KMTT - the Torah Podcast

6 Stories of Rav Amital Which Shaped My Life, by Rav Moshe Taragin On the power of a story. Sicha given in advance of Harav Amital zt"l's 14th yahrzeit. Harav Yehuda Amital zt"l (Oct 31, 1924 - July 9, 2010)

Ramban on the Torah | 49 | Korach, by Rav Eli Weber What was Moshe risking? What did Hashem create to kill Korach?

Korach | Moshe's Brilliant Response to Korach's Challenge, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why did Korach, in spite of his claim that "the whole congregation are holy people", agree to a test to see "which one" would be selected by Hashem? Korach's initial claim - that כל העדה כולם קדושים - seems to argue for universal access to the משכן and a nationwide כהונה גדולה. Yet, when Moshe responds with the "Incense test", he stresses that through this test, Hashem will indicate which singular person is holy - and chosen for that job. Korach, surprisingly, accepts the challenge and the battle is played out, essentially, on Moshe's terms. We explore the success of this stratagem in several places in Tanakh - along with analyzing the basis for Korach's claim. This leads us, inexorably, to the story of the 12 scouts, via the oddly placed Mitzva of Tzitzit. Source sheet >>

Explaining the Wisdom of Harav Yehuda Amital zt"l (Parts 9 and 10), by Rav Moshe Taragin In light of the recent publication of the sefer לעולם יהא אדם, מתורותיו של הרב יהודה עמיטל, Rav Taragin discusses with his talmidim many of the issues brought up in his rebbe's sichot: On the religious crisis in Pre WWII Europe; building a different type of yeshiva; can you become a talmid chokhom while serving in the army?  Remaining a "Poshete" Yid; Eliyahu Hanavi visits the Chasam Sofer; lessons of "Pashtus" from Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer; when sophistication ruins passion

Explaining the Wisdom of Harav Yehuda Amital zt"l (Part 8), by Rav Moshe Taragin In light of the recent publication of the sefer לעולם יהא אדם, מתורותיו של הרב יהודה עמיטל, Rav Taragin discusses with his talmidim many of the issues brought up in his rebbe's sichot: The "Language" of Role Modeling; Do We Care How the Non-Orthodox View Us?; Does Heresy Begin With Revulsion to Moral Misbehavior?; Rav Amital Joining a "Leftist" Government; Rav Menachem Zemba and the State of Israel

Ramban on the Torah | Naso, by Rav Eli Weber Why can we rely on the miracle of sota? Is a nazir doing something good or bad? Why does the Torah repeat the korbanot of the Nesiim?

Ramban on the Torah | Behaalotekha, by Rav Eli Weber Why is Aharon's lighting the Menorah comparable to the Nesiim's Korbanot? Why was Pesach celebrated in the Midbar? Why does Hashem stand up for Moshe?

Ramban on the Torah | 1 Year Anniversary! | Shelach, by Rav Eli Weber Why doesn't Hashem stop Am Israel from sinning? What is the meaning of Moshe and Aharon falling on their faces? What does Moshe request from Hashem?

Shelach | Who is the Edah? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The interactions between the various actors in the dramatic scene when the scouts return from Eretz Canaan is hard to decipher. At what point does Calev separate from the 10? When does Yehoshua join him? More significantly, who "cries on that night" and who "wants to stone them" (Calev and Yehoshua)? Most dramatically - who is the focus of the punishment of dying in the desert and having their children wander for 40 years? A close look at the text reveals surprising answers. Source sheet >>

Explaining the Wisdom of Harav Yehuda Amital zt"l (Part 7), by Rav Moshe Taragin In light of the recent publication of the sefer לעולם יהא אדם, מתורותיו של הרב יהודה עמיטל, Rav Taragin discusses with his talmidim many of the issues brought up in his rebbe's sichot: Why is Gemara Learning So Critical? Vision and Discipline Are Crucial for Growth in Learning; Shouldering Responsibility; The Yetzer Harah of the Beit Midrash