Sharp-eyed OU Torah readers, listeners and viewers have no doubt noticed a number of new series that have made it onto the OU Torah web site (and app) in recent weeks without much fanfare. Well, guess what? It’s time for fanfare!
For starters, there’s Hilchos Lashon Hara by Rabbi Mendel Kessin! Rabbi Kessin, an internationally-renowned lecturer, is a musmach of Rav Moshe Feinstein ztz”l. He also has a PhD in Psychology from Fordham University and runs a private practice in Brooklyn and Lakewood. The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation was started as a result of being inspired by one of Rabbi Kessin’s shiurim on lashon hara! And when we finish this series, we have even more inspiring content from Rabbi Kessin waiting in the wings! (More on that when the time comes.)
From Rabbi Shmuel Silber, we have both a chinuch series called Parenting and Being Parented and a parsha series called Likutei Moharan, based on the work of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Rabbi Silber is the founder and dean of the Institute for Jewish Continuity, as well as mara d’asra of Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim in Baltimore, MD. He received semicha from Yeshiva University and a Masters degree in Secondary Jewish Education from Azrieli Graduate School. (As with Rabbi Kessin, we have even more from Rabbi Silber on deck but you’re just going to have to be patient!)
From Rabbi Moshe Davis, mara d’asra of BSBI in Charleston, comes Bechor Shor, a parsha series featuring the commentary of the Rishon whose work bears that name. Rabbi Davis received his BA in psychology, MS in Jewish education and rabbinic ordination from Yeshiva University. (Rabbi Davis focuses on a different Rishon each year, so who can say what the future may bring?)
Our newest parsha series is Sodot HaParsha (Secrets of the Parsha) from Rabbi Reuven Sasson, translated from the original Hebrew by Rabbi Shimon Apisdorf. Rabbi Sasson is a student of the late Chief Rabbi R. Mordechai Eliyahu ztz”l, R. Shabtai Sabato (Rosh Yeshiva of Mitzpeh Yericho) and Rav Nachum Rechel. In 2008, he established the yeshiva in Ramat HaSharon where he teaches gemara, halacha, Tanach and emunah. Rabbi Sasson has authored over 30 sefarim on a wide range of topics, which have received warm haskamos from a number of gedolei Yisrael.
If you couldn’t make it to Torah LA, OU Torah now has recordings of the timely and topical shiurim delivered by (in alphabetical order) Rabbi Lawrence Hajioff, Rabbi Abraham Lieberman, Dr. David Pelcovitz, Rabbi Hershel Schachter, Rabbi Yaakov Trump, Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, Geraldine Wiener and Rabbi Dr. Zev Wiener, MD. (Actually, forget that bit about “if you couldn’t make it.” Even if you were there, why not revisit them?)
Before we go, a few brief notes:
- Remember that Dirshu Mishnah Brurah Yomi, taught by Rabbi Dr. Aaron E. Glatt, starts the fourth volume of Mishnah Brurah on Sunday, January 6! (More about that here);
- The Mishna Yomit calendar for January, 2019, was a little wonky so we cleaned it up for you – get a fresh copy here;
- The popular OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is going strong on OU Torah – review it daily with us!
Follow all these great series and more online at OU Torah or by using the OU Torah app for iOS and Android. And remember to sign up for OU Torah’s weekly Shavua Tov email to keep up with all of OU Torah’s daily and weekly Torah-study series!