Jul 8, 2026
Matot | Moabite Daughters, a Midianite Princess and Pinchas, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
Balak-Pinchas-Matot. Why is the "war of vengeance" carried out
against Midian, if the instigators and participants in the BaalPeor
episode were Moabites?
The story of Pinchas's zealotry is famous, yet his action along
with the...
Jun 3, 2026
Shelach | The Children of Lot, The "Sin of the Spies" and Tish'a b'Av by Yitzchak Etshalom
Why did Chazal anchor the tragic history of Tish'a b'Av in the events of this week's Parasha (Parashat Shelach)?
Chazal famously anchor the tragedies of ט' באב in the "חטא המרגלים" - which was really the sin of those...
May 27, 2026
Naso | Shimson the Nazirite... Indeed? by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
The annunciation of Shimshon's birth (Shoftim 13) carries several anomalies; indeed, his own life reflects an unusual form of Nezirut, one which is not bound by the most severe violation of Nezirut (contact with the dead) - while his parents are the...
Apr 29, 2026
Emor | "ממחרת השבת" and the Calendar Controversy, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
Who were the "Beitusin" who challenged rabbinic authority about the date of Shavuot?
This shiur, given at the annual Yemei Iyyun beTanakh hosted by SAR High School, analyzes the controversy over the date (and day of the week) of the...
Mar 11, 2026
Vayakhel | Shemot 35:3 and the Karaites, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
What is development of the Karaite-Rabbanite dispute about fire on Shabbat?
The opening passage of Parashat Vayakhel includes Moshe's reminder to observe Shabbat and a singular mention of the prohibition of kindling a fire on Shabbat - לא תבערו...