Rivka’s Plan
After Yaakov expressed concern that Yitzchak would feel him and notice he wasn’t Eisav, why didn’t Rivka immediately tell Yaakov her plan of putting hairy skins on his arms and neck? And what did she tell him?
Dec 04, 2024•38 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
Why/How did Yaakov Grab Eisav’s Heel?
Rashi (Breishis 25:26) tells us that Yaakov was grabbing Eisav’s heel while emerging from the womb because he was trying to take the bechora that rightfully belonged to him. This episode analyzes this strange midrash and other pesukim/Rashi’s that discuss the meaning(s) of the name “Yaakov.”
Nov 29, 2024•17 min
Why the Torah Repeated the Eliezer Story
The Torah repeats the story of Eliezer selecting Rivka. Rashi (Bereishis 24:42) says that we learn from this that the conversations of the servants of the Avos are better before Hashem than the Torah of their sons (because many details of mitzvos are only alluded to in the Torah). The same Rashi also tells us that the ground “shrunk” for Eliezer to allow him to arrive on the same day that he departed (as alluded to in the passuk). This episode analyzes each of these points in Rashi and discusses...
Nov 27, 2024•46 min
Eliezer’s Bitachon
Rashi (Bereishis 24:23) says that Eliezer gave Rivka the jewelry before he found out what family she was from because he had Bitachon about the success of his mission. This episode considers the wisdom of this Bitachon and the role of Bitachon in general.
Nov 22, 2024•22 min
Did Avraham Know? Parshas Vayera
Rashi on Bereishis 22:5 says that before going to the Akeida, Avraham told his servants that “we will return” because he had a nevuah that both he and Yitzchok would return. But this seems to undermine the whole test of the Akeida?
Nov 15, 2024•15 min
The Uniqueness of Sinai
What differentiates Sinai and makes it more convincing and non subject to doubts than the miracles in Egypt? This episode answers this question using: Rambam Yesodei Hatorah 8:1-2, last Ramban in Bo (Shmos 13:16), Rashi in Devarim 4:35 and develops some ideas about the relationship between the miracles in Egypt and the Revelation at Sinai.
Nov 10, 2024•1 hr 31 min
Sarah in a Box
This episode takes up the famous Rashi (Bereishis 12:14) that claims Avram hid Sarah in a box.
Nov 08, 2024•5 min
The Sin of the Dor Hamabul
Was it znus? Gezel? Both? The Rashis at the end of Bereishis and the beginning of Noach give mixed messages.
Nov 06, 2024•40 min
Why the Raven was Suspicious that Noach Would Take its Wife
Rashi on Bereishis 8:7
Nov 01, 2024•23 min
The Separation of Light and Darkness
In Bereishis 1:3-5, the Torah describes the creation of light and the separation between light and darkness. Rashi explains this according to pshat and agadda. This episode analyzes both of these explanations.
Oct 30, 2024•36 min
Three Further Steps of Teshuva
After listing the three steps of Teshuva in Hilchos Teshuva 2:2, the Rambam lists three additional steps: (1) regret; (2) calling Hashem as your witness; (3) confession. This episode discusses the role of these steps.
Oct 10, 2024•52 min
Darchei Ha’Teshuva
In Hilchos Teshuva 2:4, the Rambam describes 6 things which are part of the Darchei Ha’Teshuva, the ways of Teshuva. This episode analyzes what these are and how they relate to Teshuva.
Oct 10, 2024•55 min
Two Facets of Teshuva
In Hilchos Teshuva 1:1, the Rambam talks about when a person (i) does Teshuva and (ii) returns from his sin. This episode analyzes the difference between these two terms and uncovers two facets of Teshuva.
Oct 09, 2024•33 min
The Three Steps of Teshuva
In Hilchos Teshuva 2:2, the Rambam describes three steps of Teshuva: (1) the sinner leaves his sin; (2) he removes it from his thoughts; (3) he concludes to never do it again. This episode analyzes the importance of these three steps.
Oct 09, 2024•47 min
The Mechaper of Yom Kippur
The Gemara in Shavuous 12b-13a discusses the machlokes between Rebbi and the Chachomim whether or not Yom Kippur atones for one who doesn’t do Teshuva. In analyzing this machlokes, this episode discusses some basics about Teshuva and Kappara, resolving a major contradiction between Chapters 1 and 7 of the Rambam’s Hilchos Teshuva.
Oct 07, 2024•1 hr
Rabbi Yossi’s Novel Understanding of the Pesukim in Rosh Hashana Musaf
The Mishna on RH 32a quotes a machlokes whether the final of the ten pesukim should be from Navi or Torah. In analyzing this machlokes, we discovered Rabbi Yossi’s novel take on the role of these pesukim.
Oct 02, 2024•39 min
Why it’s Fine to Mention Hashem’s Punshment towards Idolators
In a continuation from the previous episode, this shiur discusses the appropriateness of mentioning in musaf on Rosh Hashana pesukim that describe Hashem punishing idolators.
Oct 02, 2024•37 min
Why we shouldn’t mention Hashem’s “anger” on Rosh Hashana
The Gemara on RH 32b explains that we shouldn’t mention a pasuk of malchios that refers to Hashem reigning over us with His outpouring wrath. While Rav Nachman would welcome a redemption of this sort, the Gemara says it’s inappropriate to mentionHashem‘s anger on Rosh Hashanah. This episode analyzes why.
Sep 30, 2024•46 min
The Connection Between the Curses and Nitzavim
Rashi (Devarim 29:12) brings out the logic of the flow of pesukim from the tochacha until Nitzavim. This episode develops the ideas we can learn from this flow.
Sep 27, 2024•16 min
Reward and the Innocence of Youth - Ki Savo
In describing the reward we’ll receive for keeping the mitzvos, the Torah says (Devarim 28:6), “Blessed will you be in your comings and blessed will you be in your goings.” While the plain meaning is that you’ll have blessing in your travels, Rashi says it means “You’ll exit this world without sin just like you entered the world (without sin).” A few problems: (1) This interpretation doesn’t fit with the plain meaning of these rewards as referring to reward in this world; (2) The idea of innocen...
Sep 25, 2024•41 min
Does Hashem Play Favorites? - Ki Savo
The passuk in Devarim 10:17 says Hashem doesn’t play favorites. Yet, Rashi on Arami Oved Avi (Devarim 26:5) says that by nonjews, Hashem considers their evil plan as if they did the evil act (as opposed to by Jews). Likewise, says the Yerushalmi Peah 1:1, Hashem treats the good plan of Jews as if they did the good act (as opposed to by nonjews). Why isn’t this favoritism?
Sep 20, 2024•15 min
Making Peace - Ki Seitzei
Rashi (Devarim 25:1) says that an argument doesn’t lead to peace. This episode analyzes this and a parallel Rashi (25:11) and tries to figure out what’s wrong with arguing and what does lead to peace.
Sep 18, 2024•44 min
The Mitzvah Chain - Ki Seitzei
Rashi (Devarim 22:8) explains the flow of some pesukim in Ki Seitzei based on the principle of mitzvah goreres mitzvah - a mitzvah drags a mitzvah. This episode analyzes this principle. For a shiur I gave on this topic in 2014, see https://ybt.org/audio-recordings.html?page=lecture&shiurID=817450&teacherFullName=Rabbi-E-Feder&shiurTitle=Mitzva-Goreres-Mitzva
Sep 13, 2024•21 min
Early Shabbos and Muktza
This episode discusses a halachik Shayla: If one accepts early Shabbos and designates something away from usage at the moment he accepts Shabbos, is it muktza? Or does muktza always go by bein hashmashos?
Sep 11, 2024•8 min
Schar ve’onesh and the Importance of Justice
A few Rashis in Parshas Shoftim (16:20 and 20:1) express the importance of justice in the success of Bnei Yisrael. This episode analyzes this connection and thereby uncovers an important idea about reward and punishment.
Sep 11, 2024•29 min
The Slippery Slope of Sin - Parshas Shoftim
The Torah (Devarim 19:11) tells of a person who hates his fellow and kills him. Rashi says this teaches that if a person violates a lenient mitzvah (hating), he is likely to violate a strict mitzvah (killing). This episode analyzes the truth of this statement and what it teaches us about mitzvos.
Sep 06, 2024•10 min
What was the Heter for Eliyahu at Har HaCarmel?
Eliyahu bringing a korban to Hashem at Har HaCarmel is a classic example of horaas shaah, a case where a navi temporarily suspends the halachik system. Rashi (Devarim 12:13) seems to imply differently - that Eliyahu was using a built in exception to the prohibition of bringing a korban outside of the mikdash. This episode addresses this apparent contradiction. It also discusses a contradictory Rashi in Devarim 18:22 and the Rambam in the ninth perek of Yesodei Hatorah.
Sep 04, 2024•32 min
The Exceptional Treatment of a Meisis - Re’eh
The Torah generally demands that we treat other Jews - even great sinners - with love and compassion. There’s one exception: the meisis (a person who privately tries to convince another Jew to worship avoda zara). This episode discusses why the meisis is treated differently than all other sinners.
Aug 30, 2024•8 min
Dinosaur Bones vs. Navi Sheker
Some suggest that even though dinosaur bones seem to attest to the fact that the world is older than 6,000 years, they are merely a test from Hashem as to whether we will accept scientific knowledge or our tradition. They support this type of idea from the passuk in Re’eh (Devarim 13:4) which Rashi interprets to mean that Hashem gives a false prophet a miraculous sign to test us and determine whether we love Hashem with all our hearts and souls. This episode analyzes this idea and assesses the v...
Aug 27, 2024•47 min
You Shall Quickly Perish
In the second Parsha of krias shema (Devarim 17:11), the Torah tells us that if we turn to idols in the land of Israel, then we’ll perish quickly. Two Rashi’s on this passuk discuss (1) why this is an appropriate punishment; and (2) why it’s quickly given that the dor hamabul was given 120 years. This episode analyzes these Rashis and questions whether it really was so quickly.
Aug 23, 2024•13 min
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