Simply Deep

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.

Though I usually only post episodes on Chumash or Hashkafa, I really enjoyed this Rav Chaim. It’s short, not too complicated, and IMO really gives an idea of the brilliance of Rav Chaim. The topic is when it’s permitted to abort a fetus/baby to save the life of the mother. If you're looking to save time, you can only listen to Part 2. But if not, I'd recommend listening to both.

Guest episode with Rabbi Zimmer: This is a compelling defense of Rashi from the accusation of modern academics that Rashi advocated the heretical position that the text of Tanach was amended by later scribes.

Rashi (45:27) says that Yosef’s wagons (agalos) contained a hidden message to Yaakov about egla arufa, the subject they were learning before Yosef was sold. This episode analyzes this strange connection.

This episode resolved an apparent contradiction between two Rashis which discuss the afflictions of Yaakov Avinu. It reveals an aspect of Hashem’s fine tuning in His treatment of humans.

This episode (a 2012 shiur on today's haftorah) addresses Shlomo's wisdom in suggesting to cut the baby in half.

Rashi (42:36) says that Yaakov suspected that the brothers killed or sold Shimon like they did to Yosef. But did Yaakov know what they did to Yosef? And why would they do anything to Shimon?

This episode discusses the purpose and ideas of Haneiros Halalu and Maoz Tzur.

Is Chanuka about the miracle of the oil or the miracle of the war? If both, how do they relate to one another? Also, why was the miracle of the oil necessary?

Rashi says that the wife of Potifar seduced Yosef for the sake of Heaven. This episode analyzes this incident and provides a new perspective on the wife of Potifar.

In Breishis 34:30, Yaakov gave a weak criticism to Shimon and Levi for their killing the people for Shechem. This episode analyzes why and generalizes to lessons we can learn about giving rebuke.

The Torah says Yaakov and the sons of Yaakov acted with mirmah, literally deceit. Rashi and Onkelos say that it really means with chochma, wisdom.

Why did the shepherds keep a rock on the well, why did Yaakov tell them to get back to work, and how and why did he remove the rock which the shepherds couldn’t?

Rachel named Yosef based upon the fact that his birth marked the end of her disgrace. Rashi gives two explanations: 1) Now it’s clear that Yaakov won’t divorce and she won’t end up with Eisav; 2) If things went wrong in the house, she now had Yosef to blame. This episode deals with these strange explanations.

Rashi cites many midrashim which paint Eisav as a much bigger rasha than implied by the plain pshat of the pesukim. This episode presents two approaches to dealing with this discrepancy and others like it.

This episode discusses Rashi and Radak’s explanations for how Yaakov was able to lie to Yitzchak and claim that he was Eisav.