Parashah Roundup: Devarim-Tisha B'Av 5768

by Steve Brizel

The Structure of Sefer Devarim

R. Mordechai Sabato and R. Baruch Simon provide overviews to Sefer Devarim: link 1, link 2 (audio)

Moshe Rabbeinu's Final Address

R. Yaakov Kamenetsky (as prepared by R. Eliezer Kwass) asks whether Moshe Rabbeinu agreed to send the spies: link

R. Berel Wein suggests that Moshe Rabbeinu exhorted Klal Yisrael about falling victim to a lack of self-worth and gratittude: link

R. Yissocher Frand reminds us that a prosperous Jewish community should not flaunt itself in Galus: link

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R. Aharon Lichtenstein explains why Moshe Rabbeinu waited until now to give both rebuke and instruction: link

R. Jonathan Sacks points out that part of Moshe Rabbeinu's address included being Melamed Zechus for Klal Yisrael, an approach that one finds throughout Jewish history: link

R. Shlomo Riskin, based upon the Abarbanel, reminds us that a leader must have both patience with his flock and restrain his people from proceeding after improper initiatives: link

R. Tzvi Sobolofsky tells us why the Episode of the Spies is repeated in this week's parsha and urges us to always think of Eretz Yisrael as Eretz Chemdah: link

R. Mordechai Kamenetsky reminds us that we must respond to an opportunity when it knocks on our doors: link

Different Aspects of Tishah B'Av

Rav Soloveitchk zt"l, especially for those who missed the first posting of these shiurim, discusses Tishah B'Av, Megilas Eichah and Kinos: link

R. Shlomo Wolbe zt"l urges us to use Tisha B'Av to remember that despite the tragic events that occurred, we are still comnnected to God: link (DOC)

R. Asher Brander reminds us that we should remember what we are crying for on Tisha B'Av: link

R. Michael Rosensweig discusses the differences between Tishah B'Av and the other Taanios: link (audio)

R. Yonason Sacks discusses how Tishah B'Av has aspects both of Avelus and a Taanis Tzibur: link

R. Efraim Buchwald reminds us that the Haftorah of Shabbos Chazon emphasizes that we must perform mitzvos with sincerety and feelings, as oppposed just going through the motions: link

R. Yitzchak Etshalom analyzes Psalm 137 and its relationship to Tishah B'Av: link (PDF)

R. Zev Leff urges us not to just perfunctorily perform the mitzvos, but to observe God's will as will as in a way that shapes our personality, outlook and actions: link

R. Asher Weiss discusses different aspects of Tishah B'Av: link