Why Bring a Korban? Part 1 - Mar 15, 2019 - Part 1 of a planned 2 on why we would bring korbanot, based on the Rama's collection of benefits in Torat ha'Olah. This week: Benefits associated with (1) Funding; (2) Preventing sin; (3) Avoiding punishment; (4) Teshuvah.

Shemuel #25 - 8:4-22 - Monarchy Warnings - Mar 14, 2019 - Why do Shemuel and Hashem condemn the request for a king? And then why does Hashem go along with it? And what is the import of Shemuel's warning's about the powers or overreaches of a king?

Mysticism and Mitzvot: Kashrut, Part 2 of 2 - Mar 13, 2019 - How kashrut is viewed in Kabbalah. Geared toward an audience including people without strong background in Torah text study.

Mysticism and Mitzvot: Torah Study, Part 1 of 2 - Mar 13, 2019 - Introduction to the kabbalistic view of the role of human beings in the universe, and asking how Torah study is viewed in Kabbalah. Geared toward an audience including people without strong background in Torah text study.

Yeshayah, Week 19: 11:6-12:2 - Mashiach, Continued - Mar 12, 2019 - What will happen with wild beasts in the time of Mashiach, and what does that teach us? What is the message in linking Mashiach's arrival with Yetziat Mitzrayim? And the progression of our celebration of Mashiach.

The Sunset Badecken - Mar 11, 2019 - Rav Asher Weiss addresses a common question: If the ketubah is signed by witnesses before sunset, with that day's date, but the chuppah happens after sunset, is the ketubah valid? The core question: To what does a ketubah testify?

Legal Ethics: Sue or Settle? - Mar 10, 2019 - Comparing Ontario procedures and Halachic procedures surrounding encouragement and practice of arbitration and mediation. Special look at the question of whether settlement (pesharah/bitzua) is lechatchilah or bedieved.

Moshe the Builder - Mar 7, 2019 - A midrash analyzes the language of the pesukim surrounding the erection of the Mishkan, and explains Moshe's role - leaving several questions, including (1) Why did Moshe want to engage in physical labour, specifically? And (2) Why didn't Hashem let him do it?

Mysticism and Mitzvot: Kashrut, Part 1 of 2 - Mar 6, 2019 - Introduction to Kabbalah, and asking how kashrut is viewed in Kabbalah. Geared toward an audience including people without strong background in Torah text study.

Achashverosh the Insecure - Mar 5, 2019 - Showing the insecurity and fear of Achashverosh, and its impact in Megilat Esther, as well as how midrashim show Hashem's manipulation of that insecurity and fear. Geared toward a group including people without strong background in Torah text study.