KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Chanuka | Ner Chanuka and the Enumeration of the 613 Mitzvot, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

How did the Geonim justify including the Mitzva of Ner Chanuka in their enumeration of the 613 Mitzvot?

Following the famous homily of R. Samlai (BT Makkot 23b) that Moshe received and conveyed 613 Mitzvot, interest was only sparked in the post-Talmudic era as to the makeup of that list. The earliest proposals, including that of R. Shimon Kaeira (Halakhot Gedolot), included a number of Mitzvot that we commonly view as Rabbinic in provenance, notably (for purposes of our shiur), lighting Ner Chanuka. The inclusion of these Mitzvot in a number of lists from the Geonic era motivated Rambam to define, in no uncertain terms, his approach that only Mitzvot that are explicit in the Torah ought to be reckoned on this list. We explore several formulations that include Ner Chanuka (and, inter alii, Mikra Megilla) and, with the help of several lesser known passages authored by R. Saadia Gaon, come to a new understanding of the source and significance of Ner Chanuka (and Mikra Megilla) within the larger rubric of the Mitzvot.

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Chanuka | Lighting up the Night, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Shiur given at Kehillat Haela, Ramat Beit Shemesh on November 29, 2023

War and Religion #7: Is Revenge a Mitzva? by Rav Moshe Taragin

What form of revenge is valid?

War and Religion #6: Thoughts about Freeing Hostages, by Rav Moshe Taragin

War and Religion #5: Protecting "Innocent" Civilians During War, by Rav Moshe Taragin

On allowing escape routes and preserving human dignity

War and Religion #4: Unifying Three 'Sectors' for War, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Gidon's success and Devorah's frustration

War and Religion #3: Believing that Hashem Directs War, by Rav Moshe Taragin

While also celebrating the heroism of our soldiers.

War and Religion #2: When Evil Cultures Hold Back Humanity, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Looking at Tanakh figures as warriors

War and Religion #1: War and the Cleansing of Cultural Evil, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Vayishlach | An Embrace, A Kiss and Those Mysterious Masoretic Dots, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Yaakov's long-awaited and long-feared reunion with his brother, Esav, proves to be joyous, welcoming and ultimately, Yaakov's trepidation was proved to be baseless. When the two formerly competitive siblings finally see each other after decades of separation, Esav "falls on his neck, kisses him and they weep." The word וישקהו ("he kisses him") is directed by the Masorah to be dotted and every Sefer Torah has a dot over each of those six letters. We explore the phenomenon of "dotted words", surveying the literature and the various explanations for the seemingly random dotted words. We then look at the particular use of the dots in this instance and suggest a far-reaching implication that the dots may carry, one which gives us a fresh and more charitable perspective on Esav's feelings towards his brother during these long years of separation.

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