JUDS 1933-NPT Rav Soloveitchik on the Holidays II

Abstract

Course Description Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (known often as “The Rav”) was a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University who laid so much of the foundation of the YU Torah community and its worldview. He has administered more rabbinic degrees than anyone in Jewish History and gave lectures and shiurim that captivated a generation of American Jews. Together, we will explore Rav Soloveitchik’s Torah and thought specifically on the subject of holidays/chagim, often highlighting his unique ability to intertwine halacha and machshava. The holidays we will highlight will correspond with the holidays occurring in the Jewish calendar during this semester, beginning with Adar/Purim. This will not only provide focus for our material, but will hopefully provide meaning to the numerous mitzvot and customs that we will perform on those holidays as well. In other words, the subject matter will be inyanei d’yoma for us throughout the semester.