Rav Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik zt"l (1903-1993) was not only one of the outstanding talmudists of the Twentieth century, but also one of its most creative and seminal Jewish thinkers. Drawing from a vast reservoir of Jewish and general knowledge, "the Rav," as he is widely known, brought Jewish thought and law to bear on the interpretation and assessment of the modern experience.
Rabbi Avishai David, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Jerusalem, attended the Rav’s daily shiurim in yeshiva for several years during the early and mid-1970s, and was a staunch attendee of the shiurim in Congregation Moriah in Manhattan for over a decade. For five years, between 1977 and 1982, he attended the Rav’s Humash shiurim on Motza’ei Shabbat in Boston, as well as many of the summer shiurim that the Rav presented on various topics. The Humash shiurim published in this book are an amalgam of all of the aforementioned venues, but are drawn primarily from the shiurim in Boston on Motza’ei Shabbat.
About the Author
Rabbi Avishai David received his rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University. While studying under such outstanding Torah giants such as Rav Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik zt"l and Rav Nissan Alpert zt"l, Rabbi David absorbed from their knowledge and world religious outlook and values. Prior to his aliyah in August 1994, Rabbi David was Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Bnei Akiva Ohr Chaim and Ulpanat Orot in Toronto and before that, principal of Block Yeshiva High School in St. Louis Missouri. In Israel, Rabbi David served as a Ram in Yeshivat Hesder Ohr Etzion, and headed one of the premier post high school seminaries for women, Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim (MMY).
Starting Elul 5762, Rabbi David became the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Torat Shraga in Jerusalem, a successful post high school yeshiva program for young men. Simultaneously, Rabbi David is the Rav of a popular synagogue in Beit Shemesh, Beit Midrash Torani Leumi. In his shul, he delivers shiurim and lectures on a host of topics, while serving as a posek for the Beit Shemesh community.