Simply Deep

Rashi (25:1) teaches that Ketura was Hagar. This episode questions why the Torah doesn’t tell us this openly and connects it with modern day antisemitism.

If the title sounds strange to you, have a listen…

In Breishis 18:21, Hashem describes the factors that He used to determine if Sedom should be destroyed. This episode analyzes this passuk with Rashi’s explanations.

What’s in a name? This episode discusses the significance of the name changes of Avraham, Sarah, Yaakov, and Yehoshua. Furthermore, it discusses what the name changes teach us about these different personalities.

Rashi (Breishis 19:26) says that Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt because of her sin of depriving guests of salt. This episode analyzes the sense of this fantastic punishment.

The Gemara in Gittin 45a tells a story involving the daughters of Rav Nachman stirring a hot pot with their bare hands, Rav Ilish listening to the messages of the birds, and other strange features. This episode analyzes this puzzling Gemara.

Tehilim 121 (esah einai el he׳harim) teaches that when we are looking for help, it comes from Hashem - He will guard us from harm. This episode deals with the problem that this doesn’t always seem to be true - i.e. it seems that sometimes people put their trust in Hashem and still get harmed. We emerge with an approach on how to deal with our insecurities and how to take security in Hashem.

Rashi (Breishis 11:9) says that even though the sin of dor haflaga was seemingly worse than that of dor hamabul, the dor haflaga was saved because they had peace among the themselves, unlike dor hamabul. This episode deals with two major questions: (1) Is peace good at all costs? Even if used to rebel against Hashem? (2) If peace was so good, why did Hashem ruin the peace by spreading them out? We...

People wonder how they - as one individual - can do anything to help out the national Tzara. This episode discusses this issue and some ways we can respond in an eis tzara

The final Rashi in Noach tells us that until the time of Abraham, Hashem’s “anger”was expressed in the world. The midrash elaborates that once Avraham came around, Hashem began giving afflictions which come and go. This episode discusses this Rashi and applies it to our current eis tzara.

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.