KMTT - the Torah Podcast

A Tale of Two Adars, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why do we delay celebrating Purim until Adar Sheini?

The Mishna in Megila addresses the circumstance where after fully celebrating Purim, the Beit-Din decided to add another month to the year; although the Tosefta records a dissenting opinion, the Mishna rules (and such is the Halakha) that the Megila must be re-read in the "added" Adar - as well as the special Parashot that are read in Adar (Shekalim, Zakhor etc.). To wit, (virtually) all of the Mitzvot unique to Adar may only be fulfilled in Adar Sheini. We explore the Bavli and Yerushalmi's discussion of the various opinions and the rationale provided for ruling in accord with רשב"ג - that the Megila must be read in the Adar that is proximate to Nisan. We discover a curious explanation in the Yerushalmi, along with an innovative understanding of the impact of "מסמך גאולה לגאולה" - keeping the celebration of the redemption from Haman as close as possible the celebration of the Exodus.

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Ki Tisa | What Was Written On the Second Set of Tablets? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

After Moshe breaks the Luchot - which, until that point, were only referred to as לוחות העדות ("Tablets of Testimony") - Hashem commands him to carve out new ones and Hashem states that He will write on these newly hewn tablets "the words which were on the first tablets which you broke." Later on in the narrative, there is some confusion as to who (or Who) is to write, what is to be written and where it is to be written. We examine all of the possibilities, find a curious and innovative understanding in the commentary of the Netzi"v and then, building on that, propose a novel suggestion as to what was written on the לוחות השניות - and why, only after this point, are they called לוחות הברית - The Tablets of the Covenant.

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Ramban On The Torah | 35 | Ki Tisa, by Rav Eli Weber

How did the number of Bnei Yisrael stay the same in both censuses? What is the meaning of the Egel?

Non-Jewish Fashion and Culture, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Where do you draw the line?

A shiur in practical halakha given at Kehillat Haela, Ramat Beit Shemesh, on Feb 28th, 2024.

What is Tzni'ut? Sichat mussar by Rav Moshe Taragin

(Hint: It's not only for women and not only how you dress)

Is social media killing tzni'ut? Is it diminishing self-esteem?

Israel at War: Tefilla in Challenging Times. Episode 3 in Conversations with Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg and Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein

Day 139 | In this episode, Rabbanit Esti Rosenberg and Dr. Tovah Lichtenstein discuss their deep connection to prayer during this war, Swords of Iron. They share where they have found meaning and inspiration and explore how words of familiar tefillot can take on different significance in the current context and give us strength. We also hear about some less recited passages which can be uplifting sources of support and hope during these challenging times. *This podcast was created thanks to the Arev Fund's generous support.

Tetzaveh | The Strange Placement of the Golden Altar, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why is the מזבח הקטורת commanded separately - and much later - than all of the other כלים of the משכן?

After the detailed prescriptions for the construction of the Mishkan and its appurtenances, the Torah describes a lengthy and step-by-step inauguration ceremony for the Kohanim. Only after that is completed, the Torah identifies, describes and locates the final vessel - the golden altar, exclusively to be used for incense, which is to be placed between the Shulchan and the Menorah inside the Kodesh. We echo the question of numerous commentators - why weren't these prescriptions, including material, dimensions and location presented along with the other 'inner-vessels" at the beginning of the Mishkan-commands? Taking a panoramic look at the entire series of commands relating to the Mishkan, we identify several key phrases that may help us understand not only the "delayed command" but also some of its nuances as well as the commands that follow it in completing the Mitzvot of the construction of the Mishkan.

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Ramban On The Torah | 34 | Tetzaveh, by Rav Eli Weber

What is the meaning of the mishkan? How does God dwell among us? What is the meaning of Mizbeiach Haketoret?

On the Importance of Friendship, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Torah sources supporting the "secular" roles of friendship, as well as the "religious" benefits. Bookended by two mishnayot in Pirkei Avot.

A shiur in practical halakha given at Kehillat Haela, Ramat Beit Shemesh.

Teruma | Just a Vav: Rashi and Textual Criticism, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why is Rashi explaining a "Vav" that isn't there? (Shemot 25:22).

Rashi's comment on Shemot 25:22, explaining the letter "vav" in the word ואת as being superfluous, has raised eyebrows over the centuries...since in our Sifrei Torah, the word is את, without a Vav. We identify other Rishonim who apparently had that reading in their text of the Torah and then review those supercommentaries of Rashi who addressed this unusual note. This leads us to a discussion of the phenomenon of textual variants in Tanakh and the fact that it is not an isolated phenomenon; we see examples of this in the manner in which Biblical texts are quoted in Chazal as well as the well-known story of the three Sifrei Torah found in the Azara, each of which had one unique feature relative to the other two, leading the Chakhamim to favor the two over the one. The unexpected result was that each of these scrolls was ultimately judged to be invalid.

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