Shemuel #17 - Chapter 5 - Why did Hashem do this to the Plishtim? - Dec 20, 2018 - Hashem damaged the idol of Dagon, and struck the Plishtim with some horrible bowel disease. Was this just an incentive for returning the Aron, punishment and humiliation, a lesson regarding idolatry, and/or a message for the Jews?

Otniel ben Kenaz: Physical or Spiritual Conqueror? - Dec 18, 2018 - Two approaches to the odd story of Otniel ben Kenaz' conquest of Dver/Kiryat Sefer, and marriage to Achsah, daughter of Kalev

Yeshayah, Week 11: 7:1-2 - The Fear of Achaz - Dec 18, 2018 - Completing background on King Yotam. Background on the Syro-Ephraimite Alliance and its threat to Judea, and on Tiglet Pilesser III of Assyria. The attitude of Tanach to political/military alliances, as expressed in Melachim II and in Divrei haYamim. [Note: I might have accidentally substituted Achav for Achaziah a few times in this shiur.]

Use of CPAP, APAP and BiPAP machines on Shabbat - Dec 17, 2018 - Where does halachah place sleep apnea on the spectrum of illnesses? What are the issues surrounding use of a CPAP, APAP or BiPAP machine on Shabbat, and what methods are available to work around those issues? Discussion of halachic issues, but not psak.

Prenuptial agreements: The RCA edition, and the Agreement for Mutual Respect - Dec 15, 2018 - Overview of prenuptial agreements and some of their major halachic issues, and specifically the Rabbinical Council of America's agreement, and the Israeli Heskem l'Kavod Hadadi - Agreement for Mutual Respect.

Kiddushin: Kiddushei Kesef, Part 2 - Dec 14, 2018 - Part 2: Is presentation of kesef for kiddushin an act of payment, or a formal ritual? Application regarding use of a monetary equivalent (שוה כסף)

Kiddushin: The Perutah, Part 1 - Dec 14, 2018 - What is a perutah? Basic introduction, and a start on three ways to understand the Torah's term "kesef".

The Batei Midrash of Shem, Ever and Yehudah - Dec 13, 2018 - What is the basis for the midrashim about Shem and Ever establishing batei midrash/yeshivot, and about their interactions with Avraham, Yitzchak, Rivkah and Yaakov? Why did Yaakov veer from their model in sending Yehudah to establish a Beit Midrash in Goshen - and why did he choose Yehudah?

Shemuel #16b - Chapter 5 - The Aron with the Plishtim - Dec 13, 2018 - Introduction to the Aron's residence among the Plishtim. Why does Hashem harm the Plishtim? Why did the Plishtim put the Aron with Dagon?

Shemuel #16a - 4:13-22 - The Shaul/Goliath connection; Death of Eishet Pinchas - Dec 13, 2018 - What leads midrashim to say that the runner who brought news of the Aron was Shaul, and that the Aron was captured by Goliath? And why do we emphasize the death of the wife of Pinchas?