West Deal Torah Center

Mr. Sammy Saka – Mishna 1:18 “Core Values of Leadership” | Pirkei Abot

Mr. Sammy Saka hosts classes on Zoom Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30PM. Contact Jacob Betesh to be added to the chat. In this final class of Pirkei Avot Chapter One, Mr. Sammy Saka explores Mishnah 1:18, in which Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel teaches that the world endures on three things: justice (Din), truth (Emet), and peace (Shalom). He distinguishes this Mishnah from the earlier one about Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasadim, explaining that the earlier three form the foundation of the world while these three are what sustain and beautify it in daily life. Mr. Saka draws on the story of Rav Safra to illustrate the highest standard of truth, emphasizes that no relationship — in business, family, or community — can survive without honesty, and highlights the Rambam's teaching that Gadol HaShalom, peace is the greatest value, as evidenced by every major blessing ending in Shalom. Using analogies from basketball and baseball, he frames Din, Emet, and Shalom as the advanced "three-point shots" that great leaders must work to master, built upon the daily fundamentals of Torah, prayer, and kindness. The class concludes with a Shavuot blessing and a reflection on the significance of Chapter One ending with the word Shalom. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Opening: Mishnah 1:18 Intro (0:20) Comparing Two Foundational Mishnahs (1:09) Foundation vs. Endurance of the World (2:30) Al HaDin: Justice & Law (3:33) Din in Schools & Society (4:15) Al HaEmet: Truth (5:13) Emet: Letters & Hashem's Seal (5:52) Rav Safra: Truth in His Heart (7:08) No Relationship Survives Without Truth (8:08) Word Over Contract: A Father's Lesson (9:04) Al HaShalom: Peace (9:12) Shalom Bayit & Honoring Your Wife (10:03) Din, Emet, Shalom as Leadership Values (10:53) Unity & Strength: The Fist Analogy (11:10) Gadol HaShalom: The Rambam (11:59) All Blessings End in Shalom (13:06) Torah, Avodah, Chesed: Daily Foundations (14:00) Torah = Gemilut Chasadim (Both = 611) (14:55) Basketball Analogy: Layups vs. Three-Pointers (16:06) Great Leaders: Word Is Your Bond (16:29) Shalom in Family Business (17:02) Closing: 18 Mishnayot Complete (17:16) It's How You Finish: Mariana Rivera (19:29) Shavuot Blessing & Closing Remarks - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Ezra Labaton A"H – (Part 2/2) What are Reasons for Hashem's Commandments?

A shiur from our beloved founding Rabbi of West Deal Shul, Rabbi Ezra Labaton A"H. In this class, Rabbi Ezra Labaton A"H continues his exploration of ta'amei hamitzvot — the reasons behind God's commandments — building on the tension between the Rambam's rationalist approach and the Ramban's more mystical objections. He surveys how modern Jewish thinkers such as Rabbi Soloveitchik, Heschel, and Robert Gordis have addressed the philosophy of Judaism broadly but largely avoided a mitzvah-by-mitzvah analysis. The class then focuses on the Rambam and Ramban's pointed disagreement over korbanot, where the Ramban sharply challenges the Rambam's rationalist justification. Rabbi Labaton then introduces the intriguing case of Eglah Arufah — the ceremony of the broken-necked heifer described in Devarim 21 — as a test case for whether both the overall mitzvah and its specific details can be given rational explanations. The class raises initial questions about the meaning of key terms such as nahal etan, setting up a deeper analysis of how the Rambam and other commentators approach the particulars of this enigmatic ritual. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Ezra Labaton A"H – What are Reasons for Hashem's Commandments? (Part 1/2)

A shiur from our beloved founding Rabbi of West Deal Shul, Rabbi Ezra Labaton A"H. In this class, Rabbi Ezra Labaton A"H introduces the topic of Ta'amei HaMitzvot — the reasons behind the commandments — framing it as one of the most fundamental yet overlooked questions in Jewish thought. He explores the central tension between whether Hashem commands out of divine wisdom, implying rational and comprehensible mitzvot, or purely out of divine will, which may transcend human logic entirely. Rabbi Labaton connects this question to broader theological issues such as the definition of Tzelem Elokim and the nature of man, and illustrates the real-world halachic stakes through three compelling examples: the prohibition of shaving on Chol HaMoed, the laws of mamzerut, and the agunah crisis. He then begins to survey the spectrum of Jewish thinkers on this issue, highlighting the Rambam's systematic rationalist approach and setting up the Ramban as a contrasting figure who is both drawn to and uncomfortable with providing reasons for the commandments. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi David Semah – Shabuot and Acquiring the Low Hanging Fruits | Shabuot Class

Rabbi David Semah hosts classes Monday through Friday at 6:45 AM at West Deal Shul. In this Erev Shavuot class, Rabbi Semah opens with a question from Parshat Yitro: why did Moshe return to God to report that he had delivered God's message, if God already knows everything? Rashi answers that Moshe was teaching us Derech Eretz — the proper way to treat people — by always reporting back to the one who sent you, even when the outcome is already known. Rabbi Semah emphasizes that Derech Eretz is a foundational pillar of Torah, illustrating this with a story of Rav Moshe Feinstein, who traced his heart pains to a moment of insensitivity toward a slower student in his yeshiva years. The class concludes with an inspiring lesson from Reb Steinman, who used the image of a watermelon vendor repeating his call to encourage his grandson to review Torah relentlessly — even simple Torah like a blessing over a potato counts — and to pursue the "low hanging fruit" of Torah growth without waiting for grand moments. Rabbi Semah closes by reminding listeners that Shavuot is the Yom HaDin for Torah, and how one learns during these days sets the tone for Torah enjoyment throughout the entire year. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Erev Shavuot Introduction (0:20) Parshat Yitro: God's Call (1:23) Moshe Reports Back to God (2:26) Derech Eretz Before Torah (3:19) Rav Moshe Feinstein's Story (4:33) Reb Steinman & the Watermelon (5:23) Review Torah Like a Vendor (6:14) Shavuot: Yom HaDin for Torah - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Moshe Tobal – Shabuot and Accepting the Torah | Shabuot Class

Rabbi Moshe Tobal hosts classes Monday through Friday at 6:30 AM at West Deal Shul. Rabbi Tobal opens by explaining the custom of a late Maariv on Shavuot eve in order to complete the full 49 days of Sefirat HaOmer, ensuring they are temimot — complete. He then presents the Ramchal's principle that every Jewish holiday carries a recurring spiritual influence from Heaven, meaning Shavuot is not merely a commemoration but an annual opportunity for genuine Kabbalat HaTorah. Using the Rambam's question about worldly reward in Parshat Bechukotai, Rabbi Tobal explains that when a person sincerely accepts the Torah, Hashem provides material blessing not as an end goal but as a means to enable deeper and more joyful Torah observance. The story of Reb Chaim Brisker's father illustrates the ideal that a Jew's entire life should be structured around Torah, rather than fitting Torah into a life built around other pursuits. Rabbi Tobal concludes with a powerful motivational point: since Hashem created the world solely to do good for us, the reward for overcoming any nisayon and doing His will must infinitely outweigh any momentary pleasure foregone. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Shavuot & late minyan explained (1:02) Kabbalat HaTorah on Shavuot (1:16) Ramchal: yearly spiritual influence (2:44) Bechukotai before Shavuot: why? (4:14) Rambam on reward & Torah acceptance (7:03) Reb Chaim Brisker's story (9:06) Styling life around Torah (10:14) Torah & Techiyat HaMetim (11:31) Facing nisyonot & doing Hashem's will - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com