Parshat Bereishit with Rav Dovid Gottlieb

#1 - Classical Meforshim - A Talking Snake? #2 - Contemporary Meforshim - A World Without Truth? R. Schwab's Fascinating Explanation of an Enigmatic Midrash #3 - Midrash - Is This World the ONLY World that Hashem Created? #4 - Sparks of Chassidus - Partnering With Hashem in Our Self-Creation #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - Is Saying Va'yechulu Really a Form of Testimony?

Parshat VeZot HaBerakha with Rav Dovid Gottlieb

#1 - Classical Commentators - Why Does Moshe Bless Reuven - of all Shevatim - With Life? #2 - Modern Commentators - Torah and the Essence of the Jewish Soul: Rav Schwab's Remarkable Insight #3 - Midrash - The Incredible Backstory of Yehuda's Blessing #4 - Spark of Mussar - Appreciating Eretz Yisrael - Important Mussar from Rav Yerucham #5 - Halacha from the Parsha - "B'rov Am Hadras Melech" - Coming Together to Enhance Kavod Shamayim

The Magic and Mystique of Torah Study at Night, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Special shiur as part of Yeshivat Har Etzion Hoshana Rabbah learning program 5781.

Source sheet available here.

Eating in the Sukkah: Analyzing the Dispute Between R. Eliezer and Hakhamim (Sukkah 2:6)

The Mishnah (Sukkah 2:6) records a dispute between R. Eliezer and the Hakhamim as to whether there is a minimum amount of meals that must be eaten in the Sukkah during the week of Sukkot; both positions are difficult on a number of counts and the expected resolution - in favor of Hakhamim's "no set amount" ruling seems inevitable; yet both their final ruling as well as the eventual history of the practice in Eretz Yisrael is not nearly as clear as it seems.

Sourcesheet is available here.

The Multi-Faceted Sukkah, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

We are commanded regarding the holiday of Sukkot in five different places in Chumash, but only one of them spells out the mitzva of dwelling in the Sukkah and the reason - "That your generations may remember that I caused you to dwell in Sukkot as I took you out of Egypt". What event is this commemorating? Why do we celebrate this Exodus-recreation in the fall? Why a Sukkah? We survey answers from Chaza"l and the Rishonim and find a surprising range of approaches.

(This shiur was given in memory of our dear friend, Judd Magilnick z"l, who passed away suddenly just before Yom Kippur. We'll miss you, Judd, every Wednesday and every day.)

Sourcesheet is available here.

The Symbolism of the 4 Minim (4/4) : The Spine, by Rav Moshe Taragin

The Symbolism of the 4 Minim (3/4) : An "Arava" Prayer, by Rav Moshe Taragin

The Symbolism of the 4 Minim (2/4) : The Hadasim Prophecies, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Each of the 4 Represent a Different Facet of HKB"H. Which does Hadasim Reflect?

The Symbolism of the 4 Minim (1/4) : Return to Gan Eden, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Moadim le-simcha.

"Divine and Human Sukkot - The Relationship Between Mikdash and Sukka," special shiur given by Rosh HaYeshiva Harav Mosheh Lichtenstein by zoom to a Lunch and Learn American (plus Israeli) audience, Tuesday, September 29th, 2020. Followed by a short Q+A session with the Rosh Yeshiva.