Parashah Roundup: Nitzavim-Vayeileikh 5769

by Steve Brizel

The Inner State of Man

R Ezra Bick, based upon the comments of Netziv, explains how Parshas Nitzavim and the two following Parshiyos deal with reinforcing our commitment to Torah: link

The Individual and The Community

R Baruch Simon illustrates how the opening words prove how every Jew should relate to every other and that we must emulate Moshe Rabbeinu's actions by showing by example. Jew: link 1 (audio), link 2 (audio)

The Chopper of Wood and the Drawers of Water

R Shlomoh Riskin,based on a Midrashic explanation, exhorts us to remember why Avraham Avinu and Eliyahu HaNavi,are critically important parts of every Bris Milah and Seder: link

Click here for moreThe Duality of Emotions

R Berel Wein illustrates the optimism and sadness in both of this week's Parshiyos: link

The Mitzvah of Teshuvah

R Yitzchak Etshalom explores the many dimensions of the Mitzvah of Teshuvah: link

R Reuven Feinstein discusses many aspects of Teshuvah: link (audio)

R Avigdor Nevenzal explains why the Geulah must be preceded by Teshuvah and why man's actions or inactions, proper or improper, determine how the world functions: link 1, link 2

R Baruch Simon offers many insights into the unique nature of the Mitzvah of Teshuvah: link 1 (audio), link 2 (audio)

R Yissocher Frand, based on an observation of R Chaim Brisker ZTL, and the comments of the Ramban and the Netziv, reminds us of the challenge of Teshuvah in our generation, and the ability of Teshuvah to effectuate a reunion between HaShem and His children: link

The Nesivos Shalom, as explicated by R Yitzchak Adlerstein, explains how to approach Rosh HaShanah so that we are judged as children of HaShem, as opposed to slaves: link

R Ephraim Buchwald discusses the relationship between the Mitzvah of Teshuvah and the Messianic Age: link

R Sir Jonathan Sacks explores how Rambam and Ramban view the elements of Scar VaOnesh in their understanding of the Mitzvah of Teshuvah: link

R Zvi Sobolofsky explains that increasing our level of Torah study, in the absence of a Beis HaMikdash, enables us to get a glimpse of the Shechinah , enhance our Yiras Shamayim and properly experience the Yamim Noraim: link

R Asher Brander emphasizes the Divine Gift that underscores the essence of the Mitzvah of Teshuvah: link

R Dovid Horwitz offers an explanation into a famous comment of Resh Lakish in Yoma 86b on the transformative nature of Teshuvah: link

Dr. Michelle J. Levine leads us through the paths of Teshuvah taken by Biblical personalities: link (audio)

HaNistaros LaShem Elokeinu

R Mordechai Willig exhorts us to both make Torah and Mitzvos exciting and attractive while simultaneously being able to condemn sinful behavior and heretical doctrines: link

R Avraham Gordimer illustrates the differences between knowing HaShem's Divinely Revealed Torah and inscrutable principles that define how HaShem runs His World that are beyond human comprehension: link

The Mitzvah of Hakhel

R Avraham Gordimer explains why the Mitzvah of Hakhel was given in Parshas Vayelech as opposed to Parshas Behar or Parshas Shoftim: link

The Mitzva of Writing a Sefer Torah

R Dovid Gottlieb discusses the elements of writing a Sefer Torah: link (audio)

Shloshim Yom Kodem HaChag Department

Rav Soloveitchik ZTL, explicates the Avodas Yom HaKipurrim and Hashkafic aspects of Yom HaKipurrim: link (audio)

R Aharon Lichtenstein explores the sources in Chazal and Rishonim with respect to adding HaMelech HaKadosh and HaMelech and HaMishpat in the Tefilos between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Hkippurim: link

R Herschel Schachter reviews Halachos and Minhagim associated with the Nusach HaTefilos of the YamimNoraim, the Musaf of Rosh HaShanah, and Halachos related to Yom HaKippurim: link 1 (audio), link 2 (audio), link 3 (audio)

R Dovid Miller , based upon the Drasha of the Ramban for Rosh HaShanah, explores in a series of shiurim, many of the Hashkafic concepts in Tanach and Chazal that are a major theme of Rosh HaShanah: link (audio)

Rebbitzen Peshi Neuberger discusses Ldavid HaShem V”Ori: link (audio)

R Eytan Feiner discusses many halachos of Elul and Rosh HaHaShanah: link

R Yona Reiss explores Halachos and Minhagim related to Erev Rosh HaShanah: link (audio)

R Asher Weiss discusses the Mitzvah of Shofar and its Brachos: link (audio)

R Doniel Schreiber discusses the definition of the mitzvah of Shofar and the number of Shofar blasts one must hear to fulfil the mitzvah: link 1, link 2

R Elyakim Koenigsberg discusses the Seder Tekias Shofar: link (audio)

R Baruch Simon explores the Halachic fundamental of Yatza Motzie: link (audio)

R Yonasan Sacks discuses Rosh HaShanah that occurs on Shabbos: link (audio)

R Yonasan Sacks and R Aryeh Leibowitz discusses the Halachah of Simcha on Rosh HaShanah: link 1 (audio), link 2 (audio)

R Daniel Z. Feldman discusses the Halachic fundamental of Yesh Koach B'Yad Chachamim L'Akor Davar Min HaTorah Bshev Val Taaseh: link (audio)

R Joshua Flug discuses how to eat a new fruit on the second night of Rosh HaShanah and reviews the controversy over the Minhag of Kaparos: link 1, link 2 (audio)

Rebbitzen Smadar Rosensweig demonstrates how Teshuvah and Taharah are the prime themes of the Haftarah of Shabbos Shuvah: link (audio)

R Dovid Gottlieb reviews the relationship between Vidui and Teshuvah: link (audio)

R Ozer Glickman warns us not to divorce Halacha from the Divine Experience: link (PDF)

R Yonasan Sacks contrasts Kaparah and Taharah: link (audio)

R Mordechai Willig discusses the Halachah of Choleh BaYom HaKippurim: link (audio)

R Dovid Miller discusses Hilcos Yom HaKippurim, Sukkos and Yom Tom Sheni: link (audio)

Last year's roundup: link 1, link 2.