Simply Deep

This episode discusses some thoughts about the situation in Israel.

The Torah gives a seemingly contradictory description of the sun and moon that Hashem created. At first, it says "two great luminaries" and then "one great luminary...and one small luminary..." Rashi quotes the famous Midrash that Hashem originally made them equal in size until the moon complained, leading to Hashem making the moon smaller...This episode analyzes this strange m...

Rashi (Breishis 1:12) tells us that when Hashem commanded trees to grow li’mineihu, according to their species, the vegetation made a kal vechomer and did the same (even though it wasn’t commanded). This episode analyzes the Gemara in Chulin 60a on which this enigmatic Rashi is based.

The Torah (Vayikra 23:43) tells us that we sit in Sukkos to make known to generations that Hashem caused us to dwell in “Sukkos” when He took us from Egypt. In Sukkah 11b, the tanaim argue whether this refers to miraculous clouds or actually huts. This episode analyzes this machlokes.

In Hilchos Teshuva 10:1-2, Rambam discusses why one shouldn’t serve Hashem out of fear but out of love. This episode analyzes these types of service of Hashem.

The Rambam 2:6 says Teshuva during the ten days of Teshuva is better than other times. Why? Furthermore, the Rambam describes the difference between Teshuva gemura and regular Teshuva. If they both give you Mechila, what is better about Teshuva gemura? Also why does the Rambam discuss Teshuva gemura before regular Teshuva? This episode discusses these questions and more.

This episode discusses the Rambam in Hilchos Teshuva 2:9-11 regarding the need to ask Mechila from someone you sinned against.

This episode discusses various questions about the relationship between teshuva and kappara.

The Gemara (RH 32a) suggests that we must say at least three pesukim supporting each theme in musaf on Rosh Hashana. One reason given for this number is because it corresponds to Kohen, Levi, and Yisrael. This episode explores this strange connection and discusses some central ideas regarding the tefillos on Rosh Hashana.

In Rosh Hashana davening, we mention that today is the day that the world was created. In RH 11a, the Gemara cites a machlokes whether this is, in fact, true: whether the world was created in Nisan or Tishrei. This episode analyzes this strange argument and addresses whether it contradicts modern cosmology.

When the Torah (Devarim 30:3) describes Hashem bringing us back from exile, the word choice implies that Hashem Himself is returning. This episode discusses Rashi’s two explanations for this description.

Rashi (Devarim 27:24) quotes Rav Moshe Hadarshan who explains that Moshe only said 11 curses because he didn’t want to curse Shimon because he wasn’t going to bless him (due to his sins) in Zos Habracha. We raised a few serious problems: (1) There are actually 12 curses, not 11? (2) Not wanting to bless him is a reason to curse him, not to omit his curse? (3) The curses aren’t addressing any sheva...

In Parshas Ki Savo, the Torah teaches us about vidui maaser, a farmer’s declaration that he’s given all of the terumos and maasros properly. At the end of this declaration, Rashi explains that we say to God, “We did what You decreed upon us, now You do that which is upon You to do (i.e. give us rain).” This episode analyzes the purpose of vidui maaser and the appropriateness of this apparent barga...

Why don’t we allow converts from Amon and Moav to ever marry into our nation while we do allow third generation converts from Mitzrayim and Edom to marry in? The Torah gives one answer; Rashi (seemingly) gives an entirely different answer. This episode seeks to resolve Rashi’s apparent contradiction with the pesukim.

Rashi (Devarim 25:17) says that the Torah juxtaposed the discussion of false weights to the parsha of Amaleik to teach that if we use false weights, we should be worried about our enemies attacks. This episode discusses this strange connection.

The Torah (Devarim 12:28) says that the mitzvos are “good and upright in the eyes of Hashem.” Rashi explains that “good” means in the eyes of Hashem and “upright” means in the eyes of man. This episode addresses this open contradiction between Rashi and the pshat in the passuk.

The passuk in Devarim 18:13 says you should be tamim (complete) with Hashem your God. This episode takes up the interpretations of Rashi and Ramban on this important passuk.

People often attack the Torah as immoral because of its treatment of Avdus, slavery. This episode will discuss the role of avdus in the Torah and will justify its morality.

In Devarim 11:2-9, Moshe tells the Jews that he’s not speaking with the generation who didn’t see what Hashem did to Mitzrayim… and many other miracles. Rather, he’s talking to those who saw these events with their own eyes. This episode deals with the significance of this point. After all, who cares if they saw it with their own eyes or if they knew it from their parents’ eyewitness testimony (as...

In Parshas Eikev, Rashi (11:19) expresses the importance of teaching your very young children “Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe” and the like. If you don’t, he says, it’s as if you bury them. This episode probes the importance of teaching Torah to young children and analyzes this extreme claim.

The Mishna/Gemara in Kiddushin 82 discusses various factors to consider in choosing a profession. Based upon this Mishna, this episode discusses the lesson we can learn from animals lack of work and the role of work in people’s lives.

The Torah (Devarim 5:19) describes the voice that Hashem produced at Sinai as one that would not be “yasaf”. Rashi cites two interpretations: (1) it didn’t stop; (2) it would never occur again. This episodes analyzes these interpretations, highlighting the uniqueness of the event of Sinai.

The Mishna/Gemara in Kiddushin 82 discusses various factors to consider in choosing a profession. Based upon this Mishna, this episode discusses how a person should balance learning and working.

In Parshas Devarim (1:9), Moshe tells Hashem that he cannot carry the Jewish people alone. Rashi explains that Moshe’s sentiment was based upon the great responsibility that Jewish judges have for the mistakes that they make. This episode analyzes the nature of this responsibility.

The Gemara in Kiddushin 82 discusses various factors to consider in choosing a profession. This episode analyzes a few of them.