Simply Deep

The Gemara in Sukkah 52a tells us that at the end of days, Hashem will slaughter the yetzer hara and show tzadikim and reshaim its true nature - this will lead to both groups eulogizing it. This episode analyzes this strange gemara. 

The Gemara in Sukkah 52a says that the yetzer hara is called by seven names. This episode analyzes the first few of them.

We all know that we are obligated to drink until we can’t differentiate between Arrur Haman and Baruch Mordechai. Why is this the amount? On a different note, Rashi (5:13) says that what really enraged Haman was that Mordechai showed him a contract in which Haman sold himself to Mordechai as a slave. It sounds hard to understand why Mordechai would make such a move. This episode discusses these tw...

The megilla (5:1) tells us that Esther wore malchus when she entered the king’s chamber. Rashi says that while plain pshat is that she wore bigdei malchus, the drasha is that she wore ruach hakodesh. This episode explores the meaning of this statement.

Rashi (Esther 2:11) tells us that Mordechai and Dovid were shown hints of future salvation. He uses this to explain why Mordechai went to check on Esther daily. This episode discusses the significance of these hints.

The beams of the Mishkan were made from atzei shittim. Where did they get this wood on the desert? Rashi (Shmos 25:5 and 26:15) tells us that Yaakov Avinu planted trees in Egypt in preparation for the wood of the Mishkan. This episode draws two lessons from this claim.

Despite my mother’s many illnesses, she was very happy with her portion in life. This episode discusses this midda and how one can try to attain it. It also discusses: Abraham’s lack of realization of Sarah’s beauty, the paradox of humility of great people, and the prohibition of coveting.

Shmos 22:21-23 tells us that one who oppresses a widow or orphan will be killed with a sword, making his wife and children into widows and orphans. Rashi adds that they will be permanently so. In this episode, Ezra discusses the justice of such extreme punishments.

Rashi in Shmos 22:30 tells us that dogs are given tereifos as a reward that they didn’t bark at the Jews on the night of Makas Bechoros. Rashi says that this demonstrates that HaShem doesn’t withhold reward from any creature. This episode discusses how it’s possible to apply reward to an animal who has no free will and how this can be used as a lesson to HaShem’s reward in general.

Rashi (Shmos 22:30) tells us that if we are kadosh by abstaining from eating neveilos and tereifos, then we are “to God.” If not, not. This episode discusses this meaning of this puzzling statement.

Rashi in Shmos 19:2 teaches that just as the Jews were in a state of teshuva at Sinai, they did teshuva before they left Rifidim. What is the significance of this seemingly trivial detail? To understand this Rashi, this episode traces the events of Refidim to learn important and surprising lessons about the (continuous) battle against Amaleik.

Jon K asked: In Shmos 17:5, Rashi says Hashem specifically told Moshe to use his staff for the water in the rock to show it could also do good things. Wouldn't that further make people believe that the staff had powers in of itself? After learning with area with my son Ezra, he recorded our answer.

Rashi (19:12) says that the boundary around Har Sinai said, “Guard yourself from ascending beyond this point.” This episode analyzes this puzzling Rashi and discusses various points regarding keeping the people away from Har Sinai.

After the splitting of the sea, Rashi (Shmos 15:22) tells us that the Jews got even more gold and silver from the sea than they had previously gotten from the Egyptians. Nevertheless, Moshe forced the Jews to prematurely travel away from the sea. This episode analyzes the significance of getting this great wealth and of leaving some of it behind.

The Torah (Shmos 16:35) tells us that the Jews ate the mun for 40 years - until they entered Eretz Kenaan. Rashi explains that these 40 years weren’t all the same…This episode explores the import of this Rashi in the context of the overall purpose of the mun.

The Rambam in Brachos 10:3 (based upon a Gemara in Brachos 60a) says that we are obligated to say a bracha of Baruch Dayan Ha’emes on bad news in a state of simcha. This episode discusses how this is possible. Furthermore, it touches upon the idea of Gam zu le’tovah and “All that HaShem does is for the good.” Also discussed are some ideas on Brachos and on Hashem’s Justice.

In Shmos 12:42, the Torah tells us twice that the night of Pesach is guarded. Rashi interprets them to mean (1) HaShem guarded the night and waited for it to come in order to fulfill His promise to Avraham to redeem us on this night; and (2) it’s guarded to protect us (for all generations) from mazakim, just like the Jews in Egypt were guarded from the mashchis. As these enigmatic claims raise num...

At the end of Bishalach (17:9), Moshe instructs Yehoshua to choose men to fight against Amaleik. Rashi explains that these men had to (a) be strong; (b) fear sin; (c) know how to nullify witchcraft. This episode (which was part of a shiur given a few years ago) analyzes these three criteria.  

Rashi (10:22) gives two reasons the Makah of Choshech. This episode raises a few problems on these reasons. Answering these questions reveals new insight into this makah and into the steps needed to enable yitzias mitzrayim.

What is the place of emuna, trust in HaShem, in a Torah life? In a letter my mother A”H wrote before a potentially life-ending surgery, she wrote, “Enjoy and cherish every day- don’t worry so much about tomorrow - on what might or might not happen. Do the best you can - but-- if you focus your worry on tomorrow - it makes you lose today AND tomorrow-- If something bad is going to happen it will ha...

When the Torah describes the plague of frogs, we find two strange Rashis: 1) in 7:29, he says that the frogs went into the Egyptians’ bellies and croaked. 2) in 8:2, he says that it started with one frog, which continued to multiply as they hit it. Are these meant to be literal? This episode tries to: explain these midrashim, look more closely at the pesukim themselves, and get some deeper insight...

The Gemara in Chagiga 4b recounts some of Rav Bibi’s conversations with the Malach Ha'maves. This episode develops the idea that these conversations are a parable for Rav Bibi working through the area of justice in the context of a well-known story about the death of Mary. In the course of the discussion, this episode also discusses the idea of Mazal (the topic/title of an earlier podcast episode)...

In Shemos 2:5-10, the Torah tells us about the daughter of Pharoah saving Moshe and deciding to keep him alive. Rashi, midrashim, and the Gemara in Sotah 12b provide some more details about what caused her to let Moshe live. This episode discusses these sources as well as the famous midrash about Moshe burning his tongue on the coals.

Rafi noticed that the Torah calls her Bas Pharoah five times without telling us her name. This episode suggests a possible explanation for this omission.

What is the Torah’s outlook on avoda zara and why is it so bad? By discovering two different types of avoda zara, this episode tries to deal with these questions.