Time for Torah: By Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Zt"l

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on שבועות, on the topic of Megilas Rus. Discussed:  Unlike the other four Megilahs which are philosophical works or focus on the salvation/tragedy of the Jews on a national level, Rus is a simple story about one individual. Why was a Megillah written about her story and why read it on Shavuos?  The Yalkut Shemoni writes that the point of Megillas Rus is to send...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelch Kohn Ztl on שבועות. Discussed:  The Kli Yakir asks, why does the Torah refer to the holiday of Shavous as a day of the מנחה חדשה (Korbon of the new harvest), but never mentions the momentous occasion of קבלת התורה which occurred on that day?  Three reasons why the only קרבן ציבור that was brought from חמץ, which represents the Yetzer Hara, was brought on Shavous.  The Kli...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl, contiuing the topic of שבועות.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on שבועות.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on שבועות.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת במדבר and שבועות. Discussed:  A few lessons one can learn from the Pesukim leading up to Kabalas HaTorah.  Why does the Torah include lengthy and repetitious Pesukim which discuss the counting of the Jews in the Midbar?  The Gemara discusses the idea that a poor person, a rich person, and a Rasha will be held accountable for how much time they set aside...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת בחוקתי, and on the topic of Olam Haba. Discussed:  An in-depth look at a Kli Yakir, who discusses many answers brought by the Rishonim to the famous question; why doesn't the Torah clearly state there is an afterlife and that the soul lives eternally even after death? The Ran and the Kuzari explain how the climax of the brachos in the Parsha is how w...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת בחוקתי. Discussed:  What does the Sifra (brought by Rashi) mean that Yaakov took the 'ו' (Vav) of Eliyahu's name as a guarantee that he will come and herald the redemption? Why does Yaakov want collateral if the Torah already guaranteed there will be a redemption? What is the necessity and the purpose of Eliyahu Hanavi announcing the imminent...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת בהר.Discussed: The Sefas Emes explains that true freedom is found in accepting the yoke of Torah, even amidst exile. Similarly, by keeping Shabbos one removes the burden of weekday labor.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת בהר. Discussed: The Chasam Sofer explains that Shemita is the ultimate proof that the Torah is from Hashem. If it weren’t true, no one would keep Shemita after one cycle once they saw the promised blessings weren’t fulfilled. The Beis Yisroel writes that just as Shemita requires Bitachon in order to fulfill the Mitzvah, so too all Mitzvos and Torah study...

This Shiur is an abridged version of the Gadol Hashalom series, it was edited for Sefira. Topics include Bein Adam Lcahveiro, Kabbalos Hatorah, Shalom Bayis, and the death of Rabbi Akiva's Talmidim. Discussed: R' Chaim Shmulevitz discusses two prerequisites for קבלת התורה and how these two Middos were exemplified by the Talmidim of R' Yehuda Bar Ilai. R' Chaim Shmulevitz examines a few Gemaras in...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on לג בעומר, finishing the topic of ספירה.  Discussed:  The seemingly contradictory duality of Sefira; a joyful preparation for Kabalos Hatorah on Shavuos yet a time of mourning for the loss of Rabbi Akiva's students. Why is mourning even allowed during such a joyous time?  Why do we celebrate that people stopped dying on Lag Baomer if the only reason there were...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת אמור.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת אמור, continuing on the topic of Hashgacha Pratis begun in Parshas תזריע-מצורע.  Discussed:   R' Shamshon Refael Hirsch explains why the Torah has several Mitzvos concerning mother and baby animals.   The Chinuch writes that the Mitzva אותו ואת בנו (the prohibition to slaughter mother and child on one day) generates an awareness of divine providence and...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת קדושים. Discussed:  R' Eliyahu Meir Bloch explains why the Mitzvah of Kedoshim was said B'hakhel, in public to men, women, and children. And how the expectation of holiness demanded from the community are different than those expected from the individual.  The Akeidas Yitzchok has harsh words for the Jews of pre-expulsion Spain, and warns of the...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת קדושים. Discussed:  Various Peshatim on the Mitzvah of Kedoshim Tehiyu, 'You shall be holy'.  R' Shimon Shkop wonders how one can emulate Hashem; God is completely selfless, while man is totally self-centered.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת אחרי מות. Discussed:  R' Yaakov Emden brings a historical account written by a Roman who describes the Avodah of the Kohen Gadol in the Bais Hamikdash on Yom Kippur.  The Gemara says that a ממזר Talmid Chochom comes before a Kohen Gadol who is an עם הארץ. This can be illustrated by the story brought in the Gemara about Sh'maya & Avtalyon who...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת אחרי מות. Discussed: The Sifri state that living in Eretz Yisrael is equal to the whole Torah. Does this mean that the Zionist are correct that they can live in Eretz Yisrael without keeping Torah and Mitzvos or pursuing spirituality? Why was the רשע Titus able to desecrate the Kodesh Hakodoshim without repercussion, in contrast to נדב ואביהו, two great...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת אחרי מות.  Discussed: The Ramban wonders why the Pasuk states that Klal Yisrael will be expelled from Eretz Yisrael if they violate the Issur of Arayos, however, we know that these Aveiros are obligations universally applicable, even outside Eretz Yisrael. The Ramban (and many Sifrei Kabbalah) elaborate on the spiritual roots of all physical manifestatio...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on ספירה, continuing the theme of the last Shiur. Discussed:  Why do we count Sefira using the Korban Omer as a reference point, isn't Pesach or Shavous a more significant event? And why is the Sefira/Korban named after the size of the Korban, (Omer is just a measurement)? Furthermore, why do we start from the second day of Pesach and not the first?  The Tor...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on ספירה.Discussed: The Baal Haturim explains that the Pasuk of the מן has all the letters of the Alef Bais as a message that Hashem will provide someone who keeps the Torah with all their needs just as Hashem provided Klal Yisroel in the desert with the מן. This is why when Yirmiyahu rebuked Klal Yisroel to learn more Torah he showed them the מן as proof a pers...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn on פרשת תזריע-מצורע, discussing the topic of Hashgacha Pratis. Discussed:  A discussion on the fundamentals of Hashgacha Pratis, based on the Chinnuch: What is Hashgacha Pratis and how does it work? Do all animals have Hashgacha Pratis or just mankind?  The Orchos Chaim Lha'Rosh explains why Hashem begins the 10 commandments by saying "I am your God who too...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn on פרשת תזריע. Discussed: Understanding the Medrash אחור וקדם צרתני (man was created first and last). Different approaches to understanding how mankind contributes to the world. In what sense are environmentalists correct in their view that humans corrupt and destroy the world? An insight based on Onkelos in Bereishis, that Man was created in a combination of spirit...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohnn Ztl on פרשת שמיני. Discussed: Why do we find many conflicting reasons, brought in the Torah and Chazal, for why Nadav and Avihu died. Some seem to regard them in a positive light while others seem to be negative. A lesson from the Chasam Sofer on the sacrifice faced by many leaders in regard to their family life. The Ksav Sofer has a beautiful Pshat to tie together...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת שמיני .  Discussed: Understanding the concept behind Korbonos, and why Ahron brought a Korbon Chattas for himself and a Korbon Olah for Klal Yisrael to atone for the חטא העגל (sin of the Golden Calf). The Malbim writes that each person represents a mini-Mishkan. Man's Avoda is to sacrifice his animalistic nature, paralleling the Kohen's Avoda in...