KMTT - the Torah Podcast

​​​​​​​Ramban On The Torah | 05 | Pinchas, by Rav Eli Weber What does it mean to be a Kanai and what are the risks? If Bnot Moav sinned with Bnai Yisrael, why "Tzaror et Ha-midyanim"? Why do Bnot Tzelafchad tell Moshe that their father wasn't part of Adat Korach? What is Parashat HaTamid doing in this week's parasha?

​​​​​​​Ramban On The Torah | 04 | Balak, by Rav Eli Weber One of the major differences between Rashi and the Ramban is how they see biblical figures. Rashi sees them in 2D; once he decides that someone is good, he picks out Midrashim that support that view. Same for people Rashi sees as bad. The Ramban, who came after, sees biblical figures in 3D. This is a good person, but he's not perfect. Or, this is a bad person, but he has redeeming qualities. Bilam is a good example of both Rashi and the Ramban's approaches.

Ramban On The Torah | 03 | Chukat, by Rav Eli Weber Most of us think we know what the word "chok" means.

Chukat | The Decree Against Moshe Revisited, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The story of Moshe's striking the rock and the subsequent Divine decree, relieving him of his role as the leader, is a challenging one, both as far as the nature of the violation as well as the severity of the punishment relative to a seemingly "trivial" violation. We explore the unusual wording, repeated 3+1 time (thrice in command, once in fulfillment) of Moshe's death and propose a reevaluation of the commands and narrative of the "Meraglim" episode in Bamidbar 13. In comparing Hashem's command to Moshe, his directive to the scouts and their actions, it appears that every party acted differently than commanded; this helps to clarify a number of anomalies in the text as well as the larger question of the decree against Moshe Rabbenu. Source sheet >>

Korach | The Midrashic History of Datan and Aviram, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The leaders of (part of) the rebellion against Moshe, Datan and Aviram, first mentioned in the context of the Korahide rebellion, are pictured by the Midrash as being a thorn in Moshe's side (to put it lightly) from the beginning of his career. We explore the methodology of Midrash on two planes - both the textual associations that lead to this history as well as the general Midrashic approach in presenting characters in Tanakh, both virtuous as well as vile, in a less nuanced but more accessible light and the homiletic-educational goals of Midrash as a general oeuvre. Source sheet >>

Ramban On The Torah | 02 | Korach, by Rav Eli Weber Stepping back and understanding how this episode really played out.

Ramban On The Torah | 01 | Shelach, by Rav Eli Weber

Shelach | Why Did Yehoshua and Kalev Rend Their Clothes? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In addressing Yehoshua and Kalev's clothes-rending response to the people's insurrection, we examine the phenomenon of Keriat Begadim in Tanakh and its direct and consistent association with contrition. We also address a broader methodological issue of how we are often blinded to the development of characters in Tanakh as we imagine the final stanza of their life to be their lifelong refrain, imagining away development, growth, and change - for the better or for the worse. We then briefly examine the meaning of the word Efes which bridges the positive report about the land with the data about the resident nations. We then suggest a surprising approach to understanding the role of our two protagonists in the historically shattering dialogue. Source sheet >>

Behaalotekha | "The Loyalty of Your Youth" Pesach, Clouds, Trumpets and Travels, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Whereas many ask why there was only one instance of bringing the Pesach during the forty years in the desert - in our Parasha), the opposite question might be posed - why was it brought at all? Based on the instructions given to Bnei Yisrael at the Exodus, Korban Pesach was to brought (only) once they arrived in the Land. In addition to addressing this question, we also look at the next sequence of passages which seem to be out of order. First, there is an idyllic description of the people's loyalty to Hashem in their travels, then the command to fashion cornets - which should have come first. We explore the entire passage in this shiur dedicated to the upcoming marriage of Aharon Etshalom and Ariella Berman - זכרתי לך חסד נעורייך... Source sheet >>

Beirakhnukhem MiBeit Hashem: The Final Chapter of Hallel, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom In this, the final shiur in the series, we explore the longest chapter in the collection which we refer to as "Hallel Mitzrayim" and note the seemingly jagged switches from the public call to thanksgiving, the intensely private confession of salvation from a mortal threat, to the national song of thanksgiving, culminating in the farewell blessing of the Levi'im to the pilgrims as they complete their festival visit to the Mikdash. We propose seeing the chapter as a series of quatrains, with one crescendo verse just before the end, and a coda of farewell blessing. The curious crescendo of pleading for salvation seems atonal in the context of salvation-thanksgiving; we address this anomaly and suggest a deeper view of our Hallel experience. Source sheet >>