KMTT - the Torah Podcast

R. Yaakov Gesundheit z"l, 13 Elul 5638, by Rav Binyamin Tabory, originally given for Parshat Ki Tetze 5768

The Power and The Glory of Rosh Hashana: Analyzing the 30 Pesukim of Shofar, special Elul shiur by Rav Moshe Taragin, given over zoom to the Rabbinic Conference of South Africa, August 31, 2020

Parshat Ki Teitzei with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Eishet Yefat Toar: What is the Torah Thinking? #2 - Achronim - Parenting Lessons from the Ben Sorrer U-Moreh: Rav Hirsch's Brilliant Insight #3 - Midrash - Integrating Converts from Egypt: 2 Relevant Lessons Derived by the Midrash #4 - Sparks of Chasssidus - Going Out to Spiritual War - Strategic Advice from the Sefas Emes #5 -...

Parshat Shoftim with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Rabbinic Authority - Even if They're Wrong? #2 - Contemporary Meforshim - Political Leaders as Religious Role Models - The Inspiring Vision of the Oznayim Le'Torah #3 - Midrash - Is Judaism Really Pro Monarchy? #4 - Sparks of Chassidus - Healthy and Balanced Religiosity - The Kotzker's Remarkable Insight #5 - Halacha from the Parsh...

R. Reuven Margolios z"l, 7 Elul 5731, by Rav Binyamin Tabory, originally given for Parshat Shoftim 5768

Parshat Re'eh with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - The False Prophet - If He's "False" Then How is He a "Prophet"? #2 - Achronim - The Twin Benefits of the Mikdash and Centralized Worship #3 - Midrash - A Life of Blessing or Curse - The Choice is Ours #4 - Sparks of Musar - The INABILITY to Sin: A Profound Religious Insight #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - The Mitzva of Tzedaka

Parshat Ekev with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Is Yiras Shamayim a "Small Thing"?! #2 - Modern Meforshim - How Can We "Bless Hashem"? Rav Hirsch's Revolutionary Approach #3 - What Makes Us Worthy of Eretz Yisroel? #4 - Sparks of Musar - Why Do We Bentch? The Amazing Insight of the Meshech Chochma #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Is There is a Mitzvah to Daven?

Parshat Vaetchanan with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Loving Hashem - The Rambam's Perspective #2 - Moshe's Desire to Enter Eretz Yisroel - And Ours #3 - Kibud Av V'Em: The Important Lessons Learned from non-Jews #4 - Sparks of Chasidus - Praying to be Able to Pray: The Powerful Insight of R. Levi Yitzchok #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Kibud Av V'Em In Deed, Word, and Thought

Two Seminal Stories of Harav Amital zt"l and How They Impacted My Life, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Parshat Devarim and Religious Zionism, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Parshat Devarim with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - What's Devarim About? The Ramban's Theory #2 - Contemporary Meforshim - Who Was Responsible for the Cheit Ha-Egel - Hashem or the Jewish People? #3 - Midrash - Learning How to Give - and Grow From - Cristicism #4 - Sparks of Chasidus - Emunah "Conquers" Machshava and Maaseh - A Beautiful Thought from the Sefas Emes #5 - Halacha fro...

The Goals of Conquering Land In and Beyond Eretz Yisrael (Including an Insight from Moreinu HaRav Yehuda Amital zt'l on his 10th Yahrtzeit), by our alumnus Rabbi Michael Taubes. The shiur was given by zoom on July 16, 2020. Sourcesheet available here. Rabbi Taubes is Rosh Yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) of Yeshiva University and the spiritual leader of Congregation...

Parshat Matot-Masei with Rav Dovid Gottlieb #1 - Classical Meforshim - Why Do We Need to Know About Alllll of the Stops in the Midbar? #2 - Contemporary Meforshim - The Basis of Jewish Morality: An Amazing Insight from R. Moshe Feinstein #3 - Midrash - Obsessing Over Money: The Tragic Mistake of Benei Gad and Reuven #4 - Sparks of Musar - The Importance of Being Inspired: Rav Schwab's Beautiful In...

Kamtza and Bar Kamtza - Special Shiur given in honor of the 10th Yahrzeit of Moreinu Harav Amital zt"l. Yehi zikhro barukh. The well-known Agadah about Kamtza and Bar-Kamtza (in which, by the way, Kamtza never makes an appearance) is filled with riddles and oddities; by studying the Midrash's version (Eikhah Rabbah Ch. 4) of this story, closer to the events in both time and place, events, personal...

Bein haMetzarim: The Symmetry of Tragedies, shiur by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom, July 8, 2020, 17 Tamuz, in advance of the 3 Weeks. The period between the fasts of 17 Tamuz and 9bAv became known as "Bein haMetzarim" in the late medieval period. The origins of pairing these fast days together, however, is anchored in the Mishna in Taanit which identifies five tragedies that befell Am Yisrael on each of...

Rabbinic alumni assembled in this special zoom session to share memories and lessons from HaRav Amital zt"l , held July 14th, 2020, in advance of Harav Amital's 10th Yahrzeit.

The Process of Pesak Halacha 33: The Limits of Shaat HaDechak: The Case of Kevod HaBeriyot, by Rav Jonathan Ziring What is the nature of the dispensation of "human dignity"? What can its limits teach us about the nature of halachic reasoning?

Parshat Pinchas with Rav Dovid Gottlieb Pinchas 1 - Hashem Rewards Pinchas (part 1) - What is the "Bris Shalom"? Pinchas 2 - Hashem Rewards Pinchas (part 2) - What is the "Bris Kehunah"? Pinchas 3 - Midrash - Yehoshua's Selection and the Sensitive Question of Succession Pinchas 4 - Sparks of Chassidus - Multiple Paths Up the Mountain: Religious Individuality in the Thought of the Sefas Emes Pincha...

The Process of Pesak Halacha 32: Monetary Loss as a Model of Shaat HaDechak, by Rav Jonathan Ziring How do poskim weigh objective and subjective "pressure"? How broad of a perspective can poskim take when determining what counts as an extenuating circumstance?

Parshat Balak with Rav Dovid Gottlieb Balak 1 - Classical Meforshim - Did Hashem Give Balaam Permission to Go? Yes, No, Maybe Balak 2 - Achronim / Contemporary - Bilaam vs Moshe: The Surprising Source of Moshe's Superiority Balak 3 - Midrash - Why Didn't Moshe Act When Confronted By Zimri? A Relevant Message from the Midrash Balak 4 - Sparks of Chassidus - "Am K'Lavi Yakum" - The Lubavitcher Rebbe...

We are happy to introduce a new series by Rav Dovid Gottlieb on the Parsha, each weekly shiur comprised of 5 parts, Classical Meforshim, Achronim, Midrash, Chassidus, and Halacha. Enjoy. Chukat #1 - Classical Meforshim - What Was Moshe's Sin? 3 Approaches in the Rishonim Chukat #2 - Achronim / More Recent - "Misas Tzadikim Mechaperes" - Rav Kook's Inspiring Interpretation Chukat #3 - Midrash - Why...

The Process of Pesak Halacha 31: Principles that Affect the Legislation and Adjudication of Halacha: The Case of Monetary Loss, by Rav Jonathan Ziring How do monetary concerns affect the way law is formulated and how existing law in interpreted.

Special Shiur - Questions in Philosophy - Conversation with Rav Ezra Bick continues. CONFRONTATIONS - A brand new series of conversations with Rav Ezra Bick Judaism and Modernity: When they clash, how they clash and why they clash Rav Bick returns for a new series of conversations with Gavriel Rosen. In this series we will be tackling the most challenging issues that a Jew faces when encountering...

The Process of Pesak Halacha 30: Chillul Hashem as a Factor in Pesak and Halachic Policy, by Rav Jonathan Ziring How does the concern for Chillul Hashem generate both halachic policy and shape halachic decision making itself? How does this play out both in lenient and stringent directions?

Understanding Minhagim #29, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Wedding Customs