Rabbi Kraz's Shiurim

Rabbi Kraz

Rabbi Kraz's Shiurim on various topics in Yiddishkeit

Subscribe Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

221 episodes
Updated July 28

Episodes221

Newest first

March 10 · 1 hr 38 min
Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk: The Rebbe of Rebbes
Source Sheet History of R Elimelech of Lizhensk and his great Talmidim who became Rebbeim. Why do we follow Beis Hillel over Beis Shamai? Stories of R' Elimelechs humility R' Elimelech did Teshuva for sins as a youth and before. R' Elimelechs Sefer is all about Tzadikim Did the Alter Rebbe write a Sefer of Tzadikim? What happened to it?
February 24 · 1 hr 30 min
Haman's Promiscuous Reverie Over Esther (Mature Audience)
Source Sheet Why did Esther show Haman favor in front of Achashverosh? How could Haman think that Esther wanted him and why would he covet the kings wife? How could a Malach frame Haman for a crime he didn't commit? What actually happened between Yael and Sisra? Why were Chevers family and the Keini friendly with Yavin and Sisra? Was Yael a Yid, ger or ger toshav? Is it greater to commit an Aveira Lishma or a Mitzvah not Lishma? Why was Yael greater than other great women?Who was Yaels Gilgul? Who was Sisras Gilgul?
February 19 · 1 hr 41 min
It's Time To Meet The Chida
Source Sheet (https://rabbikraz.com/Chida) The Chida's teachers. The night they sought to bring Mashiach. The consequences of forcing the redemption. The Rashash leaves Yerushalayim and passes on. Rav Chaim De La Roza receives 4 missos beis din. B'nei yissaschar accepts the Chida"s authority. Explanations of the Chida. Episode of the unfaithful woman in Livorno. Rav Ovodia challenges the Chida. Rav Yaakov Hillel defends. The Chida and the Chasidim. Chida's sadness after the untimely passing of his wife. The Rebbe publicizes the Chida's remedy for the redemption.
February 11 · 1 hr 33 min
Kotzk and Lubavitch
Source Sheet History of R Elimelech, The Chozeh, the Yid Hakadosh, R Simcha Bunim and The Kotzker History of Kotzk Did the Tzemach Tzedek and the Kotzker correspond? The scholarship of the Kotzker Torah thoughts of the Kotzker
February 5 · 1 hr 28 min
G-d Says "Lo Sachmod". But I Do Covet!
Source Sheet How can G-d command me to what to desire? The Ibn Ezra's story of the princess The Reishis Chochma's story of the saint in the cemetery The curious tales of the Semak Reb Tzadok Hakohen encourages the lustful man The debates of the Rambam & Ra'avad The Chofetz Chaim's unexpected instruction The Kuzheglaver and the Imrei Emes
January 27 · 1 hr 41 min
Why Aren't There More People Learning Ibn Ezra?
Source Sheet History/Biography of the Ibn Ezra- Did the Ibn Ezra give up his life Al Kiddush Hashem? Was the Ibn Ezra a Ba'al Talmudah? Why didn't the Jews fight back against the Egyptians? Why did that generation have to die in the desert? Why was it important that Moshe grow up in the royal palace? Were all Pesukim in the Torah written by Moshe? Ibn Ezras cryptic explanation on the goat of Azazel. Is one allowed to go to doctors? Did the Jews eat Matzah in Egypt?
January 19 · 1 hr 25 min
Tefillin In The Desert?! Reb Menachem Ziemba, The Malbim, And The Rebbe, Weigh In.
Source Sheet (https://RabbiKraz.com/TefillinDesert) Did the jews wear Tefillin in the desert? The Medrashim debate this point. The Mabit and the Ra'avan take one side. The Rashba's revolution. The difficult Ramban and the Radvaz's objections. Reb Memachem Ziemba and his son. Reb Shaul Berlin's take The Malbim believes it's all based on a debate in Gittin. The Rebbe spins it in the opposite direction.
January 13 · 1 hr 36 min
Why Aren't There More People Learning Tanach?
Source Sheet Is one allowed to teach if he does not know Tanach? What does the Mitzvah of Yedias Hatorah entail? The Efodi explains the importance of Tanach. Is one allowed to learn Tanach by heart? What about at night? What did Rashi mean when he wrote Makas Bechoros is equal to all of the Makos?
January 6 · 1 hr 40 min
Why Aren't There More Rabbonim In Lubavitch?
Source Sheet History of Chassidim who were also Rabbanim Point 1 - There is no need to aspire to be a Rov. Point 2 - There were many Chassidim who were also Rabbanim, however they weren't known as Rabbanim, rather they were known as great Chassidim. Should a Talmid Chacham who Toraso Umnaso (private individual) be required to pay community taxes? Must he be a Moreh Hora'ah (public individual) Point 3 - Ri Migash. Most today don't learn Halacha, they focus on Gemara. The amount of knowledge needed to properly pasken Halacha is immense and not many have that... Point 4 - Spiritual danger of being a Rov. Point 5 - Physical danger of being a Rov On what do we make Shehecheyanu? Why don't we make a Shehecheyanu on Sefiras Haomer?
Dec 31, 2025 · 1 hr 40 min
The Creepy Mummies of Ancient Egypt
Source Sheet Mummifying practices of ancient Egypt Why did they mummify people? Who mummified Yaakov? Yosef? Letter from the Mahara"tz Chiyus Embalming vs autopsy vs cremation
Dec 24, 2025 · 1 hr 33 min
From Majorca to Algeria: The Genius of the Rashbatz
Source Sheet History of the Rashbatz: Reb Shimon ben Tzemach Doron History of 1391 Spain, Mallorca and Algeria Why is the Kesuba seemingly such a small amount? Won't people take it lightly? Is one allowed to be paid to teach/learn Torah History of how the Rivash was appointed as head Rabbi in Algeria Can the leg of the letter Kuf touch the top in a Sefer Torah? Do we force the husband to divorce his wife in the case of a Moredes?
Dec 2, 2025 · 1 hr 44 min
Dreams May Be More Than Just Dreams
Source Sheet Are all dreams meaningful? Is one allowed to fast on Shabbos for a bad dream? Is there a difference if one has the same dream several times? Do dreams have an effect on real life? Are dreams nonsense or are dreams prophecy? Can you Pasken based on answers from heaven?
Nov 25, 2025 · 1 hr 42 min
Rav Asher Weiss Tackles the Rameh MiFano
Source Sheet (http://rebrand.ly/RavWeissRameh) What is the source for not mixing two Simchas? Do we learn Dinim from before Matan Torah? Is one allowed to get married on Purim? Why don't we do Kiddush Levana on Friday night or Yom Tov?
Nov 18, 2025 · 1 hr 37 min
Amsterdam Rabbi Thrown Out After Plagiarism Accusations
Source Sheet History of Reb Dovid Lida Does the Abarbanel allow plagiarism? Why doesn't he mention the Akeidah? Is it a requirement to mention the original author? Can one Attribute an idea to someone else incorrectly? If you come up with an idea and then you see it from an earlier source, do you need to mention them? If you see someone bring an idea from someone else, do you need to mention the middleman too?
Nov 11, 2025 · 1 hr 38 min
Enter Rav Yosef Engel's Amusement Park
Source Sheet (https://rebrand.ly/YosefEngel) Avraham kept the entire Torah. Several questions on this. How did Avraham take away Yishmaels inheritance? Can one Pasken from Nevuah, Dreams, or a revelation from Eliyahu? Did Dovid remarry Michal based on the word of a Navi or Ruach Hakodesh? Can we differentiate between a Bas Kol to verify facts and a Vas Kol to pasken Halacha?
Nov 6, 2025 · 1 hr 36 min
The Depravity of Sedom - A License To Sin (Adult content)
Warning: Mature Content. For Adult audiences only. Source Sheet (https://rebrand.ly/LicenseToSin) Is one allowed to commit a lesser sin in order to avoid a more stringent sin? If someone does an aveirah L'shem Shamayim does he get Schar? Can the Beis Din condone sinful behavior in order that it shouldn't lead to worse sins? Can the Chachamim turn a blind eye to Aveiros being done in order not to aggravate and cause them to sin more? Co Sponsored L'zchus all of the Shluchim to the state of Florida
Oct 29, 2025 · 1 hr 40 min
The Tale of Iyov and the Orphans Stumps the Rabbis
Source Sheet: https://rebrand.ly/Iyov Background of Iyov Was Iyov great than Avraham? Is one allowed to steal if their intention is not to steal? 4 answers as to why Iyov was allowed to take charge of orphans property without their consent. (Co-sponsored anonymously in honor of Rabbi Mendy Goldberg of Coram NY in honor of his birthday)
Oct 21, 2025 · 1 hr 37 min
The Secret Society of Rabbinic Vegetarians
Source Sheet Was there a difference between a humans diet and the animals diet in Adam's days? Were humans allowed to eat meat before the Mabul? If not, why would they have been warned against Eiver Min Hachai? Why did the Egyptians not eat sheep? Now that humans can eat meat, should they? Is an Am Ha'aretz allowed to eat meat? What is Chassidus view on this? Did Adam bring Korbanos לזכות לרפו"ש דובער יצחק הכהן בן שרה שיינדל
Sep 30, 2025 · 1 hr 30 min
The Moment You Touch Your Lulav, You've Entered Into Machloikes
Source Sheet Should one get an Esrogs before or after yom kippur? Do some of the Minim need to be bound together? Do you need to hold all 4 at once to be Yotzei? If you don't have all 4, should you take what you have? Do you need to hold them in both hands? What if you held Lulav in the left hand and Esrog in the right? Which do you pick up first? Which do you put down first?
Sep 17, 2025 · 1 hr 29 min
Tashlich Causes Mayhem Amongst European Rabbis
Source Sheet (https://rebrand.ly/Tashlich) מוקדש לזכות לרפו"ש לרפואה שלמה לבצלאל יהודה בן חנה הני', רבקה בת אסתר חדוה, כוכבה בת לואיזה History of the Shaloh and Kitzur Shaloh Yaakov Emden's letter on the Kitzur Shaloh Is one allowed to do Tashlich on Shabbos? Can one do Tashlich on a day other than the first day of RH? Does Tashlich absolve one of their sins? Where does Tashlich originate from? Why do we do Tashlich? Why should Tashlich be done in front of live fish? Why are so many things on RH done in remembrance of the Akeidah?