KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Trees and Consequences: עץ החיים ועץ הדעת, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The description of "the tree that is in the midst of the garden" is mysterious - to which tree does it refer? The text seems to conflate the two singular trees - the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. What are we to make of this confusion? Indeed - what is each of these trees about? Why is Hashem "suddenly" concerned about Ad...

Ramban On The Torah | 15 | Bereishit, by Rav Eli Weber

The Evolution of Forgiveness, by Rabbi David Fohrman Shiur given at the Leil Hoshana Rabba event at Heichal Shlomo, Jerusalem, 5784

Chumra: Too Much of a Good Thing? by Rav Assaf Bednarsh Shiur given at the Leil Hoshana Rabba event at Heichal Shlomo, 5784

Rav Amital's Response to the Yom Kippur War: Reflections 50 Years Later, by Rav Moshe Taragin Shiur given at the Leil Hoshana Rabba event at Heichal Shlomo, 5784

Why is Sukkot the Holiday of Achdut? by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Sukkot and the Secret of Happiness, by Rav Alex Israel What is particularly joyous about this festival?

Yom Kippur | Making Excuses or Taking Responsibility, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb Which kind of person are you?  

Ramban On The Torah | 14 | Ha'azinu, by Rav Eli Weber  

Ha'azinu and the Levi'im, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why is Haazinu the only Parashah which has "hard-wired" Aliyot (הזיו לך)? "Now, write for yourselves this poem and teach it to Bnei Yisrael, place it in their mouths..." According to Rambam, the essential command for every Jew to write a Sefer Torah is anchored in the obligation to write Moshe's prophetic poem "Haazinu" ( Dev. 32:1-43 ). Not only...

Ramban On The Torah | 13 | Rosh Hashana, by Rav Eli Weber  

Rosh Hashana | Akedat Yitzchak (4), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why didn't Avraham protest God's command? In this four-part series, we examine one of the most mysterious and troubling stories in all of Tanakh - the story of Akeidat Yitzchak ( Bereishit 22:1-19 ). We discuss the selection of this narrative as the קריאת התורה for (2nd day) Rosh Hashana ( #1 ), the larger narrative contexts within which...

Ramban On The Torah | 12 | Nitzavim-Vayelekh, by Rav Eli Weber Why does HKDBH sometimes seem so angry with us? And other times, so encouraging? It's because He knows us.

Rosh Hashana | Akedat Yitzchak (3), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom How do the Midrashim interpret the word נסה in 22:1 - is it a "test" or something else? In this four-part series, we examine one of the most mysterious and troubling stories in all of Tanakh - the story of Akeidat Yitzchak ( Bereishit 22:1-19 ). We discuss the selection of this narrative as the קריאת התורה for (2nd day) Rosh Hashana ( #1...

Ramban On The Torah | 11 | Ki Tavo, by Rav Eli Weber

Akedat Yitzchak (2), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom How ought the Akedah be viewed from the larger perspective of the Avraham story?  In this four-part series, we examine one of the most mysterious and troubling stories in all of Tanakh - the story of Akeidat Yitzchak ( Bereishit 22:1-19 ). We discuss the selection of this narrative as the קריאת התורה for (2nd day) Rosh Hashana (#1), the larger narrativ...

Akedat Yitzchak (1), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom How did Akedat Yitzchak become selected as the preferred Keriat haTorah for 2nd day Rosh Hashana? Source sheet >>

Ramban On The Torah | 10 | Ki Tetze, by Rav Eli Weber

Ramban On The Torah | 09 | Shoftim, by Rav Eli Weber

Shoftim | You Shall Cleanse the Innocent Blood, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Who is the audience of Devarim 21:9?  Source sheet >>

Re'eh | Banim Atem - Why Here, Why Now? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The turning point in Parashat Re'eh is at the beginning of Chapter 14. Having completed the presentation of Mitzvot related to idolatry and the special place where "Hashem will choose to cause His Name to reside," Mosheh's speech turns to issues of ritual sanctity, including a prohibition against cutting oneself as a funerary act. Th...

Ekev | 40 Days and 40 Nights, Revisiting Moshe's Speech About the Egel, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Moshe's teaching the audience of Sefer Devarim - an orphaned generation that was, by and large, born into freedom in the desert - has curious twists and turns when contrasted with the narratives of Shemot and Bamidbar. In the middle of Parashat Ekev, Moshe retells the story of the sin of the Egel, but...

Ramban On The Torah | 08 | Vaetchanan, by Rav Eli Weber

Vaetchanan | Revisiting the Wise Son's Question, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The mitzva - how to teach your child - is really about the transmission of Moshe's shelichut within each family. Your children should be turning to you with this question, because they want to know what is the secret to our successful long-life in Eretz Yisrael! Source sheet >>

Thoughts for Tisha BeAv 5783, in Light of Current Events here in Israel, by Rav Moshe Taragin