West Deal Torah Center

You can experience Rabbi Joseph Dana in-person every morning at 6:50 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. This class explores the Talmudic principle that a groom (chatan) is exempt from reciting Shema on his wedding night, particularly when marrying a virgin (betula) versus a widow (almana). The discussion analyzes the tension between being engaged in one mitzvah exempting from another ver...

You can experience Rabbi Ike Hanon in-person every morning at 6:10 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Hanon explores the fundamental dispute between Rashi and the Rambam regarding how many matzot are needed at the Seder. The debate centers on interpreting lechem oni (poor man's bread) - whether breaking a matzah means adding to the standard two loaves (Rashi's view, giving...

You can experience Rabbi Ike Hanon in-person every day at 6:10 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. The Gemara continues with practical life advice from a father to his son, covering urban living, career choices, and business practices. Key teachings include avoiding cities without natural alarm systems (dogs/horses), taking any honest work without false pride, and always carrying provisio...

You can experience Rabbi Albert Setton in-person every Shabbat at 7:00 AM minyan at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Setton explores the contradictory meanings of matzah in the Haggadah - first as "bread of affliction" (lechem oni) and later as bread of freedom according to Rabban Gamliel. He proposes that this represents a deliberate transformation theme: the same symbol tha...

A special guest lecture by Rabbi Moshe Malka at Congregation Magen David of West Deal at the home of Terri & Richard Ashear. Rabbi Malka teaches about the month of Nisan as a time for miracles and renewal. The central theme is becoming 'chadash' (new) by operating as a 'melech' (king) rather than an 'eved' (slave) to our impulses, especially anger. He illustrates through stories like David's w...

You can experience Rabbi Moshe Tobal in-person every day at 6:30 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Tobal addresses the fundamental paradox of Pesach: we celebrate freedom while simultaneously following strict commandments and mitzvot. He explores the seeming contradiction between Zman Cheiruteinu (the season of our freedom) and the numerous obligations we observe. Through analysis...

You can experience Rabbi Albert Setton in-person every Shabbat at 7:00 AM minyan at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Setton explores Mizmor 136 (Hodu L'Adonai Ki Tov) and its placement in the Haggadah's Halel Hagadol. The psalm's 26 verses (gematria of Hashem's name) follow a careful structure: 4 opening verses, then units of 5 (creation), 6 (Exodus), and 7 (conquering...

You can experience Rabbi Ike Hanon in-person every morning at 6:10 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. This class covers Pesachim 112b-113a, examining Rava's advice about cats and snake bones, followed by Rabbi Yishmael's three pieces of wisdom (MaKaSh acronym): avoiding fights with three people, not window shopping without money, and waiting after mikveh. The Gemara explains how...

You can experience Rabbi Joseph Dana in-person every morning at 6:50 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Dana explores the deeper meaning of korbanot (sacrifices) in Parashat Vayikra, focusing on the concept that spiritual inspiration must be channeled into concrete action. Using the Zohar's interpretation of the asham gezelot (theft offering), he explains how finding one's...

You can experience Rabbi Moshe Tobal in-person every morning at 6:30 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Tobal explores the opening of Vayikra where Hashem calls to Moshe before he enters the Mishkan. Despite having permission to enter the Kodesh Kodoshim daily (unlike Aaron who could only enter on Yom Kippur), Moshe waited to be called, teaching us proper etiquette and respect. The...

You can experience Rabbi Ike Hanon in-person every day at 6:10 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Hanon explores the deeper meaning behind Korbanot (sacrifices) in Parshat Vayikra, focusing on the ritual of Semicha - placing hands on the animal's head. Drawing from the Ralbag's commentary, he explains that this physical act creates a psychological transfer of sin from perso...

You can experience Rabbi David Semah in-person every day at 6:45 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Semah explores Parshat Vayikra's bird sacrifices, explaining why Jerusalem was called the happiest place on earth due to the ability to remove sin through the Beit HaMikdash. He analyzes why God specifically requires mature turtle doves and baby doves for offerings, citing the Ra...

You can experience Rabbi Ike Hanon in-person every day at 6:10 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Hanon explores the opening verse of Vayikra, where Hashem calls to Moshe from the Ohel Moed. He examines Rashi's commentary that while Hashem's voice was powerfully loud, only Moshe could hear it and it didn't extend beyond the tent. The key insight from Rav Shmuel Barenbau...

You can experience Rabbi Joseph Dana in-person every day at 6:50 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. This shiur explores Gemara Berakhot 16a-16b regarding prayer obligations for workers. The discussion centers on conflicting baraitot about whether workers say the full Amidah or the abbreviated Havinenu prayer. Rav Sheshet resolves this by distinguishing between workers paid wages (who say...

You can experience Rabbi Albert Setton in-person every Shabbat at 7:00 AM minyan at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Setton explores three models of the divine-human relationship: master-slave, parent-child, and partnership. Using Ezekiel 16's metaphor of God as a rescuer who finds an abandoned baby and raises her to be his bride, he argues that while the Exodus began as a master-s...

You can experience Rabbi Ike Hanon in-person every day at 6:10 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Ike continues analyzing Pesachim 112b, covering Rabbi Akiva's five pieces of advice to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, including guidance on halachic rulings and marriage. The class then explores Rabbeinu HaKadosh's four commands to his children, including warnings about living in cer...

You can experience Rabbi Joseph Dana in-person every morning at 6:50 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Dana analyzes Berachot 16a, focusing on the laws governing when workers can pray versus say Shema while working at height. The class explores a key contradiction: if workers need kavana (concentration) for Shema based on the pasuk 'hasketu v'shema Yisrael,' how can th...

You can experience Rabbi Ike Hanon in-person every morning Monday through Friday at 6:10 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Hanon explores the debate over how many matzot are required at the Passover seder. He explains three interpretations of lechem oni (poor man's bread): simple ingredients, broken bread representing poverty, and bread over which we speak extensively. The cor...

You can experience Rabbi Ike Hanon in-person every morning at 6:10 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Hanon explores Gemara Pesachim 112a-112b, focusing on the obligation for even the poorest to drink four cups of wine on Pesach. The discussion centers on Rabbi Akiva's philosophy of self-reliance versus accepting charity, particularly for mitzvot involving publicizing miracles...

You can experience Rabbi Albert Setton in-person every Shabbat at 7:00 AM minyan at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Setton explores the Torah's emphasis on remembering (lizkor) rather than studying history regarding Yetziat Mitzrayim. He addresses the apparent contradiction of thanking God for freeing us from slavery when God put us there initially, explaining that the slavery exp...

Learn with Rabbi Joseph Dana in-person every day at 6:50 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. This Gemara class on Berachot 15b-16a explores the purifying power of Torah learning, comparing it to a mikveh's ability to make someone spiritually pure. The discussion covers practical halachot for workers who must read Shema while working in trees or on walls, distinguishing between Shema (...

Learn with Rabbi Moses Hidary in-person Monday nights at 8:00 PM and every weekday morning Monday through Friday starting at 6:45 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Hidary introduces a three-part Pesach series, focusing tonight on the fundamental purpose of the holiday. Drawing from the Ramban's famous piece in Parashat Bo, he explains that Yetziat Mitzrayim was designed to neg...

You can experience Rabbi Joseph Dana in-person every day at 6:50 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Dana analyzes Berachot 15b focusing on what must be included when writing mezuzah and tefillin scrolls. The Gemara discusses the word "uchtatvam" (and you shall write them) to teach that even commandments and instructions from the Shema must be included in the physical scro...

You can experience Rabbi Albert Setton in-person every Shabbat and leads the 7:00 AM minyan at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Setton explores the deeper meaning of freedom in the Passover Haggadah, distinguishing between political liberty and spiritual freedom. He explains that the Torah doesn't use the word 'harut' (freedom) for the Exodus, instead describing a transfer...

You can experience Rabbi Ike Hanon in-person every day at 6:15 AM at Congregation Magen David of West Deal. Rabbi Hanon explains the structure of the Magid section of the Passover Haggadah, revealing that it contains four complete mini-Haggadahs, each following the same format: questions, answers, and praise to Hashem. He demonstrates how each section addresses different learning styles - storytel...