Purim | An Halakhic Overview by Rav Dovid Gottlieb, shiur given to the weekly women's group in Kehilat Ha'Ela

Zakhor | What are We Supposed to Remember, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

The commandment to "remember that which Amalek did to you" is the focal point of the reading of "Parashat Zakhor" (Deut. 25:17-19) which is read on the Shabbat before Purim. The oddity of reading a passage which tells you that you must remember it - as opposed to reading the actual story of their attack (Ex. 17:8-16) is odd; odder yet is the self-defeating command to "wipe out the memory of Amalek" while concomitantly "Remember...do not forget". How can we wipe out a memory and then make sure to remember it? We explore what it is we are commanded to remember by using the Mitzvah of Retelling the story of Exodus, which seems to be the paradigm for the celebration of Purim. Along the way, several surprising observations help solve our puzzle.

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Kibud Av V'Eim and Personal Autonomy: When Parents and Children Disagree About Important Life Decisions, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb, given to the weekly women's group in Kehilat Ha'Ela

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei with Rav Dovid Gottlieb

#1 - Classical Commentators - The Torah's Approach to Beauty #2 - Modern Commentators - "Seeing" Our Life Mission - An Amazing Insight from R. Moshe Feinstein #3 - Midrash - Betzalel's Wisdom - Practical and Principled #4 - Sparks of Mussar - Do We Really Miss the Mikdash? #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Shabbos Invitations for non-Religious Guests #6 - Can There Be "Too Much of a Good Thing" in Avodas Hashem? A Remarkable Teaching from the Sefas Emes #7 - Contemporary Commentators - Why Did they Suspect Moshe of Stealing? A Powerful Insight from the Oznayim L'Torah

Pekudei | These are the Names - Siyyum on Sefer Shemot, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

The conventions we use for naming the books of Humash - as well as the weekly readings - have little or nothing to do with the overall theme of the book (or "Parasha"); they are simply the first significant word in that text. Hazal had other names for the Humashim - e.g. תורת כהנים and משנה תורה. Nonetheless, we may be able to find a subcurrent of the theme of "the names of Bnei Yisrael" that ties together the opening passage with the concluding section and informs the overall theme of חומש שמות. This understanding may also grant additional meaning to the conventional cheer we give when concluding a חומש, taken from יואב's words - חזק ונתחזק!

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Vayakhel | A Defiant Act of Contrition, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

The unusually lengthy description of the construction of the Mishkan, which occupies the last 6 chapters of Shemot, has been the subject of inquiry for millenia. By looking at the intensity and zealousness with which Am Yisrael responded to Mosheh's directive to donate and labor for this magnificent Divine abode, we take a view from a different perspective at the seemingly redundant details of the structure and appurtenances of the Mishkan, against the larger threat of God's withholding His immanent presence from among the people; highlighting Moshe Rabbenu's initiative in repairing the relationship between his flock and his Master.

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Kibud Av V'em: What, Why, and How, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb, given to the weekly women's group in Kehilat Ha'Ela

Ki Tisa | The Luchot of...Testimony? Covenant? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

The most vital component of the Mishkan is, without a doubt, the Aron - and the Aron's sanctity is underscored by the placement of the לוחות inside - but what are these לוחות? What is written on them? A careful read of the various passages concerning the לוחות - both the originals and the second set - reveal that much more than we typically assume was written there. In the shiur, we also discuss why the לוחות are called לוחות העדות - the "Tablets of Testimony" in ספר שמות, yet in ספר דברים they are called לוחות הברית - the "Tablets of the Covenant."

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Parshat Ki Tisa with Rav Dovid Gottlieb

#1 - Classical Commentators - "The Sin of the Golden Calf" - How Could They Do It? #2 - Contemporary Commentators - Appreciating the Gift of Shabbos

#3 - Midrash - "Moshe's Face Radiated" - What Was the Source of HIs Light? #4 - Sparks of Chassidus & Mussar - The Essence of Teaching and the Key to Leading: Remarkable Insights from R. Gifter and the Sefas Emes #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Waiting in Between Meat and Milk

Tetzaveh | B'nei Yisrael's Presence in the Mishkan, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

The first two pesukim in Parashat Tetzaveh - the last two in chapter 27 of Shemot - seem to be out of place and are repeated, nearly verbatim, in Vayikra 24. A reexamination of what is stated and what is NOT stated in this passage sheds light on the symbolism of the contribution of Bnei Yisrael to the light and the association with Maamad Har Sinai.

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