Bava Metzia, Perek 6: Exceeding Legal Obligations, Part 2 - May 15, 2020 - Analyzing the story of the porters on 83a, and the concept/application of lifnim mishurat hadin - going beyond one's legal obligations. In particular: Does their identity as impoverished porters matter? Does the barrel-owner's identity as a Sage matter? Was Rav's statement a halachic ruling?

Shemuel #63 - 16:7-12 - Divine Rebuke, a Shepherd King - May 14, 2020 - Why did Hashem rebuke Shemuel so harshly in 16:7? Why does the text emphasize that David had been herding the sheep? And the beginning of a discussion on being "ruddy".

Behar-Bechukotai: The Benefits of Shemitah - May 13, 2020 - Why does the Torah and Talmud place such emphasis on shemitah, predicting grave personal and national disaster for violating it? The impact of shemitah on personal character (middot); the practical welfare of the land and mystical welfare of the universe; the mutual responsibility of a nation; and the trust (bitachon) in our relationship with Gd.

Kosher Fundraising: The Ethics of the Ask - May 13, 2020 - Issues in Halachah and Canadian/Ontario law when raising tzedakah: May one call someone who has asked not to be called again? What about calling an emotionally vulnerable person? May a contractor donate billable time to the organization and claim a tax receipt or count it as maaser? May an organization re-route funds that were given in response to a campaign that had identified a specific need?

Shoftim 13:3-5 - See a Malach, Make a Nazir? - May 12, 2020 - Hatzlelponit's childlessness; Did she meet a malach?; Was Shimshon actually a nazir?; Why would nezirut be helpful for Shimshon?

Yeshayah, Week 56: 38:4-6, 21-22 - 15 Extra Years, a Fig and a Request - May 12, 2020 - Were Chizkiyahu's 15 extra years truly extra? Why does the gemara present Menasheh as a Torah scholar? What was Yeshayah doing with his figs? And why did Chizkiyahu ask for a sign?

Medical Halachah: Dental Emergencies on Shabbat - May 11, 2020 - A look at the hierarchy of illness and their halachic treatments for Shabbat, in the context of dentistry, with particular vignettes as well. Not psak, certainly.

Avodah Zarah 74b-75a - Kashering receptacles that held wine - May 10, 2020 - Kashering a vat that held wine in a wine press, with guidance from the OU. And Rashi quotes his father's read of a machloket in the gemara.

Bava Metzia, Perek 6: Exceeding Legal Obligations, Part 1 - May 8, 2020 - The last gemara in the chapter presents a story in which one of the sages is told to pay porters for carrying his goods, even though they destroyed the goods. This mini-shiur looks at the mechanics of the story; future classes will look at the bigger issue of lifnim mishurat hadin, going beyond the letter of one's legal obligations.

Shemuel #62 - 16:4-10 - Shemuel's Error, Divine Rebuke? - May 7, 2020 - Why did Shemuel think he was meant to select Eliav - or did he think that at all? Why was Hashem so harsh in rejecting Eliav (if that is the one Hashem was rejecting)? And why did Hashem respond so harshly to Shemuel?