KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Amos | On the Development of Prophecy, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In this brief introduction, I discuss the development of prophecy in Israel, the evolving definition of "Navi" and the development of "literary prophets". We then study the first set of prophecies found in the book of Amos, with an ear towards the oratorial genius of Amos and the many tools he harnesses to effect a suasive presentatio...

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 16 | Yitro, by Rav Eli Weber What's the point of Ma'amad Har Sinai? Who did Benei Israel hear the commandments from? What is the relationship between Zachor and Shamor?

Beshalach | Shirat HaYam, by Rav Yair Kahn A great moment or a momentary greatness?

Bo | The Dual Symbolism of Matza, by Rav Yair Kahn

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 15 | Beshalach, by Rav Eli Weber How did Bnei Israel leave Egypt? What did HaShem give them in Mara? What is the meaning of the rules of the Manna?

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 14 | Bo, by Rav Eli Weber What is the purpose of miracles? What is the purpose of creation? The Ramban at the end of this week's Parasha deals with both.

Vaera | Pharoah and the Problem of Free Choice, by Rav Yair Kahn

New series on Sefer Shemot! Shemot | The Roots of Egyptian Antisemitism, by Rav Yair Kahn

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 13 | Vaera, by Rav Eli Weber What is the difference between Hashem's names? How can Hashem harden Pharaoh's heart? Why does the Torah reintroduce Moshe and Aharon again in the middle of the parasha?

Vaera | Pharaoh's Wizards (and the Parenthetic Phrase), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why did the חרטומים imitate the first two plagues - and why were they stymied at the third? חרטומי מצרים - the wizards of Egypt - make 5 appearances in the Exodus narrative; the first and last are easily understood but the 2nd (in the context of the plague of blood) the 3rd (frogs) and the 4th (lice) are difficult to...

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 12 | Shemot, by Rav Eli Weber On the Ramban's idea that every sefer in the Torah is a separate entity: on the one hand, a stand-alone sefer, but of course, also the continuation of Bereishit and the introduction to Vayikra.

The Education of Pharoah, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom As we begin our reading of Sefer Shemot, the grand story of Yetziat Mitzrayim unfolds before our eyes. We are all aware of the "Ten Plagues" with which Hashem punished the Egyptians - but why was there a need for plagues at all? If the goal was to redeem His "firstborn son" to be free to worship Him - there are many ways that God could have rescue...

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 11 | Vayechi, by Rav Eli Weber Why did Yaakov make Yosef swear to bury him? Where does a miracle come into play? Why does Yaakov curse Shimon and Levi? We apologize for the missing minutes at the end of this episode. The recording has been replaced.

Vayechi | Ad Ki Yavo Shilo: Solving A Biblical Riddle, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Yaakov's deathbed blessing to Yehuda, at which point he appoints/designates or foretells his fourth son's ascendancy to leadership of the nascent nation, is replete with philological and exegetical difficulties. The central verse of his blessing, verse 10, is not only opaque and subject to a wide range of interpretatio...

Asara BeTevet | History and Laws, by Rav Eli Weber Source sheet >>

The Mysterious Date of Chanuka, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why does Chanuka begin on the 25th of Kislev?  Every other day that is marked in our calendar for celebration has a clear source as to why that date was chosen. In the case of festivals marked in the Torah - that is the source. In the case of Purim, the text records that the Jews of the Persian Empire celebrated on the 14th (and, in Shushan,...

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 10 | Vayigash, by Rav Eli Weber What's the purpose of Yehuda's speech? Why does Yehuda quote Yaakov as saying his wife had two sons? What was it that moved Yosef so much?

Vayigash | Yaakov's Daughters, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom How many daughters did Yaakov have? (it's not so simple...) As we all know, Yaakov had 12 sons and one daughter; he had over 45 grandsons and - one granddaughter. This is the information given to us throughout the second half of Bereishit, culminating in the list of emigres to Egypt in Bereishit 46. The statistical improbability of this gende...

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 09 | Miketz - Chanuka, by Rav Eli Weber What does the Torah have to do with Chanuka? Why is the commandment for the menorah where it is? What did the brothers feel guilty of? Why did the brothers lie to Yaakov?

"Mizmor Shir Chanukat haBayit...leDavid?" An analysis of Psalm 30 and its association with Chanuka, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why is there a psalm titled "Mizmor Shir Hanukkat haBayit leDavid" - if David never saw the Mikdash built? A custom is recorded in Maskhet Soferim (c. 9th century) to recite Psalm 30 on Hanukkah. We study the psalm, exploring the meaning of the words, structure of the psalm...

Miketz | Pharoah's Dreams | Chida veChalom, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom How are we to understand the amazement with which Pharaoh and his advisors reacted to Yoseph's solutions to the king's dreams?  Pharaoh's Dreams (the cows and the sheaves) reexamined, based on an observation of Dr. Moseh Zeidel z"l. The "Hidah" (riddle) and "Halom" (dream) are associated in Bamidbar 12 and therein begins our inqu...

The Overlap Between Chanuka and A Christian Holiday: Perspectives Upon the Impact of Chanuka upon the Non-Jewish World, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 08 | Vayeshev, by Rav Eli Weber Why did Esav go to Edom and why does Yaakov stay? Did Yaakov believe Yosef's dreams? Was Yosef always a tzadik?

Where Mikra Meets Midrash - The Case of Yosef haTzaddik, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In this shiur, we examine the Midrashic martyrology of the עשרה הרוגי מלכות and how it developed from several Midrashic tropes in a reading of the story of the sale of Yosef. The shiur was given in the context of the SAR-sponsored Yemei Iyyun in Tanakh (June 23, 2024) and was given in memory of Ari Levine. ארי בן מנח...

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 07 | Vayishlach, by Rav Eli Weber What do we need to do in response to a modern Esav? Were Shimon and Levi right? Why did Yaakov not bury Rachel in Chevron?