The Rav Thinking Aloud on the Parsha: Sefer Bereishis

For decades, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik lectured on Chumash in a variety of venues. From his lecture hall at Yeshiva University, he analytically explored the p’shat of the Chumash. In Boston, he philosophically expounded the hashkafah of Yahadus. At the Moriya Synagogue, he brought the Chumash alive with an incisive approach to classical d’rush.

The Rav Thinking Aloud on the Parsha showcases all of these styles in a collection of shiurim spanning 30 years. All of the English shiurim are transcribed verbatim to provide the reader with a full appreciation of the Rav's style. Added to this are transcripts of personal discussions that provide insight into the way the Rav analyzed Chumash. Find out how the Rav approached questions such as:

•The Midrash says that Hashem created and destroyed many worlds before creating ours. Why couldn't Hashem "get it right" the first time?
• Who was Hashem talking to when He said, "Naaseh Adam"? Why should Hashem need to consult anyone else?
• Why did Avraham protest the destruction of Sodom, but quickly went along with killing his son Yitzchak?
•If Yitzchak wasn't sure which son was in front of him, why not call in a servant? Why give a b’rachah at all?
•Why was Yaakov distressed about killing Eisav? We have a principle of self-defense: if someone comes to kill you, you must kill him first.