Episodes

  • Ramban on Tzaraas
    May 8 2025

    The Torah (Vayikra 13:51) tells us about Tzaraas mameres. Rashi/Ramban have three interpretations. We analyze these in light of the Ramban’s general comments about Tzaraas (Vayikra 13:47).

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    39 mins
  • Yetzer Hara #3 - Dealing with Your Overpowering Urges
    May 7 2025

    The Gemara in Kiddushin 30b provides guidance for one whose desires are aroused—drag yourself to the Beis Midrash. We analyze why and how this works.

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    41 mins
  • Yetzer Hara #2 - Hashem calls the Yetzer Hara evil and it always renews
    May 4 2025

    Two statements in the Gemara in Kiddushin 30b about the yetzer hara: (1) Even it's Creator calls it rah—evil; (2) it's always renewing, strengthening, and trying to kill you.

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    43 mins
  • Yetzer Hara #1 - Torah is like medicine for the yetzer hara
    May 4 2025

    The Gemara in Kiddushin 30b likens the yetzer hara to a wound inflicted by a father and the Torah to a bandage the father provides to protect the son from damage due to the wound.

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    47 mins
  • The Order of Tzaraas and Earthenware Utensils
    May 2 2025

    Aharon Fischbein asked why the order Tzaraas is presented in the Torah (person, clothes, house) is the opposite of the order that the Rambam (Tumaas Tzaraas 16:10) and the Midrash Vvayikra Rabba 17:4) say occurs to a sinner.

    Rashi (Vayikra 14:36) says that when the Torah allows a person to remove his possessions from his house before the kohen declares it tamei with Tzaraas, this is merely to protect his (lowly) earthenware vessels from tumaah. On the surface, this seems extreme.

    This episode addresses both of these questions.

    Note: After I recorded, I noticed that the midrash (cited above) supports our explanation of the order that Tzaraas occurs.

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    11 mins
  • Did the Heavenly Fire Burn Nadav and Avihu’s Bodies or Souls?
    Apr 30 2025

    Rashi (Vayikra 10:5) references Sanhedrin 52a which cites a machlokes whether Nadav and Avihu’s entire body was burnt or only their insides. The reverse machlokes applies to the adas Korach. This episode analyzes these two types of deaths.

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    43 mins
  • Shmini: The Reward for Silence
    Apr 23 2025

    Rashi tells us the rewards that Aharon and his sons received for their silence after Nadav and Avihu’s punishment with death—Parshos of the Torah were taught through them. This episode analyzes the greatness of this silence and the appropriateness of this reward.

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    39 mins
  • Rabban Gamliel vs Rabbi Yehoshua Part 2
    Apr 18 2025

    At times, people incorrectly depict Chazal as being petty or small-minded—and they often cite stories from the Gemara that seem to support this perspective. One such Gemara is Brachos 27b which depicts Rabban Gamliel (the Nasi) putting Rabbi Yehoshua in place for arguing with him, the other Rabbanan demoting Rabban Gamliel for this mistreatment, and the ensuing events (like Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria miraculously growing a massive beard overnight). This pair of episodes analyzes this story in light of the fact these were great men.

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    50 mins
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