Gematria Refigured ‪+‬ Elie Feder

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).

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.

This episode discusses a chassidisha maaseh I recently heard.

Rashi (Vayikra 19:35) makes a very strong comparison between a corrupt judge and someone who uses corrupt weights. This episode analyzes this comparison and also discusses another difficult Rashi and Rambam about the relationship of false weights to yitzias mitzrayim.

This episode analyzes the Gemara in Shabbos 33b that discusses the famous story about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son living in a cave for 12 years and their strange encounters upon exiting the cave.

In this shiur, which was given on the 6th Yahrtzeit of my mother Shani Feder AH, we discuss the mitzvah of ואהבת לרעך כמוך, Love your Friend as Yourself. Some questions we take up: Why is it a klal gadol batorah? How is it even possible to love others as yourself?