Memorial Day Learning: The Shul Kiddush

A Kiddush Story

The hero of our story is a good Jew, a Ben Torah, but he’s a little flustered right now. Shabbos morning davening just ended, everyone’s heading out to the Kiddush, and there is a lot to think about. Halachic quandaries await at every turn. Kiddush B’makom Seudah; what to make Kiddush on; interruptions after hearing Kiddush; should one drink from the Kiddush wine; berachos on drinks after having wine; ikar and tafel; bracha achrona; do I need to bentch; should one say Kiddush again at home; and more! Can our hero navigate the kiddush unscathed, and still come away with a bite to eat (but not too much) and a bissel l’chaim (also not too much)?

Listen to A Kiddush Story and learn how to navigate, and avoid, many of the myriad halachic issues that may arise for every one of us, nearly every Shabbos.

For the background sources, click here.

3rd Annual Minneapolis Yarchei Kallah

“A taste of the real thing.”

The goal of the Yarchei Kallah is to allow those who don’t always have the opportunity, to immerse themselves in the sugya and to feel like they’re back in yeshiva once again.

We in the Kollel would say that the goal was met and surpassed! The energy in the Bais Medrash was palpable, the kol Torah was booming. All with the joy that only intense Limud HaTorah can provide. Rav Cziment’s shiurim challenged and enlightened the participants and fueled the spirited debate further.

Participants enjoyed a delicious Melava Malka prepared by Mrs. Shaindy Mandelbaum and Mrs. Shaynie Goldberger at Torah Academy, celebrating the accomplishments of the Yarchei Kallah participants.

The Yarchei Kallah was dedicated by Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Leon for the 1st yartzeit of Rabbi Reuven Gross z”l, father of former Minneapolis Kollel member Rabbi Uriel Gross, who created the Yarchei Kallah here. A video tribute to Rabbi Gross z”l was shown at the Melava Malka, and our friend R’ Uriel shared his reflections of his father over Zoom. Words of inspiration were delivered by Rav Moshe Spiro and Rav Cziment, followed by music and dancing.

Thank you to all who contributed to the success of the Yarchei Kallah:

• All the participants who invested their time and energy;

• Rabbi Yisroel Meir Ebstein for doing much of the preparations to make the Yarchei Kallah happen;

• Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Leon for sponsoring;

• Mrs. Mandelbaum, Mrs. Goldberger, and all who contributed to the Melava Malka;

• and of course, Rav Ezriel Cziment for once again sharing his vast knowledge, his enthusiasm, and his warmth!

Mark your calendars for next year!

Audio of Rav Cziment’s shiurim and addresses from the Melava Malka can be found at this link.

A Day Trip with Hashem - Back Again!

For the second year in a row, we spent a day with Hashem in Chicago. 26 hard-working men took a day to learn and reconnect. This year we were joined by HaRav Yechezkel Greenberg and HaRav Mordechai Kalatsky as well. We spent the morning delving into the sugya of doing business with non-Kosher food at the Chicago Choshen Mishpat Kollel. Lunch at Shallots Bistro was graced with a Rabbanim’s panel of Rabbis Greenberg and Kalatsky together with HaRav Yaakov Robinson. We discussed many pertinent topics in today’s Jewish life. The afternoon was spent in the Telshe Yeshiva where we had a Q&A session with Dayan Shmuel Fuerst Shlit”a, a seder and shiur in the inyanim of Chanukah with Rav Betzalel Pam, capped with a impactful drasha from Rav Efraim Twerski. We ended the trip with dinner at Evita’s Steakhouse along with some old friends from Minneapolis now living in Chicago, and we were inspired by Rav Yossi Lowinger.

These trips are an incredible way to build cameraderie and a sense of connection to Hashem and His Torah. Stay tuned for the next trip!

Thanksgiving Legal Holiday Learning: In the Name of the Law

Clarifying Dina D’Malchusa Dina

Rabbi Stoll began the shiur by stating what Dina D’Malchusa Dina is not: An overall primacy to secular law. Where then, does it apply? Is it limited to situations of benefit to the government, or even to the function of society as a whole? Or does it extend to other monetary laws? Are there areas outside monetary law where it would apply? Speed limits, a military draft?

Relive Rabbi Stoll’s lucid and comprehensive shiur shiur with the audio below. Follow along with the sources here.

Important Message from the Rosh Kollel, Rabbi Gibber

Listen to this two minute message as the Rosh Kollel urges us to take on more Torah learning and to consider joining the morning Kollel.

Horror on a Holiday: When Prayer and Pleas Collide

In light of the atrocities of October 7th, 2023, a day that was also a Jewish Holiday, Rabbis Menashe and Avigdor Goldberger of the Atlanta and Minneapolis Kollels convened a special session of the Tehillim Project. An analysis of Psalm 118. Be uplifted and moved by this meaningful discussion.

Labor Day (Weekend) Legal Holiday Learning: Blow By Blow

Sounds of the Shofar - The Right Way

Tekiah:

Shevarim: — — —

Teruah: - - - - - - - - -

Right? Seems simple enough. We all know the three sounds of the shofar since our youth.

Today’s topic put the spotlight on the sounds of the shofar, and allowed us to understand the detail and precision that every ba’al tokea puts in to his Rosh Hashana shofar blowing. Rabbi Mintz highlighted some of the halachic debates that revolve around the proper way to blow:

• What is the proper sound of the tekia? The shevarim? Straight, or more like a cry?

• How long is the teruah? Is it 9 blasts, or only 3?

• How long is the shevarim? What happens if the shevarim is a bit too long?

Relive the shiur with the audio below, featuring live demonstrations by Rabbi Rosansky. Follow along with the sources here.

July 4th Legal Holiday Learning: All You Knead to Know

The Intersection between Pas Yisroel & Bishul Yisroel

It was a fitting finale, perhaps the final public shiur for Rabbi Uriel Gross in his tenure in the Kollel. And what a shiur it was, as Rabbi Gross clearly guided the listeners through an intricate topic, and even concluded with a chiddush of his own.

There are two separate Rabbinic decrees forbidding bread of non-Jews and food cooked by non-Jews. What’s the difference between cooking and baking? What distiguishes these two decrees, and do they ever overlap? To find out all you knead to know, listen to the audio below and follow along with the sources.

The Impact of a Smile

Smile!

When we're pleased with someone we flash them the brilliant whites of our teeth. I sometimes feel like the pristine sunny Minnesota snowscapes are Hashem's way of flashing his brilliant whites at us.

For more on the impact of a smile read this article by R' Yonasan Ghermezian.

The Impact of a Smile

The Minneapolis Yarchei Kallah

The 2nd annual Minneapolis Yarchei Kallah was a 5-day immersive learning program featuring a daily 2 1/2 hour seder with shiurim by Rav Ezriel Cziment, Rosh Kollel of the Telshe Yeshiva Chicago Kollel. This year’s topic was the 7 Noahide Laws.

Thank you to: 

• Rabbi Uriel Gross for spearheading this program for the second year.

• Rav Ezriel Cziment for once again joining us and providing your Torah insight along with your warmth and energy.

• Rav & Rebbetzin Greenberg for hosting the Friday night Oneg and for hosting the Cziments.

• Torah Academy, Eli Weinberg & co., Mrs. Shaindy Mandelbaum, and the numerous women who made the Melava Malka for the participants such a success.

• All of you (around 40 people!) who took off of either their busy schedules or their vacation time to join us for the learning and shiurim, you are the real force behind this Yarchei Kallah!

We're already looking forward to next year!