Chayei Sara | Ketura and the Sons of the East, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why Ketura? As the story of Avraham's life comes to a close, we are informed that at some point (perhaps after Sara died), he took another wife - Ketura and, as the straightforward reading indicates, he also took several concubines. He had children with all of these and sent the sons of his concubines away - to the east - with gifts. We aren't told where he directed Ketura's six sons and their progeny to go. More intriguing is the story itself - why did he marry again, and have so many more children - only to send them away? We explore several points in Avraham's life, informed by the opening charge to him (Bereishit 12:1-3) and how his understanding of this charge evolved over time.

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Now King David was Old | Haftara | Chayei Sara | 5786, by Rav Eli Weber

Rav Eli Weber begins a new series of shiurim, "This Week's Haftara". What is the legacy of David HaMelekh?

Sefer Yonah | Chapter 3, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why did the king of Nineveh respond so quickly and so forcefully to Yonah's declaration? 

As we continue our study of Sefer Yonah, we note the many peculiarities of the narrative in chapter 3. In only 10 verses, it tells us of Yonah's immensely successful prophetic mission to Nineveh, where his simple cry elicits immediate fasting, mourning and (apparently) heartfelt repentance on the part of the Ninevites. We note the striking parallels between the first narrative - on the boat - and this one and how in each case, the foreign audience (sailors, Ninevites) serve as helpful background players and throughout the story, the real character is Yonah himself. Some of the questions that we have raised will be addressed in the final installment of this mini-series.

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 14 | Bo, by Rav Eli Weber

What is the purpose of miracles? What is the purpose of creation? The Ramban at the end of this week's Parasha deals with both.

On Parshat Yitro, Seeing Judaism through the Eyes of an Outsider, by Rav Ezra Bick

48 Kinyanei Torah 12, Erech Apayim and Lev Tov, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Being slow to anger and having a good heart are nice midot but what do they have to do with Torah study?

Shemoneh Esrei #13, by Rav Ezra Bick - The 9th Beracha - Birkat HaShanim, Prosperity

If you haven't yet listened to this shiur,

today is the day to do so - a perfect shiur for Tu Bishvat. Listen and hear why!

Jewish Family in Halakha #13, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Chiyuvei HaBaal LeIshto #2

A Shaliach in Gittin, Shiur by Rav Michael Rosensweig, given to the bnei chul in yeshiva this week.

On Parshat Beshalach, Mara: Water, Health, and Miracles, by Rav Ezra Bick

Jewish Family in Halakha #12, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Chiyuvei HaBa'al #1

48 Kinyanei Torah 11, Mi'ut Sicha and Mi'ut Sechok, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

What's the danger in talking too much and what's so bad about excessive laughter or lightheartedness?

On Parshat Bo, Signs and Wonders, by Rav Ezra Bick

Why did God harden Par'oh's heart?

Jewish Family in Halakha #11, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Sheves

Vaera | Pharoah and the Problem of Free Choice, by Rav Yair Kahn

48 Kinyanei Torah 10, Miut Ta'anug and Miut Sheinah, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

How does minimizing our physical pleasures and sleep enable success in Torah study?

On Parshat HaShavua - Vaera, Unfulfilled Promise, by Rav Ezra Bick

Jewish Family in Halakha #10, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Peru uRevu

48 Kinyanei Torah 09, Miut Sechora, Miut Derech Eretz, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

What is the value and what are the risks of business?

"Derech Eretz" is an ambiguous term - what does it mean here and how does it connect to Torah study?

On Parshat HaShavua - Shemot, The Character Traits of Moshe Rabbeinu, by Rav Ezra Bick

48 Kinyanei Torah 08, Yishuv and Mikra & Mishna, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

The Gift of Life with Kyle Seidel - On Donating Bone Marrow. Yeshivat Har Etzion congratulates our Shana alef talmid Kyle Seidel from Woodmere upon having the zechut of donating bone marrow cells to a 69 year old gentleman in need. May we wish all involved the best of health!

Jewish Family in Halakha #09, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - First Year of Marriage

Jewish Family in Halakha #08, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Birkhot Nisu'in

Interesting Halachic She'eylot, guest shiur by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz. Shiur given to bnei chul, on Sunday December 16, 2018

Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz serves as the Mara D'atra of Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere and is a maggid shiur at the Landers College for Men.

New series on Sefer Shemot!

Shemot | The Roots of Egyptian Antisemitism, by Rav Yair Kahn

The Rebbe-Talmid Relationship, a special shiur by Rav Dovid Gottlieb. Our usual Tuesday shiur on 48 Kinyanei Torah will not be aired this week, as Rav Gottlieb is away in the USA interviewing students for next year. We felt this shiur to be an appropriate replacement. We hope you enjoy.

The Laws of Tzitzit 08 - A Folded Talit, by Rav Yair Kahn

On Parshat HaShavua - Vayigash, Weeping, by Rav Ezra Bick

The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men, Gang aft agley.

Jewish Family in Halakha #07, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Ketuba

48 Kinyanei Torah 07 - Dikduk Chaverim and Pilpul Talmidim, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb.

What role do friends and students play in the learning process?

The Laws of Tzitzit 07 - Putting Tzitzit on a Linen Garment, by Rav Yair Kahn

On Parshat HaShavua - Miketz, The Dreamer, by Rav Ezra Bick

Jewish Family in Halakha #06, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - Nisu'in

48 Kinyanei Torah 06 - Taharah and Shimush Chachamim, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb. 

How does purity impact Torah Study? In what ways is "shimush" of scholars superiour to actual study?

The Laws of Tzitzit 06, Tying the Knot of Tzitzit, by Rav Yair Kahn

Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 13 | Vaera, by Rav Eli Weber

What is the difference between Hashem's names? How can Hashem harden Pharaoh's heart? Why does the Torah reintroduce Moshe and Aharon again in the middle of the parasha?

On Parshat HaShavua - Vayeshev, The Family of Israel, by Rav Ezra Bick

Jewish Family in Halakha #05, by Rav Binyamin Tabory

48 Kinyanei Torah 05 - Anavah and Simcha (Kinyanim 7-8), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb. 

Humility and Happiness are virtues but how do they contribute to learning?

The Laws of Tzitzit 05 - Making Tzitzit from Different Garments, by Rav Yair Kahn

From what materials can a talit and tzitzit be made?

On Parshat HaShavua - Vayishlach, by Rav Ezra Bick

The shiur examines midrashim that use the story of Yaacov's meeting with Eisav to extrapolate lessons about the relationship between the Jewish people and the nations of the world.

Jewish Family in Halakha #04, by Rav Binyamin Tabory - The Age for Kiddushin

48 Kinyanei Torah 04 - Eimah and Yirah (Kinyanim 5-6), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb. 

What is the difference between fear and dread and how do either help our learning? 

The Laws of Tzitzit 04, Ptil or Gdil, by Rav Yair Kahn

On Parshat HaShavua - Vayetze - Yisrael Among the Nations, by Rav Ezra Bick

The Torah teaches us how to live among the gentiles and how to return to Eretz Yisrael.

Jewish Family in Halakha #03, by Rav Binyamin Tabory

Vaera | Pharaoh's Wizards (and the Parenthetic Phrase), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why did the חרטומים imitate the first two plagues - and why were they stymied at the third?

חרטומי מצרים - the wizards of Egypt - make 5 appearances in the Exodus narrative; the first and last are easily understood but the 2nd (in the context of the plague of blood) the 3rd (frogs) and the 4th (lice) are difficult to decipher. By reading some of these passages as parenthetic texts (מאמר המוסגר), a solution is suggested.

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48 Kinyanei Torah 03 - Arichat Sefatayim and Binat Ha-Lev (Kinyanim 3-4), by Rav Dovid Gottlieb. 

How does verbalizing help your learning? What does your heart have to do with understanding Torah?

The Laws of Tzitzit 03 - A Talit Made Entirely of Tchelet, by Rav Yair Kahn