KMTT - the Torah Podcast

Mishpatim | "That everyone should set free their slaves", by Rav Eli Weber

Yirmiyahu 34:8 - 34:22

To be an eved only of Hashem.

Mishpatim | The Beloved Wife of the "Nirtza", by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Parashat Mishpatim opens up with legislation regarding the "Hebrew slave", who is really more of an indentured servant. In this passage, the master may "assign" a woman to the servant, but when his six-year term of servitude is complete, he leaves her when he goes free. If he chooses to stay due to his love for his master - and his wife and their children - he may refuse to leave, have his ear publicly pierced and remain a slave "forever". The Halakha understands that "forever" means until the Yovel - but where does that leave the wife and children that the slave loves so dearly? Inspired by Rashbam's broad approach to exegesis, we examine all three passages about the עבד עברי - here, in ויקרא and in דברים - and identify the distinct circumstances that inform them and propose a distinction between the passage in our Parasha and that in דברים to help resolve some of the difficulties in these פרשיות.

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Yitro | Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh, by Rav Eli Weber

Yeshayahu 6:1 - 7:6

Is God immanent or transcendental?

Yitro | Reliving Sinai, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

In his farewell speech, Moshe continually refers to the day of Matan Torah as יום הקהל, and even recalls Hashem's command הקהל לי את העם - to gather all of the people. This historic experience and the obligation to always remember it and to transmit it to the next generation seems to be the impetus for the Mitzva of Hakhel - to gather everyone for a public reading of the Torah "that they will learn to fear Hashem..." (Devarim 31). But this practice, although modestly revived about 140 years ago, was not activated for hundreds of years - yet, it seems that there was a more local and regular practice which was, at least partially, formulated in order to maintain the memory of the Stand at Sinai. We explore the Eretz Yisrael tradition of completing the Torah over 3 and a half years - or twice in a seven-year span, and explore its relationship to Hakhel and, ultimately, to a weekly (at least) reexperiencing of Sinai.

Beshalach | And Devorah sang, by Rav Eli Weber

Shoftim 4:4 - 5:31. Why did Yael kill Sisera?

Beshalach | Miriam's Role in the Song at the Sea, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

The introductory line to the Song at the Sea (Shemot 15:1) is enigmatic on several counts. First of all, why is Moshe listed separately - and the verb ישיר is in the singular - if all of the people sang? Furthermore, how would they all know what to say/sing? We review the various Tannaitic opinions addressing these questions and Moshe's role in the paean. Furthermore, we explore the purpose and added praise which Miriam's actions brought about - if the women had already "sung" with all of Bnei Yisrael, what did they accomplish by singing again by themselves?

Bo | But fear not thou O my servant Yaakov, by Rav Eli Weber

Yirmiyahu 46:13 - 46:28.

Gratitude in the face of tragedy.

Va'era | And all the inhabitants of Miżrayim shall know that I am God, by Rav Eli Weber

Yechezkel 28:25 - 29:21

Why do we need 10 makkot?

Vaera | The Makkot Curriculum, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

A paideia for Pharaoh. How many Makkot were there?

We inevitably approach our study of Parashat Va'era with an assumption of 10 Makkot (plagues) with which Hashem smote and 'judged" the Egyptians. However, that number does not appear in the Torah's record of the events and other presentations of the Exodus story in Tanakh highlight only some of these plagues, ending up with a smaller number - and the Midrash famously expands this number by a factor of up to 50, seeing 5 sub-plagues within each one. We look back at the structure of the plagues, following Hashem's directives to Moshe regarding warning - or not warning - Pharaoh before each one and discern a clear pattern which opens up an additional perspective on the purpose of these plagues and their role as didactic, beyond the punitive.

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Shemot | And In that Day a Great Shofar Shall be Sounded, by Rav Eli Weber

Yeshayahu 27:6-28:13. On geula and materialism.