Parashah Roundup: Bo 5769

by Steve Brizel

Identification and Empathy

R. Dovid Hirsch explores why identifying and empathizing with someone else's travails was an intrinsic part of Moshe Rabbeinu's personality and thus, one of the 48 means which are essential to the acquisition of Torah: link

Learning by Teaching

R. Ephraim Buchwald reminds us that every Jewish family has the obligation and potential to convert its meals into an educational laboratory by teaching and demonstrating the profundity of Torah: link

The Hardening of Pharoah's Heart

R. Dovid Horwitz explores the problem of free will and predestination: link

Click here to read moreThe Plague of Darkness

R. Yitzchak Adlerstein, based upon the Nesivos Shalom, reminds us that darkness and lightness affect a person spiritually, as well as physically: link

R. Berel Wein, based upon a Midrash quoted by Rashi, exhorts us to remember that redemption is a long and bitter process: link

The Plague of the First Born

Rav Soloveitchik zt"l explains the plague of the first born: link

R. Asher Brander discusses why Pharoah demanded a blessing from Moshe Rabbeinu: link

R. Joshua Hoffman explains why the dogs were quiet during the plague of the first born: link

Kiddush HaChodesh and the Month of Nisan

R. Herschel Shachter, based upon the Netziv, explains why Jewish history commences from the month of Nissan: link

R. Shlomo Riskin, based upon the Kabbalistic understanding of Kiddush HaLevanah and a statement of the Rambam, reminds us why Kiddush HaChodesh symbolizes our hope for the Jewish future: link

The Korban Pesach

R. Yitzchak Etshalom discusses three separate aspects of the Korban Pesach: link

R. Moshe Taragin, based upon the Beis HaLevi, discusses the uniqueness of eating the Korban Pesach: link

Achilas Matzah

R. Avraham Gordimer explains why the eating of Matzah in all generations is an act of trust and faith in God: link

Shimur Matzas Mitzvah

R. Asher Weiss discusses the proper preparation of Mitzvas Mitzvah: link

Ain Maavirin Al HaMitzvos

R. Asher Weiss explores the halachic implications of Ain Maavirin Al Hamitzvos: link

Remembering the Exodus from Egypt

Rav Soloveitchik zt"l explains the Haggadah: link

R. Yonasan Sacks investigates the sources of the mitzvah of remembering the Exodus from Egypt: link

R. Nathan Lopes Cardozo explores why the Exodus from Egypt is described by the Torah as a Zikaron: link

R. Baruch Simon explains why the Exodus from Egypt is a paradigm for freedom: link (audio)

R. Jonathan Sacks, based upon the writings of Rav Soloveitchik zt"l, reminds us that we are guided by the covenants of faith and destiny: link

Bedikas Chametz

Rav Soloveitchik zt"l explains the first Mishnah in Pesachim: link

Pidyon HaBen

R. Dovid Gottlieb explores the halachic and hashkafic underpinnings of Pidyon HaBen: link (audio)

The Mitzvah of Tefilin

R. Aharon Lichtenstein discusses the Machlokes Rishonim between Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam as to the order of the Parshiyos in Tefilin: link

R. Yissocher Frand discusses whether Mitzvas Tefilin was observed during the forty years of the Jewish People's journeys in the desert: link

R. Dovid Gottlieb reviews the differences between Rashi and Rabbeinu Tam Tefilin and the halachic issues raised therein: link (audio)

Last year's roundup: link