Simply Deep

This episode discusses Rashi’s claim (Va’eschanan 4:19) that Hashem “tricked” the nations into worshipping the heavenly bodies.

This informal discussion took place around the first yahrtzeit of my mother Shani Feder A'H.

This episode analyzes the first three pesukim of Eichah 2 and then presents some thoughts about how to relate to this especially challenging Tisha B’av.

The Gemara in Taanis 29a describes an event just before the destruction of the first Mikdash. Young kohanim went to the roof, said to Hashem that since they weren’t appropriate treasurers of the mikdash, and that He should take they keys back. Then they threw the keys of the Mikdash to the heaven and a form of a hand caught them. This episode analyzes this story, discusses whether it’s literal, an...

The Gemara in Taanis 29a says that because the Jews cried for nothing upon hearing the report of the spies, Hashem established that day (Tisha B’av) as a day of crying for all generations. This episode analyzes this strange connection.

The Gemara in Moed Kattan 27a teaches about several decrees, the bulk of which demand treating rich and poor equally to prevent the poor from embarrassment. This episode explores these exceptional decrees which seem to lean towards Communism.

This episode deals with an apparent contradiction between two Rashis (Bamidbar 27:15-16) which present differing views on Moshe’s concern upon hearing about his immanent passing.

This shiur was given in honor of the 9th Yahrtzeit of my mother, Shani Feder a’h. It’s a discussion of the daughters of Tzlofchod and their request to inherit their father’s portion in the land.

What are we trying to accomplish in nichum aveilim? This episode analyzes two strange Gemara stories and a few halachos regarding nichum aveilim to derive two aspects of nichum aveilim, connecting them to my mother’s life.

Rashi teaches that the subtleties of Bilaam’s statements to Balak’s servants (Bamidbar 22:19) indicated the ultimate outcome of his mission. But there are two different parts to this. This episodes analyzes and differentiates them.

This episode discusses various Rashis on Bnei Yisrael’s encounter with Edom and its aftermath.

Rashi tells us that we water for 40 years in the desert because of the zechus of Miriam. This episode speculates about why Miriam is the one through which we merited water.

This episode (a shiur from 2018) discusses various Rashis regarding chukim.

After Korach argued against Moshe, Moshe fell on his face. Rashi (16:4) says this was because Moshe already Davened to protect the Jews from punishment for their sin three times. He was worried that the fourth time wouldn’t work. Rashi supports this point from a mashal with a king and his sinful son. This episode analyzes this point and the relevance of the mashal.

Final point I forgot to add

At the end of Shelach, Rabbi quotes Rabbi Moshe haDarshan who makes five strange connections between Tzitzis and Yitzias Mitzrayim. This episode analyzes these connections and discusses some general ideas about taamei hamitzvos.

The Gemara provides many stories about Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa which present him as a type of miracle worker. This episode is the second of a two-part series presents a new perspective on this puzzling Torah personality.

The Gemara provides many stories about Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa which present him as a type of miracle worker. This episode is the first of a two-part series presents a new perspective on this puzzling Torah personality.

The Torah tells us that Miriam spoke about the isha kushis that Moshe took. Rashi says the Gematria of kushis (736) is the same as yefas maareh - beautiful. Just like nobody doubts the blackness of a kushis, so too nobody doubted the beauty of Tzippora - and yet Moshe divorced her. This episode analyzes these and other strange Rashis on this matter and probes the significance of using Gematria to...

Ever wonder why we make rows after burial for the mourners to walk through? Listen to this episode to find out what it’s all about.

Rashi (Bamidbar 6:23) says that the passuk writes an extra vav to teach the kohanim to give their beracha slowly and with proper intent. This episode discusses four different ways to relate to birchas kohanim and the relationship of these ways to the speed at which the kohanim enunciate their beracha.

Rashi tells us that if we give maaser, then we’ll have a lot of money and if we withhold it, then we’ll only have a little. This episode considers how this works.

The Torah has two mitzvos to write a Sefer Torah: one for a regular person (learned from the passuk in Devarim 31:19 commanding us to write shiras ha’azinu) and one for a king (learned from Devarim 17:18). This episode analyzes the character of each of these mitzvos.

The Gemara in BK 38a describes Ulla’s remarks to Rav Shmuel bar Yehuda upon the loss of his daughter. His words are shocking and seem very insensitive to a grieving father. This episode analyzes this story and derives a message about giving nechama.

In Vayikra 26:8 (bechukosai), the Torah tells us that when we are doing the Mitzvos, 5 of us will pursue 100 enemies and 100 of us will pursue 10,000 enemies. Rashi points out the mathematics of these pursuits is off: the ratio changed from 1:20 to 1:100. Rashi says that the lesson is that you cannot compare a few people doing the mitzvos to many people doing the mitzvos. This episode analyzes thi...