Simply Deep

This episode takes up the Rashis that discuss the idea that each of the Shevatim was born along with a twin sister — and Binyamin was born along with two twin sisters.

We analyze Yaakov’s rebuke to the shepherds for not grazing their sheep.

Rashi (Bereishis 27:15) tells us that Yaakov wore the clothing that Eisav took from Nimrod. The Gemara in Psachim 54b says that these clothing originally belonged to Adam Ha‘Rishon and were created at Bein Hashmashos on Erev Shabbos.

This episode analyzes one expression of this enigmatic principle, perhaps shedding some light on the principle itself.

This episode discusses an apparent contradiction between two Rashis: In Bereishis 13:7 , he says that Lot had no right to take land in Eretz Yisrael because it wasn’t yet given to Avraham. But in Bereishis 23:4, he says that Avraham threatened to rightfully take land in Eretz Yisrael if they didn’t sell him a burial spot for Sarah.

The Gemara in Sanhedrin 65b describes Rava making a “man” and Rav Oshiya and Rav Chanina making a calf.

This episode surveys various writing of the Ramban to elucidate his theory on nisyonos—tests.

This episode discusses various ideas about Avraham’s Milah: (1) How and why Hashem helped Avraham do Milah? (2) The purpose of Milah acc to the Ramban; (3) How Milah completed the perfection of the remaining five of Avraham’s 248 limbs.

The Gemara in Sanhedrin 63a asks why the Jews spoke in plural when they said, “This is your god, O Israel.” Rav Yochanan says they hadn’t fully rejected Hashem—they included Him with the Egel. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai argues that joining Hashem with anything else is itself a terrible sin. We analyze this machlokes.

Rashi (Breishis 7:11 and 11:7) says that the words the Torah used to describe Hashem’s punishments of Dor Hamabul (rabba) and Dor Haflaga (hava) correspond to their sins. In explaining these strange examples of Midda knegged Midda, we uncovered fundamental ideas about the different sins of these two generations.

The Gemara in RH 16a cites a 5-way machlokes when/how often the world is judged. This episode analyzes this machlokes.

The Mishna in Yomah 85b tells us how fortunate we are: Before Whom do we purify ourselves and Who purifies us? Our Father in Heaven. This episode discusses the uniqueness of Teshuva during the days leading up to Yom HaKippurim.

The Gemara in Brachos 12b discusses whether saying Hamelech Hakadosh during eseres yemei teshuva is me’akeiv.

We start with trying to understand the Rambam in Teshuva 2:2 about a testimony of/before Hashem that a baal Teshuva won’t return to his sin. To do so, we analyze the Rambam’s proof text - Hoshea 14, the Haftora for Shabbos Shuva.

The Gemara in Eiruvin 13a describes Rabbi Akiva rejecting a student’s proposal while simultaneously praising it. We analyze this and discover nuances involved in teaching.

In Devarim 26:12-15, the Torah tells us about the “confession” a person makes after finishing the cycle of maasros. We analyze the significance of this mitzvah.

Why do we blow shofar in Elul? The Tur brings down three reasons.

The gemara in RH 16b says we blow shofar twice on Rosh Hashana to confuse the Satan. This episode analyzes Tosafos’s interpretation of this gemara.

The gemara in RH 16b says we blow shofar twice on Rosh Hashana to confuse the Satan. This episode analyzes Rashi's interpretation of this gemara.

This episode discusses the Rashi (Devarim 19:17) that says people standing before judges should view it as if they’re standing before Hashem.

The Gemara in Eiruvin 13b describes how the three year argument between Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel culminated in a bas kol saying, “These and these are the words of the living God, and the Halacha is like Beis Hillel.” The Gemara goes on to explain that the psak is like Beis Hillel because of various good middos they had. We analyze these middos and discuss why they’re relevant for halachik psak....

Yirmiyahu 9:22-23 says: “Thus says Hashem, "Don't let the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, don't let the rich man glory in his riches. But, let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows Me, that I am Hashem who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth, for in these things I delight,⁠" says Hashem.” Thi...

As we approach Tisha B’av, we gain some insight from the Gemara in BB 60b that discusses the basis of putting ashes on the head of the chassan—specifically on the place of the tefillin.

Rashi (Bamidbar 31:8) says that we killed Bilaam with the sword - the weapon of nonjews- because he tried to kill us with his mouth - the weapon of the Jews.

Rashi (Bamidbar 26:5) teaches that the Torah puts a yud and a hey around the names of the Jewish families to testify that the Jews lineage is pure, thereby undermining the ridicule of the nations who claim that the Egyptians had their way with the Jewish women.