A Classic Sefer, Not a Speaker
Drashos HaRan is the name of a classic Torah work, not a contemporary speaker — and this collection is a series of shiurim devoted to learning it. The Ran is Rabbeinu Nissim ben Reuven of Gerona, one of the towering Rishonim of fourteenth-century Spain, renowned as a Talmudist, halachist, and thinker whose influence runs through the study hall to this day.
The Drashos are among his most treasured works: a set of derashos, or discourses, on fundamental questions of Jewish faith and life. Learning them through a guided series makes their depth approachable, giving a modern listener a doorway into a sefer that has shaped Jewish thought for centuries. It is machshava of the highest order, presented in a way a serious learner can follow.
The Thought of Rabbeinu Nissim
The Ran's derashos tackle the big questions of hashkafa: the nature of Torah and mitzvos, divine providence, reward and consequence, prophecy, and the foundations of Jewish belief. He writes with rigor and clarity, building careful arguments that reward close attention and reveal how deeply the tradition has thought through matters many take for granted. These are the questions every thinking Jew eventually asks.
One of the work's most famous themes is the relationship between Torah law and the role of leadership and governance — how a Torah society balances justice, order, and the guidance of its leaders. Following the Ran's reasoning trains a listener to think like a Rishon, weighing sources and ideas with patience and depth. It is learning that strengthens both knowledge and the way one thinks.
Timeless Hashkafa for Today
Though written centuries ago, the Drashos HaRan speak directly to questions people still wrestle with — why we keep the mitzvos, how Hashem runs the world, and what faith actually rests upon. A series that learns this sefer brings those timeless discussions into the present, where they remain as relevant as ever. The Ran's clarity has a way of settling questions that once felt unsettled.
For a family or a serious learner, engaging with a classic like this is different from hearing a passing thought. It is sustained learning of foundational Torah, the kind that builds a durable understanding of Jewish belief. Guided shiurim make that project realistic, and that combination of depth and accessibility is what makes the series worthwhile.
Finding kosher Torah video for your family
FilteredTube is a kosher video service built for Jewish families — every single video is approved against one written standard before it can appear, with no open feed, no comments, and no surprises. It is a calm, safe place to look for the Torah and Jewish music you love.
If your family enjoys learning classic works like the Drashos HaRan, search FilteredTube for the speakers and topics that matter most to you. With a daf yomi shelf, a weekly parsha shelf, topic shelves, audio-only listening for the car, and a kids mode with a PIN, kosher Jewish video is easy to reach — and the approved catalog keeps growing every day.
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Drashos HaRan is a classic sefer by Rabbeinu Nissim of Gerona — this series learns it, not a modern speaker.
- The Ran was a leading Rishon of 14th-century Spain, a master Talmudist and thinker.
- His derashos explore faith, providence, mitzvos, and Jewish leadership in depth.
- Guided shiurim make this foundational work of machshava approachable today.
- Search FilteredTube for kosher, approved Torah video — the catalog grows every day.