Parashah Roundup: Behar 5768

by Steve Brizel

Shemittah and Yovel

R. Yehuda Amital reminds us that Shemmitah is a model for how we should approach Torah study and observance-by keeping our minds on the details and underlying principles: link

R. Ephraim Buchwald and R. Berel Wein urge us to look at the spiritual benefits of the Shnas HaShemittah: link 1; link 2

R. Jonathan Sacks underscores the fact that Shemittah and Yovel should not be compared to any contemporary political or economic system: link

The Shem MiShmuel, as prepared by R. E. Kwass, emphasizes that Shemittah is a means of unifying Klal Yisrael: link

R. Yissocher Frand explores the common denominator between interest, Tzitzis and weight and measures: link

Click here to read moreSefiras HaOmer

R. Hershel Schachter explains why the Torah in Parshas Emor and Parshas Pinchas gives seemingly different definitions of the mitzvah of Sefiras HaOmer: link (audio)

R. Yonasan Sacks explores why we do not say Shehecheyanu until we have completed the Sefiras HaOmer in its entirety: link

R. Joshua Flug reviews the halachic issues involved in Sefiras HaOmer, regardless of whether the mitzvah is viewed as a Torah or Rabbinic obligation: link

R. Daniel Z. Feldman discusses many halachic issues that arise from Sefiras HaOmer: Part I (audio) & Par II (audio)

R. Zvi Soboloflsy, based upon a Machlokes Rishonim, discusses the halachic consequences of missing a consecutive day in the Sefiras HaOmer: link (audio)

R. Shmuel Maybruch investigates the halachic issues involved with listening to music during Sefiras HaOmer: link (audio)

Sefiras Haomer and Shavuos

R. Avigdor Nevenzal suggests that we use the Sefiras HaOmer as a means of improving our interpersonal relationships link

R. Shlomo Riskin explores why we count Sefirah between Pesach and Shavuos and why the Baal HaHaggadah omitted the last verses of Mikrah Bikurim: link

R. Michael Rosenweig and R Shalom Rosner shows us how Sefiras HaOmer can serve as a path to Taharah: link 1, link 2 (audio)