Gematria Refigured +
By Elie Feder
This podcast follows the spirit of the book “Gematria Refigured” in providing new insight into areas of Torah which, like gematria, often appear superficial or difficult to understand. Some topics discussed include: midrash, miracles, evolution, and slavery. See gematriarefigured.com for more info.
Gematria Refigured +Dec 01, 2023
00:00
10:24
Mirmah
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.
Dec 01, 202310:24
The Rock on the Well
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?
Nov 30, 202330:46
Rachel's Disgrace and Yosef's Name
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.
Nov 24, 202301:31:50
Eisav: Two Approaches to Reconcile the Pshat and the Midrash
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.
Nov 22, 202343:51
How did Yaakov Lie?
This episode discusses Rashi and Radak’s explanations for how Yaakov was able to lie to Yitzchak and claim that he was Eisav.
Nov 17, 202313:08
Ketura
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.
Nov 10, 202314:08
The Miracles of October 7
If the title sounds strange to you, have a listen…
Nov 10, 202314:50
Her Cry
In Breishis 18:21, Hashem describes the factors that He used to determine if Sedom should be destroyed. This episode analyzes this passuk with Rashi’s explanations.
Nov 08, 202339:12
The Name Changes of Avraham, Sarah, Yaakov, and Yehoshua
What’s in a name? This episode discusses the significance of the name changes of Avraham, Sarah, Yaakov, and Yehoshua. Furthermore, it discusses what the name changes teach us about these different personalities.
Nov 05, 202301:26:42
A Pillar of Salt?
Rashi (Breishis 19:26) says that Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt because of her sin of depriving guests of salt. This episode analyzes the sense of this fantastic punishment.
Nov 03, 202311:45
Hot Hands and Talking Birds
The Gemara in Gittin 45a tells a story involving the daughters of Rav Nachman stirring a hot pot with their bare hands, Rav Ilish listening to the messages of the birds, and other strange features. This episode analyzes this puzzling Gemara.
Nov 01, 202348:12
Taking Security in Hashem
Tehilim 121 (esah einai el he׳harim) teaches that when we are looking for help, it comes from Hashem - He will guard us from harm. This episode deals with the problem that this doesn’t always seem to be true - i.e. it seems that sometimes people put their trust in Hashem and still get harmed. We emerge with an approach on how to deal with our insecurities and how to take security in Hashem.
Oct 27, 202337:20
Great is Peace
Rashi (Breishis 11:9) says that even though the sin of dor haflaga was seemingly worse than that of dor hamabul, the dor haflaga was saved because they had peace among the themselves, unlike dor hamabul. This episode deals with two major questions: (1) Is peace good at all costs? Even if used to rebel against Hashem? (2) If peace was so good, why did Hashem ruin the peace by spreading them out?
We also discussed implications for the value of peace nowadays given the disunity that existed before the Gaza attack.
We also discussed implications for the value of peace nowadays given the disunity that existed before the Gaza attack.
Oct 25, 202348:09
What can YOU do about a national Tzara?
People wonder how they - as one individual - can do anything to help out the national Tzara. This episode discusses this issue and some ways we can respond in an eis tzara
Oct 24, 202340:35
Hashem’s “Anger” and Afflictions and its Relevance to our Eis Tzara
The final Rashi in Noach tells us that until the time of Abraham, Hashem’s “anger”was expressed in the world. The midrash elaborates that once Avraham came around, Hashem began giving afflictions which come and go. This episode discusses this Rashi and applies it to our current eis tzara.
Oct 20, 202309:49
Some Thoughts about the Situation in Israel
This episode discusses some thoughts about the situation in Israel.
Oct 18, 202301:06:25
The Moon's Argument with Hashem
The Torah gives a seemingly contradictory description of the sun and moon that Hashem created. At first, it says "two great luminaries" and then "one great luminary...and one small luminary..." Rashi quotes the famous Midrash that Hashem originally made them equal in size until the moon complained, leading to Hashem making the moon smaller...This episode analyzes this strange midrashic story.
Oct 15, 202301:21:08
Wednesday is Bad Day and Eclipses are Bad Signs
This episode (a shiur from 2015) takes up the Rashis on Breishis 1:14 which say that Wednesday is a bad day and that eclipses are bad signs.
Oct 13, 202353:07
The Righteous Vegetation
Rashi (Breishis 1:12) tells us that when Hashem commanded trees to grow li’mineihu, according to their species, the vegetation made a kal vechomer and did the same (even though it wasn’t commanded). This episode analyzes the Gemara in Chulin 60a on which this enigmatic Rashi is based.
Oct 11, 202331:29
Clouds or Huts?
The Torah (Vayikra 23:43) tells us that we sit in Sukkos to make known to generations that Hashem caused us to dwell in “Sukkos” when He took us from Egypt. In Sukkah 11b, the tanaim argue whether this refers to miraculous clouds or actually huts. This episode analyzes this machlokes.
Sep 29, 202311:07
Serving Hashem out of Love and Fear
In Hilchos Teshuva 10:1-2, Rambam discusses why one shouldn’t serve Hashem out of fear but out of love. This episode analyzes these types of service of Hashem.
Sep 27, 202342:09
Two Sides to Teshuva
The Rambam 2:6 says Teshuva during the ten days of Teshuva is better than other times. Why? Furthermore, the Rambam describes the difference between Teshuva gemura and regular Teshuva. If they both give you Mechila, what is better about Teshuva gemura? Also why does the Rambam discuss Teshuva gemura before regular Teshuva? This episode discusses these questions and more.
Sep 24, 202313:20
Asking for Mechila
This episode discusses the Rambam in Hilchos Teshuva 2:9-11 regarding the need to ask Mechila from someone you sinned against.
Sep 20, 202340:30
What is Kappara?
This episode discusses various questions about the relationship between teshuva and kappara.
Sep 18, 202341:08
Some Thoughts on Rosh Hashana Tefillos
The Gemara (RH 32a) suggests that we must say at least three pesukim supporting each theme in musaf on Rosh Hashana. One reason given for this number is because it corresponds to Kohen, Levi, and Yisrael. This episode explores this strange connection and discusses some central ideas regarding the tefillos on Rosh Hashana.
Sep 15, 202309:34
Torah Cosmology and Rosh Hashana
In Rosh Hashana davening, we mention that today is the day that the world was created. In RH 11a, the Gemara cites a machlokes whether this is, in fact, true: whether the world was created in Nisan or Tishrei. This episode analyzes this strange argument and addresses whether it contradicts modern cosmology.
Sep 12, 202347:59
Hashem “Returning” from Exile
When the Torah (Devarim 30:3) describes Hashem bringing us back from exile, the word choice implies that Hashem Himself is returning. This episode discusses Rashi’s two explanations for this description.
Sep 08, 202308:04
The Curses, Shimon, and the Role of Drash
Rashi (Devarim 27:24) quotes Rav Moshe Hadarshan who explains that Moshe only said 11 curses because he didn’t want to curse Shimon because he wasn’t going to bless him (due to his sins) in Zos Habracha. We raised a few serious problems: (1) There are actually 12 curses, not 11? (2) Not wanting to bless him is a reason to curse him, not to omit his curse? (3) The curses aren’t addressing any shevatim but people who sin?
In this episode, we address these questions and discuss the role of Drash.
In this episode, we address these questions and discuss the role of Drash.
Sep 06, 202339:59
Bargaining with God
In Parshas Ki Savo, the Torah teaches us about vidui maaser, a farmer’s declaration that he’s given all of the terumos and maasros properly. At the end of this declaration, Rashi explains that we say to God, “We did what You decreed upon us, now You do that which is upon You to do (i.e. give us rain).” This episode analyzes the purpose of vidui maaser and the appropriateness of this apparent bargaining with God.
Sep 01, 202310:00
Amoni and Moavi vs Mitzri and Edomi
Why don’t we allow converts from Amon and Moav to ever marry into our nation while we do allow third generation converts from Mitzrayim and Edom to marry in? The Torah gives one answer; Rashi (seemingly) gives an entirely different answer. This episode seeks to resolve Rashi’s apparent contradiction with the pesukim.
Aug 30, 202353:11
The Connection between False Weights and Amaleik
Rashi (Devarim 25:17) says that the Torah juxtaposed the discussion of false weights to the parsha of Amaleik to teach that if we use false weights, we should be worried about our enemies attacks. This episode discusses this strange connection.
Aug 25, 202310:22
Hatov ve’hayashar: Rashi vs the Passuk
The Torah (Devarim 12:28) says that the mitzvos are “good and upright in the eyes of Hashem.” Rashi explains that “good” means in the eyes of Hashem and “upright” means in the eyes of man. This episode addresses this open contradiction between Rashi and the pshat in the passuk.
Aug 23, 202327:34
Tamim Tihiyeh
The passuk in Devarim 18:13 says you should be tamim (complete) with Hashem your God. This episode takes up the interpretations of Rashi and Ramban on this important passuk.
Aug 18, 202354:55
On the Morality of Avdus
People often attack the Torah as immoral because of its treatment of Avdus, slavery. This episode will discuss the role of avdus in the Torah and will justify its morality.
Aug 11, 202301:41:32
With Your Own Eyes
In Devarim 11:2-9, Moshe tells the Jews that he’s not speaking with the generation who didn’t see what Hashem did to Mitzrayim… and many other miracles. Rather, he’s talking to those who saw these events with their own eyes.
This episode deals with the significance of this point. After all, who cares if they saw it with their own eyes or if they knew it from their parents’ eyewitness testimony (as we know it)?
Aug 09, 202341:28
Teach Your Children or Bury Them
In Parshas Eikev, Rashi (11:19) expresses the importance of teaching your very young children “Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe” and the like. If you don’t, he says, it’s as if you bury them. This episode probes the importance of teaching Torah to young children and analyzes this extreme claim.
Aug 04, 202310:26
Factors in Choosing a Profession #3
The Mishna/Gemara in Kiddushin 82 discusses various factors to consider in choosing a profession. Based upon this Mishna, this episode discusses the lesson we can learn from animals lack of work and the role of work in people’s lives.
Aug 02, 202328:49
The Great Voice which would not Stop/Continue
The Torah (Devarim 5:19) describes the voice that Hashem produced at Sinai as one that would not be “yasaf”. Rashi cites two interpretations: (1) it didn’t stop; (2) it would never occur again. This episodes analyzes these interpretations, highlighting the uniqueness of the event of Sinai.
Jul 28, 202308:01
Factors in Choosing a Profession #2
The Mishna/Gemara in Kiddushin 82 discusses various factors to consider in choosing a profession. Based upon this Mishna, this episode discusses how a person should balance learning and working.
Jul 26, 202337:12
The Tremendous Burden on Jewish Judges
In Parshas Devarim (1:9), Moshe tells Hashem that he cannot carry the Jewish people alone. Rashi explains that Moshe’s sentiment was based upon the great responsibility that Jewish judges have for the mistakes that they make. This episode analyzes the nature of this responsibility.
Jul 21, 202313:56
Factors in Choosing a Profession #1
The Gemara in Kiddushin 82 discusses various factors to consider in choosing a profession. This episode analyzes a few of them.
Jul 19, 202352:15
The Fallen Angels of Canaan and Why Rashi Writes in Metaphors?
In Parshas Massei, Rashi (34:2) tells us that Hashem took the angels of the seven nations down from heaven, bound them up before Moshe, and said, "Look. They no longer have any strength." This episode (which was given on Zoom during Covid) analyzes this cryptic Rashi and, in doing so, discusses why Rashi writes in metaphors like this.
Jul 14, 202301:17:57
Is it good to eat or drink wine before learning?
The Gemara in BB 12b discusses the value of eating and drinking wine before learning. In doing so, it uses a very strange analogy. This episode uses this Gemara to derive important practical lessons about successfully incorporating learning Torah into our lives.
Jul 12, 202346:50
The Apparent Contradiction in Moshe’s Motivation
In Parshas Pinchas, Rashi on two consecutive pesukim seems to give contradictory perspectives on Moshe’s request for a new leader. In 27:15, Rashi highlights how, before his death, Moshe abandoned his personal needs for the sake of communal needs. Then in 27:16, Rashi imputes a personal agenda to Moshe’s request - that his sons will inherit his position. This episode addresses this apparent contradiction, highlighting an important duality in the attitude of Jewish leaders.
Jul 07, 202318:17
Shiur in honor of the 10th Yahrtzeit of my mother AH, Shani Feder on Hakaras Hatov
Despite her many years of pain and illnesses, my mother wrote the following before a life-threatening surgery: “As I hope you realize, the point of this all is to simply say, I thank God every day that I am truly blessed with happiness (to be cliche, Yiddishe Nachas). Bumps in the road are just that and make me appreciate what I have more.”
This episode analyzes these moving words by probing the theme of Hakaras Hatov, gratitude.
This episode analyzes these moving words by probing the theme of Hakaras Hatov, gratitude.
Jul 07, 202301:16:05
The Second Set of Spies
At the end of Parshas Chukas, the Torah tells us the story of the spies that Moshe sent to Yaazer. Rashi explains how these spies learned from the mistakes of the first set of spies. This episode tries to piece together the story of these second spies.
Jun 30, 202308:40
The Prescient Words of Dasan and Aviram
When Moshe tried to make peace with them, Dasan and Aviram said, “We will not go up!” Rashi explains that their words caused them to stumble. Since they said that they will not go up, in fact they only ended up going down (to the depths of the Earth). This episode addresses this strange correlation.
Jun 28, 202337:18
Korach’s Lineage
The Torah traces Korach’s lineage to Levi and not to Yaakov Avinu. Rashi explains that Yaakov davened not to be mentioned with Korach. This episode explores Yaakov’s motivation in making this request.
Jun 23, 202321:45
Spying Eyes
Rashi (Bamidbar 15:38) on Lo Sasuru likens one’s eyes and heart to spies which bring him to aveira. This episode analyzes this analogy to gain insight into avoiding sin.
Jun 21, 202310:52
Tzitzis and the Role of Drash
At the very end of Shelach, Rashi brings Rav Moshe Hadarshan who “explains” many details of tzitzis in strange ways. This episodes discusses these drashos with an eye towards understanding the role of drash in general.
Jun 16, 202315:56