Gematria Refigured + Elie Feder
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- Religion & Spirituality
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.
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An Insensitive Shiva Call?
The Gemara in BK 38a describes Ulla’s remarks to Rav Shmuel bar Yehuda upon the loss of his daughter. His words are shocking and seem very insensitive to a grieving father. This episode analyzes this story and derives a message about giving nechama.
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Mathematics Pursuits
In Vayikra 26:8 (bechukosai), the Torah tells us that when we are doing the Mitzvos, 5 of us will pursue 100 enemies and 100 of us will pursue 10,000 enemies. Rashi points out the mathematics of these pursuits is off: the ratio changed from 1:20 to 1:100. Rashi says that the lesson is that you cannot compare a few people doing the mitzvos to many people doing the mitzvos. This episode analyzes this Rashi and develops a framework for understanding the Brachos (and the klalos).
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The Undistgusting Beracha, Statistical Hashgacha, and Trusting in God instead of Doctors and Medicine
The episode is an interactive discussion (even my bird and kids had alot to say) from 2016 about Rashi and Ramban on Vayikra 26:11 (Bechukosai). It covered a few topics: (1) Among the list of berachos that we'll get for keeping the mitzvos, the Torah says that Hashem won't be disgusted with us; (2) the Ramban discusses how hashgachas Hashem is at times manifest through statistical unlikelihood; (3) The Ramban says that when the Jews are fully keeping the Torah, we need not seek out doctors and medical advice but can instead rely totally on Hashem.
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When not to follow your Rebbe
Rashi (vayikra 26:1) explains the strange way the Torah ends parshas Behar. Given that it just discussed a Jew who is a servant to a nonjew, he may think that since his Rebbe (master) did avoda zara, Chillul Shabbos, and gilui arayos, so can he. The Torah is reminding him that he cannot. Q: Why would I think he could??? This episode takes up this question and reveals an important point about our keeping the mitzvos (even if we aren’t servants of nonjews).
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Waving the Omer
Rashi (Vayikra 23:11) says that the mitzva of tenufa (waving) of the Omer is to stop bad winds and dews. This episode goes to Rashi’s source in Menachos 62a and analyzes the ideas involved in this waving.
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A Chassidisha Maaseh
This episode discusses a chassidisha maaseh I recently heard.