KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Pursuing TRUE Wisdom, Wealth, Health and Honor (Avot 4:1), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Most people live lives in pursuit of wisdom and wealth, honor and strength - but do we even know what TRUE wealth, wisdom etc. is?

Learning Pirkei Avot with the commentary of Rav Asher Weiss

Why is the "Spirit of the Law" So Important? (Avot 3:11), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Learning Pirkei Avot with the commentary of Rav Asher Weiss

Strategies to Avoid Sin and Temptation (Avot 3:1), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Learning Pirkei Avot with the commentary of Rav Asher Weiss

Ramban on the Torah | 42 | Emor, by Rav Eli Weber

Should every mitzva be worthy of kiddush Hashem? What is the difference between Shabbat and Yom Tov? What makes a Yom Tov? What is the meaning of Sefirat Haomer?

Hallel on Yom HaAtzmaut, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

What is the significance of reciting Hallel on Yom haAtzmaut?

The often heated discussions about the recitation of Hallel on Yom ha'Atzma'ut are often revealing about deeper divisions in perspective on the modern State of Israel and its religious significance. After an introduction in which several different perspectives are presented, source material arguing in favor of some form of thanksgiving on this day are presented.

(The year that this shiur was originally given (2017) was a year in which Yom HaAtzmaut was celebrated a day early, the opposite of this year (2024); the explanation for the "shifting date" at the beginning of the shiur is still germane.)

Source sheet >>

Preparing for Yom HaAtzmaut 2024, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Balancing Conflicting Emotions; Watching the Deer; The Abnormal "Streets" of Yerushalayim

Ramban on the Torah | 41 | Kedoshim, by Rav Eli Weber

Naval BeReshut HaTorah. Of all the Rambans on the Torah that we have done, the Ramban here is the most famous.

Kedoshim | "The Song of the Covenant" by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why was Parashat Kedoshim uniquely presented "publicly" (בהקהל) and how was that manifested?

The first half of Parashat Kedoshim (Vayikra 19:1-37) was presented, per the opening verse, in a public forum - "מלמד שפרשה זו נאמרה בהקהל", as the Sifra states. The centrality of the content of these verses explains the significance of these passages, yet what are we to make of the "public presentation"? And how are we to account for the oft-repeated refrain of אני השם (אלקיכם) that punctuates this reading? A novel proposal of the method of presentation of these laws and its role in public transmission of the ברית is suggested here along with the role of this covenant in apposition to the engraved ברית of the עשרת הדברים.

Source sheet >>

The Power of Torah Study Under Challenging Circumstances (Avot 2:4), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Sharing Torah of Rav Asher Weiss

Pirkei Avot Perek 2, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Part 1 - Perek 2: Should Torah Study be a Source of Pride?; Too Much Glorification of Talmidei Chachamim?; A Story About Rav Aharon Lichtenstein and "Lev Tov"

Part 2: Perek 2- Hillel's Four Gateways of Humility