What do you think?
Rate this book
Before Hashem You Shall Be Purified : Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik on the Days of Awe
Rabbi Soloveitchik, one of the greatest Halakhic minds of the twentieth century, has left a remarkable legacy of public lectures. Among the most popular of venues for these lectures was the Kinus Teshuvah, where the Rav would weave halakhah and homiletics so compellingly that the line between them blurred and often disappeared entirely. Presented in Yiddish, these discourses (teshuvah derashot) combined halakhic depth with emotional power, leaving an enduring imprint on all who attended. From 1962 through 1980, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik zt"l annually presented a two- to- three hour lecture in Yiddish at the Kinus Teshuvah (Repentance Convocation) sponsored by the Rabbinical Council of America. These lectures (derashot) were delivered between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur on the topic of repentance and the Days of Awe.Many of the earlier derashot presented through 1972 were summarized by Rabbi Pinchas Peli inhis classic work Al Hateshuvah, later translated into English as On Repentance. This long-awaited volume is a summary of the derashot delivered from 1973 through 1980. Dr. Arnold Lustiger has organized the teshuvah derashot topically, from the pre-Rosh Hashanah Selihot prayers through the Yom Kippur Avodah and concluding Neilah services. He has included Biblical, Talmudic and Midrashic sources. He provides cross-references, with citations from Pelis On Repentance as well as from Rabbi Soloveitchiks written works that address and amplify important themes in these lectures in different and often greater detail. With the publication of this book, an audience anxious to see more of Rabbi Soloveitchiks thoughts in print can once again appreciate use of the definite article when his students and followers refer to him simply as "the Rav".
187 pages, Hardcover
First published July 30, 1998
About the author
Joseph B. Soloveitchik
62 books69 followersRabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik (1903-1993)
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik was born into a family already known for its great Torah learning. His grandfather and father, emphasized a thorough analysis of Talmud, and it is in this way that Rav Soloveitchik studied and taught his own students. He was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Berlin, and then settled in Boston in the early 1930’s. He became Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva University, and gave weekly shiurim to senior students, while delivering philosophy lectures to graduate students. His accomplishments in both Halachic study and secular study made him a unique Torah personality to Torah scholars all over.
His limitless expertise in and appreciation of secular disciplines never lessened his total devotion to Torah study. Indeed Torah study was the central focus of his life and his teachings. His public historic shiurim in memory of his great father, Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, and his public shiurim between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur organized by the Rabbinical Council of America known as Kinus T’Shuva, were attended by thousands of Torah students from all groupings in the Torah community. Thus he was one of the leaders of the generation.
He never engaged in pejorative or invectives when speaking of non-orthodox Jews. He was polite and respectful to others. Yet he was firm and inflexible in protecting and advocating the Mesorah of Torah tradition. His ruling, written by him, that one is not allowed to pray in a house of worship that violates Halachic standards even if it would result in not fulfilling the Mitzvah of Tekiath Shofar is an illustration of his strong stand on Torah and Mesorah.
This can also be seen from his opinion that while dialogue with non-Jewish faiths may be necessary, it may not deal with theological topics. This was a historic principle which guided his disciples in all their dealings with non-Jewish clergy, and continues to this very day.
His teachings and shiurim are responsible for literally thousands of men and women in the educational and academic community today.
F.S.
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik was born into a family already known for its great Torah learning. His grandfather and father, emphasized a thorough analysis of Talmud, and it is in this way that Rav Soloveitchik studied and taught his own students. He was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Berlin, and then settled in Boston in the early 1930’s. He became Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva University, and gave weekly shiurim to senior students, while delivering philosophy lectures to graduate students. His accomplishments in both Halachic study and secular study made him a unique Torah personality to Torah scholars all over.
His limitless expertise in and appreciation of secular disciplines never lessened his total devotion to Torah study. Indeed Torah study was the central focus of his life and his teachings. His public historic shiurim in memory of his great father, Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, and his public shiurim between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur organized by the Rabbinical Council of America known as Kinus T’Shuva, were attended by thousands of Torah students from all groupings in the Torah community. Thus he was one of the leaders of the generation.
He never engaged in pejorative or invectives when speaking of non-orthodox Jews. He was polite and respectful to others. Yet he was firm and inflexible in protecting and advocating the Mesorah of Torah tradition. His ruling, written by him, that one is not allowed to pray in a house of worship that violates Halachic standards even if it would result in not fulfilling the Mitzvah of Tekiath Shofar is an illustration of his strong stand on Torah and Mesorah.
This can also be seen from his opinion that while dialogue with non-Jewish faiths may be necessary, it may not deal with theological topics. This was a historic principle which guided his disciples in all their dealings with non-Jewish clergy, and continues to this very day.
His teachings and shiurim are responsible for literally thousands of men and women in the educational and academic community today.
F.S.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 6, 2016
This book paraphrases some of Rav Soloveitchik's talks on the High Holy Days and their liturgy. Even paraphrased, these talks are quite technical, and I can't say I always followed the Rav's logic. Some examples:
*The Rav sees prayer as falling into two categories: "instinctive, nonverbal prayer" (similar to a cry of anguish) and more sophisticated prayer. He suggests that the shofar blasts are in the middle of prayers because verbal prayers come first, and the shofar symbolizes frustration at the inadequacy of verbal prayer.
*Why is Kol Nidrei (an annulment of vows) part of the Yom Kippur liturgy? He points out that some commentators see it as a repudiation of future vows. Playing off this idea, he suggests that it is really a statement of desire not to sin in the future.
*Why do Yom Kippur readings contain both the book of Jonah (in which Assyrians repent for their sins) and passages from the Torah about sexual misconduct? The first is designed to show Divine interest in non-Jews, while the second emphasizes Jewish distinctiveness.
*The Rav sees prayer as falling into two categories: "instinctive, nonverbal prayer" (similar to a cry of anguish) and more sophisticated prayer. He suggests that the shofar blasts are in the middle of prayers because verbal prayers come first, and the shofar symbolizes frustration at the inadequacy of verbal prayer.
*Why is Kol Nidrei (an annulment of vows) part of the Yom Kippur liturgy? He points out that some commentators see it as a repudiation of future vows. Playing off this idea, he suggests that it is really a statement of desire not to sin in the future.
*Why do Yom Kippur readings contain both the book of Jonah (in which Assyrians repent for their sins) and passages from the Torah about sexual misconduct? The first is designed to show Divine interest in non-Jews, while the second emphasizes Jewish distinctiveness.
October 4, 2018
I read this over the High Holidays, to put me in the proper frame of mind. It seems the Rav's books do this trick for me: as Kol Dodi Dofek gave me a better appreciation for Israel, and as Lonely Man of Faith gave me great inside into the title topic, so did this book give me a solid understanding - and newfound respect - for the assembly, order, and construction of the Yom Kippur prayers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews