Commentary-Bible

The Song of Shabbos is a sefer, not a book, that presents an in-depth understanding of the tefillos and zemiros of Shabbos, arranged chronologically, from sunset to sunset. The various treatises present the secrets and sanctity of Shabbos in a new light. This light, the light of the ohr ha’ganuz (the hidden light) was originally revealed in the sifrei Maharal. After centuries of neglect, it was rekindled for the Torah world by the appearance of the famous maamarim of Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Hutner, zt”l, and recorded in his sefarim, Pachad Yitzchak. It is said that the Maharal had the keys to Chazal, and Rav Hutner had the keys to the understanding of the Maharal, not to exclude his uncanny insights into the words of the Ramban, the Gra, and many others. Today, forty years after his passing ― the years necessary to understand the mind and ways of the Rav (“adatai d’rabbai”) ― his inspiration has brought about a crescendo of interest in his Torah, the maamarim. The light he brought to the world continues to shine brightly. “He was planted in this generation to bring light to the world and all who dwell on it ― a new light” (from the inscription on his tombstone).

Jeff Kirshblum has done it again! A fourth volume full of beautiful thoughts and anecdotes that relate not only to the intellect but to the heart and soul of every Jew. Not just another 'vort on the Parsha,' but a fresh, new treatment of the truths of the Torah that you will enjoy week after week, guaranteed!

Torah MiEtzion presents original, insightful essays on the Bible by the rabbis and scholars of Yeshivat Har Etzion, one of today's most vibrant and influential schools of modern biblical interpretation. Since its founding in Israel in 1968, Yeshivat Har Etzion has emphasized Bible study alongside Talmud study in order to foster what its founder, Rabbi Yehuda Amital z"l, called an "organic understanding" of Torah and Torah philosophy. The result has been the development of a unique, analytically rigorous, creative, interpretive method that is infused with a profound quest for meaning.

This volume of Torah MiEtzion, which examines the Torah portions of the Book of Bemidbar, includes essays by Rabbis Amnon Bazak, Ezra Bick, Yonatan Grossman, Menachem Leibtag, Mosheh Lichtenstein, Elchanan Samet, Chanoch Waxman, Dr. Yael Ziegler, and other leading scholars.

Torah Song seeks to grasp the seemingly impenetrable mechanism of biblical poetry and to access the essential theological function that it plays in the Torah. Mining the poetry of the Torah for its theological gems necessitates that we acknowledge Torah poetry and prose to be fundamentally distinctive literary forms. Poetry, unlike prose, precludes the possibility of pinning it down in an absolute sense. Its allure derives from a certain indefinable harmony between articulation and intimation, best expressed in the language of the fine arts as impressionism. The shift in genre from 'realism' to 'impressionism' calls for an interpretive approach that relinquishes the insistence upon restrained exactitude, thereby allowing for analytical spontaneity. Torah Song articulates a groundbreaking interpretive methodology specific to the unique needs of biblical poetry and demonstrates the poetry of the Torah to function as a loosely connected, broad meditation on Israel's unmitigated acceptance of God's earthly domain, קבלת עול מלכות שמים, within their role as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש, caretakers of the divine covenant.

In this volume of the popular Rational Series, the noted scholar Dr. Israel Drazin continues to look at the life of King David. Focusing on the text of II Samuel and the first two chapters of I Kings, Dr. Drazin carefully examines what the Bible actually states about David when he was king over Judah for some seven years and over the united kingdom of Judah and Israel for some thirty-three years, revealing that David was radically unlike what many think the Bible says about him.

We see that David, being human, made mistakes, three of which had substantial consequences that affected the lives of many people: the story of David and Bat-sheva and the murder of her husband together with the troops that were with him, his repeated mistreatment of the northern tribes, and his public census of the people.

Significantly, Dr. Drazin leads us to wonder whether the author or editor of the book of Samuel had any knowledge of the laws of the Five Books of Moses.

About the Author

Dr. Israel Drazin served for thirty-one years in the US military and attained the rank of brigadier general. He is an attorney and a rabbi, with master's degrees in both psychology and Hebrew literature and a PhD in Judaic studies. He also completed the US Army's senior course for generals. He developed the legal strategy that saved the military chaplaincy when its constitutionality was attacked in court, for which he received the Legion of Merit, awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the United States. Dr. Drazin is the author of thirty-eight books, among them a series of volumes on the Bible in which he examines what the text actually states, a series on the Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible, and a series on the twelfth-century philosopher Moses Maimonides. His website is www.booksnthoughts.com.

In this volume of the popular Rational Series, the noted scholar Dr. Israel Drazin continues to look at the life of King David. Focusing on the text of II Samuel and the first two chapters of I Kings, Dr. Drazin carefully examines what the Bible actually states about David when he was king over Judah for some seven years and over the united kingdom of Judah and Israel for some thirty-three years, revealing that David was radically unlike what many think the Bible says about him. We see that David, being human, made mistakes, three of which had substantial consequences that affected the lives of many people: the story of David and Bat-sheva and the murder of her husband together with the troops that were with him, his repeated mistreatment of the northern tribes, and his public census of the people. Significantly, Dr. Drazin leads us to wonder whether the author or editor of the book of Samuel had any knowledge of the laws of the Five Books of Moses. "Rabbi Drazin dissects the text with a critical eye using his skills as an academic scholar. That being said, he has also written these books in a very plain English so that anyone can appreciate them."

Gil Tanenbaum, Jewlicious

Each study opens with a brief summary of the narrative and then presents probing questions designed to strike to the core of the text. These questions are addressed through a review of traditional commentaries spanning the ages, combined with original approaches. Deep philosophical issues and perplexing textual questions are carefully examined and discussed in clear and incisive fashion. The actions and motivations of the patriarchs, matriarchs and other biblical figures are probed with an eye towards determining the lessons to be learned from the lives of these great personalities. Clear distinction is made between pshat (straightforward literal meaning) and Midrash (rabbinical exegesis) as both of these approaches to biblical text are carefully defined and applied. Finally, thought-provoking connections are raised between the eternal Torah narrative and critical issues of our time. Each study is thus constructed to encourage continued discussion and study of the Torah narrative.

Each study opens with a brief summary of the narrative and then presents probing questions designed to strike to the core of the text. These questions are addressed through a review of traditional commentaries spanning the ages, combined with original approaches. Deep philosophical issues and perplexing textual questions are carefully examined and discussed in clear and incisive fashion. The actions and motivations of the patriarchs, matriarchs and other biblical figures are probed with an eye towards determining the lessons to be learned from the lives of these great personalities. Clear distinction is made between pshat (straightforward literal meaning) and Midrash (rabbinical exegesis) as both of these approaches to biblical text are carefully defined and applied. Finally, thought-provoking connections are raised between the eternal Torah narrative and critical issues of our time. Each study is thus constructed to encourage continued discussion and study of the Torah narrative.

UNLOCKING THE TORAH TEXT provides an in-depth journey into the Torah portion through a series of studies on each parsha. Each study opens with a brief summary of the narrative and then presents probing questions designed to strike to the core of the text. These questions are addressed through a review of traditional commentaries spanning the ages, combined with original approaches. Deep philosophical issues and perplexing textual questions are carefully examined and discussed in clear and incisive fashion. The actions and motivations of the patriarchs, matriarchs and other biblical figures are probed with an eye towards determining the lessons to be learned from the lives of these great personalities. Clear distinction is made between pshat (straightforward literal meaning) and Midrash (rabbinical exegesis) as both of these approaches to biblical text are carefully defined and applied. Finally, thought-provoking connections are raised between the eternal Torah narrative and critical issues of our time. Each study is thus constructed to encourage continued discussion and study of the Torah narrative.

We ask Hashem each day "Veha'arev Na - Please make our Torah learning sweet!" And the bestselling Vehaarev Na series does just that, by presenting the fascinating halachic challenges and solutions of Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein shlita, son-in-law of HaGaon Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt"l. Now, in this third English volume, readers can continue to enjoy these intriguing and stimulating shiurim based on the weekly parshah. Written in a deceptively easy style by Rabbi Erez Chazani, a student of Rav Zilberstein and a member of the Rav's Kollel Beis David in Cholon, Veha'arev Na brings the excitement of Torah to everyone's Shabbos table. Baruch, a convert to Judaism, is blessed with his first son. Can his gentile father be sandek at the bris? A tourist from abroad places a wad of dollars into the Kosel HaMaaravi as a "gift." What should be done with the money? Two people, one wearing tefillin while the second is carrying his, arrive together at shul at precisely the same moment. Who should enter first? A doctor performing a transplant removes the wrong kidney from the donor but thereby saves her life. Is he liable for negligence? A gabbai orders a taxi so that the Jewish driver can complete the minyan in his shul. Who must pay the cabdriver's bill? Reuven discovers that a prankster wrote Hashem's Name in the dust on his dirty windshield. Can he erase it?

We don't often get a chance to ask penetrating questions of our family or friends. Most conversation is mundane. The one time in the week when we can learn and be inspired by the thoughts and life experiences of others is Shabbos. But how can we bring that about? How can we engage family, friends and guests so that we make the relevant Torah portion come alive? The Welcome to Our Table series shows exactly how. It provides a user-friendly guide to help one and all make the most of the Shabbos experience. And, while it will not deliver the food to your table, it will deliver the rest amazing Torah wisdom, insightful questions and inspiring stories from our table to yours!

Applying the same principles and approach that made What’s Bothering Rashi? such a successful series, noted author and educator Avigdor Bonchek continues to instruct and inspire readers with all-new, stimulating insights into Chumash Bereishis with commentary of the Ramban. You’ll find intriguing analyses of carefully selected comments of the Ramban, oftentimes challenging those of Rashi. You’ll be asked to do some clever thinking of your own - and under the author’s guiding hand - you’ll come to a new, in-depth understanding and appreciation of the Ramban’s unique and multi-layered approach to Chumash. Once again, here’s a trailblazing new series designed to provide students of all ages with a rich resource of insights and skills