Pelaos HaParsha: Things You Never Learned In Yeshiva

Last year we analyzed the opinion that Avraham didn’t tell Sarah the Nevuah that she would have a child.

This short shiur explores a couple of the Rishonim who say he did tell her. How do you read the psukim?

How did saving the king of Sodom make people believe in the miracle that happened to Avraham?

Why do we say גומל חסדים טובים וקונה הכל so late in the first bracha of Shmone Esrei? What do the words even mean? Shouldn't their order be reversed?

More about Nimrod

Sources for the Ibn Ezra and Chizkuni

Did the Ramban have Sefer HaYashar? Did he rely on it?

A limud zechus on those who name after Nimrod

יונה מצאה בו מנוח ושם ינוחו יגיעי כח

What is "Bo" and what is "Sham"?!

2 new approaches to the song

Why are tears during davening compared to Nisuch HaMayim?

Beginning with a striking comment of Rabbeinu Bachya and a passage from Rabbeinu Yehuda bar Yakar, this shiur explores the connection between tears, the Shitin beneath the Mizbeach, the foundations of creation, and the power of tefillah.

A fresh perspective on Nisuch HaMayim — and on what tears can accomplish.

How can Rebbe Yehuda HaChasid count V'salachta as part of the 13 Middos?

Why do we read V'salachta aloud on a Taanis?

Are you supposed to put a red strain around your new fruit?

Quite different than the American culture

Talking politics to start a shiur? The Zohar

A Yesod to Control Anger (and a reminder in Tachnun)

Did Goyim daven with hands together or outstretched?

Did the Ibn Ezra not know the Gemara?

Techeiles and its connection to Sinas Chinam

Pardon Your French (a crash course in how to pronounce Laaz in Rashi. For example, when he writes in this Parsha שי"ט)

What does it mean Yehoshua had a cut off head?

Understanding Israel Tourism's symbol

Karmel Wine labels

The difference between ויחפרו and ויתורו

Why do we use the phrase ולא תתורו?

Tzitzis and the Kisei HaKavod - how Tzitzis protects us

The fear of bentching, from its very beginning

A havtacha from the Chida if one sings their bentching

Birchas Kohanim protecting us

Kedusha D'sidra - what is it, why is it so important, and why was it instituted?

Is(/was) every Yeshiva Bachur a Nazir?

What is Parshas Sotah (and Nazir) doing here? Why now?

Why a Nazir can drink schnapps but not wine

Who carried the Kiyor? How did Yaakov Avinu travel to Mitzrayim?

The Radak teaches that wordly pursuits are "Af" (frustration)

Rashi in Toldos is the key to understanding wine and hair

The Shalah HaKadosh helps us understand the Rokeach

(Parshas Bamidbar)

As Sefiras Ha’Omer comes to a close, how do we make sure that the growth of these weeks does not remain behind in the sefirah calendar, but continues with us into the rest of the year?

In this episode, we discuss practical and attainable kabalos — small steps in both בין אדם לחבירו and בין אדם למקום — that can help preserve the avodah of Sefiras Ha’Omer as we approach Kabbolas HaTorah on Shavuos.

We also explore one central yesod that sheds light on several fascinating minhagim and questions connected to Shavuos:

• Why some Rishonim specifically initiated children into Torah learning on Shavuos
• Why certain Rishonim recorded a unique נוסח for Birchos HaTorah on Shavuos
• Why we count upward toward Shavuos, even though we are eagerly awaiting its arrival
• Why there is a custom to place grass and flowers in the home or shul on Shavuos

Why does the Midrash say that you might think Brachos are not a good thing?

The Shitta M'kubetzes' Chidush from Rabbeinu Yeshaya

How tefilos of Tzadikim help

What good does reading the klalos now do?

Why do we need to read the curses specifically by these 2 Rosh HaShana's?

What does it mean to finish the year and the klalos?

The Dubno Maggid's Mashal

The Ben Ish Chai's Chiddush (and Mashal)

The Zhviller Rebbe

Why we play games on Lag Ba'Omer

A fascinating opinion from the Ramchal's Rebbe, Rav Moshe Dovid Valle, regarding shaving during Sefira.

Can a Nazir shave their beard?

The minhag of Yeshivas Chafetz Chaim and Rav Soloveitchik regarding shaving

The missing page from Sefer Kushyos

Finding 8 pages missing from the Cambridge Manuscript

The Chasam Sofer regarding shaving

The Chavos Yair and his illustrious grandmother

The Chavos Yair on various minhagim

Did the Rama M'Pano have a beard? The great debate

Why do we stand up for a Kallah?

What is Hachnasas Kallah?

Why is it not Hachnasas Chasan?

Fasting on Mattan Torah? Fasting on Shavuos?

Why does the Torah tell us about Kosher animals right after the passing of Nadav and Avihu?

Also:

What was the Rechush Gadol?

Why does the Cup of Pharaoh hint to the 4 cups of the Seder?

Why was wine not turned to blood in Mitzrayim?

• Bring the Torah Temimah back into the Bais Midrash

• Is there a difference between כשב & כבש

• The Machlokes how to pronounce the name בתיה

• Why we should have said יהי רצון מלפני אבינו שבשמים this morning?

• The unbelievable Madreiga of Erev Pesach - revealed in Parshas Vayikra

• Why you could eat meat Erev Pesach (with no fear of it taking away your desire for the Korban that night)

• Why didn’t Moshe ever tell us “HaChodesh Hazeh”

The number 5 and the Bais HaMikdash

Feeling Hashem’s love in Vayakhel-Pekudei

Actions to achieve the Geulah/Bais Hamikdash

Rishonim quote a midrash which reveals the first Giluy Shechina