Kinot: Eish Tukad - Jul 27, 2023 - Brief introduction to the kinah, looking at the structure, and the contrast of Moshe and Yirmiyahu.

Tisha b'Av: A Matter of Trust - Jul 27, 2023 - How lack of trust in each other was involved in the story of the Meraglim, as well as the disasters of the first and second Beit haMikdash. The importance of trust for us as individuals, as well as for society and for our relationship with Hashem. But on the other hand, Torah warns us against trusting human beings, and even against overtrusting the Sanhedrin and the Navi! The resolution: To seek a trusting personality as our default, as מאמינים - as Hashem demonstrates for us.

Kinot: V'Atah Amarta - Jul 27, 2023 - Brief introduction to the kinah, looking at the use of the direct "atah" to convey intimacy, but to undermine that intimacy by using it as an attack.

Kohelet, Week 11b: The Importance of Speech - Jul 4, 2023 - Kohelet's Advice: Don't talk too much? Why? When and in what context? Is this about religious speech, or any speech? And how does this connect to dreams?

Kohelet, Week 11a: A Time for Everything, Part 3 - Jul 4, 2023 - Looking at the messages of the individual cases brought in the "A time for" poem in Chapter 3, in light of the meaning of the overall section.

Giants Of #25: Rif and Ri Migash - Jun 21, 2023 - Completing our look at the Rif and his Sefer Halachot, and a brief look at the Ri Migash. Note: The history is more overview than granular, and certainly not academic.

Kohelet, Week 10: A Time for Everything, Part 2 - Jun 20, 2023 - Three approaches to Chapter 3 of Kohelet, and particularly the poem of "For everything there is a time." Is this practical advice for how we act? A statement of futility? An unexpected affirmation of free will?

Medical Ethics: Compelling Medical Treatment - Jun 19, 2023 - The duty for an ill person to pursue medical treatment, and for a medical professional to provide it, and for a medical professional to coerce a patient for life-saving treatment. Exceptions where the life-saving treatment is not necessarily viewed as life-saving. A view which says that patients should not be coerced where normal people would reject that treatment. What to do when Halachah requires coercion but the medical licensing body prohibits even persuasion, let alone coercion. Coercion for medical care which is not life-saving. Coercing one's minor child for aesthetic treatment like orthodonture or birthmark removal. Hospitalization against a patient's will.

Finding Our Favourite Torah - Jun 15, 2023 - How do we determine our "favouite" Torah? Is it helpful to have a favourite dvar torah, halachah, mitzvah, or idea? Are we allowed to have a favourite? What are the drawbacks to having a favourite?

Kohelet, Week 9a: Simchah and Schok, Part 2 - Jun 13, 2023 - Be sameach if you can, knowing that Hashem sends it to you. Simchah is valuable, in multiple ways. But don't pursue it.