Simply Deep

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.

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 validity of the comparison.

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.

At the beginning of Va’eschanan (Devarim 3:23) Moshe asks Hashem to go into Eretz Yisrael. Rashi deduces from the extra word “laimor” that he also “demanded” to know how Hashem would answer his request. Rashi cites 2 or 3 other examples of such requests by Moshe. This episodes analyzes this type of request and discusses if/when it’s appropriate.

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, and finds its takeaways.

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.