Simply Deep

In a continuation from the previous episode, this shiur discusses the appropriateness of mentioning in musaf on Rosh Hashana pesukim that describe Hashem punishing idolators.

The Gemara on RH 32b explains that we shouldn’t mention a pasuk of malchios that refers to Hashem reigning over us with His outpouring wrath. While Rav Nachman would welcome a redemption of this sort, the Gemara says it’s inappropriate to mentionHashem‘s anger on Rosh Hashanah. This episode analyzes why.

Rashi (Devarim 29:12) brings out the logic of the flow of pesukim from the tochacha until Nitzavim. This episode develops the ideas we can learn from this flow.

In describing the reward we’ll receive for keeping the mitzvos, the Torah says (Devarim 28:6), “Blessed will you be in your comings and blessed will you be in your goings.” While the plain meaning is that you’ll have blessing in your travels, Rashi says it means “You’ll exit this world without sin just like you entered the world (without sin).” A few problems: (1) This interpretation doesn’t fit w...

The passuk in Devarim 10:17 says Hashem doesn’t play favorites. Yet, Rashi on Arami Oved Avi (Devarim 26:5) says that by nonjews, Hashem considers their evil plan as if they did the evil act (as opposed to by Jews). Likewise, says the Yerushalmi Peah 1:1, Hashem treats the good plan of Jews as if they did the good act (as opposed to by nonjews). Why isn’t this favoritism?

Rashi (Devarim 25:1) says that an argument doesn’t lead to peace. This episode analyzes this and a parallel Rashi (25:11) and tries to figure out what’s wrong with arguing and what does lead to peace.

Rashi (Devarim 22:8) explains the flow of some pesukim in Ki Seitzei based on the principle of mitzvah goreres mitzvah - a mitzvah drags a mitzvah. This episode analyzes this principle. For a shiur I gave on this topic in 2014, see https://ybt.org/audio-recordings.html?page=lecture&shiurID=817450&teacherFullName=Rabbi-E-Feder&shiurTitle=Mitzva-Goreres-Mitzva

This episode discusses a halachik Shayla: If one accepts early Shabbos and designates something away from usage at the moment he accepts Shabbos, is it muktza? Or does muktza always go by bein hashmashos?

A few Rashis in Parshas Shoftim (16:20 and 20:1) express the importance of justice in the success of Bnei Yisrael. This episode analyzes this connection and thereby uncovers an important idea about reward and punishment.

The Torah (Devarim 19:11) tells of a person who hates his fellow and kills him. Rashi says this teaches that if a person violates a lenient mitzvah (hating), he is likely to violate a strict mitzvah (killing). This episode analyzes the truth of this statement and what it teaches us about mitzvos.

Eliyahu bringing a korban to Hashem at Har HaCarmel is a classic example of horaas shaah, a case where a navi temporarily suspends the halachik system. Rashi (Devarim 12:13) seems to imply differently - that Eliyahu was using a built in exception to the prohibition of bringing a korban outside of the mikdash. This episode addresses this apparent contradiction. It also discusses a contradictory Ras...

The Torah generally demands that we treat other Jews - even great sinners - with love and compassion. There’s one exception: the meisis (a person who privately tries to convince another Jew to worship avoda zara). This episode discusses why the meisis is treated differently than all other sinners.

Some suggest that even though dinosaur bones seem to attest to the fact that the world is older than 6,000 years, they are merely a test from Hashem as to whether we will accept scientific knowledge or our tradition. They support this type of idea from the passuk in Re’eh (Devarim 13:4) which Rashi interprets to mean that Hashem gives a false prophet a miraculous sign to test us and determine whet...

In the second Parsha of krias shema (Devarim 17:11), the Torah tells us that if we turn to idols in the land of Israel, then we’ll perish quickly. Two Rashi’s on this passuk discuss (1) why this is an appropriate punishment; and (2) why it’s quickly given that the dor hamabul was given 120 years. This episode analyzes these Rashis and questions whether it really was so quickly.

At the beginning of Va’eschanan (Devarim 3:23) Moshe asks Hashem to go into Eretz Yisrael. Rashi deduces from the extra word “laimor” that he also “demanded” to know how Hashem would answer his request. Rashi cites 2 or 3 other examples of such requests by Moshe. This episodes analyzes this type of request and discusses if/when it’s appropriate.

This episode discusses Rashi’s claim (Va’eschanan 4:19) that Hashem “tricked” the nations into worshipping the heavenly bodies.

This informal discussion took place around the first yahrtzeit of my mother Shani Feder A'H.

This episode analyzes the first three pesukim of Eichah 2 and then presents some thoughts about how to relate to this especially challenging Tisha B’av.

The Gemara in Taanis 29a describes an event just before the destruction of the first Mikdash. Young kohanim went to the roof, said to Hashem that since they weren’t appropriate treasurers of the mikdash, and that He should take they keys back. Then they threw the keys of the Mikdash to the heaven and a form of a hand caught them. This episode analyzes this story, discusses whether it’s literal, an...

The Gemara in Taanis 29a says that because the Jews cried for nothing upon hearing the report of the spies, Hashem established that day (Tisha B’av) as a day of crying for all generations. This episode analyzes this strange connection.

The Gemara in Moed Kattan 27a teaches about several decrees, the bulk of which demand treating rich and poor equally to prevent the poor from embarrassment. This episode explores these exceptional decrees which seem to lean towards Communism.

This episode deals with an apparent contradiction between two Rashis (Bamidbar 27:15-16) which present differing views on Moshe’s concern upon hearing about his immanent passing.

This shiur was given in honor of the 9th Yahrtzeit of my mother, Shani Feder a’h. It’s a discussion of the daughters of Tzlofchod and their request to inherit their father’s portion in the land.

What are we trying to accomplish in nichum aveilim? This episode analyzes two strange Gemara stories and a few halachos regarding nichum aveilim to derive two aspects of nichum aveilim, connecting them to my mother’s life.

Rashi teaches that the subtleties of Bilaam’s statements to Balak’s servants (Bamidbar 22:19) indicated the ultimate outcome of his mission. But there are two different parts to this. This episodes analyzes and differentiates them.