Mr. Sammy Saka – Pirke Abot 2:12 “Book Smart or Street Smart”

Rabbi Joseph Dana – Baal Keri & Shema Halachot Recap | Weekday Gemara

Rabbi Joseph Dana hosts classes every day at 6:50 AM at West Deal Shul. This class picks up on the ongoing discussion in Berachot regarding the laws of Baal Keri — a person in a state of impurity who has not yet immersed in a mikveh. The Gemara presents a range of Tannaic and Amoraic opinions debating what a Baal Keri is permitted to study or recite, ranging from complete restriction to allowing Mishnah, Gemara, and Aggadah. Rabbi Dana traces the hierarchy of these opinions and notes how different Rabbis are matched to each position. The class then examines the Takana of Ezra — the rabbinic ordinance requiring immersion before Torah study — and how it was ultimately nullified because the Jewish people were unable to fulfill it in practice. Finally, the Rambam is cited, who rules that all impure individuals must recite Shema with its blessings, and who records the custom of his place to shower with nine kabin of water rather than immerse in a full mikveh. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Recap: Baal Keri restrictions (1:49) Debate: What Baal Keri may do (3:13) Amar Mar: Baal Keri and Mishnah (4:43) Rabbi Meir vs. other opinions (10:48) Matching opinions to Rabbis (12:02) World sustained by three things (13:13) Laws of Maaser Behema (15:16) Kilayim: mixing species (20:00) Rambam: Baal Keri and Shema (21:07) Takana of Ezra nullified (23:08) Ze'iri's announcement in Babel (24:13) Netilas Yadayim before prayer (26:26) Leniency of nine kabin of water - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Ike Hanon – Pesahim 45b | Weekday Gemara

Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes every day at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul. The class covers Pesahim 45b, beginning with Abaye's three-zone framework for dough used to seal mixing bowls and the addition of Rav Ashi regarding the bowl's rim. The Gemara then discusses the ruling of Rav Nachman in the name of Rav regarding whether the halacha follows Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar's position that designating chametz as a utensil suffices, or whether a physical act like plastering is required, presenting two irreconcilable versions of Rav's opinion. The class explores the case of two half-kazayit pieces connected by a thread, establishing that their legal status as a combined kazayit depends on whether the thread is strong enough to lift both pieces together. The Gemara then transitions to whether half-kazayit pieces in different locations in a home — such as upstairs and downstairs, in a house and porch, or in inner and outer rooms — must be removed due to concern that sweeping may combine them into a full kazayit. The class concludes with the Rambam's lenient ruling that in cases where the dough is embedded in floors or walls across separate spaces, one may rely on mental nullification rather than physical removal. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Abaye's Three Zones in the Bowl (1:09) Rav Nachman: Halacha Like R. Shimon (3:46) Contradiction in Rav's Rulings (4:51) Two Versions of Rav's Opinion (5:39) Two Half-Kazayits Connected by Thread (7:09) Half-Kazayit in the House (9:15) Half-Kazayit: Upstairs vs. Downstairs (10:45) House and Porch Case (12:09) Inner House and Outer House (13:27) Rambam's Lenient Ruling - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Ike Hanon – Pesahim 45a-45b | Weekday Gemara

Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes every Monday at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul. The class continues the Gemara in Pesachim 45a-45b, beginning with the Mishnah discussing dough found in the cracks of a kneading bowl. The central question is whether the obligation to remove chametz depends on both the quantity of the dough and its location in the bowl, specifically whether it is in the water-holding zone or not. Two contradictory beraitot are presented — one supporting a lenient reading and one a strict reading — leading to a debate among Amoraim about how to resolve the conflict. Rav Yosef attempts to root the dispute in a Tannaitic machloket involving moldy bread set aside as furniture, while Abayeh ultimately proposes a creative three-zone framework for the bowl — bottom, middle, and top — each with its own threshold for what must be removed. This three-zone model cohesively reconciles both beraitot and elegantly connects the chametz removal laws to the parallel laws of chatzitzah in mikveh immersion. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Mishnah: Dough in Kneading Bowl (0:51) Shmuel: Water-Holding Zone Rule (2:51) Gemara Infers Leniency (4:14) Two Readings: Lenient vs. Strict (5:50) Beraita Supporting Lenient View (7:55) Beraita Supporting Strict View (13:14) Contradiction Between Beraitot (14:00) Ravuna: Erase the Lenient One (15:19) Rav Yosef: It's a Tannaitic Dispute (16:09) Moldy Bread and Sourdough Use (17:27) R' Shimon ben Elazar: Furniture Case (19:58) Abayeh Challenges Rav Yosef (21:37) Abayeh's Three-Zone Solution - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Mr. Sammy Saka – Pirke Abot 2:12 “Book Smart or Street Smart”

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 2:12, Mr. Sammy Saka explores the two opinions cited in the name of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai regarding who was the greatest of his disciples: Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkanos, known for his vast encyclopedic knowledge (the Sinai), and Rabbi Elazar ben Arach, celebrated for his sharp creative reasoning (the Oker HaRim, or uprooter of mountains). Using examples from business, sports, and community leadership, Mr. Saka illustrates how both personality types are essential and complementary, comparing them to book smarts and street smarts. He also raises a thought-provoking point that the imagery of one rabbi outweighing all others on a scale suggests that majority rule does not always apply, particularly when an individual possesses extraordinary Torah gifts. The class concludes with a call to appreciate diverse types of minds within our communities and to continue growing in both Torah knowledge and creative understanding. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Introduction & Mishnah 2:12 (1:39) Rabbi Eliezer ben Hurkanos Review (2:55) Book Smart: The Sinai Personality (4:03) Street Smart: The Oker HaRim (5:37) Book Smart vs. Street Smart in Business (7:29) Majority Rule & Leadership Decisions (9:02) The Value of Committees & Consensus (11:28) Two Types of Minds: Key Takeaway (12:41) Rabbi Ezra Labaton as an Example (14:35) Closing: Sinai, Oker HaRim & Growth - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Moshe Tobal – On July 4th and the Perasha Pinhas | Weekly Parasha

Rabbi Moshe Tobal hosts classes every weekday at 6:30 AM at West Deal Shul. In this class on Parashat Pinchas, coinciding with July 4th, Rabbi Tobal opens with a reflection on the importance of Hakarat HaTov — gratitude — toward America for the extraordinary freedom it grants Jews to live Torah lives. He draws a parallel to the census in the parasha, examining Rashi's explanation of why each family is listed by name: to demonstrate that despite the moral corruption witnessed in Egypt, Bnei Yisrael remained untainted. Rabbi Tobal then discusses the devastating plague in which 24,000 people perished, emphasizing the spiritual danger of moral failure even after great miracles. He concludes with a powerful call to use the remarkable freedom afforded by America not to assimilate, but to deepen commitment to Torah and mitzvot, treating that freedom as a sacred trust. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Opening & Dedications (0:11) Parashat Pinchas Overview (1:00) July 4th & Hakarat HaTov (2:01) Gratitude to America (3:39) The Census in Parashat Pinchas (4:21) Rashi: Why the Families Are Listed (5:18) The Plague & God's Test (7:06) 24,000 Lost in the Plague (8:44) Lessons from Egypt & Temptation (10:07) Using Freedom for Torah (10:55) Closing: Torah & Mitzvot in America - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com