Rabbi Joseph Dana hosts classes every day at 6:50 AM at West Deal Shul.

This class covers Berachot 18b, continuing a multi-session discussion about whether the dead are aware of events in this world, a question rooted in the halachic concept of loeg larash — the prohibition against mocking the dead by performing mitzvot in a graveyard. Rabbi Dana walks through three interconnected stories: a man who sleeps in a cemetery on Rosh Hashanah and overhears spirits forecasting agricultural conditions, Ze'iri who retrieves lost money by communicating with his deceased landlady, and Shmuel who visits the spiritual realm to locate orphan funds hidden by his late father. Each story is examined as a potential proof that the dead have knowledge of this world, but the Gemara deflects each proof — suggesting that information may reach the dead through newly deceased souls or through the angel Duma rather than through direct awareness. The class concludes with a sharp dispute between Rashi and Tosfot over one key line, with Rashi reading it as proof the dead know events in this world and Tosfot interpreting it as referring entirely to the next world.

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Rabbi Albert Setton hosts classes every Saturday at 7:00 AM at West Deal Shul.

In this class, Rabbi Albert Setton begins Perek 4 of Pirkei Avot by exploring three celebrated Mishnayot that redefine wisdom, strength, wealth, and honor — all attributed to Ben Zoma — emphasizing that true greatness is measured internally and in relation to oneself, not in comparison to others. He then examines Ben Azzai's teachings on pursuing mitzvot and avoiding sin, highlighting the principle that each mitzvah draws another in its wake, and the importance of never dismissing the value of any person or thing. The class transitions to Rabbi Levitas of Yavneh's call for profound humility, with Rabbi Setton drawing on the Rambam's extensive commentary to distinguish between balanced humility and the more extreme Shefal Ruach, explaining why arrogance is treated as uniquely dangerous among character flaws. A meaningful point is raised about how authentic religious life demands moving beyond self-centered thinking and orienting oneself toward the presence of God rather than personal gain. The class concludes by introducing Rabbi Yochanan Ben Beruka's teaching on Chillul Hashem and a brief look at Mishnah 5's message that Torah learning must ultimately translate into action.

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Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes every day at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul.

This class covers the final sugya of Masechet Pesachim, beginning with the Rabbinic decree that pigul and notar cause tumah to the hands. The Gemara presents two opinions explaining these separate enactments: one to deter dishonest kohanim from intentionally invalidating korbanot and claiming accident, and the other to prevent laziness in consuming korbanot before they become leftover. A dispute is also examined regarding the minimum quantity that triggers this tumah, whether it follows the eating standard of a kazayit or the tumah standard of a kabetza. The class then turns to the final Mishnah, which addresses whether the beracha on the Korban Pesach exempts the Korban Chagigah and vice versa, with Rabbi Ishmael and Rabbi Akiva disagreeing based on whether the pouring and sprinkling of blood are halachically inclusive of one another. The masechet concludes with a related story about the berachot at a pidyon haben, where the ruling is that the father of the son recites both blessings.

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(0:00) Intro: Pigul & Notar overview

(1:22) Why Chachamim enacted tumah

(2:02) Two separate gezeirot explained

(7:01) Kazayit vs. Kabetza dispute

(9:41) Final Mishnah: Korban blessings

(13:01) Rabbi Ishmael vs. Rabbi Akiva

(16:43) Pidyon Haben: who says Shehecheyanu

(19:41) Halachic conclusion & closing

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Mr. Morris Sutton hosts classes featuring a guest speaker at West Deal Shul.

In this Yom Ha'atzmaut address, the speaker reflects on the profound gift that the State of Israel represents for the Jewish people today. Drawing on his own family's story across generations, he contrasts his father's inability to have a bar mitzvah in Israel with his own experience celebrating at the Kotel, highlighting how much has changed in a single generation. A central theme of the talk is dor l'dor — the responsibility of each generation to receive the blessings of the past and faithfully transmit them to the future. The speaker emphasizes that Israel is not merely a political cause or travel destination, but a spiritual and emotional inheritance that demands active commitment, connection, and education of our children and grandchildren. He concludes with a call to turn gratitude into action, urging the community to cherish the miracle of Israel and strengthen their bond with the land.

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(0:00) Opening: Israel's personal meaning

(0:49) A gift prayed for generations

(1:09) Dor l'dor: generational responsibility

(1:44) What do we do with this gift?

(1:54) A gap year and lasting bond

(2:40) Israel's deeper connections

(2:50) Yom Ha'atzmaut and responsibility

(3:22) Passing the love of Israel forward

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Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes every day at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul.

In this class on Parashat Kedoshim, Rabbi Ike Hanon explores the famous verse "Love your fellow like yourself" and Rabbi Akiva's declaration that it is the great rule of the Torah. He examines the story in the Gemara where Hillel tells a prospective convert that the entire Torah is summarized in the principle of not doing to others what you would not want done to yourself. Drawing on the Ibn Ezra, Rabbi Hanon explains that the verse concludes with "Ani Hashem" to remind us that God is the one Father of all humanity, and just as a parent wants his children to get along, God desires that we treat one another with love. He then brings a beautiful idea from the Kedushat Levi, who teaches that every violation of the Torah's 613 commandments is ultimately an act of ingratitude toward God, who created us and gave us the world — and since we hate when others repay our kindness with disregard, we must not do the same to Hashem.

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(0:00) V'ahavta L'reiacha Kamocha

(0:14) Hillel & the Convert Story

(1:03) Ibn Ezra: Ani Hashem Explained

(2:50) Kedushat Levi: Gratitude & Torah

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Rabbi Joseph Dana hosts classes every Friday at 6:45 AM at West Deal Shul.

Rabbi Dana explores the double parasha of Acharei Mot and Kedoshim, focusing on the central mitzvah of Kedoshim Tihiyu — the command to be holy. He contrasts Rashi's view, which ties kedushah to restraint from inappropriate relationships, with the Ramban's broader teaching that one must avoid becoming a Naval Birshu HaTorah — a person who indulges excessively in permitted pleasures, losing sight of a higher spiritual purpose. A key theme is that mitzvot are a means to an end, not a checklist, and that true kedushah requires living a values-driven life rather than merely fulfilling technical obligations. The Chatam Sofer and Shmesh Moel both emphasize that this parasha was deliberately delivered to the entire nation together, teaching that kedushah is achieved within community — not through isolation — and that family life, kindness to others, and interpersonal relationships are themselves expressions of holiness. The class concludes with a Gemara from Ketubot about Rabbi Rehomi, powerfully illustrating that neglecting one's family obligations, even for Torah study, falls short of the holistic vision of Kedoshim Tihiyu.

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(0:00) Intro: Acharei Mot & Kedoshim

(0:44) Kedoshim Tihiyu: Be Holy

(1:23) Rashi: Kedushah Through Restraint

(4:44) Ramban: Naval Birshu HaTorah

(8:43) Mitzvot as Means, Not End

(10:20) Kashrut & Indulgence in Excess

(15:08) Kedushah Within Community

(16:00) Chovot HaLevavot: Don't Isolate

(18:56) Shmesh Moel: Kedushah in the Klal

(21:12) Kotzker Rebbe: Anshei Kodesh

(22:48) Gemara Ketubot: Rabbi Rehomi

(25:11) Treating Family as Kedushah

(26:44) Summary & Shabbat Shalom

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Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes every day at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul.

This class covers Pesahim 120a-120b, beginning with the Mishnah's discussion of falling asleep during the Seder and its effect on eating the Korban Pesach. Rabbi Yosef's distinction between dozing and fully sleeping is explored, with a famous story of Abaye waking Rabah mid-Seder used to illustrate the halacha and its application to the Afikoman today. The class then examines why the Korban Pesach after midnight causes Tumat Yadayim, rooted in a Rabbinic penalty related to pigul and notar. A major dispute between Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah and Rabbi Akiva is analyzed regarding whether the deadline for eating the Korban Pesach is midnight or dawn, with supporting biblical proofs from each side. The class concludes with Rava's ruling that the Afikoman follows the same deadline as the Korban Pesach, and the Shulchan Aruch's practical guidance to finish the Afikoman by halachic midnight.

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Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes every day at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul.

The class covers Pesachim 120a, focusing on whether one may eat after the afikoman matzah, just as the Korban Pesach was required to be the last thing eaten at the Seder. The Gemara examines two opposing traditions in the name of Shmuel and attempts to bring proofs from the mishnah and from the laws of snack matzot, ultimately rejecting both proofs via the lami bayah device. The class also explores the concept of achila gasa and its halachic implications for fulfilling the mitzvah of matzah. A significant discussion follows regarding Rava's ruling that matzah nowadays retains its d'orayta status while maror is only rabbinic, contrasted with Rav Acha bar Yaakov's view that both are rabbinic, with a Berayta ultimately supporting Rava. The class closes with an explanation of why eating matzah during the remaining days of Pesach is optional, while the first night remains an absolute Torah obligation.

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Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes Monday through Friday at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul.

This class covers the Mishnah at the end of Maseches Pesachim — En Maftirin Achar HaPesach Afikoman — which famously appears in the Haggadah as the teaching given to the Chacham. The Gemara debates what 'afikoman' means: Rav understands it as a prohibition against leaving one's chabura to eat elsewhere after the Korban Pesach, while Shmuel and Rabbi Yochanan understand it as a prohibition against eating dessert after the Korban Pesach. The Gemara then addresses how this halacha applies today without a Beit HaMikdash, concluding that just as dessert is forbidden after the Korban Pesach (whose taste is strong and lasting), it is certainly forbidden after the afikoman matzah — which is the origin of our modern seder practice of eating the afikoman as the final food of the night. A supporting Mishnah about flavored snack matzot reinforces Shmuel's position, showing that indulgent eating must precede the final matzah, not follow it.

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(0:00) Intro: Mishnah En Maftirin

(0:29) Afikoman in the Haggadah

(0:55) Rav: Don't Switch Chaburot

(1:57) Rashbam on Rav's Opinion

(2:59) Shmuel: No Dessert After Pesach

(4:16) Origins of Modern Afikoman

(6:03) R' Yochanan: Dates & Nuts

(6:49) Beraita Supports R' Yochanan

(7:33) Rav vs. Shmuel: Do They Agree?

(9:18) Halakha Today: No Post-Matzah Dessert

(10:21) Gemara's Question: Why Matzah?

(11:50) Answer: Kal Vachomer from Pesach

(13:28) Proof from Snack Matzot Mishnah

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Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes Monday through Friday at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul.

On Yom Ha'atzmaut, Rabbi Ike Hanon delivers a special Torah thought celebrating the miraculous nature of the modern State of Israel, noting that Israel's thousands of airstrikes against Iran represent wonders no less significant than the miracles of the Tanakh. He presents an insight from the Maharal of Prague on the Hebrew words Galut and Geulah, showing how the two words share most of the same letters but differ in one key letter — the Heh of exile versus the Aleph of redemption. The Heh, representing the number five, symbolizes a center point scattered to four corners, capturing the reality of Jewish dispersion throughout history, while the Aleph, representing unity and oneness, symbolizes the Jewish people gathered together in Eretz Yisrael under Mashiach. Rabbi Hanon emphasizes that even within Galut the center point remains, meaning the Jewish people were always tied to Eretz Yisrael and could always return. He concludes by noting that our generation is uniquely privileged to witness the ingathering of exiles, the flourishing of Torah in Israel, and the fulfillment of prophetic promises, all signs that we are living through the early stages of the ultimate Geulah.

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