Book Review: Blueprints of Breishis, by Chaim Stepelman
Growing up, I always thought, or was told/taught that the names of each parsha in the Torah are not really significant on their own, or at best they are significant in a very limited way. It seemed that the name of the parsha was basically chosen by being the first major unique word in the parsha, maybe with the occasional exception.
It was a surprise to learn, through Blueprints of Breishis, that the name of the parsha is not just the first major unique word but is actually extremely significant, is loaded with meaning all on its own as a name, and itself also has what to teach.
Blueprints of Breishis, published by Mosaica Press, is a thorough analysis of the theme of each parsha. Many of the parshiyot have multiple "stories" and lessons, each often seemingly independent of the other. In this book, the author analyzes and shows how each separate story, each separate lesson, is really a continuation of the theme of the parsha, and how they are all thereby connected.
Blueprints of Breishis analyzes a wide range of sources, from the midrash, rishonim, talmud, etc. in order to discover and develop the theme that runs through the parsha.
In addition to the theme of each weeks parsha, the author shows how there is a larger theme that runs through the entire Sefer Brieshis, from parsha to parsha. While one could read the analysis of each parsha as an indivdual parsha and learn the theme and lessons from each parsha, reading the entire book will give you a much broader picture of the theme running through the entire sefer, and how each parsha is connected to the one following it, and the one preceding it.
And, how how all this is revealed in the name of each parsha.
As a bonus, at the end of each chapter, the end of each parsha, Blueprints of Breishis has a section, a page or two, explaining the meaning of many of the names of the individuals that were in the parsha.
For me this was mind-blowing. I am amazed that such a theme could be developed, and wonder at how much time and work it took to go through the sources and pull out the relevant nuggets and connect the dots!
I don't think I am unique in saying that much of my learning of the parsha and chumash was at a day school level, with later learning only coming in cursory fashion, mostly by being maavir sedra or even going through the parshiyot with rishonim or achronim but not in a deep and methodical way.
Blueprints of Breishis is really an eye-opener. It is amazing how much mroe there is, and how much is hinted to, even in just one word; the name of the parsha.
buy Blueprints of Breishis on Amazon.com
NOTE: I was not paid to review this book. It is an unbiased and objective review. If you have a book with Jewish or Israel related content and would like me to write a review, contact me for details of where to send me a review copy of the book.
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Book Review: Blueprints of Breishis, by Chaim Stepelman
Growing up, I always thought, or was told/taught that the names of each parsha in the Torah are not really significant on their own, or at best they are significant in a very limited way. It seemed that the name of the parsha was basically chosen by being the first major unique word in the parsha, maybe with the occasional exception.
It was a surprise to learn, through Blueprints of Breishis, that the name of the parsha is not just the first major unique word but is actually extremely significant, is loaded with meaning all on its own as a name, and itself also has what to teach.
Blueprints of Breishis, published by Mosaica Press, is a thorough analysis of the theme of each parsha. Many of the parshiyot have multiple "stories" and lessons, each often seemingly independent of the other. In this book, the author analyzes and shows how each separate story, each separate lesson, is really a continuation of the theme of the parsha, and how they are all thereby connected.
Blueprints of Breishis analyzes a wide range of sources, from the midrash, rishonim, talmud, etc. in order to discover and develop the theme that runs through the parsha.
In addition to the theme of each weeks parsha, the author shows how there is a larger theme that runs through the entire Sefer Brieshis, from parsha to parsha. While one could read the analysis of each parsha as an indivdual parsha and learn the theme and lessons from each parsha, reading the entire book will give you a much broader picture of the theme running through the entire sefer, and how each parsha is connected to the one following it, and the one preceding it.
And, how how all this is revealed in the name of each parsha.
As a bonus, at the end of each chapter, the end of each parsha, Blueprints of Breishis has a section, a page or two, explaining the meaning of many of the names of the individuals that were in the parsha.
For me this was mind-blowing. I am amazed that such a theme could be developed, and wonder at how much time and work it took to go through the sources and pull out the relevant nuggets and connect the dots!
I don't think I am unique in saying that much of my learning of the parsha and chumash was at a day school level, with later learning only coming in cursory fashion, mostly by being maavir sedra or even going through the parshiyot with rishonim or achronim but not in a deep and methodical way.
Blueprints of Breishis is really an eye-opener. It is amazing how much mroe there is, and how much is hinted to, even in just one word; the name of the parsha.
buy Blueprints of Breishis on Amazon.com
NOTE: I was not paid to review this book. It is an unbiased and objective review. If you have a book with Jewish or Israel related content and would like me to write a review, contact me for details of where to send me a review copy of the book.
