Customer Reviews

Torah Studies: A Parsha Anthology

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
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I loved this book. Assuming that one is familiar with some Hebrew words, and at least know the significance of the Torah, the Talmud, and Kabbalah, this book is mentally and religiously stimulating.
The Rebbe does not go into so much detail that one wonders how he got his answers, nor does he cover too much ground, so that one wonders where any connection is.
Personally, the style of this book works for me. If one likes Judaic studies, and likes the style of the Rebbe, then this is a good book for you.

Torah is revealed wisdom and as such it must be revealed or received. We can pass along knowledge but true wisdom must be received. There is a word in the Jewish tradition for the receiving of this revealed wisdom from Torah -- it is Kabbalah.

This one book by Rabbi Menachem Schneerson is full of Kabbalah and gems of Torah. Rabbi Schneerson was a master teacher. Teachings such as "faith begins where understanding ends" and "religious life is not a matter of suddenly arriving, but of constantly journeying" are explained from the Jewish wisdom tradition (Kabbalah).

The weekly Torah portion doesn't change. We change and can receive from Rabbi Schneerson's inspired teachings. This collection was assembled from teachings toward the end of the Rebbe's life and is filled with wisdom from experience.

If I have to name one book of mysticism that inspired me most - it would be this book.

Great out-of-print book. Not clear why it is out-of-print. Previously I would only hear these discourses in shirum for Rabbi's reading and translating the Yiddush. Its great to have the whole thing in English so I can review, study, and share the Rebbe's wisdom with others.

This book is a collection of d'var Torahs (written sermons, essentially), one for each of the year's Torah portions - with a heavy slant towards very traditional Midrashic interpretations but an equally heavy mystical (as opposed to historical) bent. The book seems learned but seems a little dry and lifeless, as if it was written by a committee of rabbis rather than by one - and given that English was not the Rebbe's first language I suspect this was in fact the case.