Simply Deep

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.

The Mishna in Avos 1:15 tells us to greet people with a pleasant countenance. This episode explores Rabbeinu Yonah’s interpretation of this Mishna. It also discusses my mother’s advice in this area and Dale Carnegie’s book “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”

Tazria: (1) vayikra 12:2 - tumah of man follows tumah of animals just like in Creation; (2) vayikra 13:51 - Tzaraas mameres: two facets of Tzaraas 

The Mishna in Avos 1:6 tells us to judge a person favorably. This episode discusses the Rambam’s explanation of this Mishna in which he provides a methodology for judging other people’s actions. It also discusses the relevance of dan lekaf zechus to the Gemara in Shabbos 55b which says that Dovid and Shlomo didn’t sin (in the way that the plain reading of the pesukim imply). Furthermore, this epis...

Even before telling us about the basic mitzva of sipur, the hagadah tells us that even the greatest chachamim are obligated in it. This episode explores why.

The Gemara in Arachin 15b says that one who speaks lashon hara, his sins become big like the big three sins (murder, avoda zara, and gilui arayos). It brings support from pesukim which use the world “gadol” in all these instances. This episode analyzes this difficult Gemara, providing new insight about lashon hara and about “The Big Three.”

This episode discusses the Yachol Mai’Rosh Chodesh… part of the Pesach Hagadah.

The Avudraham and Ritva explain that ha lachma anya is in Aramaic so that the malachai hasharais (who don’t understand Aramaic) won’t hear us praising ourselves and then argue that we aren’t really fit to be redeemed. This episode addresses many difficulties with this pshat. In doing so, it also explains why we begin maggid with ha lachma anya, a cryptic and seemingly disconnected paragraph.

The Torah describes the Chatas for a tzibur who sins by following the incorrect psak of Sanhedrin. Rashi deduces from the passuk that such a sin somehow undermines the kedushas hamikdash. This episode analyzes this Rashi through looking carefully at the mashal he brings.

Rashi tells us that when the Kohen Gadol sins - even accidentally -it is bad for the nation. On the other hand, when the king sins and seeks atonement for the sin, it is good fortune for the nation. This episode tries to explain the reason for the discrepancy between these two people.

Cont

Cont

In 38:21, Rashi says that the Mishkan is called the Mishkan Ha’eidus because it is a testimony to the fact that HaShem overlooked the chet ha’eigel. This episode discusses the significance of this testimony.

continued 

The Torah (Shmos 31:18) tells us about the Luchos but describes the two of the them by writing the word לחת, which appears to be singular. Rashi says that this teaches that the two Luchos are equal. This episode probes the meaning of this Rashi by analyzing the significance of the two Luchos.

Gesundheit: The Wonder of Illness