Simply Deep

In Parshas Massei, Rashi (34:2) tells us that Hashem took the angels of the seven nations down from heaven, bound them up before Moshe, and said, "Look. They no longer have any strength." This episode (which was given on Zoom during Covid) analyzes this cryptic Rashi and, in doing so, discusses why Rashi writes in metaphors like this.

The Gemara in BB 12b discusses the value of eating and drinking wine before learning. In doing so, it uses a very strange analogy. This episode uses this Gemara to derive important practical lessons about successfully incorporating learning Torah into our lives.

In Parshas Pinchas, Rashi on two consecutive pesukim seems to give contradictory perspectives on Moshe’s request for a new leader. In 27:15, Rashi highlights how, before his death, Moshe abandoned his personal needs for the sake of communal needs. Then in 27:16, Rashi imputes a personal agenda to Moshe’s request - that his sons will inherit his position. This episode addresses this apparent contra...

Despite her many years of pain and illnesses, my mother wrote the following before a life-threatening surgery: “As I hope you realize, the point of this all is to simply say, I thank God every day that I am truly blessed with happiness (to be cliche, Yiddishe Nachas). Bumps in the road are just that and make me appreciate what I have more.” This episode analyzes these moving words by probing the t...

At the end of Parshas Chukas, the Torah tells us the story of the spies that Moshe sent to Yaazer. Rashi explains how these spies learned from the mistakes of the first set of spies. This episode tries to piece together the story of these second spies.

When Moshe tried to make peace with them, Dasan and Aviram said, “We will not go up!” Rashi explains that their words caused them to stumble. Since they said that they will not go up, in fact they only ended up going down (to the depths of the Earth). This episode addresses this strange correlation.

The Torah traces Korach’s lineage to Levi and not to Yaakov Avinu. Rashi explains that Yaakov davened not to be mentioned with Korach. This episode explores Yaakov’s motivation in making this request.

Rashi (Bamidbar 15:38) on Lo Sasuru likens one’s eyes and heart to spies which bring him to aveira. This episode analyzes this analogy to gain insight into avoiding sin.

At the very end of Shelach, Rashi brings Rav Moshe Hadarshan who “explains” many details of tzitzis in strange ways. This episodes discusses these drashos with an eye towards understanding the role of drash in general.

Gematria and the 613 Mitzvos

The Gemara in Chulin 60a discusses strange features of the bull that Adam HaRishon brought as a korban. This episode analyzes this Gemara with an eye towards methodology of interpreting cryptic Aggados.

In Parshas Behaalosecha (10:29), Moshe pleads with Yisro to join us in entering Eretz Yisrael. This episode analyzes Rashi to reveal the various facets of Moshe’s argument to Yisro.

Rashi explains many details of the process of the Sotah bringing a Mincha and drinking the water. Many of these involve degrading her in one way or another. This episode discusses these details, deriving pertinent lessons about how we view Sotah, znus, and taamei hamitzvah in general.

Why does the Torah in this week’s parsha (Naso) juxtapose giving gifts to the kohen and the parsha of Sotah? Rashi (Bamidbar 5:12) says that it’s teaching us that if a man withholds gifts of the kohen, he will eventually need to bring his unfaithful wife to the kohen to drink the Sotah waters. How in the world does one lead to another? Is this a natural or supernatural correlation? This episode ad...

This episode attempts to gain some insight into the Torah’s perspective on Justice. It does so through analyzing various stories in the Torah through the lens of the Rishonim.

This episode discusses the role of gematria and at-bash in understanding the quantities involved in the Nesiim's donations to the Mishkan. 

In perhaps the most dramatic part of the book (1:16-17), Rus tells Naomi that she wants to be with her in all facets of her life (and death). While the emphasis seems to be on the person of Naomi, Rashi presents a different picture - one focused on various facets of the Torah life. This episode tries to reconcile these apparently different perspectives on the conversion of Rus and of future conver...

The Torah (Bamidbar 3:1) introduces the offspring of Moshe and Aharon but then only tells us about the children of Aharon. Rashi says that since Moshe taught them Torah, it’s as if he fathered them. This episode discusses the general theme of the comparison of a Rebbe to a father.

In Bechukosai (Vayikra 26:12), the Torah culminates the list of Brachos by saying HaShem will walk with us. Rashi explains that it means that He will stroll with us in Gan Eden like one of us. This episodes tries to explain the meaning of this very difficult metaphor.

In Parshas Behar (25:45), the Torah describes the halachos regarding a Jew who is sold to a nonjew. In passing, Rashi infers lessons about how nonjews often learn from Jews, and vice versa. This episode analyzes this tendency and the lessons we can learn from it.

This episode pieces together different pshatim in Rashi to build a picture of the Mekalel, his background, and his sin.

One explanation Rashi gives for the motivation of the mekalel to curse towards HaShem is his question of why the lechem hapanim were only eaten on the ninth day. This episode discusses a possible answer to this question.

The Torah ends many pesukim with the phrase אני ה׳, I am HaShem. Rashi explains this differently in different places. This episode discusses a few of these (from this parsha - Emor), trying to explain the discrepancies.

The Torah (Vayikra 19:25) tells us that the mitzva of orlah will lead to your fruits being additionally blessed. Rashi explains that this promise is addressing your evil inclination which will be bothered that you have to work four years for no personal benefit. This episode discusses the message of this Rashi.

This episode discusses the claim that the gematria of be'zos in Avodas Yom Ha'kippurim references the 410 years of the first Beis Hamikdash.