Simply Deep – Details, episodes & analysis

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

This episode discusses Rashi and Radak’s explanations for how Yaakov was able to lie to Yitzchak and claim that he was Eisav.

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.

If the title sounds strange to you, have a listen…