Rabbi Moshe Kesselman Weekly Shiurim

Parsha Shiur Vayikra 2024 Final Shiur in Purim Series Aaron seems to be explicitly excluded from the Avoda in the Mishkan. 9 times. His role in the Egel Hazav seems to evoke both Divine Fury and Divine Praise. Sources: Drashos Chasam Sofer Parshas Zochor ‘Vehikrivu.’ In the name of Baalei Hatosfos Al Hatorah Vayikra Perek 1:1 - 5:13 Shemos Perek 32 Pesukim 1 - 35 Devorim Perek 9 Possuk 20 Midrash...

Purim Shiur #4 Purim Series 2024 The Midrash sees the loud and bitter cry of Mordechai as retribution for the loud and bitter cry of Esav. Why did Mordechai let Haman live? When does Almighty GD ‘let things slide’ and when does He respond with a Divine Vengeance? Sources Midrash Rabba Esther Parsha 8 Perek 2 Gemara Yuma 22 B Gemara Gittin 57 B Likkutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Volume 21 Pur...

Why would Esther risk her life just for a party? And why did she invite Hamman to the party? Why the Midrash compares Hamman to a pig being fattened in order to be slaughtered. What is the message of the Torah when antisemitism sprouts everywhere - like grass. Sources Megillas Esther Perek 5 Possuk 4Masechet Megilla 15 BMasechet Megilla 13 BMidrash Rabba Esther Parsha 7 Perek Aleph and Bais

Parsha shiur Pekudei 2024 The Cynics argued that there was no way Moshe Rabbeinu, would be able to make a Mishkan for Hashem. When Moshe put his hands under the beams, it seemed they were right. Sources: Shemos Perek 39 Possuk 33 Midrash Rabba Shemos Parsha 52 Perek 2 Commentery of Tiferes Tzion on the Midrash Gemara Bava Basra 17 A Gemara Sotah 12 A Likkutei Sichos of the Rebbe Volume 11 Pekudei...

Esther summonses ‘Hassach.’ She commands him to go to Mordechai. ‘Hassach’ is Daniel. But Hamman killed him and he was unable to finish his mission. What’s Daniel doing in the story of Purim? Why is he referred to as ‘Hassach?’ Sources: Divrei Pinchas from Rabbi Pinchas Friedman of Yerushalayim. Megillas Esther Perek 4 Pesukim 5 - 12 Shir Hashirim Rabba Parsha 7 Chapter 9 Kassem Ofir on Megillas E...

Series Shiurim Purim 2024 - Shiur 1 How our enemies delude themselves into thinking they can destroy us, despite all repeated failures. Did Haman really believe he would succeed at annihilating the Jews? Who was the grandfather of Nevuchadnetzar?

Vayakhel 2024 The fires of Gehenom are ‘resting’ on Shabbos. Rabbi Akiva humiliates Turnus Rufus in debate and Turnus Rufus father makes a stunning revelation about the world to come. Sources: Gemara Sanhedrin 65 B Midrash Rabba Bereishis Parsha 11 Perek 5 Parshas Vayakhel Perek 35 Possuk 3 Commentery of Baal Haturim on the Possuk Gemara Nedarim 50 B Commentery of Tosafos on the Gemara. Rashi Bami...

Parsha Shiur Ki Tisa 2024 Baal Haturim explains that Moshe's Delayed return is compared to Sisra's delayed return. Since Sisra was dead and the Jews thought that Moshe too was dead. The Zohar sheds light on why Sisra's mother was looking out the 'window'. There is a deeper meaning to Yaakov appearing to Yosef in the 'window.' Sources Shemos Perek 32 Possuk 1 Commentary...

Parsha Shiur Ki Sisa 2024 Baal Haturim explains that Moshe's Delayed return is compared to Sisra's delayed return. Since Sisra was dead and the Jews thought that Moshe too was dead. The Zohar sheds light on why Sisra's mother was looking out the 'window'. There is a deeper meaning to Yaakov appearing to Yosef in the 'window.' Sources Shemos Perek 32 Possuk 1 Commentary...

Parsha Shiur Tetzaveh 2024 Moshe Rabbeinu’s name does not appear in the Parsha. The Baal Haturim provides 2 explanations for this. The second (less famous reason) is to spare Moshe pain. Moshe was supposed to be the Kohen Gadol and his descendants were supposed to be Kohanim. Upon his refusal to serve as Hashem's ambassador this was taken from him. So the Parsha that speaks of the Kohanim’s ri...

R’ Zusha once taught a generous Jew an important lesson regarding Tzedakah. Don’t let your head get in the way of your generous heart. Source: Commentery of Ben Ish Chai on Perek 25 Possuk 3

Parsha Shiur Mishpatim 2024 Are we more clever than our enemies? Can we outsmart the forces of Evil? The commentators teach us that some of our enemies have wisdom though they use it deviously. Sources Shmuel Aleph Perek 15 Possuk 3 Commentery of Rashi on the Possuk Parshas Mispatin Perek 22 Possuk 17 Commentery of Baal Haturim on the Possuk Likkutei Sichos Volume 3 page 914

Short Vort Mishpatim 2024 Description On the 5th day of Sivan the Jews said Nasseh V’Nidhma. On the 6th day of Sivan Hashem hung Mt Sinai over the Jews and gave them 2 options: Either they accept the Torah or they get buried. This seems pointless and unnecessary. Sources: Gemara Shabbos 88 A Daas Zekeinim M’Baalei Hatosfos Shemos Perek 19 Possuk 17 Likkutei Sichos Volume 19 Page 16

Parsha Shiur Yisro 2024 What was it exactly that Yisro heard that motivated him to abandon every form of idol worship in the world and embrace Yidishkait? Sources: Parshas Yisro opening Possuk Commentery of Baal Haturim on the Possuk Shemos Perek 7 Possuk 1 Commentery of Rashi, Daas Zekenim and Noam Elimelech on the Possuk Masechet Gittin 57 A Masechet Shabbos 88 A

Parsha Shiur Va’era 2024 Description Why was Pharoh so astonished when he saw Aaron’s stick swallow the Egyptian sticks? He was worried that the stick would swallow him?!?! The Midrash compares him at that moment to Achashverosh sitting at his meal in the garments of the Kohen Gadol. Aaron’s stick didn’t just swallow other Egyptian sticks, it also swallowed the sticks of the other Princes of the t...

Short Vort Va’era 2024 If Hashem put us in Golus for only 400 years, why does it require a Divine strong hand and mighty arm to liberate us? Why do we say that if Hashem hadn’t liberated our ancestors from Egypt we would still be there today? Haggadah Shel Pesach first paragraph after the 4 questions. Likkutei Sichos Volume 17 Page 88. Footnote 17

Parsha Shiur Shemos 2024 Why does Hashem tell Moshe, that if he (Moshe) doesn’t redeem the Jews, there is no one else to redeem them? Why does the Baal Haturim compare the cry of the Jews in Egypt to the cry of Sodom? What is better and more powerful than eradicating darkness completely? - Transforming it to light. Sources Shemos Perek 3 Possuk 7 Commentary of Baal Haturim on the Possuk Medrash Sh...

Short Vort Shemos 2024 Elie Wiesel was in Yechidus (Private audience) with the Rebbe. The Rebbe told him: ‘I will teach you to sing.’ Moshe argued with Hashem for 7 days. He insisted that he didn’t want to be the one to take the Jews out of Egypt: ‘They will ask me what is His name? What shall I tell them?’ Likkutei Sichos Volume 26 pages 22 - 25 Gemara Chagiga 15 B

Accompanying a Jew at the beginning of their journey is a Mitzvah. It guarantees that no harm will befall them as they go. Yet as a result of Pharoh walking 4 steps to escort Avrohom, the Jews become enslaved for 400 years in Egypt. Sources: Bereishis Vayeshev Perek 37 Possuk 14. Commentery of Rashi and Baal Haturim Bereishis Vayechi Perek 50 Possuk 7 Commentery of Baal Haturim Gemara Sotah 46 B E...

Short Vort Yavechi 2023 Why would the Torah conclude the entire Sefer Bereishis with saying that Yosef dies, and was placed in a coffin in Egypt? What happened to ending on a positive note? How is that supposed to inspire us to shout: ‘Chazak Chazak V’nischazek?’ Source: Sefer Hasichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Vayechi 5747

Yaakov initially doesn’t believe that Yosef is alive. But the image of the wagons convinces him. The last conversation between Yaakov and Yosef before Yosef gets sold as a slave, becomes the catalyst for all of Jewish history. Gemara Brachos 31 A Bereishis Perek 37 Possuk 14 Commentery of Rashi and Baal Haturim Midrash Movoi Tanchuma Chapter 66 Bereishis Perek 46 Pesukim 26 and 27. Commentery of R...

How could the brothers not have realized that it was Yosef all along? Why is there so much fear, shock and disbelief when he exposes his identity?

Reuven offers Yaakov to kill 2 of his sons, if he does not return Binyomin. Yaakov responds by calling Reuven a first born fool. The Shiur explores the deeper meaning of this conversation. Sources: Bereishis Perek 42 Pesukim 37 -38 Rashi on Possuk 38 Commentery of Baal Haturim on Possuk 37 Bamidbar Perek 16 Pesukim 12, 13 and 14. Rashi on Possuk 14 Gemara Bava Basra 74 A

Parsha Shiur Vayeshev 2023 Those who are physically beautiful face unique spiritual challenges. A Rasha argues that his beauty made it too difficult for him to study Torah. The heavenly Beis Din points to Yosef as the one who overcame his challenges despite his beauty. Thus Yosef holds all the wicked people responsible. Sources: Gemara Yuma 35 B Gemara Sotah 36 B Parshas Veyeshev Perek 39 Possuk 7...