Beit HaLevi

1820-1892

Rabbi Yosef Dov Ber HaLevi Soloveichik (1820-1892) was born in Lithuania to his father, Rav Yitzchak Zev, the Rav of Kovno. He studied in the Yeshiva of Volozhen, under its Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Itzele. When Rav Itzele passed away in 1854, he became co-Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhen (along with the Netziv). The two had different styles, so Rav Yosef Dov left in 1865 to become the Rav of Slutzk, and in 1878 became the Rav of Brisk. His commentary on the Chumash is only on Bereishit and Shemot, and is renowned for its creativity.

https://www.sefaria.org.il/Beit_HaLevi_on_Torah

Divrei Torah by Beit HaLevi

Bereishit

Bereishit 2:2

Bereishit 2:2 — Beit HaLevi

by Beit HaLevi

On each day Hashem made something new, and beginning day 7 He constantly recreates everything, as nothing just continues, but rather every second is new and has no connection to the previous, but it is Hashem making it continue to exist

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Bereishit

Bereishit 2:2

Bereishit 2:2 — Beit HaLevi

by Beit HaLevi

Each day Hashem rested from what He did the previous day, and on day 7 He rested from everything, as since all creatures are connected and need each other, that rest only occurred on day 7, as without day 6, day 1 was still incomplete.

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Bereishit

Bereishit 3:13

Bereishit 3:13 — Beit HaLevi

by Beit HaLevi

Chava said the snake fooled her, and all the pursuits of this world are false, futile, pointless, worthless, and not fulfilling/restorative, unlike chasing kedusha

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Bereishit

Bereishit 4:5

Bereishit 4:5 — Beit HaLevi

by Beit HaLevi

When his korban wasn't accepted, Kayin got angry, got embarrassed and despaired. When we first sin our yetzer hara is weak, and then it gets stronger, giving an excuse for later sins. We need to repent for the first sins before the yetzer hara got strong

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Noach

Noach 6:12

Noach 6:12 — Beit HaLevi

by Beit HaLevi

All creatures were corrupted, despite animals having no yetzer hara, because our actions influence everything and everyone around us, and we will be judged for what we did and for what others did due to our actions

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Lech Lecha

Lech Lecha 15:8

Lech Lecha 15:8 — Beit HaLevi

by Beit HaLevi

Avraham asks how he can be sure and Hashem tells him to bring a korban. Gemara Megilla tells us this is ledorot, that we can always bring korbanot (or learn/recite korbanot). This is even though korbanot are for shogeg, since a shogeg left untreated leads one to a meizid.

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