Mr. Sammy Saka – Pirke Abot 2:10-2:11 "Unique Facets of Torah Mastery"

Rabbi Ike Hanon – Pesahim 44b-45a | Weekday Gemara

Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes every weekday at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul. The class continues the sugya on Pesahim 44b-45a, focusing on the principles of Ta'am Ki Ikar (taste equals prohibition) and Heter Mitzaref L'Isur (permitted and prohibited quantities combine). Rav Acha challenges Rav Ashi: if the Rabbanan use the word Mishrat from Nazir as a universal source for Ta'am Ki Ikar, why doesn't Ribi Akiva similarly use Mishrat as a universal source for Heter Mitzaref L'Isur? The answer is that Ribi Akiva's rule appears in two places — Nazir and Chatat — making it a case of Shnei Ketuvim HaBa'im K'Echad, two pesukim teaching the same lesson, which limits the rule to only those exceptions rather than establishing a universal principle. The Gemara then explores why the Rabbanan are not equally limited by having two sources for Ta'am Ki Ikar, concluding that each source — Nazir and Chatat — teaches something the other cannot, since mundane and holy categories cannot be learned from one another. The final tally shows that the Rabbanan hold Ta'am Ki Ikar universally and Heter Mitzaref L'Isur only by Chatat, while Ribi Akiva holds Ta'am Ki Ikar from the war with Midian and Heter Mitzaref L'Isur only in the specific cases of Nazir and Chatat. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Recap: Ta'am Ki Ikar sources (0:41) Rav Acha's question to Rav Ashi (1:24) Why not apply Mishrat universally? (3:22) Answer: Shnei Ketuvim HaBa'im K'Echad (4:53) Nazir and Chatat as the two cases (5:17) Berayta: Chatat meat and Shlamim (7:37) Chatat vs. Shlamim stringencies (10:01) Heter Mitzaref L'Isur in Chatat (15:05) Taste transfers between steaks (17:20) Challenge: Rabbanan's two sources (18:58) Why Rabbanan need both sources (19:27) Why Ribi Akiva needs both sources (21:11) Rabbanan's final position explained (22:14) Scoreboard: final halachic conclusions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Mr. Sammy Saka – Pirke Abot 2:10-2:11 "Unique Facets of Torah Mastery"

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 2:10-11, Mr. Sammy Saka explores the five elite students of Rabi Yochanan Ben Zakkai, each representing a distinct facet of Torah mastery. Rabi Eliezer Ben Hurkanus is praised as a cemented cistern that loses not a drop, teaching us that genuine love and appreciation for Torah is the key to retaining it. Rabi Yehoshua Ben Chanania is celebrated for his sterling character and middot, with his mother credited for immersing him in Torah from before birth, illustrating the vital role parents play in inspiring children toward greatness. Rabi Yossi HaKohen exemplifies the chassid who goes beyond the letter of the law, a quality Mr. Saka connects to acts of chesed in the community, while Rabi Shimon Ben Netanel represents the highest level of yirat shamayim — not mere fear of punishment but a deep awe of Hashem. Finally, Rabi Elazar Ben Arach is described as an ever-strengthening spring, an inspiring and magnetic Torah personality who drew large crowds, with the class concluding that all five archetypes are valid and necessary paths toward Torah growth. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Introduction: Mishnah 10 & 11 (1:12) The Five Elite Students (1:23) Rabi Eliezer: The Cistern (3:19) Secret of Retention: Loving Torah (5:04) Rabi Yehoshua: Sterling Character (6:53) Mother's Role in Torah Greatness (8:33) Rabi Yossi HaKohen: The Chassid (9:00) Chesed: Beyond the Letter of Law (10:26) Rabi Shimon: Fear of Sin (12:28) Awe of Hashem vs. Fear of Punishment (13:47) Rabi Elazar: The Flowing Spring (14:37) Five Styles of Torah Mastery Recap (18:51) Applying Torah Personalities to Ourselves - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Mr. Sammy Saka – Pirke Abot 2:9 “No Taking Credit”

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 2:9, Mr. Sammy Saka explores the teaching of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, who said that if one has learned much Torah, they should not take credit for themselves, because that is what we were created to do. The key insight is that the more a person truly learns, the more they realize how vast Torah is and how little they have actually covered, naturally leading to humility rather than pride. Mr. Saka draws on the example of Chacham Ovadia Yosef, who despite authoring countless books and drawing massive audiences, never sought personal credit and always saw himself as a student. He connects this to the concept of a Talmid Chacham — a wise person who always considers themselves a student — and to Moshe Rabbeinu, whose closeness to Hashem made him the most humble person who ever lived. Mr. Saka concludes by extending this lesson to all of life's accomplishments, encouraging listeners to recognize that every talent and achievement comes from Hashem, to avoid taking personal credit, and to use their gifts in service of others through Torah and chesed. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Introduction to Mishnah 2:9 (0:19) Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai (1:10) The Mishnah: Don't Take Credit (2:22) The More You Learn, The More Humility (3:48) Chacham Ovadia Yosef as an Example (6:01) The Meaning of Talmid Chacham (6:50) Moshe Rabbeinu's Humility (7:54) Applying the Lesson Beyond Torah (8:24) Hallel Gala & Giving Credit to Hashem (9:53) SBH: A Model of Selfless Chesed (11:21) Share Your Talents, Don't Hoard Them - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Joseph Dana – Berachot 21b (II) | Weekday Gemara

Rabbi Joseph Dana hosts classes Monday through Friday at 6:50 AM at West Deal Shul. This class on Berachot 21b continues the analysis of a Machloket between Tanak Hamah and Rabbi Yehuda regarding a Baal Keri — someone who has had a seminal emission — and his ability to recite words of Torah, including the Shema and its blessings. The Gemara asks whether Rabbi Yehuda's lenient position means he rejects the rabbinic or Torah-based decree against a Baal Keri learning Torah, a prohibition derived from connecting Pesukim in Devarim to the events at Har Sinai. The class then investigates whether Rabbi Yehuda employs the interpretive method of Doresh Semuchim — expounding on adjacent verses — and examines a Breitah involving the prohibition of a son marrying a woman his father had relations with, where Rabbi Yehuda does appear to expound on connected Pesukim from Devarim. This creates a problem: if Rabbi Yehuda uses Semuchim in Devarim, why does he not apply the same method to the Baal Keri prohibition, which also comes from Devarim? The class ends on an open question raised by a student regarding why Tanak Hamah himself does not arrive at this prohibition if he too expounds on Semuchim, with the Rabbi promising to return with a resolution the following day. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Introduction & Review (0:17) Machloket: Baal Keri & Torah (1:01) Rabbi Yehuda's Opinion (1:25) Gemara's Question on R. Yehuda (1:52) Har Sinai & the Three-Day Rule (3:26) Source for Baal Keri Prohibition (4:04) Does R. Yehuda Expound Semuchim? (5:56) Ben Azai & the Witch Case (7:17) Devarim: A Different Standard (8:00) Proving R. Yehuda & Devarim (9:50) Breitah: Father's Wife Prohibition (10:47) Father's Rape Victim & the Son (14:16) The Pasuk: Eshet Aviv (16:15) Anusa Case & Connected Pesukim (19:03) R. Yehuda Widens the Prohibition (19:54) Back to the Baal Keri Problem (23:48) Tanak Hamah's Unresolved Question (26:39) Class Conclusion & Tomorrow's Resolution - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com

Rabbi Ike Hanon – Pesahim 44b | Weekday Gemara

Rabbi Ike Hanon hosts classes every day at 6:10 AM at West Deal Shul. This class continues the Gemara in Pesachim 44b, focusing on the dispute between Rabbi Akiva and the Rabbanan regarding the word "mishrat" in the laws of Nazir. The central question is how both can derive different principles from the same word — the Rabbanan using it for ta'am k'ikar (taste constitutes prohibition) while Rabbi Akiva uses it for heter mitzta'ref l'issur (permitted and forbidden quantities combine toward a k'zayit). The Gemara explores where Rabbi Akiva learns ta'am k'ikar from instead, ultimately pointing to basar b'chalav (meat and milk) and ge'ulei nochrim (purging non-Jewish pots). Along the way, the class explains the unique chidush of basar b'chalav — that the Torah only prohibits it when cooked, not through cold contact — and the chidush of ge'ulei nochrim, which requires purging pots even when the absorbed taste would normally be considered pagum (spoiled) and therefore halachically insignificant. The class closes by raising the question of why ge'ulei nochrim is not a problematic source for Rabbi Akiva given the pagum concern. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (0:00) Recap: Mishrat and Nazir (1:04) Rabbanan vs. Rabbi Akiva on Mishrat (3:59) Rabbi Akiva's source in Berayta (6:37) Where does Rabbi Akiva learn Ta'am K'Ikar? (7:05) Ta'am K'Ikar from Basar B'Chalav (10:39) The Chidush of Basar B'Chalav (13:26) Bishul: The unique cooking requirement (16:51) Rabbi Akiva learns from Ge'ulei Nochrim (19:00) Noten Ta'am Lifgam and Ge'ulei Nochrim (22:30) Why this isn't a question on Rabbi Akiva - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Visit: westdealshul.org Sponsorships: west.deal.classes@gmail.com