Simply Deep

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.

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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

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.