LIST OF HELPFUL SEFORIM



LIST OF HELPFUL SEFORIM

Hanan Balk's suggestions

• תפילה כהלכתה

• ספר ואהבת לריעך כמוך

• הליכות שלמה (פסק and הנהגות of Rav Sh'lomo Zalman Auerbach)

• אוצר המדרשים

• רמב"ם

Nisson Shulman

• תועפות הרי"ם:

Drasha outlines Rabbi Yehiel Michel Kossowsky, zt"l and thought kernels for all year long and the holidays.

Efrem Goldberg

theBooks.htm

Has online editions of books on Contemporary Halacha and Science

Jacob J. Schacter's list of recommended sources

Rabbi Schacter gave a session at the 2004 RCA Convention entitled: "How to present a lecture." On the CD Rom Rabbi Schacter shares a wealth of recommended S'forim and helpful websites. Contact the Soloveitchik Institute to order a copy of the CD Rom. (617)232-7443.

Jonathan Rosenblatt's list of recomended sources

Register/Listen to his course (four one hour sessions) taught as part of the RCA’s Rabbi Dworken Continuing Rabbinic Education program. Here he gives a far more thorough list of practical suggestions for preparing for a Drasha.

• נציב

• מדרש תנחומא

• מדרש רבה

• מדרש המעוברת

• אברבנאל

• Luzato

• דעת זקנים

• כלי יקר

• אור החיים

• תולדות אהרון (lookup the סוגיא he brings down)

Avoiding Burnout

Key #1 = In order to avoid burnout… constantly look at material in a fresh new way.

Key #2 = Constantly be learning! Not just Gemara!

Key #3 = Try to help your congregants understand the difficult areas of the Torah. Parts they never knew.

Key #4 = Try to find a section of the Parsha that you consider interesting (5-6 Psukim) and learn everything you have on it. Especially see the above list of Meforshim.

Key #5 = Blend in with contemporary reading …Jewish Week, New York Times, Sports Illustrated.

Joseph Radinsky's list of recommended sources

Joseph Radinsky's books, Torah Concepts Volumes 6,7,8,9 are available at $20.00 each (including postage). Please make check payable to: United Orthodox Synagogue 9001 Greenwillow, Houston, Texas 77096. Call (713)729-6750.

Kenneth Hain's list of recommended sources

שמן הטוב (Hebrew) by Rabbi Bernard Weinberger. פרשה & מועדים

באר יוסף על התורה by Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Salant

פננים חדשות בתורה by Rabbi Benzion Feerer. Short essays on each Parsha

Marc Penner's list of recommended sources

Full Derashot/Essays on the Parsha

Night of Watching (Out of Print) by Rabbi Zvi Dov Kanatopsky. (The first half of the sefer is currently available under the title The Depths of Simplicity)

דרשות אל עמי (Out of Print), Hegyonot el Ami – Rabbi Moshe Avigdor Amiel

פרשה ופרשה, פרשה ולקחה – Rabbi Moshe Gorelick

Good Beginnings (available from Rabbi Azarya Berzon at Shaarei Mevaseret Zion) and Sermons the Year Round (available online at ) by Rabbi Bernard Berzon

פנים חדשות לתורה, פנים מסבירות לתורה, הגיונות של תורה by Rabbi Ben-Zion Firer

Table Talk, Rabbi Raphael Pelcovitz

Margin for Triumph and Margin for Living by Rabbi Joseph Singer

Ner Uziel, Rabbi Uziel Milevsky

טל חרמון, Rabbi Shlomo Aviner

ספר לקח טוב on the Parshiot

חמדת ימים, Rabbi Yaakov Filber

ספר מוסרי התורה, Rabbi Yerucham Halevi of Mir

שיחות מוסר, Rabbi Chaim Shmulevitz

אש קודש by Rabbi Kalonymous Shapira

תורת המקרא by Rabbi Shlomo Goren

נתיבות שלום by Rabbi Shalom Noach Brozofsky (the Slunimer Rebbe)

Torah Therapy and More Torah Therapy, Rabbi Reuven Bulka

הגהות בפרשיות התורה, Rabbi Yehudah Nachshoni

Prof. Nechama Leibowitz

הגיונות מקרא, Yisrael Eldad

Sifrei Derush/Shorter Thoughts on the Parsha

באר יוסף, Rabbi Yosef Salant

אמת ליעקב, Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzky

חידושי מהרי"ל דסקין על התורה

Peninim on the Torah set published by the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland 216-321-5838.

דרש משה, Bastion of Faith, Rav Moshe Feinstein

לימודי ניסן, Rabbi Nisan Alpert

Call of the Torah by Rabbi Elie Munk (translated into English by Artscroll)

תוספת ברכה by Rabbi Baruch Epstein

שם דרך (commentary on רמב"ן) by Rabbi Mordechai Ziskind Broide

טעם ודעת, Rabbi Moshe Shternbuch

שמן הטוב, Rabbi Bernard Weinberger

שבת בשבתו, Rabbi Abraham Shtall

מאוצרינו הישן, B. Yeushson

ברכת פרץ, the Steipler Gaon

חידושי רבינו יוסף נחמי'ה, by Rabbi Yosef Nechemia Kornizer

For Ideas

Understanding Judaism, Rabbi Benjamin Blech

The Royal Reach, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm

This Way Up, Rebbetzin Tzipporah Heller

Equality Lost, Rabbi Yehuda Henkin

The Jewish Imagination, Rabbi Basil Herring

Tapes of Rabbi Isaac Bernstein (available from Mr. Milton Nordlicht, see )

Works of:

i. Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik (see )

ii. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (see )

iii. Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo (see )

iv. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz

v. Rabbi Shimshon Dovid Pinkus

vi. Dr. Avivah Zornberg

vii. Rabbi Berel Wein

viii. Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss

ix. Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan

x. Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner

The הפטרה

מכתב מאליהו, Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler

ספר מעלות התורה, Rabbi Binyamin Moshe Bernstein (connects thoughts of Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein on תפילה to the פרשיות)

ספר החנוך (by ???)

Eim HaBanim Semeicha by Rabbi Yisachar Shlomo Teichtel

13. The Temple by Rabbi Josh Berman

14. Editorials (NY Times, Washington Post)

15. Articles in The New Republic

For Stories

Parsha Parables series by Rabbi Mordechai Kaminetzky

Books of Rabbi Chanoch Teller

Sarei Hameah by Rabbi Yehudah Leib haKohen Maimon

Ishim veShitot by Rabbo Shlomo Yosef Zevin

Not Just Stories by Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski

Rabbi Krohn’s Maggid Series

Internet Resources

YU Torah -

RCA Rabbinic Resources -

Virtual Beis Medrash of Yeshivat Har Etzion -

Daat –

Rav Meir Goldvicht – online audio shiurim -

Rabbi Mordechai Elon Parsha Archives -

Weekly Halacha Archives by Rabbi Daniel Neustadt -

Menachem Leibtag Archives -

Bar Ilan University Faculty Parshat Hashavua Archives -

Rabbi Yisachar Frand Archives -

Rabbi Yaakov Menkin Archives -

Yeshivat Shaalvim – Parshat Hashavua by Aaron Weiss -

Sichot of Rav Nebenzahl -

Yeshivat Beit El – Parshat Hashavua -

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Parsha Archives -

Marc Penner's suggested sefarim for writing speeches

For Kids Speeches:

Sifrei Nechama Leibowitz

הגהות בפרשיות התורה, Rabbi Yehudah Nachshoni

ספר דעת חכמים, Rabbi Joseph B Weinstein

שבת בשבתו, Avraham Shtall

Derashot for the Rav to say at a Bar Mitzvah

דורון דרש, Rabbi Nachman Yosef Vilhelm

הנאום והדרוש, Rabbi Avraham Orenstein (The “Bar Mitzvah” vol. of his 8 vol. set)

עת לשמוח: דרשות לשמחות, Rabbi Yehudah Shaviv

Or Hamizrach

Torah Journal put out by the Religious Zionists of America

Nefesh Harav

Based on Rav Schachter's prodigious memories and notes of the Rav and his teachings. In addition to extensive treatments of major themes, it also includes important notes on the ימים טובים, מצוות, הלכות, various dates in the Jewish calendar, and many of the פרשיות

Rabbi Daniel Alter's list of recommended sources

In The Rabbinate, similar to other professions, there is a desire to excel and to be the best that we possibly can. There are a tremendous amount of resources that can assist us in growing in many different directions. Some of these are easy to apply to the Rabbinate and some tend to be more business oriented. The following is a list of some of my favorites which I feel can translate pretty well into our work in the Rabbinate. This is an initial list. If you have other suggestions please e-mail me at rebdaniel@

Management

• The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell.

This book describes how change can be created in a rather quick fashion, similar to an epidemic. It is a study of those who have achieved major change with limited resources in a relatively short time.

• Seven habits of highly effective people by Stephen Covey.

This book is a classic. It talks about becoming more effective in oneâ??s personal and business life. Issues such as productivity, time management, and positive thinking are some of the topics. Not an easy read though.

• Who Moved My Cheese:An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard

This book is a very easy read. An interesting approach regarding those who are resistant to change. A word of warning: Individuals who are trying to create change have been known to give this book to those holding back the change. This method usually backfires.

Speaking Skills

•

This is the website for an international speaking club. Check the site for locations. There is probably one near you. Professional speaking coaches are extremely expensive. This is a well known program that is affordable and can be very helpful in improving your speaking abilities.

Program Evaluation

•

This is a good article on evaluating programs. All too often we get stuck in routine and continue to do shiurim or programs without evaluating them. A good evaluation can often be the difference between an okay program and a great program.

Governance and Board issues

Often Rabbis are not involved in governance and board issues. If one wants to create significant cultural and spiritual change, it is often important to work in tandem with the board. As such, an understanding of how boards should function is important, especially since many Synagogue boards are incompetent. Below are two helpful websites:

•

This is a website with many helpful ideas and resources related to boards.

•

This website deals with risk management for boards.

Negotiation Skills

• Getting To Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving In by Roger Fisher and William Ury.

Running a shul is often about negotiation. This book provides strategies for coming to mutually acceptable agreements with others. It presents a solid approach to dispute resolution and agreement making.

Leadership

• The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner.

Deals with leadership issues such as inspiring others to share your vision, creating change, empowering others and other important leadership skills.

• The Leadership Genius of George Bush: Ten Common Sense Lessons from the Commander in Chief by Thompson and Ware.

You can read this book and gain from it even if you don’t like his politics. The book does not dwell on Bush, but rather on universal leadership principles. The focus of this book is the philosophy, strategy and tactics that make a leader great.

Reuven Bulka's list of recommended sources

בשם אומרו, 4 volumes with snippets from all sources for almost every pasuk.

חמשה חומשי תורה עם מדרש הלכה, Yehiel Stern - 5 volumes with great halakhic derivations and embellishments. Somewhat different but akin to Torah Temimah.

אוצר המדרשים

נחלת צבי by Elazar Pinter - חידושיםwith מעשיות

שלל רב, מורשת אבות, כבודה של תורה

But the absolute best source for Derashot is, believe it or not, חומש and רש"י, with רמב"ן and ספורנו.

Ruby Spolter

• מאוצרינו הישן:

Yiddish vortlach printed in Yiddish newspapers in Europe. It has an edge to it though -- but is especially good for divrei torah.

Steven Pruzansky

• "טללי אורות": Chumash, tefillah.

• טל חרמון (Rav Aviner) as background material and inspiration

Elul/Tishrei

• מי מרום: אורי וישעי: collection of שיחות from R Yaakov Moshe Charlop on אלול, תשובה, ראש השנה, and יום כיפור.

• פחד יצחק: ראש השנה, קונטרוס המשך תשרי

B'Or Ha'Torah

The B'Or Ha'Torah journal publishes articles on the relationship between Torah and science. The special quality of these articles is their significant attempt to discuss scientific subjects from the Torah point of view.

Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society

The cost is $22 for a two year subscription (4 issues sent out over the course of two years). Must pay in advance. You can also order back issues at $6 a copy. Call (212)334-2285

Elul/Tishrei

• מי מרום: אורי וישעי:

Collection of שיחות from R Yaakov Moshe Charlop on אלול, תשובה, ראש השנה, and יום כיפור.

• פחד יצחק: ראש השנה, קונטרוס המשך תשרי

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