KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Tazria Metzora | 5785 | The Concept of Tum'a by Rav Elyakim Krumbein

Why is ritual purity so central in Sefer Vayikra?

Acharei Mot - Kedoshim | Maaseh Eretz Cenaan, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why is the list of forbidden intimate relations introduced with the broad statement prohibiting us from engaging in the ways of the Egyptians and the Canaanites?

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 25 | Acharei Mot - Kedoshim, by Rav Eli Weber

Everyone knows that the Ramban (like all Jews), loves Eretz Yisrael. But why so much. At the end of Acharei Mot the Ramban explains his philosophy. How is sin different in Eretz Israel than outside of it?

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 24 | Metzora, by Rav Eli Weber

What is tzara'at and its connection to Yom HaAtzmaut? What is the meaning of the promised land? How is tzaraat a miracle?

MiTalmidav shel Aharon | Commemorating the 10th Yahrzeit of Harav Aharon zt"l at Yeshiva University, with two of his talmidim, Rabbi Michael Taubes '77 and Rabbi Mordechai Willig. Divrei peticha: Rabbi Neal Turk.

An oved Hashem, of purity of heart.

Yom HaAtzmaut | Psalm 126: BeShuv Hashem et Shivat Tzion, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why are we described as "like dreamers" upon the return to ציון?

Since those miraculous days of 1948, there have been several proposals to amend the National Anthem with the recitation of Psalm 126 - בשוב ה' את שיבת ציון; famously, Menachem Begin read the entire Psalm in the Rose Garden before signing the Camp David Accords in 1979. The sense of seeing ancient prophecies fulfilled in our day and before our eyes is a powerful one, and this psalm uniquely captures that feeling of הגדיל ה' לעשות עמנו. We examine the psalm, first discussing the issue of authorship and period of the composition of Tehillim and then the method used to study Biblical poetry, specifically Tehillim. Barukh Hashem, in our day, we are experiencing the רינה of the harvesters, sadly mixed with the דמעה of the sowers.

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Abarbanel on the Parasha | Shemini | 5785 | Why Couldn't David Build the Mikdash? by Rav Elyakim Krumbein

The haftara for Shemini is particularly dramatic. A glimpse of the commentary of Abarbanel on Neviim Rishonim.

Shemini | The Sound of Silence: Vayidom Aharon, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

How are we to understand Aharon's silence? Aharon's reaction to the death of his sons, Nadav and Avihu, is summarized in two words: וידם אהרן. Translation, meaning and implications of these two words are the fodder for much exegetic and homiletic analysis. A survey of the uses of the word דום and דמם throughout Tanakh allows us a glimpse to a possible holistic meaning that fits Aharon's reaction as well as the sun's stopping for Yehoshua and the קול דממה דקה heard by Eliyahu.

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Pesach | Birkat HaShir (2), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why is "Nishmat Kol Chai" the appropriate hymn with which to finish Leil haSeder?

As we discussed in the previous shiur, the liturgical poem "Nishmat Kol Chai" is quite ancient and predates the era of the פייטנים. It is mentioned by R. Yochanan as the "Birkat haShir" which is to accompany the fourth (or fifth?) cup at the Seder. After reviewing some of the Halakhic considerations regarding its recitation - including a quick survey of the main approaches among the ראשונים regarding what is said over the fourth cup and if there is a fifth cup, we turn to the text itself and analyze it, line by line, seeing its development from a hymn about personal thanksgiving to a national-historic song of praise to an eschatological vision of universal acknowledgement of God's glory. I then suggest why this was an appropriate poem to be added to the Seder and, from there, to be instituted as the culmination of Psukei d'Zimra - what Chazal referred to as "the daily Hallel" (הלל שבכל יום).

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Abarbanel on the Parasha | Tzav | 5785 | Fire on the Mizbe'ach, by Rav Elyakim Krumbein

What does this mean? Join us for this exciting new series in the commentary of the Abarbanel.