Rabbi Moshe Kesselman Weekly Shiurim

Shaul Hamelech is told by Shmuel Hanavi the night before his passing, that if he escaped his life would be spared. But, if he went to battle he and his sons would fall. He chose to battle. Sources חומש ויקרא פסוק האחרון של פרשת קדושים ופסוק הראשון של פרשת אמור פירשו של בעל הטורים על אמור אל הכהנים מדרש רבה ויקרא פרשה כ״ו פרק ז׳ גלגולי נשמות רמ״ע מפאנו פרק קמ״ט תלמוד בבלי סנהדרין דף קי״א ע״א תלמוד...

Boaz and Ruth share a meal. The Torah describes, how he invited her, what they ate, where she sat as well as the menu and the leftovers. The Midrash sees this exchange reverberating 5 times in the future. Boaz and Ruth would have descendants, Jewish monarchs with unique but similar experiences. Sources רות פרק ב׳ פסוק י״ד מדרש רבה רות פרשה ה׳ אות וא״ו תלמוד בבלי גיטין דף ס״ח ע״ב

Once a year the Kohen Gadol would go into the Kodesh Hakodishim and offer Ketorres. When Aharon was told to do this, he was inherently going back to the place and scene of the death of his 2 sons. The Kotker Rebbe told his Chassidim that they should spend Pesach with him and they would experience the revelation of Eliyohu Hanavi. Sources פרשת אחרי פרק ט״ז פסוקים א׳ - י״ג רש״י פסוק א׳, ב׳, ג׳,י״ג ב...

Boaz noticed Ruth and inquired after her identity. The Misrash insists, Boaz knew who she was, he was asking something else. Shaul inquires after Dovid’s identity. But, he was really asking something else. Doeg Hoadomi contests the validity of Dovid Hamelech. Shmuel Hanavi replies that Doeg is a heretic and will not die in peace. Moshe Rabbeinu doesn’t want to accept the women’s mirrors for the Mi...

Moshe Rabbeinu complained to Hashem that Aaron his brothers honor was compromised: ‘Is this befitting the honor of my brother Aaron to examine people’s afflictions?’ Hashem’s response seems callous. He responds that Aaron was had to do this because he benefitted by receiving the 24 Gifts of Kehuna. The Medrash provides a shocking analogy to explain how Aaron earned these 24 gifts. The Baal Haturim...

The Midrash and Zohar seem to struggle with understanding why Megillat Ruth was even written. The family of Dovid Hamelech merges with Amon and Moav and the results seem disastrous. SourcesMidrash Rabba Ruth Parsha 2 Perek 14Zohar Chodosh on Megillat Ruth Chapter 31 Part 1Megillat Ruth Perek 4 Pesukim 1 - 6Commentery of Rashi on Pesukim 1 and 6Gemara Chagiga Daf 4 BGemara Brochas 31 BCommentery of...

Parsha Shiur Shemini 2025Nosson Hanavi gave Dovid Hamelech an analogy about a wealthy man who steals a poor man’s lamb. Dovid insists that wealthy man receive the death penalty and pay the poor man 4 times the value of the lamb. The Baal Haturim sees this reflected in Aaron Hakohen offering the sacrifices of the Jews on the final day of the inauguration of the Mishkan. Sources:Shmuel B Perek 12 Pe...

Shiur on Haggadah Shel Pesach 2025 Description In the Haggadah we say that if Hashem had brought us to Har Sinai and not given us the Torah - we would be satisfied. This is probably the most shocking statement in all of the Haggadah and perhaps in all of Judaism. What in heavens name could it mean? Sources Haggadah Shel Pesach Dayenu paragraph Talmud Baba Metzia 59 B Chumash Otzar Hatorah Shemos p...

Parsha Shiur Parshas Bo Parshas Hachodesh 2025The Egyptians RUSHED the Jews out of Mitzraim. The Jews RUSH out of Egypt. But when Moshiach comes, there will be no Rushing. SourcesShemos Perek 12 Possuk 11Commentery of Baal Haturim on the PossukLikkutei Sichos Volume 17 pages 82 - 88See Footnote 74

Parsha Shiur Parshat Vayakhel Parshat Parah 2025 Rabban Yochonan Ben Zakkai debates a Non Jew regarding the reason and meaning of the Mitzvah of Parah Adumah. Midrash Rabba Bamidbar Parsha 19 Perek 8 Likkutei Sichos Volume 24 Page 7

Purim 2025 Shiur 3 Mordechai insists that the Jews will be redeemed whether Esther helps them or not. But, he agrees that the Jews should fast on Pesach or they will all not survive. The Midrash insists that the Jews are never in ‘distress for more than 3 days’ and has 5 proofs from across all of Jewish history. Sources Megillat Esther Perek 4 Midrash Rabba Esther Parsha 8, Perek 6 and 7 Midrash R...

Purim 2025 Shiur 2 The Jews are miraculously saved in the greatest miracle story of Jewish survival. Yet, the death sentence is never removed from them. Why? Sources Midrash Rabba Esther Psichta Perek 7 Commentary of Maharalin Ohr Chadash in this Medrash Likutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Volume 26 first Sicha

Purim 2025 Shiur 1 The Midrash insists that the opening word of the Megilla is one of sadness and pain. This is difficult to understand. After all, the Megilla is that happiest of all our Holy books and Purim is the greatest Yom Tov of the year. Sources Midrash Rabba Esther Psichta Perek 11 Midrash Eliyohu Zuta Likutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Volume 26 first Sicha

Parsha Shiur Tetzaveh 2025Achashverosh issues a royal decree that every man is the head of his house, in doing so he saves the Jewish People. The Mitzvah of reading the Megilla takes precedence over the Mitzva of Torah learning and working in the Bais Hamikdash. SourcesGemara Megilla 12 B with Rashi CommenteryParsha Tetzaveh Perek 28 Pessukim 31 - 35Rashi Commentery on Possuk 35Commentery of Baal...

Parsha Shiur Teruma 2025Moshe Rabbeinu protests Hashem's Commandment to build the Mishkan. The Midrash compares this to a handsome king who commissions his relative to paint an image of him. SourcesParshas Teruma Perek 25 Pessukim 39 and 40Rashi Commentary on Possuk 40Midrash Rabba Shemos Parsha 35 Siman 6Commentary of Eitz Yosef and Maharzu on MidrashGemara Gittin 6BHadran of the Lubavitcher...

Parsha Shiur Bo 2025 Pharaoh:and Moshe have an ambitious conversation. Pharaoh seems ready to acquiesce to Moshe's request. But, Moshe seems to change the request and Pharaoh has some very bad news about the future of the Jewish nation. Sources: Parshas Bo Perek 10 Pessukim 7 - 11 Commentary of Rashi on Possuk 10 Midrash Rabba Shemos Parsha 13 Perek 5 Commentary of Baal Haturim on Possuk 8 Mid...

Parsha Shiur Vaera 2025 Acher wept and died, Rabbi Meir rejoiced and said: ‘It seems my Rebbe had passed in a state of Teshuva. Pharoah seems desperate to avoid a conversation with Moshe Rabbeinu. Hashem hardened Pharoah’s heart, yet He did not really remove Pharoah’s power to choose.

Parsha Shiur Shemos 2025 Moshe and Aaron communicate Hashem’s words to Pharaoh: ‘Let My People Go.’ Pharaoh insists that the Jews continue to produce the same quota of bricks as ‘yesterday and the day before’ despite them not being provided with straw. Pharaoh cries: ‘Let them work harder… and let them not regard lying words.’ What is the meaning of Pharaoh’s reaction? The Baal Haturim draws a fas...

Parsha Shiur Vayechi 2025 Rochel stole her father's Teraphim. Yaakov did not know that Rochel stole them, Yaakov cursed the one with whom lava would find the Teraphim. Lava never found them. Yet, Rochel and Yaakov's lives were cut short.

Parsha Shiur Vayigash 2025 Description: Rav Nachman's daughters have supernatural abilities? His colleagues wonder if they are practicing sorcery, or Holy righteous women. Yaakov makes unexpected stop on the way to Egypt. By doing so, he is putting his own life in danger, but the Torah provides no explanation for this transit. The 'middle bar' of the Mishkan, came from a tree planted by Avrohom Av...

Parsha Shiur Miketz 2024 Yosef learns that his grandfather Yitzchok has passed. He has a very emotional reaction. Yitzchok's death reveals his super powers and all of his descendants inherit his qualities. Sources: Gemara Megilla 15 A Parshas Miketz Perek 43 Pessukim 26 - 31 Medrash Rabba Parsha 92 Perek 5 Commentary of Baal naturism on Possuk 31 Gemara Megilla 14 A Parshas Toldos Perek 26 Possuk...

Parsha Shiur Vayeshev 2024 Twins are born, sons of Yehuda and Tamar. The Torah gets into the seemingly unnecessary nitty gritty details of the story of their birth. Yet, upon deeper reflection, their names, identities and their future descendants are all represented in this story. Sources: Sefer Yehoshua Perek 7 Gemara Sanhedrin 43 B and 44 A Gemara Yevamos 77 B Yalkut Meam Loez on Megillas Rus Pe...

Parsha Shiur Vayishlach 2024 What was Yaakov really afraid of? How does Yaakov's fear, save the Jews in the times of Purim? Sources: Midrash Rabba Parsha 76 Perek 1 Bereishis Parshas vayishlach Perek 32 Possuk 8 Commentary of Rashi on the Possuk Commentary of Sifsei Chachomim on Rashi Sefer Maayono Shel Torah Bereishis page 145 Gemara Gittin 56 A and 57 B Gemara Horiyos 13 A Commentary of Tosafos...

Parsha Shiur Vayetze 2024 Yaakov makes a deal With Lavan. The deal seems to work out in Yaakov's favor. But, on a personal level, the deal seems to extol a heavy price on Yaakov and his family. Sources: Bereichs Perek 30 Pessukim 31 - 33, Rashi on Possuk 38 and Perek 31 Possuk 43 Midrash Rabba Bereishis Parsha 73 Perek 9, Parsha 76 Perek 9 Midrash Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer Perek 38 Baal Haturim on Pe...

Parsha Shiur Toldos 2024 Leiluy Nishmas Harav Tzvi Ben Alexander Hakohen Kogan HY"D Yaakov expresses concern that he will be cursed by his father Yitzchak. Rivkah reassures him that she would take the curses upon herself. Sources Shmuel Aleph Perek 3 Pessukim 1 - 17 Gemara Makkos 11 A Parshas Toldos Perek 27 Pessukim 8 - 12 Commentary of Ohr Hachayim on Possuk 12 Commentary of Ohr Bohr on Ohr Hach...