KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Pesach | The Four Sons Revisited, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

One of the most beloved and well-known passages in the Haggadah is the Midrash of the "Four Sons". We take a look at that Midrash "top-down," by first examining the context and text of the passages in the Torah and then suggesting what motivated the composer of the Midrash to create the four sons. We explore the variant versions of the Midrash, leading up to the popular version found in our Hagadah - and discover lots of surprises along the way.

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Special | Two Types of Chinuch, shiur given by Rav Mordechai Willig to the Overseas Students, followed by a short Q+A session.

Parashat Tazria Metzora with Rav Dovid Gottlieb

#1 - Classical Commentators - Was Tzara'as a Physical or Spiritual Ailment? A Surprising Debate in the Rishonim #2 - Contemporary Commentators - Defining Greatness: How We Respond to Failure #3 - Midrash - Who Wants Life? Appreciating The Power of Speech #4 - Sparks of Musar - The Gift of Giving - A Remarkable Insight from R. Chaim Shmuelevitz #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Is It Assur to Speak Lashon Hara?

Pesach | An Overview of the Halakhot of the Seder, part 1 of 3, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb, shiur given to the weekly women's group in Kehilat Ha'Ela

Hasmadah, Anavah and Ahavah: A Tribute to Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt"l, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Reflections on various aspects of Torah - most notably hasmadah - in a shiur to 1st year students

How Many Questions? Re-examining the Mah Nishtnah, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

One of the most well-known and beloved passages in the Hagadah is the "Four Questions" - which are introduced with the line מה נשתנה הלילה הזה מכל הלילות. But are there really four questions here? Examining the sources, including variant versions of the Mishnah and a careful reading of that source, suggests that perhaps there are fewer questions here - perhaps 3, perhaps 1 - and perhaps none at all!

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Parashat Shemini with Rav Dovid Gottlieb

#1 - Classical Commentators - Why Keep Kosher? 3 Approaches #2 - Contemporary Commentators - Moshe Forgot Something - Cause for Embarrassment? #3 - Midrash - What Was So Bad About What Nadav V'avihu Did? #4 - Sparks of Chassidus - Appreciating Aharon's Apprehension: A Beautiful Insight from the Sefas Emes #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Must One Drink Chalav Yisroel?

We gathered today to join Am Yisrael in mourning the loss of HaRav Chaim Kanievsky ztl. Hesped by Rav Moshe Taragin.

Parashat Tzav with Rav Dovid Gottlieb

#1 - Classical Commentators - "Tzav es Aharon" - Appreciating the Moment #2 - Modern Commentators - Korban Todah: Acknowledging the Crisis & the Salvation #3 - Midrash - How Can We Make Up for What We Are Missing Without Korbanos? #4 - Sparks of Musar - Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing #5 - Halacha - Special for Pesach - Shabbos Erev Pesach - How, What and When to Eat the Shabbos Meals

Haman: From Mikra to Midrash, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

From the time that we meet Amalek at Refidim to the Midrashic development of Amalek's most infamous scion, Haman, there are (at least) two chasms to bridge - from the genealogical Amalek to the Persian/Medean Haman and from Haman of Esther to the Haman of the Midrashim. We explore the textual basis for both of these spans and demonstrate how the Midrashim breathe life into the personae of Tanakh and reveal their contemporary relevance in every generation.

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