Simply Deep

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.

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) Thi

The passuk in Devarim 10:17 says Hashemdoesn’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?

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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 c

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.