Time for Torah: By Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Zt"l

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת כי תבא, continuing the topic of Rabbinic Authority.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת כי תצא.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת כי תצא. Discussed: Understanding some of the underlying causes for Ben Sorer U'moreh and how these issues are prevalent in today's society. These are crucial lessons in Chinuch and one will be rewarded with healthy and happy children. R' Moshe Paskens that marijuana and other drugs are Assur to use because they cause addictive behaviors similar to the Be...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת כי תצא, continuing the topic of Rabbinic authority. Discussed: Discussion regarding the commandment to listen to Rabbinical decrees. When is it considered a Biblical violation for not adhering to the Rabbinical decrees? Why does the Torah punish a Ben Soreh U'moreh (wayward son) for his expected future actions (‘Nidone Ol Shem Sofo’)? The Gemara expounds...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת שופטים.Discussed: The Yalkut and Zohar bring a Medrash where Malachaim questioned Hashem why the Torah has more compassion for animal blood than Jewish blood. Hashem's response is alluded to in a Pasuk at the beginning of the Parsha. R' Chatzkel Levenstein encouraged the Bochurim to feel the fear and anguish of their fellow Jews as if the Yeshiva was phy...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת שופטים. Discussed: • The Chida explains that the Torah uses a singular expression in the first Pasuk, שפטים ושטרים תתן לך בכל שעריך "guards 'you' should place in all 'your' gates," to teach us that every individual must enforce their own personal standard. R' Chaim Vital adds that the gates in the Pasuk allegorically refer to the "gates" of the human bod...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת שופטים, on the topic of Rabbinic Authority. Discussed: A fascinating letter written by R’ Moshe Feinstein in response to Governor Rockefeller’s inquiry regarding the Jewish perspective on the death penalty.  Ramban’s explanation on why one must listen to Chazal, even if they are clearly mistaken in their Psak.  Chazan Ish’s response to being asked if hal...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on אלול. Discussed: • The Sefarim bring down from the Arizal that Teshuva during Elul is classified as Teshuva M'Ahava (love), which has the awesome power to restore all the time wasted doing Aveiros. In contrast, Teshuva on Rosh Hashanah is classified as Teshuva M'Yirah (fear) and only wipes the slate clean, but the person is still accountable for wasted time a...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת ראה.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת ראה. Discussed: • We learn a lesson from the first Pasuk, that an individual can affect the entire world by his actions. • R' Akiva Eiger has a Pshat in a cryptic Ba'al Haturim. • Three Peshatim on the Pasuk אחרי ה' אלוקיכם תלכו, after Hashem you shall follow. Why does the Torah use an expression that implies the person is far from Hashem?

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת עקב. 

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת עקב. Continuing the topic of Birchas Hamazon.  Discussed: Two approaches, from the Even Haezra and Bais Halevi, in explaining the Torah prohibition of the emotion of jealousy. Understanding why Lol Sachmod is part of the עשרת הדיברות and how it connects with the first of the דיברות (Anochi Hashem). Explaining why Chazal added a fourth Bracha to Benching...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת עקב.  Discussed:  Why is the Mitzvah only to Bless Hashem after eating? It would seem more logical (as the Gemara writes) to make a Bracha before eating. Two Peshatim why the Torah considers the מן to be a "test" for the Bnei Yisrael in the desert.  R' Shamshon Refael Hirsch examines the similar roots of the words לחם (bread) and מלחמה (war), and writes...

Shiur from My Father Rabbi Kohn ZT"L on פרשת ואתחנן‎.Discussed: Why did Moshe Rabeinu have such an overwhelming desire to enter Eretz Yisrael? R' Yechezkal Abramsky found meaning and Chizuk in the Modeh Ani Tefilla, helping him thrive during his bitter exile in Siberia. The Nefesh Hachaim provides the secret to miracles, as illustrated by the story of R' Chanina Ben Dosa and the witch.

The second part of the Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on the topic of Bein Adam L'chaveiro. Discussed: R' Chaim Shmulevitz examines a few Gemaras in which we see that terrible consequences result when people hurt others, even unintentionally! The Margolis Hayom explains why the Gemara praises ר' יהודה בר אלעאי‎, that in his generation six people shared a Tallis. Why is ר' יהודה בר אלעאי‎ prai...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on the topic of Bein Adam L'chaveiro. Related to the Shiur on Devarim. Discussed: A discussion highlighting the difference between punishment for sin and the consequence of sin. Why Chazal praise the generation of ר' יהודה בר אילאי, that six of his Talmidim shared one garment. How do six people share one Tallis? R' Chaim Shmulevitz discusses two prerequisites fo...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת דברים & תשעה באב. Discussed: • Various Medrashim and Peshatim on the Pasuk in Devarim, רב לכם סב את ההר הזה פנו לכם צפנה. • The Kli Yakor writes that this Pasuk has a hidden message for future generations, that Jews in Galus should hide their wealth and success. He rebuked the Jews in his generation who flaunted their wealth because it incited the je...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on תשעה באב, on the topic of the holocaust, Kiddush Hashem, and Jewish martyrdom.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on תשעה באב. Discussed: • The Ran explains what the Gemora means that the Beis Hamikdash was destroyed because they weren’t careful to make a Bracha before learning Torah and how to reconcile this Gemara with the other Gemora that says it was destroyed because of the three cardinal sins. • R’ Elya Lopian explains why only Hashem was able to explain the reason th...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת דברים. This Shiur connects with the Gadol Hashalom series.  Discussed:   Lessons one can learn from Moshe Rabeinu on the proper way to give תוכחה (rebuke).   R' Chaim Shmulevitz on the importance of proper sensitivity to human dignity even for low and deplorable people.   The terrible consequences which come from a lack of Bein Adom L'chaveiro, as illust...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת דברים. 

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn ztl, continuing the topic of משיח.  Discussed:  Where does the Torah allude to the coming of Moshiach?  The Rishonim discuss whether Moshiach will perform miracles and wondrous signs to prove himself. If not, how will we know who is Moshiach? The Rambam in Igeres Hateiman explains the purpose of Techiyas Hameisim, Resurrection of the Dead.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn ztl continuing the topic of משיח.  Discussed:  The Gemara in Sanhedrin discusses the many characteristics of the generation in which Moshiach will arrive.  The type of leaders of the generation preceding Moshiach.  Pshat in the Gemara that Moshiach will come with Hesech Hadas (unexpectedly). 

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn ztl on the topic of משיח. We continue the theme of the last Shiur.   Discussed:  - The Chasam Sofer wonders why the belief in Moshiach is included in the Thirteen Principles of Faith. Why is it elevated to that status more than other fundamentals of Yiddishkeit?   The Maharsha and the Aruch L'ner explain why Moshiach is called בר נפלי, son o...

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn ztl on the topic of משיח - also relates to פרשת וישב.   Discussed:   What is the underlying message of Koheles? Is life meaningless and futile, or everything does have a purpose?   Moshul from the Dubno Maggid, about the person who gives expensive cloth to a tailor to make royal garments.   Rabbi Soloveichik asks, in what meri...