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

The class begins on Pesachim 118b by completing the discussion of Hallel, exploring midrashic interpretations of several pesukim in Tehillim. Resh Lakish explains that the tzaddikim lament being forced to hide like weasels due to the sins of the Jewish people in galut, while Ravah teaches that Israel's love of Hashem is expressed through tefillah, and that even without merits we belong to Hashem and can call upon Him to save us. The Gemara then presents a vivid eschatological scenario in which Egypt, Kush, and Rome all attempt to bring tribute to Melech HaMashiach — Egypt is accepted because they hosted the Jewish people, Kush is accepted through a kal v'chomer argument, but Rome is firmly rejected and rebuked. Three different interpretations of the word kaneh are offered — acquisition, reeds, and pen — all used to condemn Rome's unified and relentless persecution of the Jewish people. The class closes with a reflection on why the Gemara's hostility toward Rome remains deeply relevant, as the galut of Rome has never truly ended and no redemption arc has yet been completed.

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Rabbi Joseph Dana hosts classes Monday through Friday at 6:50 AM at West Deal Shul.

The class opens on Berachot 17a by completing a discussion of the pasuk in Yeshayah identifying the 'avdei lev,' the strong-hearted people far from righteousness, concluding with Rav Ashi's criticism of the gentiles of Mata Mehessia who witnessed Torah glory twice yearly and never converted. The bulk of the class addresses the Mishnaic dispute between the Chachamim and Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel regarding whether a chatan may recite Kriat Shema on his wedding night, and a seeming contradiction with their respective positions on refraining from work on Tisha B'Av. Two Talmudic resolutions are presented: Rabbi Yochanan's approach of flipping the attributed opinions, and Rav Shisha's approach which redefines 'yuhara' differently for each opinion — the Chachamim viewing it as an internal self-elevation above others, while Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel views it as external perception by others. The class concludes with the practical halachic dispute among the Rishonim, noting that the Rif and Rambam permit the chatan to recite Shema while Tosafot, Rav Hananel, and the Rosh forbid it, and Tosafot's important ruling that in our times — since we never have proper kavana — the chatan should always recite Shema.

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(0:00) Intro: Pasuk from Yeshayah

(1:05) Who Are the Avdei Lev?

(2:35) Rav Ashi: Mata Mehessia's Goyim

(4:47) Tosafot: Why No Shavuot?

(7:12) Recap: Chatan and Kriat Shema

(9:57) Defining Yuhara

(10:51) Contradiction: Tisha B'Av vs. Shema

(15:33) Answer 1: Flip the Names

(19:25) Answer 2: Rav Shisha's Resolution

(24:01) Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel Defined

(29:56) Rif & Rambam vs. Tosafot

(32:46) Tosafot: No Kavana Nowadays

(35:42) Practical Conclusion: Chatan & Shema

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

The class covers Pesachim 118a-118b, exploring why we recite the standard Hallel when the Hallel HaGadol appears to be a greater praise. The Gemara answers that our Hallel contains five critical themes: Yetziat Mitzrayim, Kriyat Yam Suf, Matan Torah, Tehiyat HaMeitim, and Chevlei HaMashiach, each sourced from specific pesukim. Additional reasons are given for our Hallel's greatness, including references to the rescue of tzaddikim from Gehinnom and the miraculous salvation of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from Nebuchadnezzar's furnace, which is connected back to Gabriel's earlier desire to save Avraham Avinu. The class then delves into a rich Midrash about the angel of the sea, who complained when Hashem commanded the sea to spit out the Egyptians' bodies, and was promised repayment through the soldiers of Sisera being swept into the sea via Nachal Kishon. Rabbi Hanon also draws a contemporary connection, noting that the preconditions for Gog U'Magog and the arrival of Mashiach require a Jewish presence in Israel, making the establishment of the State of Israel a significant milestone in the messianic process.

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Mr. Sammy Saka hosts classes on Zoom Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30PM. Contact Jacob Betesh to be added to the chat.

In this class on Mishna 1:7, Mr. Sammy Saka explores Nitai HaArbeli's three teachings: distance yourself from a bad neighbor, do not associate with a wicked person, and do not despair of retribution. He contextualizes these lessons as a natural extension of Mishna 1:6, where Yeshua Ben Perachya taught us to seek good rabbis and friends — Nitai now warns us about the negative influences we must avoid. Drawing on Chacham Ovadya, Irving Bunim, and Rabbi Asher Weiss, Mr. Saka adapts these ancient warnings to modern community life, noting that while we are blessed to live in a strong Torah community, we must still be mindful of the friends, business partners, and influences we and our children surround ourselves with. He concludes with an uplifting leadership lesson: rather than focusing on avoiding the wicked, we should actively seek out and learn from positive role models who embody good character, kindness, and integrity.

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(0:00) Introduction & appreciation

(1:14) Mishna 1:7 overview

(2:33) Nitai HaArbeli's three teachings

(3:59) Connection to Mishna 1:6

(5:36) Raymond Bader & "run from falsehood"

(8:45) Shachen Ra: the bad neighbor

(9:04) Chacham Ovadya on bad influences

(10:55) Defining Rasha: wicked vs. evil

(14:55) Chacham Ovadya's story of the widow

(16:33) Parallel Mishna: bad eye, friend, neighbor

(18:34) Positive role models as leadership lesson

(19:01) West Deal Shul & community atmosphere

(21:21) Do not despair of retribution

(22:51) Practical conclusions & closing

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

The class opens on Pesachim 118 by identifying two opinions on what Birkat HaShir means — the standard blessing ending Hallel or the addition of Nishmat Kol Chai — and then examines a Berayta requiring the recitation of Hallel HaGadol after the fourth cup. The Gemara explores where Hallel HaGadol begins, with three Tanna'im debating whether to start at Psalm 136, 135, or 134, and explains why the Mizmor is called Hallel HaGadol — because it praises Hashem for sustaining all creatures despite His transcendence. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi connects the 26 repetitions of Ki L'Olam Chasdo to the 26 generations before the Torah was given, during which Hashem sustained the world purely through chesed. The class then delivers a series of powerful mussar teachings: parnasa is harder than childbirth and harder than redemption, Adam's emotional reaction to his punishment reveals a lesson in finding the good in hardship, and constipation is compared in difficulty to death and the splitting of the sea. The sugya closes with teachings attributed to Reish Lakish warning that disgracing Chol HaMoed is equivalent to idol worship, and that speaking, accepting, or bearing false lashon hara makes one deserving of being thrown to the dogs.

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A shiur from our beloved founding Rabbi of West Deal Shul, Rabbi Ezra Labaton A"H.

In this class, Rabbi Ezra Labaton begins by situating the listener at one of the most emotionally charged moments on the Jewish calendar — the passage from Yom HaShoah to Yom Ha'Atzmaut — exploring what it means for a Jew to hold both tragedy and celebration at once. He surveys the rich She'elot U'Teshuvot literature that emerged from the ghettos and concentration camps, illustrating how Halacha remained an all-embracing system even in the most extreme conditions of the Holocaust. Rabbi Labaton then introduces the central framework of the shiur: four literary genres — Biblical, Talmudic, Maimonidean, and modern Zionist thought as represented by Rav Soloveitchik's Kol Dodi Dofek — through which the concept of Geulah must be understood. He raises the provocative question of whether the modern State of Israel can truly be called Reishit Tzemichat Geulatenu, the beginning of our redemption, and what is at stake spiritually if we affirm or deny that claim. The class closes its opening section by grounding the entire discussion of redemption in the concept of Tikkun Olam as expressed in the Aleinu prayer, framing Geulah as humanity's ongoing effort to return to the harmony of Gan Eden.

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Rabbi Moses Hidary hosts classes every Monday at 7:30 PM at West Deal Shul.

In this class, Rabbi Moses Hidary begins the fourth and longest chapter of Shaar HaBitachon, focusing on how hishtadlut (human effort) intersects with bitachon (trust in God). He walks through the Chovot HaLevavot's detailed breakdown of human activities into two main categories: things that pertain to this world and things that pertain to the next world. Within worldly matters, Rabbi Hidary explains three sub-categories covering bodily needs, financial affairs, and interpersonal relationships, while mitzvot are divided into those performed privately within oneself and those requiring interaction with another person. A lively discussion arises about how everyday life choices such as marriage and family connect to Olam HaBa, and the class touches on the deeper concept that the deeds of a tzaddik, illustrated through the story of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa, bring divine blessing and sustenance to the entire world. The class sets the stage for exploring how bitachon and hishtadlut apply across all these categories in the sessions ahead.

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(0:00) Intro to Shaar HaBitachon Ch. 4

(0:21) Hishtadlut recap from Ch. 3

(1:13) Two categories: Olam HaZeh & Olam HaBa

(2:01) Sub-categories of Olam HaZeh actions

(3:51) Question: Where does marriage & family fit?

(5:16) Mitzvot that affect only oneself

(6:46) Chovot HaLevavot explained

(9:16) Mitzvot requiring another person

(11:35) Tzaddik brings blessing to the world

(12:52) Story of Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa

(14:41) Categories exclusive to Olam HaBa

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Rabbi Joseph Dana hosts classes Monday through Friday at 6:50 AM at West Deal Shul.

This class covers Daf Yud-Zayin Amud Aleph of Berachot, opening with Rav's famous teaching about Olam Haba — that the Next World contains no eating, drinking, procreation, jealousy, or competition, but rather righteous souls sitting with crowns, basking in the divine radiance. Rabbi Dana explores the Rambam's understanding that sitting signifies no further growth or exertion, and discusses how one's spiritual investments in this world continue paying dividends into the Next World. The class then addresses the unique path women have to Olam Haba — through sending children to learn Torah, encouraging husbands to study, and supporting them upon their return — and presents the beautiful departing blessings the Rabbis would exchange after leaving Torah study sessions. The sugya continues with a debate over the meaning of 'Alufenu M'Subalim' — whether it refers to being filled with Torah and mitzvot or filled with suffering — and explores the concept that righteous individuals like Chanina ben Dosa sustain the entire world through their merit, even while personally enduring poverty. The class closes with a discussion of the Givonim and those described as 'strong-hearted,' identifying them not as righteous but as corrupt descendants of those banned by King David.

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(0:00) Intro: Olam Haba overview

(1:01) What is the Next World?

(2:45) Sitting with crowns: Rambam

(5:11) Moshe & seeing Hashem

(6:07) Proof from the Pasuk

(7:11) Rashi's reading of the Pasuk

(9:15) Women & Olam Haba

(10:53) How women earn Olam Haba

(13:14) Rabbis' departing blessing

(16:55) Blessing from Rav Chisda's yeshiva

(17:25) Alufenu: Torah vs. suffering

(19:49) En Peretz: no breach like David

(20:40) No breach like Shaul or Elisha

(23:48) Righteous sustain the world

(26:34) The heavenly voice for Chanina

(27:10) Chanina ben Dosa's poverty

(29:34) The Givonim & hard-hearted people

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Rabbi David Semah hosts classes Monday through Friday at 6:45 AM at West Deal Shul.

Rabbi Semah delivers a short but powerful Dvar Torah on the meaning of the Omer period. He traces the remarkable life of Rabbi Akiva, who spent his first 40 years as an ignorant man, his next 40 becoming a towering Torah scholar and leader of his generation, and his final 40 years supporting Torah institutions. The class focuses on the devastating loss of Rabbi Akiva's 24,000 students and the crushing blow it represented after a lifetime of sacrifice and reinvention. Rather than giving up, Rabbi Akiva sought out five new students — including Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai — whose Torah fills every page of the Talmud. The lesson of the Omer, Rabbi Semah concludes, is that even when everything looks dark and hopeless, a Jew continues doing mitzvot, continues teaching, and never gives up.

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(0:00) Introduction to the Omer

(0:29) Rabbi Akiva's 120 Years

(1:57) The 24,000 Students

(2:12) Everything Falls Apart

(2:45) Five New Students

(3:02) Message of the Omer

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

The class covers a series of Talmudic discussions on Pesachim 117b-118a, beginning with the distinction between Ga'al Yisrael and Go'el Yisrael, explaining why blessings of praise use the past tense while the Amida uses the present tense for redemption and sanctification. The Gemara then explores the requirement to mention Yetziat Mitzrayim in Kiddush, drawing a connection between the words zachor used by both Shabbat and Pesach, and discusses the source for Magen David and Elohei Avraham in our prayers. A significant dispute between Rabbah and the elders of Pumbedita is analyzed regarding the proper concluding formula for blessings on Shabbat and Yom Tov, with the Gemara ultimately ruling in favor of the Pumbedita custom through multiple rabbinic testimonies. The class concludes with the new Mishna introducing the third and fourth cups at the Seder, the question of whether Birkat HaMazon formally requires a cup, and a dispute between Rav Yehuda and Rabbi Yochanan over what constitutes Birkat HaShir — with the practical conclusion that we recite both Yehallelucha and Nishmat Kol Chai.

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(0:00) Intro: Chotem B'Geula

(0:34) Ga'al vs. Go'el Yisrael

(1:53) Kiddush vs. Amida language

(4:00) Mentioning Yetziat Mitzrayim

(5:58) Magen David: source & meaning

(9:02) Source for Elohei Avraham

(11:41) Mekadesh HaShabbat dispute

(18:33) Stories proving the halacha

(22:22) New Mishna: Third & fourth cup

(24:06) Birkat HaMazon requires a cup?

(26:06) What is Birkat HaShir?

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