Parashah Roundup: Yisro 5769

by Steve Brizel

What Yisro Heard

The Nesivos Shalom, as elucidated by R. Yitzchak Adlerstein, explains what motivated Yisro: link

R. Asher Brander, based upon a comment of Rashi, exhorts us to emulate Yisro and always place our heads over our hearts, in our search for truth: link

Yisro the “Outsider”

R. Berel Wein and R. Francis Nataf remind us that we should consider the example of Yisro in responding to the suggestions of outsiders and that it is counterproductive and wrong for “insiders” to expect “outsiders” to become exactly like “insiders”: link 1, link 2

Click here to read moreSanctification and Preparation

R. Ephraim Buchwald challenges us to prepare for the future by recreating the spiritual commitments of the past generations: link

Koh Somar LBeis Yaakov Vsaged Lbeis Yisrael

R. Baruch Simon, based upon the Ohr HaChaim, as opposed to the well known comment of Rashi, based on Chazal, suggests based upon a Talmudic passage in Masechta Sotah that the above verse refers to mitzvos based upon Ahavah and Yirah: link (audio)

A Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation

R. Yitzchak Etshalom explores the views of various commentators , the meaning of this phrase and how the Jewish People are to fulfill this charge, as well as the placement of various Neviim within Tanach and their message: link (PDF)

R. Jonathan Sacks points to numerous unique aspects that have enabled the Jewish People to survive and prosper: link

Maamad Har Sinai and Being Lifnei HaShem

R. Herschel Shachter underscores the importance of Karbanos, Tefilah and Talmud Torah as mitzvos, which more so than other mitzvos, enable us to engage in Avodas HaShem in a direct manner: link

The Aseres HaDibros

Rav Soloveitchik zt"l, based on the views of Rav Saadyah Gaon and Rashi, reminds us that we either accept all of the Decalogue, or we accept none of its contents: link

R. Aharon Lichtenstein explains why every Jew must live a life of Torah at all levels and understand that the Torah is a Torah of life: link

R. Yonasan Sacks reviews the halachic issues raised by the recitation of Aseres HaDibros as part of Tefilah and Krias HaTorah: link

Belief in God as a Divine Commandment

R. Dovid Gottlieb examines whether belief in God is a mitzvah: link (audio)

Anger and Avodah Zarah

R. Yissocher Frand reminds us that one's failure to control their temper is indicative of a failure of a test to control one's Yetzer Harah: link

The Revolutionary Message of Shabbos

R. Shlomo Riskin underscores the fact that Shabbos is a day when we emphasize that the only true owner of the world is God: link

The Dual Nature of Shabbos

R. David Horwitz examines the reasons for Shabbos as elucidated by Rambam in the Moreh Nevuchim: link

Kibud Vaem

R. Zvi Sobolofsky explores the halachic dimensions of and halachic issues related to Kibud Av Vaem: link (audio)

Lo Tignov

R. Dovid Gottlieb discusses the halachic boundaries of Lo Tignov: link (audio)

Lo Tachmod

R. Michael Rosensweig and R. Yaakov Haber (formerly of RIETS) explain why Lo Tachmod is the last of the Aseres HaDibros: link 1, link 2

The Divine Epilogue

R. Avraham Gordimer explains why the mitzvos (a) prohibiting graven images ; (b) requiring the altar to be manufactured from stone and (3) the use of only a ramp to climb to the altar were all transmitted immediately after the Aseres HaDibros: link

R. Ezra Bick shows us how the Divine Revelation of the Decalogue changed the rules of engagement between God and man.and God's insistence that the Jewish People embrace the opportunity and responsibility to directly reach out to God: link

Last year's roundup: link