Rabbi Joseph Dana – Halachot of Kiryat Shema and Daily Prayer | Weekday Gemara

Mr. Sammy Saka – Pirke Abot 2:6 “Teaching Resiliency”

Mr. Sammy Saka hosts classes on Zoom Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30PM. Contact Jacob Betesh to be added to the chat. In this class on Pirkei Avot 2:6, Mr. Sammy Saka walks through Hillel's teachings on the character traits that prevent a person from reaching their spiritual and intellectual potential, distinguishing between someone who lacks the capacity to learn and someone who simply hasn't made the effort to connect. He identifies the common thread running through the entire Mishnah as resiliency — the willingness to improve oneself, ask hard questions, practice patience, and step up when leadership is needed. Drawing on the dramatic Knicks comeback from a 29-point deficit, he illustrates how resiliency in sports mirrors the Torah's call for personal growth and communal responsibility. The class closes with a powerful focus on the final phrase of the Mishnah — 'where there is no leader, strive to be one' — brought to life through personal stories of stepping up in community fundraising and daily life. Mr. Saka encourages parents and educators alike to model resilience for the next generation, teaching children early the value of effort, initiative, and never giving up. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Intro: Pirkei Avot 2:6 (0:37) The Boor vs. The Unlearned (1:48) The Shy Person Cannot Learn (2:04) The Impatient Cannot Teach (2:46) Business vs. Scholarship (3:02) When There's No Leader, Step Up (3:09) Resiliency: The Core Theme (3:19) Knicks Game Story (7:04) Revisiting the Mishnah (11:16) Examples of Stepping Up (13:05) Joe Bader Story (15:32) Resiliency & the Knicks Comeback (18:18) Conclusion: Learn, Grow, Lead - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Ike Hanon – Pesahim 41a-41b | Weekday Gemara

Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes every day at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul. The class begins on Pesachim 41a-41b with a discussion of cooking the Korban Pesach in the hot springs of Tiberias, which is not considered halachic cooking. Rava rules that eating the Korban Pesach partially roasted or cooked carries two or even three sets of lashes, incorporating punishment for violating both the specific prohibition and the general positive commandment to eat it roasted. Abaye disputes this, arguing that a lav shebichlalut, a negative commandment derived from a general positive statement, cannot generate lashes on its own, and two interpretations of Abaye's position are presented regarding whether the exemption applies only when paired with another prohibition or even when standing alone. The same machloket is illustrated through the laws of a nazir, where the Torah prohibits all grape products generally but specifies seeds and peel in particular, raising the same question of whether the general prohibition can independently generate lashes. The class closes by examining the Rambam's ruling, which appears to exempt one from lashes for eating the Korban Pesach raw or cooked in hot springs, a position that differs from Rashi and Tosafot and is left for further study. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Chameh Tveriyah & Korban Pesach (0:44) Rava: Lashes for Na and Mevushal (2:16) Abaye: Lav Shebichlalut Debate (5:05) Two Views of Abaye's Opinion (8:11) Nazir Case: Seeds and Peel (13:29) Rava vs. Abaye on Nazir Lashes (17:06) Rambam's Ruling on Lashes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Joseph Dana – Berachot "Baal Keri & Hirhur" | Weekday Gemara

Rabbi Joseph Dana hosts classes every day at 6:50 AM at West Deal Shul. This class continues the Gemara's discussion in Berachot 22a regarding a Baal Keri — one who has had marital relations — and his obligations around Kriat Shema, Birkat HaMazon, and other prayers. The central question is whether hirhur, meaning thinking or contemplating words of Torah, carries the same legal weight as actually speaking them. The Gemara first attempts to reconcile the two positions by drawing a parallel between Ezra's decree and the preparations at Har Sinai, arguing that the decree was limited to actual speech. Rav Chisda then challenges this approach, insisting that hirhur cannot be treated as speech in some contexts and not others, and instead concludes that a Baal Keri who thinks Shema is not fulfilling a legal obligation but is simply encouraged to keep his mind engaged in Torah while the congregation is doing the same. The class closes with Tosafot's question about why the obligation applies to Shema and Birkat HaMazon specifically, leading to a discussion about kabbalat ol malchut shamayim — accepting the yoke of Heaven — as a distinguishing factor unique to Shema. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Intro: Baal Keri & Hirhur (0:49) Shema & Birkat HaMazon by thought (1:43) Ezra's Takana explained (2:03) Sinai connection to Ezra's decree (3:54) Tosafot: Hirhur vs. speech (5:57) Hearing equals speaking at Sinai (6:44) Why not obligate Shema blessings? (7:55) Rabbinic vs. Biblical obligations (13:56) Rav Chisda: Hirhur is NOT speech (15:18) If not speech, why think Shema? (17:00) New answer: avoid being idle (18:18) Why Shema specifically? (22:55) Question on Tefila/Amida (27:38) Kabbalat Ol Malchut Shamayim (30:22) Why think Birkat HaMazon? (31:00) Final answer: Biblical obligation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Ike Hanon – Pesahim 41a | Weekday Gemara

Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes every day at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul. This class covers Pesachim 41a, focusing on the prohibition against cooking the Korban Pesach and the various ways one can violate or not violate that law. The Gemara explores cases of cooking after roasting and roasting after cooking, presenting two approaches — one rooted in Rebi Yoseh's principle that cooking erases a prior baked or roasted status, and another derived directly from the verse "bashel mevushal" meaning any cooking is forbidden. The class also examines edge cases: whether over-charring or eating the Korban Pesach completely raw incur lashes, concluding that lashes apply only to the specific prohibitions of "nah" (partially roasted) and "bashel" (cooked in water). Finally, Rav Chastah's ruling about cooking in the natural hot springs of Tiberias is discussed — while such cooking is exempt on Shabbat as a derivative of the sun rather than fire, one is still liable regarding Korban Pesach for having failed the positive commandment to roast it. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Intro: Cooking vs. Roasting (1:36) Who Authored the Ruling? (2:08) Rebi Yoseh: Cooking Erases Baking (3:13) Rebi Meir & Bashel Mevushal (4:51) Over-Roasting: Fully Charred (7:10) Unity Laws of Korban Pesach (12:29) Eating Raw: No Lashes? (15:06) What Does 'Nah' Mean? (16:33) Cooking in Hot Springs of Tiberias (20:37) Liable for Roasting, Not Cooking - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Mr. Sammy Saka – Pirke Abot 2:5 “The Power of Community”

Mr. Sammy Saka hosts classes on Zoom Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30PM. Contact Jacob Betesh to be added to the chat. In this class on Pirkei Avot 2:5, Mr. Sammy Saka breaks down five teachings of Hillel, centering the lesson around the power and importance of community. He draws on the story of Purim to illustrate how Jewish unity — or the lack thereof — directly impacts the fate of the people, connecting it to the unity we witnessed following October 7th. He explores the symbolism of the four species on Sukkot as a model for communal togetherness, and emphasizes that no individual can truly thrive in isolation, whether spiritually or practically. The class also covers the importance of not judging others before standing in their place, speaking with clarity while guarding confidential information, and never postponing Torah study or review. Mr. Saka closes with an inspiring reminder that our challenges are opportunities to rise, and that staying united as a community is itself a step toward bringing the Mashiach. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Introduction to Pirkei Avot 2:5 (0:21) Do Not Separate from Community (1:33) Our Community's History & Merit (2:47) Power of Minyan & Prayer (4:08) Purim & Unity — Lessons for Today (8:11) Do Not Trust Yourself Alone (9:02) Community Support — Shiva Example (10:43) Do Not Judge Your Fellow Man (12:47) Speak Clearly & Keep Secrets (15:52) Do Not Delay Your Learning (16:29) The Power of Review & Repetition (18:10) Closing — Bringing It All Together - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com