Simply Deep

The first korban the kohanim brought in their inauguration was a par chatas. Rashi (Shmos 29:1) says it was a mechaper for the egel. This episode explores the significance of this connection. Along the way, we discuss ideas about the chet ha’egel, korbanos, kappara, Mishkan, and more.

Shabbos 30b

Shmos 25:21 and 26:15

Taanis 21b

Menachos 29b

Shmos 21:1; Morah Nevuchim 3:27 and 3:54

Shmos 23:7

Shmos 19:8

Shmos 19:4

While Yisro already knew about Hashem, Rashi (Shmos 18:11) says that the midda knegged midda expressed in krias yam suf showed him even more that Hashem was greater than all other gods. What does this mean? Did he previously know this or not? This episode answers this question by developing the idea of degrees of knowledge. It then discusses the value of the Physics to God podcast, even for those...

In Shmos 14:15, Hashem questions Moshe as to why he was Davening at that time (when the Mitzrim were chasing the Jews into the sea). This episode analyzes Rashi’s two interpretations as to why Moshe’s tefilla was inappropriate.

We’re all familiar with the description of Shabbos as me’ein olam haba, somehow partaking of the world to come. But what exactly does this mean? The source is a Gemara in Brachos 57b - I’m sure you’ll be quite surprised to hear the other two things that the Gemara says are me’ein olam haba.

The Gemara in Shabbos 28b discusses the Halacha that for tefillin to be kosher, they must be made from a kosher animal. In analyzing this Gemara, this episode develops several ideas involved in the mitzvah of tefilin.

In the middle of telling the story of the Exodus, the Torah (Shmos 6:14) digresses to review the lineage of Reuvein, Shimon, and Levi. This episode uses Rashi to analyze why the Torah does this and what lessons can be learned.

Why did Moshe have to leave the city to Daven to stop the barad and not the other Makos?

In Shmos 8:18, the Torah says that the makah of arov demonstrated that “I am HaShem in the midst of the land.” Rashi explains “even though my Shechina is the heavens, my decree is fulfilled on the earth.” This episode analyzes the meaning of this lesson and ties it to yesodos that are elucidated in the beginning of the Rambam in Yesodei Hatorah and referenced in Shema.

Rashi (Shmos 1:10 based on Sotah 11a) says that the reason Pharoh used water to kill the Jewish babies was because he knew that Hashem punishes Midah k’neged Midah and that Hashem swore not to bring another flood. As such, Pharoh reasoned that Hashem wouldn’t be able to punish the Mitzrim for their crime. But Pharoh was wrong because Hashem only promised that he wouldn’t bring a flood on the entir...

At the beginning of Shmos (1:5), the Torah tells us that Yosef was in Mitzrayim. Don’t we already know this? Rashi says it’s teaching us something special about Yosef, which in my opinion is the reason he’s called “Yosef HaTzadik.” This episode discusses Yosef’s unique quality.

This episode (a 2015 shiur) analyzes the strange story of Moshe's near death due his failure to do Bris Mila on his son.

The Gemara in Shabbos 25b cites a four way machlokes about who is rich? Rabbi Meir gives the classic answer (from Avos 4:1) that it’s one who is happy with his portion. Rabbi Tarfon says it’s one who has 100 vineyards, 100 fields, and 100 servants to work them. Rabbi Akiva says it’s one who has a wife who is “pleasant in her actions.” Rabbi Yossi says it’s one who has a bathroom near his table. Th...

This recording addresses the position that Chazal knew that Reuven (and others) sinned in the manner literally described in Tanach but taught otherwise in order to cover up those sins.

While the Torah says that Reuven slept with Bilhah, the Gemara in Shabbos 55b says, “Anyone who says Reuven sinned is making a mistake.” It does the same thing with five other leaders in Tanach. This episode discusses these discrepancies between pshat and drash and analyzes why the pesukim would say these things if they didn’t actually occur as written.

While we’re all familiar with the Mishna in Avos 4:1 which tells us that a rich man is someone who is happy with his portion, it’s not so simple. It’s actually a four way machlokes in Shabbos 25b. This episode presents the facts of the machlokes for you to think about. I hope to give shiur discussing this in more depth on Tuesday.

This episode delves into some Rashis to develop a new (to me) perspective on the Brachos that Yaakov gave to his children.

This is part 2 of the Rav Chaim. It begins by recapping what we did in part 1. Then it moves to Rav Chaim's novel approach to explain this very difficult Rambam.