Sefer Devarim | Ekev | 5785 | The Ark of War, by Rav Alex Israel

Rashi suggests that there is not one Aron but two - one Ark is in the Mikdash and the second Aron is for the war-front. Why is there a necessity for a special war Aron? What does it contain? What does it symbolize? 

Devarim | Birkat HaMazon: Sources and Development (2), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Following up from our last shiur, we investigate several observations and proposals made by the Rishonim to discover how Birkat haMazon may have evolved over time. One key question that we address is how all 3 ברכות (at least!) are דאורייתא, if, as some Rishonim suggest, they weren't said at all for a significant period.

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Devarim | Birkat HaMazon (1), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

A ubiquitous prayer, one of the few commanded in the Torah, is sourced in this week's parasha. Devarim 8:10 - "When you eat and are satisfied you shall bless Hashem, your God, for the good Land which he has given you." - this is known as Birkat haMazon. In this shiur, we explore the textual sources for the three (or four, or five) Berakhot that are mandated by the Torah as part of Birkat haMazon and examine some core Talmudic passages which interpret these verses, in various fashion, to establish the core of this prayer-sequence. In part 2, we will look at the development of the text of Birkat haMazon.

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Sefer Devarim | Vaetchanan | 5785 | Children, Identity, and Hope, by Rav Alex Israel

What does it mean to care for your parents? Why is it so important? Rav Alex Israel '85 is an author, Tanakh teacher and international lecturer. He is a teacher at Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and at Midreshet Lindenbaum, and records a daily 929 podcast - The Tanakh Podcast. 

Sefer Devarim | Devarim |  5785 | Lessons of Empowerment, by Rav Alex Israel

How are we to view the way that Moshe retells episodes of the past in new ways with fresh details, different from accounts earlier in the Torah?  We shall discover a common message in Moshe's opening stories in Devarim ch.1. Rav Alex Israel '85 is an author, Tanakh teacher and international lecturer. He is a teacher at Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi and at Midreshet Lindenbaum, and records a daily 929 podcast - The Tanakh Podcast. 

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 36 | Matot-Masei, by Rav Eli Weber

What is the meaning of living in Eretz Israel?

Sefer Bamidbar | Matot - Masei | 5785 | War of Midian, War of Vengeance, by Rav Ezra Bick

What is the difference between the vengeance of Israel and the vengeance of God? What does it actually mean to avenge the Midianites? Why did the people go out to do this in the name of Moses?

Eikha Rabbati: Rachel's Tears, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

How are we to understand the Midrash about Rachel's tears saving Am Yisrael? The Midrash Rabba collection on Megilat Eikha includes some of the most moving literature in the canon. A brief introduction to Midrash Agada, followed by a briefer introduction to Midrash Eikha, is followed by a study of a famous proem ("Petichta") involving the unsuccessful intervention by the Avot and Mosheh Rabbenu to defend the people - until Rachel speaks up and tells her story...

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Divrei Hesped for Mori V'Rebbi HaRav Yehuda Amital on his 15th Yahrzeit, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Empowering talmidim; Personalizing religion vs. submitting to religion; Life and religion are Complex; The cry of the baby or the roar of the wicked

For more shiuirim by Rav Taragin on Harav Amital zt"l: https://etzion.org.il/en/search?subjects=6103&contentTypes=&authors=5753&series=&tags=&organizations=&lang=en

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 35 | Pinchas, by Rav Eli Weber

Why do the daughters of Zelophehad say how he died? Why does Moshe appoint Yehoshua in front of all of Israel? Why are the musafim written in the end of our parasha?