem states that He will write on these newly hewn tablets "the words which were on the first tablets which you broke." Later on in the narrative, th...

Ramban On The Torah | 35 | Ki Tisa, by Rav Eli Weber How did the number of Bnei Yisrael stay the same in both censuses? What is the meaning of the Egel?

Non-Jewish Fashion and Culture, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb Where do you draw the line? A shiur in practical halakha given at Kehillat Haela, Ramat Beit Shemesh, on Feb 28th, 2024. 

What is Tzni'ut? Sichat mussar by Rav Moshe Taragin (Hint: It's not only for women and not only how you dress) Is social media killing tzni'ut? Is it diminishing self-esteem?  

Israel at War: Tefilla in Challenging Times. Episode 3 in Conversations with Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg and Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein Day 139 | In this episode, Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg and Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein discuss their deep connection to prayer during this war, Swords of Iron. They share where they have found meaning and inspiration and explore how words of familiar tefillot can take on different...

Tetzaveh | The Strange Placement of the Golden Altar, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why is the מזבח הקטורת commanded separately - and much later - than all of the other כלים of the משכן? After the detailed prescriptions for the construction of the Mishkan and its appurtenances, the Torah describes a lengthy and step-by-step inauguration ceremony for the Kohanim. Only after that is completed, the Torah...

Ramban On The Torah | 34 | Tetzaveh, by Rav Eli Weber What is the meaning of the mishkan? How does God dwell among us? What is the meaning of Mizbeiach Haketoret? 

On the Importance of Friendship, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb Torah sources supporting the "secular" roles of friendship, as well as the "religious" benefits. Bookended by two mishnayot in Pirkei Avot. A shiur in practical halakha given at Kehillat Haela, Ramat Beit Shemesh. 

Teruma | Just a Vav: Rashi and Textual Criticism, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why is Rashi explaining a "Vav" that isn't there? (Shemot 25:22).  Rashi's comment on Shemot 25:22, explaining the letter "vav" in the word ואת as being superfluous, has raised eyebrows over the centuries...since in our Sifrei Torah, the word is את, without a Vav. We identify other Rishonim who apparently had that reading i...

Ramban On The Torah | 33 | Teruma, by Rav Eli Weber How can we explain the order of the parashot? What is the purpose of the Mishkan?

Mishpatim | A Thought on the Parasha, by Rabbi Aharon Lopiansky, followed by Q+A with the overseas talmidim Rabbi Aharon Lopiansky is the Rosh HaYeshiva of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington – Tiferes Gedaliah, accepting the position in July of 2014. He studied and received rabbinic ordination from the Mir Yeshiva of Jerusalem. In Israel, Rabbi Lopiansky taught at Aish HaTorah from 1983-1990, and t...