This episode discusses a chassidisha maaseh I recently heard.

Rashi (Vayikra 19:35) makes a very strong comparison between a corrupt judge and someone who uses corrupt weights. This episode analyzes this comparison and also discusses another difficult Rashi and Rambam about the relationship of false weights to yitzias mitzrayim.

This episode analyzes the Gemara in Shabbos 33b that discusses the famous story about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son living in a cave for 12 years and their strange encounters upon exiting the cave.

In this shiur, which was given on the 6th Yahrtzeit of my mother Shani Feder AH, we discuss the mitzvah of ואהבת לרעך כמוך, Love your Friend as Yourself. Some questions we take up: Why is it a klal gadol batorah? How is it even possible to love others as yourself?

This advanced episode is Rabbi Zimmer’s presentation of three formulations of the position that Pesach Sheni is its own holiday. It shows that the earlier formulations have problems which naturally force the final formulation.

Rashi and Ramban have two different understandings to Kedoshim Tehiyu. Rashi learns it’s a warning to be separate from arayos; Ramban learns it’s a general more warning to act in the line with the spirit of the mitzvos - not to be a menuval b’reshus hatorah - a scoundrel with the permission of the Torah. This episode analyzes each of these positions, specifically addressing what differentiates these warnings from the prohibition of ba’al tosif - adding on the mitzvos.

In Vayikra 18:4-5, the Torah seemingly repeats the command to guard and do the chukim and mishpatim. Rashi offers two explanations for this apparent repetition, both of which provide insight into different facets of our keeping the mitzvos.

Rashi (vayikra 18:4) tells us that the pasuk says “to walk in them (the mitzvos)” to teach that a person shouldn’t say, “I learned the wisdom of the Jews - now I’ll go and learn the wisdom of other nations.” This episode (a shiur from 2017) analyzes this Rashi and discusses the significance of building one’s life around both learning Torah and doing mitzvos.

There’s an apparent contradiction in the pesukim regarding the makah of dever. In 9:3 (with Rashi), it seems the plague is presently there. But in 9:5, it seems to have occurred the next day.

This episode addresses two difficult Tosfosim in Psachim (116a and 117b). The first says we shouldn’t say more than 7 languages of praise (in our intro to Hallel) corresponding to the seven heavens. The second says that the 39 melachos of Shabbos correspond to the 39 melachos that the Mitzrim made us do - after all, the word “parech” in at bash equals 39.