YUTORAH: R' Yitzchak Etshalom -- Recent Shiurim podcast

33:04

Introduction to Midrash Arami Oved Avi - Mar 26, 2025 - As the Mishnah (Pesahim 10:4) codifies, the core text to be used in telling the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim is Devarim 26:5-8 - "Arami Oved Avi" which, in 4 short verses, retells the story of the exile, servitude, pleas for deliverance and miraculous Exodus. We examine the earliest sources of the Midrash and demonstrate how our traditional Haggadah-text of this Midrash is a combination of several Midrashic strains - all brought together in a powerful and evocative style to help all participants to (potentially) reexperience Yetziat Mitzrayim, as it occurs בכל דור ודור - in every generation.…

YUTORAH: R' Yitzchak Etshalom -- Recent Shiurim

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From Disgrace to Praise: A Reassessment 29:06

11 days ago29:06

29:06

From Disgrace to Praise: A Reassessment - Mar 19, 2025 - The "Maggid" section of our Haggadah has two central components - the first of which is the Midrash on "Arami Oved Avi" and the other is Rabban Gamliel's explanation of the foods. However, our Haggadot have quite a bit of text between the "quick answer" given in response to "Mah Nishtanah" - and these passages don't seem to conform to the aims of the evening. We reassess the rabbinic dictum מתחיל בגנות ומסיים בשבח - "begin with disgrace and end with praise" and propose an understanding of these four words and their location within the Mishnah to offer a reassessment of these opening sections of Maggid.…

YUTORAH: R' Yitzchak Etshalom -- Recent Shiurim

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Mordekhai Would Not Bow...Why Not? 31:14

18 days ago31:14

31:14

Mordekhai Would Not Bow...Why Not? - Mar 12, 2025 - The critical catalyst for the story of Purim is Mordekhai's refusal, as a member of Ahashverosh's court, to show obeisance to Haman. The text never explicates the rationale behind this decision, in spite of its centrality to the plot. We survey some common answers given and suggest possible challenges to each - and then propose a new answer which impacts on our reading of the entire story, up to and including the climactic war that takes place 11 months after Haman's decree is formulated.…

YUTORAH: R' Yitzchak Etshalom -- Recent Shiurim

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Vayyikra 13: זבח השלמים (part 1) 31:19

25 days ago31:19

31:19

Vayyikra 13: זבח השלמים (part 1) - Mar 5, 2025 - In our continued study of Sefer Vayyikra, we have moved on to the 3rd type of Korban presented - the "Shelamim". We examine the (possibly) earliest mention of Shelamim, then the offering of Shelamim at the foot of Sinai, along with the mandate to bring "public Shelamim" with the שתי הלחם as well as the personal obligation for a Nazir, upon successful completion of his Nezirut, to offer a Shelamim. Finally, we note the obligation to bring Shelamim at the altar to be bult on Mount Eval upon entry into the Land. We then survey rabbinic and medieval literature and find a range of approaches to understanding why this type of offering is called שלמים. In the next Vayyikra shiur, I will propose an understanding and explanation of the "Shelamim" phenomenon and the broader implications of this offering.…

YUTORAH: R' Yitzchak Etshalom -- Recent Shiurim

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Vayyikra #12: The Minhah (part 3) 33:00

5 weeks ago33:00

33:00

Vayyikra #12: The Minhah (part 3) - Feb 26, 2025 - In our continued analysis of the Korban Minhah - which we present as a "tribute" offering that directly goes to God, but He grants it to the Kohanim, we observe an anomaly within the world of Korbanot. Unlike the Olah, Shelamim, Hatat and Asham, the Minha has five variations that are the choice of the donor - he or she can offer plain flour and oil, either of two forms of baked cakes or either of two forms of fried cakes. We begin the shiur by further exploring and substantiating the purpose of the Minha as a tribute offering intended for the Kohanim - with a surprising offering serving as the paradigm - and then use that thesis to explain the variegated opportunities available to the Minha-donor.…

YUTORAH: R' Yitzchak Etshalom -- Recent Shiurim

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Amos@The Seforim Sale 53:27

6 weeks ago53:27

53:27

Amos@The Seforim Sale - Feb 16, 2025 - In this brief introduction, I discuss the development of prophecy in Israel, the evolving definition of "Navi" and the development of "literary prophets". We then study the first set of prophecies found in the book of Amos, with an ear towards the oratorial genius of Amos and the many tools he harnesses to effect a suasive presentation to his Samarian audience. This shiur was given at the YU Seforim Sale to introduce my new volume "Amos: The Genius of Prophetic Rhetoric". The book is available at https://theseforimsale.com/collections/english-tanach-1/products/koren_0199 Enjoy!…

YUTORAH: R' Yitzchak Etshalom -- Recent Shiurim

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Vayyikra #11 - המנחה (part 2) 26:40

6 weeks ago26:40

26:40

Vayyikra #11 - המנחה (part 2) - Feb 19, 2025 - As we continue our exploration of the Minhah, we turn our attention to the series of Minha-wide rulings found in Vayyikra 2:11, 13, including the requirement to have all Menahot (grain offerings) salted. The end of the verse indicates - and such is the Halakhah - that all offerings must be salted; yet that requirement only appears in the context of the Minha. We explore the notion of an "eternal covenant" associated with salt and find that it appears in two contexts. It appears in God's pact with the Kohanim as well as God's pact with the Davidic dynasty. In further exploring the usage of "covenant" in the Kohanic context, we find that Malakhi's rebuke of the Kohanim is centered around their violating the terms of that Berit, which inheres a station of holiness and instruction towards the people. This inquiry leads us to some surprising conclusions about the connection between the Minha offerings and the Kohanim - and their esteemed and lofty calling.…

YUTORAH: R' Yitzchak Etshalom -- Recent Shiurim

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Vayyikra #10: המנחה (part 1) 30:57

7 weeks ago30:57

30:57

Vayyikra #10: המנחה (part 1) - Feb 12, 2025 - In our continuing study of Sefer Vayyikra, we address the "Korban Minhah", noting several unique characteristics of this offering - it's name - "Minhah", which means "tribute", the fact that it is almost completely eaten by the Kohanim, it's introduction with the unusual line "נפש כי תקריב" and the unusual affinity that the Kohanim have with it, both as a מנחת חינוך and חביתי כהן גדול.…

YUTORAH: R' Yitzchak Etshalom -- Recent Shiurim

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Vayyikra #9: עולת העוף 29:12

8 weeks ago29:12

29:12

Vayyikra #9: עולת העוף - Feb 5, 2025 - After the presentation of the עולת הבהמה, coming from an essential component of the donor's estate or livelihood, the Torah offers the option of bringing a simple bird as an offering. We examine the role of this bird - one or another type of dove - within the world of offerings and suggest that the bird-offering may carry a greater significance than simply a more economic option for the person who cannot afford a lamb or goat. Building on several verses in Wisdom Literature (Mishlei and Tehillim) and then reexamining the purification ritual of the Metzora', we suggest an affirmative and focused intent that applies uniquely to an offering of a bird.…

YUTORAH: R' Yitzchak Etshalom -- Recent Shiurim

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Amos: An Introduction 36:46

8 weeks ago36:46