Lekh Lekha | Avraham's Early Years: The Genesis of Midrashic Visions, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

What are the sources of the well-known Midrashim about Avraham's early years? 

There are numerous Midrashim that explore the early years of Avraham, attempting to explain his selection as the progenitor of a great nation and the source of blessing for "all of the families of the earth." Some of these Midrashim portray Avraham as a philosopher, arriving at his belief in one God through observation and contemplation. Others describe him as more of an intuitive believer, imbued with a deep sense of God from his youngest years. Exploring passages from the proto-Midrashic literature found in the Apocrypha, we find that each of these approaches can be found in this literature. We also discuss these sources, their likely provenance and their impact on the literature of the Midrash with which we are familiar.

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Noach | "My Covenant", by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

What Berit is Hashem referring to before the Flood? 

In Hashem's instructions to Noach regarding the construction of the Ark, He prefaces the command that Noach, his family and the representatives of the animal kingdom all enter the Ark with an odd phrase - "I will fulfill My covenant with you" - והקימותי את בריתי אתך - to which ברית is this alluding? The Rishonim are divided on its referent; by exploring Beritot in the Torah and a telling passage in Yirmiyahu, we propose a new understanding of this enigmatic phrase which, in turn, illuminates the role for which Avraham was later chosen.

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Leil Hoshana Rabba 5786 | Should You Make a Berakha on Seeing the Freed Hostages, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

IY"H they will be released in the morning, Hoshana Rabba. 

Thoughts About the Coming Week and The Release of our Hostages, by Rav Moshe Taragin

Sukkot | Zman Simchatenu, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Sukkot and the simcha of second chances, in the words of the Alei Shur.

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Rav Soloveitchik on Teshuva (12): How To Free Ourselves from Our Fears, by Rav Dovid Gottlieb

Most people are beset by many fears: fear of dying, fear of poverty, fear of loneliness, etc. Surprisingly, if we internalize one specific  - and big - fear of Heaven we can free ourselves from all of our other fears.

The Glory of "Teshuva Gedola", Shabbat Shuva 5786, derasha by Rav Moshe Taragin

Nitzavim | The Devarim "Revolution", by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

What are we to make of Moshe's "Teshuva speech" in Devarim 30:1-10? The "Parashat haTeshuva" (Devarim 30:1-10) seems to double back on itself, introducing Teshuva and then - introducing it again. Based loosely on a wonderful shiur by Rav Baruch Gigi, Rosh Yeshivat Har Etzion, we analyze the difference between the obeisance directed in Sefer Shemot-Bamidbar as opposed to the emotional attachment between HKBH and Knesset Yisrael introduced by Moshe in his grand speech of Sefer Devarim. Using this dichotomy to suggest two different sets of consequences of "non-compliance" (or "Divine disappointment"), we propose reading the two segments of Parashat haTeshuva as first and foremost addressing the core relationship with HKBH and only after that relating to the practical commitment to Mitzvot.

Sefer Yonah | Chapter 3, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

Why did the king of Nineveh respond so quickly and so forcefully to Yonah's declaration? 

As we continue our study of Sefer Yonah, we note the many peculiarities of the narrative in chapter 3. In only 10 verses, it tells us of Yonah's immensely successful prophetic mission to Nineveh, where his simple cry elicits immediate fasting, mourning and (apparently) heartfelt repentance on the part of the Ninevites. We note the striking parallels between the first narrative - on the boat - and this one and how in each case, the foreign audience (sailors, Ninevites) serve as helpful background players and throughout the story, the real character is Yonah himself. Some of the questions that we have raised will be addressed in the final installment of this mini-series.

Sefer Yonah | Overview, Introduction and Chapter 1, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom

In this opening shiur of a three-part series, we explore the historic background of both Yonah and the Assyrian Empire and its impending conquest of Samaria. We then analyze the first chapter of the story - Yonah on the boat - looking for textual and literary clues to understand the underlying message of the story. More to come...