Simply Deep

Rashi in Breishis 18:19 explains that Avraham told his kids to follow the derech Hashem of tzedaka and mishpat in order that Hashem will bring upon Avraham that which He spoke about him. What does this mean? And why not say to follow to path of Hashem because it’s true?

At the beginning of Lech Lecha, Hashem blesses Avraham with multiple expressions of blessing. One Rashi connects the blessing of his name becoming great to adding a heh onto his name, changing its gematria from 243 (of Avram) to 248 (of Avraham), the total number of limbs in the human body. Another Rashi connects these brachos to the fact that we’ll mention “the God of Avraham, the God of Yitzchak, and the God of Yaakov” in the first bracha of Shmona Esrei. What’s the meaning and significance of these tenuous connections?

The Gemara in Shabbos 119b says that anyone who says Yehei Shmei Rabba Mevorach will all his might, tears up his (bad) decree. The Gemara in Brachos 21b entertains interrupting Shmona Esrei and even Maaseh Merkava to say Yehei Shmei Rabba Mevorach. Tosafos in Brachos 3a suggests that we say it in Aramaic so the Malachim (who don’t understand Aramaic) won’t be jealous that we’re saying such a beautiful tefilla. What’s so special about Yehei Shmei Rabba Mevorach?

We analyze the bracha of Asher Yatzar based on the Gemara in Brachos 60b. We also discuss the Gemara’s Halacha of addressing angels before going to the bathroom.

Adam named his wife Isha. Rashi (Bereishis 2:23) says that this teaches that the world was created with Lashon HaKodesh. What does this mean?

The Torah (Bereishis 5:28) says Noach was named because he would bring rest to man after the curse of Adam. Rashi says this refers to the fact that he invented the plow. How did Lemech, his father, know this?

In Bereishis 1:21, the Torah describes the creation of the taninim gedolim (big sea-giants). Rashi cites a Gemara in BB 74b that says this refers to the Livyasin and its mate that Hashem created, but killed the female and preserved it for tzadikim in the world to come, because if they would reproduce, the world wouldn’t be able to continue with them (because they’d take over the world). We analyze this gemara and suggest that the Livyasan refers to an amazing feature of Hashem’s Creation.

The Gemara in Yomah 86a discusses three types of Teshuva: from love, from fear, and from afflictions. We analyze these types and their features.

Why do we say this paragraph after each of the middle Brachos of musaf Rosh Hashana. How is it different from Zichronos? And what’s it all about?

Zoom summary: The meeting focused on understanding the meaning and context of the Vidui Maaser prayer, particularly the phrase "look out from Your holy abode from the heavens." Elie explored the anthropomorphic language and its implications, referencing Rashi and Ramban to discuss the nature of Hashem's providence and how it relates to the mitzvot performed by the Jewish people. The group examined the structure of the three-year cycle of tithing and the significance of the confession at its conclusion, questioning why it is called a "Vidui" and what it means to ask Hashem to "look out" and bless the nation and the land. Elie suggested that the prayer reflects a request for Hashem's specific attention and blessing, based on the completion of a multifaceted system of mitzvot, rather than just individual actions. The discussion also touched on the uniqueness of this prayer in asking for justice rather than mercy.