Best Yeshivat Har Etzion Podcasts (2025)

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 35 | Pinchas 28:53

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6d ago28:53

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 35 | Pinchas, by Rav Eli Weber Why do the daughters of Zelophehad say how he died? Why does Moshe appoint Yehoshua in front of all of Israel? Why are the musafim written in the end of our parasha?By Rav Eli Weber

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Sefer Bamidbar | Pinchas | 5785 | The Meaning of Family 31:08

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Sefer Bamidbar | Pinchas | 5785 | The Meaning of Family, by Rav Ezra Bick Forty years later, the Jewish People are counted a second time. What is the difference in the census this time? One word makes all the difference.By Rav Ezra Bick

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Bein HaMetzarim 5785 42:35

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Bein HaMetzarim 5785, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom. In memory of my father - הרב אשר אהרן בן אברהם בנימין ז"ל -Tammuz 21 Why do chakhamim set up a parallel between the events that befell our ancestors on each of 17 beTammuz and 9 beAv? The Mishna in Ta'anit presents a literary parallel between the events that befell our ancestors on 17 of Tammuz and th…

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Cosmetics on Shabbat III: Makeup 1:03:15

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How do traditional texts relate to makeup? Is it permissible to apply makeup on Shabbat? What about Shabbat powder makeup? Transcript and sources here: https://www.deracheha.org/cosmetics-on-shabbat-3-makeup/ Sponsor an episode by emailing us at [email protected]

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Sefer Bamidbar | Balak | 5785 | The Nature of Bilam's Prophecy 30:00

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Sefer Bamidbar | Balak | 5785 | The Nature of Bilam's Prophecy, by Rav Ezra Bick Why do we need to know what Bilaam said to Balak? What is the significance of the entire story of Balak's failed plan to enlist Bilaam to curse Israel?By Rav Ezra Bick

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 34 | Balak 29:09

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 34 | Balak, by Rav Eli Weber Who is Bilam?By Rav Eli Weber

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Balak | Mah Tovu Ohalekha Yaakov 38:51

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Balak | Mah Tovu Ohalekha Yaakov, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom What motivated Bil'am to bless as he did? Following the progression of Bilam's blessings. The lyrical, uplifting blessings with which Bil'am blessed Bnei Yisrael are among the most elegant and moving series of passages in Tanakh. What motivated Bil'am to bless as he did - was he simply a mo…

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 33 | Chukat 28:02

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 33 | Chukat, by Rav Eli Weber What was the sin of Moshe and Aharon?By Rav Eli Weber

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Sefer Bamidbar | Chukat | 5785 | Taking Initiative 36:14

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Sefer Bamidbar | Chukat | 5785 | Taking Initiative, by Rav Ezra Bick What's the difference between the first generation in the midbar and the second? Three short incidents in the middle of the Parasha define the change in the Jewish people after thirty years.By Rav Ezra Bick

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Cosmetics on Shabbat II: Scent and Healing 41:52

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May one apply scented or enriched products on Shabbat? What are the parameters of using skincare products for healing on Shabbat? Transcipt and sources available here: https://www.deracheha.org/cosmetics-on-shabbat-2-scent-and-healing/ To sponsor an episode of Kol Deracheha email us at [email protected]…

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 32 | Korach 26:57

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 32 | Korach, by Rav Eli Weber Why is HaShem offended by Korach? What is Bnei Yisrael's challenge to Moshe?By Rav Eli Weber

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Sefer Bamidbar | Korach | 5785 | The Holiness of Am Yisrael 38:05

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Sefer Bamidbar | Korach | 5785 | The Holiness of Am Yisrael, by Rav Ezra Bick How does the flowering of Aaron's staff answer the complaint of the Jews? More importantly, is not the argument of Korach, "all Jews are holy", correct?By Rav Ezra Bick

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Korach | Korach, Datan and Aviram: When and Why? 35:23

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Korach | Korach, Datan and Aviram: When and Why? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom What were Datan and Aviram challenging - as opposed to Korach? The story of the rebellion(s) against Moshe is confusing; why are the rebels taking the stand against Moshe? What is their claim? When is this claim being presented? How do they die? A close analysis reveals two d…

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Cosmetics on Shabbat I: Types of Product 47:21

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What consistencies of skincare or haircare products—oils, creams, etc.—are permissible to apply on Shabbat? Click here for the transcript and sources: https://www.deracheha.org/cosmetics-on-shabbat-1-types-of-product/ To dedicate an episode of Kol Deracheha email us at [email protected]

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Sefer Bamidbar | Shelach | 5785 | The Meaning of Ascent 28:36

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Sefer Bamidbar | Shelach | 5785 | The Meaning of Ascent, by Rav Ezra BickBy Rav Ezra Bick

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 31 | Shelach 28:24

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 31 | Shelach , by Rav Eli Weber Did Moshe think sending the spies was a good idea?By Rav Eli Weber

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Shelach | Bamidbar 15: Why Now, Why Here? 38:50

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Shelach | Bamidbar 15: Why Now, Why Here? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why are the mitzvot of Nesakhim, Challa, Tzitzit and more presented in the aftermath of the story of the "Meraglim"?By Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

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Thoughts over the Last 12 Hours | Erev Shabbat Behaalotekha 5785 24:10

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Erev Shabbat Behaalotekha 5785 | Thoughts over the Last 12 Hours, by Rav Moshe Taragin Thoughts about the war in Israel and parashat Behaalotekha Invoking the zechut of Jewish history and unity They are Hashem's enemies This time the two pesukim should end sufferingBy Rav Moshe Taragin

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Behaalotekha | Re'uel, Yitro, Chovav 30:34

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Behaalotekha | Re'uel, Yitro, Chovav, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Who was Moshe's father-in-law? In our Parasha, there is a curious conversation between Moshe and Chovav; does Chovav end up accepting Moshe's invitation to join Am Yisrael? Who is Chovav to Moshe and is he also known by other names? Was Yitro the Kohen Midian or was Reuel - and who was …

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Sefer Bamidbar | Behaalotekha | The Consecration Ceremony of the Leviim 28:50

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Sefer Bamidbar | Behaalotekha | The Consecration Ceremony of the Leviim, by Rav Ezra Bick What is the difference between the "purification" of the Leviim and the "sanctification" of the Kohanim?By Rav Ezra Bick

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 30 | Behaalotekha 31:07

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 30 | Behaalotekha, by Rav Eli Weber Why did Jewish history change in Parashat Behaalotekha ? What was the great sin of Kivrot Hata'ava?By Rav Eli Weber

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Naso | The Sotah Mystery Revisited 29:27

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Naso | The Sotah Mystery Revisited, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom What do we anticipate will happen to the Sotah if she is guilty? The Sotah ritual has alternatively been called an ordeal, a deterrent, a mollifier, a Divine judgement and much more. Following the lead of some recent research (cited on the source sheet), a new approach to understanding So…

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 29 | Naso 30:00

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 29 | Naso, by Rav Eli Weber Why does Hashem make a miracle to bring peace between a couple? When was Birkat Kohanim given? Why are the korbanot of the chieftains repeated?By Rav Eli Weber

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Sefer Bamidbar | Naso | Religious Individualism and the Machaneh 24:48

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Sefer Bamidbar | Naso | Religious Individualism and the Machaneh, by Rav Ezra Bick Why are the Sota and the Nazir in the middle of parashat Naso?By Rav Ezra Bick

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Menstruation and Shabbat 1:09:38

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What are the halachot of managing menstrual pain, cleaning off blood, and using menstrual products on Shabbat? Link to transcript and sources: https://www.deracheha.org/menstruation-and-shabbat/ To sponsor an episode of Kol Deracheha email us at [email protected]

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Sefer Bamidbar | Bamidbar | A Lot of Names and A Lot of Numbers, Why? 23:35

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Sefer Bamidbar | Bamidbar | A Lot of Names and A Lot of Numbers, Why? by Rav Ezra Bick Does the population census eliminate individuality in service of creating the national unity, or does it enoble and distinguish the individual? Why are the Jews counted twice in the beginning of Sefer Bemidbar?By Rav Ezra Bick

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 28 | Bamidbar 29:48

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 28 | Bamidbar, by Rav Eli Weber Why does Hashem count Israel? Why does Hashem talk to Moshe from Ohel Moed? Why is Levi the smallest tribe?By Rav Eli Weber

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Shavuot | The Claims of the Heretics 30:10

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Shavuot | The Claims of the Heretics, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom The public reading of Aseret HaDibrot (the Decalogue) was practiced on a daily basis in the Mikdash. This practice was banned elsewhere, due to the "Claims of the Heretics" - (תרעומת המינים). Why would there have been an interest in reading the Dibrot publicly every day - and why was it…

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Tehillim 132: קומה ה' למנוחתך (conclusion) 34:01

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Tehillim 132: קומה ה' למנוחתך (conclusion), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom When was Psalm 132 composed - and why? In this conclusion of a two-part shiur, we examine the longest of the שירי המעלה - Psalm 132. This psalm, evidently devoted to the city of Yerushalayim and the Divine choice of both the place and the Davidic line, is especially appropriate as…

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 27 | Behar-Bechukotai 29:23

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 27 | Behar-Bechukotai, by Rav Eli Weber What's the Ramban's view on chronology in the Torah? What is the religious meaning of work? Will there be wild animals in the days of the mashiach?By Rav Eli Weber

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Behar-Bechukotai | 5785 | Abarbanel as Philosopher 23:31

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Behar-Bechukotai | 5785 | Abarbanel as Philosopher, by Rav Elyakim Krumbein Reward on earth or in the afterlife?By Rav Elyakim Krumbein

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Kaddish and the Idea of Jewish Nationalism 40:44

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Kaddish and the Idea of Jewish Nationalism, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom What is the meaning of Kaddish and why does it require a quorum? How does the impetus for a public declaration shed light on the idea of לאומיות ישראלית - Jewish Nationalism? This talk was given at the annual Karen and Ariel Avrech z"l Memorial Lecture at Young Israel of Century C…

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Tehillim 132: קומה ה' למנוחתך 34:32

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Tehillim 132: קומה ה' למנוחתך, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom What was the occasion that motivated the composition of Psalm 132? A special shiur as we prepare for Yom Yerushalayim. In this first part of a two-part shiur, we examine the longest of the שירי המעלה - Psalm 132. This psalm, evidently devoted to the city of Yerushalayim and the Divine choice o…

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Havdala 1:05:49

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What is the mitzva of havdala? Are women obligated in it? May a woman recite havdala for herself or others? Link to transcript and sources here: https://www.deracheha.org/havdala/ To dedicate an episode email [email protected]

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 26 | Emor 29:33

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 26 | Emor, by Rav Eli Weber Why do we bring Chametz to the Mikdash on Shavuot? When is Shavuot? What is Sefirat HaOmer?

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Emor | 5785 | Abarbanel on the Holidays 22:13

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Emor | 5785 | Abarbanel on the Holidays by Rav Elyakim Krumbein How does the Torah use disrupted patterns to create meaning?By Rav Elyakim Krumbein

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Unraveling the Mystery of Lag BaOmer 37:58

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Unraveling the Mystery of Lag BaOmer, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why is there a celebratory air to the 33rd day of the Omer-count? By far the most mysterious of our festive days is ל"ג בעמר, where the cessation from weddings (etc.) turns the day into a joyous outburst of celebration, replete with bonfires, outings and more. What is the story behind t…

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Achari Mot - Kedoshim | 5785 | Why Be Holy? 20:30

3M ago20:30

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Achari Mot - Kedoshim | 5785 | Why Be Holy? by Rav Elyakim Krumbein Abarbanel solves the riddle of Parashat Kedoshim.By Rav Elyakim Krumbein

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Tazria Metzora | 5785 | The Concept of Tum'a 20:10

3M ago20:10

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Tazria Metzora | 5785 | The Concept of Tum'a by Rav Elyakim Krumbein Why is ritual purity so central in Sefer Vayikra?By Rav Elyakim Krumbein

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Acharei Mot - Kedoshim | Maaseh Eretz Cenaan 34:41

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Acharei Mot - Kedoshim | Maaseh Eretz Cenaan, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why is the list of forbidden intimate relations introduced with the broad statement prohibiting us from engaging in the ways of the Egyptians and the Canaanites? Source sheet >>By Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 25 | Acharei Mot - Kedoshim 29:15

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 25 | Acharei Mot - Kedoshim, by Rav Eli Weber Everyone knows that the Ramban (like all Jews), loves Eretz Yisrael. But why so much. At the end of Acharei Mot the Ramban explains his philosophy. How is sin different in Eretz Israel than outside of it?By by Rav Eli Weber

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 24 | Metzora 22:39

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Ramban on the Torah | 5785 | 24 | Metzora, by Rav Eli Weber What is tzara'at and its connection to Yom HaAtzmaut? What is the meaning of the promised land? How is tzaraat a miracle?By Rav Eli Weber

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MiTalmidav shel Aharon 1:04:07

3M ago1:04:07

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MiTalmidav shel Aharon | Commemorating the 10th Yahrzeit of Harav Aharon zt"l at Yeshiva University, with two of his talmidim, Rabbi Michael Taubes '77 and Rabbi Mordechai Willig. Divrei peticha: Rabbi Neal Turk. An oved Hashem, of purity of heart.By Rabbi Taubes and Willig

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Yom HaAtzmaut | Psalm 126: BeShuv Hashem et Shivat Tzion 39:18

3M ago39:18

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Yom HaAtzmaut | Psalm 126: BeShuv Hashem et Shivat Tzion, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why are we described as "like dreamers" upon the return to ציון? Since those miraculous days of 1948, there have been several proposals to amend the National Anthem with the recitation of Psalm 126 - בשוב ה' את שיבת ציון; famously, Menachem Begin read the entire Psal…

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Shabbat and Yom Tov Meals 1:07:20

3M ago1:07:20

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What is the nature of the obligation to eat on Shabbat and Yom Tov? How does it apply to women? Who can make ha-motzi? Where do seuda shelishit and melaveh malka fit in? Episode transcipt and sources here: https://www.deracheha.org/shabbat-and-yom-tov-meals/ To sponsor an episode of Kol Deracheha email [email protected]…

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Shemini | 5785 | Why Couldn't David Build the Mikdash? 16:50

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Abarbanel on the Parasha | Shemini | 5785 | Why Couldn't David Build the Mikdash? by Rav Elyakim Krumbein The haftara for Shemini is particularly dramatic. A glimpse of the commentary of Abarbanel on Neviim Rishonim.By Rav Elyakim Krumbein

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Shemini | The Sound of Silence: Vayidom Aharon 38:10

3M ago38:10

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Shemini | The Sound of Silence: Vayidom Aharon, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom How are we to understand Aharon's silence? Aharon's reaction to the death of his sons, Nadav and Avihu, is summarized in two words: וידם אהרן. Translation, meaning and implications of these two words are the fodder for much exegetic and homiletic analysis. A survey of the uses…

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Pesach | Birkat HaShir (2) 35:16

3M ago35:16

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Pesach | Birkat HaShir (2), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom Why is "Nishmat Kol Chai" the appropriate hymn with which to finish Leil haSeder? As we discussed in the previous shiur, the liturgical poem "Nishmat Kol Chai" is quite ancient and predates the era of the פייטנים. It is mentioned by R. Yochanan as the "Birkat haShir" which is to accompany the fou…

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Candle-lighting II: When and How 47:27

3M ago47:27

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At what time do we light candles? How does this relate to accepting Shabbat? What is the optimal procedure for lighting? Transcript and sources available here: https://www.deracheha.org/candle-lighting-2/ To sponsor an episode of Kol Deracheha email [email protected]

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Abarbanel on the Parasha | Tzav | 5785 | Fire on the Mizbe'ach 15:51

4M ago15:51

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Abarbanel on the Parasha | Tzav | 5785 | Fire on the Mizbe'ach, by Rav Elyakim Krumbein What does this mean? Join us for this exciting new series in the commentary of the Abarbanel.By Rav Elyakim Krumbein