Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת החודש. Discussed: The Ramban explains when and why we started calling the months by name (Nissan Iyar etc); names that are not Jewish but rather based on Persian/Babylonian pagan God's. This leads to the question, why are we using Persian names for our calendar? The Sefer Haikram asks, how could the Jews adopt non-Jewish Persian names of the months? Doesn't the Torah command us to count the months by number starting from Nissan? The Sefer Haikram concludes that this demonstrates that parts of the Torah can change, arguing against the Rambam's Ninth Principle, that the Torah is immutable and will never change.

The second part of a Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פרשת החודש. Discussed: R' Yaakov Kaminetzky elaborates on the Ramban, presenting a new approach to understanding the Geula from Bavel and Tekufas Bayis Sheni.R' Yaakov's perspective on the modern state of Israel as it relates to Galus, specifically to the horrors of the Holocaust and the rise of the Soviet Iron Curtain. R' Yaakov explains that during Bayis Sheni the Yidden spoke Aramaic, had Aramaic names, and used Persian months as a way to highlight that they had not yet reached full Geula. On the flip side, when we are in Galus, it is more important to keep Jewish names as a way to stave off assimilation, as we saw in Miztrayim.

First part of a Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פסח. Discussed: The significance that Hashem personally killed the Egyptians by Makkos Bachoros and did not use an emissary. Additionally, why do we focus our eternal gratitude to Hashem for the inaction of passing us over and not killing us?Why did Klal Yisroel bow down in gratitude when they were told they would have descendants that would be asking the questions of the Ben Harasha (Wicked son) from the Hagadah?Beis Halevi’s explanation of the Medrash that Hashem waited for the approval of the Angles before starting Makkos Choshech and how it contrasts with Krias Yam Suf where the angles protested.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on פסח, continuing on the topic of Galus and antisemitism.Discussed:Understanding the Pasuk brought in the Haggadah, ואמר לך בדמיך חיי ואמר לך בדמיך חיי (and I said to you, by your blood you shall live, and I said to you by your blood you shall live). Should we understand the Pasuk על פי פשט or דרוש, which seem contradictory? Furthermore, why does the Pasuk repeat itself?The Bais Halevi explains the purpose of antisemitism and how the Egyptians' antisemitism correlated with the Yidden's attempt to cover their Milah and assimilate into Egyptian society. He also explains why the Pasuk in Tehilim praises Hashem for inciting the Egyptian's hatred.A discussion on the proper historical perspective of antisemitism throughout the centuries, and comparing this perspective to an article written by a non-religious Israeli in Ha'aertz.