Shlomo's Cutting the Baby
This episode (a 2012 shiur on today's haftorah) addresses Shlomo's wisdom in suggesting to cut the baby in half.
Dec 16, 2023•42 min
Simply Deep
Although the words of the Torah, Chazal, and Rishonim may at times seem simple, they are deeply layered with profound insights and lessons. This podcast explores the hidden depths beneath seemingly straightforward statements in Rashi, Aggadata, and other Torah sources.
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Episodes
Yaakov’s Doubts
Rashi (42:36) says that Yaakov suspected that the brothers killed or sold Shimon like they did to Yosef. But did Yaakov know what they did to Yosef? And why would they do anything to Shimon?
Dec 15, 2023•6 min
Haneiros Halalu and Maoz Tzur
This episode discusses the purpose and ideas of Haneiros Halalu and Maoz Tzur.
Dec 13, 2023•35 min
Which Chanuka Miracle?
Is Chanuka about the miracle of the oil or the miracle of the war? If both, how do they relate to one another? Also, why was the miracle of the oil necessary?
Dec 08, 2023•8 min
Yosef and the Wife of Potifar
Rashi says that the wife of Potifar seduced Yosef for the sake of Heaven. This episode analyzes this incident and provides a new perspective on the wife of Potifar.
Dec 07, 2023•35 min
Learning from Yaakov how to Give Rebuke
In Breishis 34:30, Yaakov gave a weak criticism to Shimon and Levi for their killing the people for Shechem. This episode analyzes why and generalizes to lessons we can learn about giving rebuke.
Dec 06, 2023•29 min
Mirmah
The Torah says Yaakov and the sons of Yaakov acted with mirmah, literally deceit. Rashi and Onkelos say that it really means with chochma, wisdom.
Dec 01, 2023•10 min
The Rock on the Well
Why did the shepherds keep a rock on the well, why did Yaakov tell them to get back to work, and how and why did he remove the rock which the shepherds couldn’t?
Nov 30, 2023•31 min
Rachel's Disgrace and Yosef's Name
Rachel named Yosef based upon the fact that his birth marked the end of her disgrace. Rashi gives two explanations: 1) Now it’s clear that Yaakov won’t divorce and she won’t end up with Eisav; 2) If things went wrong in the house, she now had Yosef to blame. This episode deals with these strange explanations.
Nov 24, 2023•1 hr 32 min
Eisav: Two Approaches to Reconcile the Pshat and the Midrash
Rashi cites many midrashim which paint Eisav as a much bigger rasha than implied by the plain pshat of the pesukim. This episode presents two approaches to dealing with this discrepancy and others like it.
Nov 22, 2023•44 min
How did Yaakov Lie?
This episode discusses Rashi and Radak’s explanations for how Yaakov was able to lie to Yitzchak and claim that he was Eisav.
Nov 17, 2023•13 min
Ketura
Rashi (25:1) teaches that Ketura was Hagar. This episode questions why the Torah doesn’t tell us this openly and connects it with modern day antisemitism.
Nov 10, 2023•14 min
The Miracles of October 7
If the title sounds strange to you, have a listen…
Nov 10, 2023•15 min
Her Cry
In Breishis 18:21, Hashem describes the factors that He used to determine if Sedom should be destroyed. This episode analyzes this passuk with Rashi’s explanations.
Nov 08, 2023•39 min
The Name Changes of Avraham, Sarah, Yaakov, and Yehoshua
What’s in a name? This episode discusses the significance of the name changes of Avraham, Sarah, Yaakov, and Yehoshua. Furthermore, it discusses what the name changes teach us about these different personalities.
Nov 05, 2023•1 hr 27 min
A Pillar of Salt?
Rashi (Breishis 19:26) says that Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt because of her sin of depriving guests of salt. This episode analyzes the sense of this fantastic punishment.
Nov 03, 2023•12 min
Hot Hands and Talking Birds
The Gemara in Gittin 45a tells a story involving the daughters of Rav Nachman stirring a hot pot with their bare hands, Rav Ilish listening to the messages of the birds, and other strange features. This episode analyzes this puzzling Gemara.
Nov 01, 2023•48 min
Taking Security in Hashem
Tehilim 121 (esah einai el he׳harim) teaches that when we are looking for help, it comes from Hashem - He will guard us from harm. This episode deals with the problem that this doesn’t always seem to be true - i.e. it seems that sometimes people put their trust in Hashem and still get harmed. We emerge with an approach on how to deal with our insecurities and how to take security in Hashem.
Oct 27, 2023•37 min
Great is Peace
Rashi (Breishis 11:9) says that even though the sin of dor haflaga was seemingly worse than that of dor hamabul, the dor haflaga was saved because they had peace among the themselves, unlike dor hamabul. This episode deals with two major questions: (1) Is peace good at all costs? Even if used to rebel against Hashem? (2) If peace was so good, why did Hashem ruin the peace by spreading them out? We also discussed implications for the value of peace nowadays given the disunity that existed before ...
Oct 25, 2023•48 min
What can YOU do about a national Tzara?
People wonder how they - as one individual - can do anything to help out the national Tzara. This episode discusses this issue and some ways we can respond in an eis tzara
Oct 24, 2023•41 min
Hashem’s “Anger” and Afflictions and its Relevance to our Eis Tzara
The final Rashi in Noach tells us that until the time of Abraham, Hashem’s “anger”was expressed in the world. The midrash elaborates that once Avraham came around, Hashem began giving afflictions which come and go. This episode discusses this Rashi and applies it to our current eis tzara.
Oct 20, 2023•10 min
Some Thoughts about the Situation in Israel
This episode discusses some thoughts about the situation in Israel.
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 6 min
The Moon's Argument with Hashem
The Torah gives a seemingly contradictory description of the sun and moon that Hashem created. At first, it says "two great luminaries" and then "one great luminary...and one small luminary..." Rashi quotes the famous Midrash that Hashem originally made them equal in size until the moon complained, leading to Hashem making the moon smaller...This episode analyzes this strange midrashic story.
Oct 15, 2023•1 hr 21 min
The Righteous Vegetation
Rashi (Breishis 1:12) tells us that when Hashem commanded trees to grow li’mineihu, according to their species, the vegetation made a kal vechomer and did the same (even though it wasn’t commanded). This episode analyzes the Gemara in Chulin 60a on which this enigmatic Rashi is based.
Oct 11, 2023•31 min
Clouds or Huts?
The Torah (Vayikra 23:43) tells us that we sit in Sukkos to make known to generations that Hashem caused us to dwell in “Sukkos” when He took us from Egypt. In Sukkah 11b, the tanaim argue whether this refers to miraculous clouds or actually huts. This episode analyzes this machlokes.
Sep 29, 2023•11 min
Serving Hashem out of Love and Fear
In Hilchos Teshuva 10:1-2, Rambam discusses why one shouldn’t serve Hashem out of fear but out of love. This episode analyzes these types of service of Hashem.
Sep 27, 2023•42 min
Two Sides to Teshuva
The Rambam 2:6 says Teshuva during the ten days of Teshuva is better than other times. Why? Furthermore, the Rambam describes the difference between Teshuva gemura and regular Teshuva. If they both give you Mechila, what is better about Teshuva gemura? Also why does the Rambam discuss Teshuva gemura before regular Teshuva? This episode discusses these questions and more.
Sep 24, 2023•13 min
Asking for Mechila
This episode discusses the Rambam in Hilchos Teshuva 2:9-11 regarding the need to ask Mechila from someone you sinned against.
Sep 20, 2023•41 min
What is Kappara?
This episode discusses various questions about the relationship between teshuva and kappara.
Sep 18, 2023•41 min
Some Thoughts on Rosh Hashana Tefillos
The Gemara (RH 32a) suggests that we must say at least three pesukim supporting each theme in musaf on Rosh Hashana. One reason given for this number is because it corresponds to Kohen, Levi, and Yisrael. This episode explores this strange connection and discusses some central ideas regarding the tefillos on Rosh Hashana.
Sep 15, 2023•10 min
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