Rabbi Joshua ibn Shuaib (1280-1340) was a Spanish Torah Commentator and Kabbalist. He was a student of the famed Rashba, and teacher of Rabbi Menachem ben Aaron Ibn Zerach. Ibn Shuaib quotes extensively from the latter part of Tanach as a means of expressing the core values of each Torah Parsha. He seamlessly weaves together the rationalist interpretations of Rambam and the mystical interpretations of Ramban into his own commentary on the Torah.
- How many days a year is Yom Haatzmaut? A Lesson from Parshat Kedoshim May 1, 2020 - It seems like a silly question. Yom Haatzmaut, Israel Independence Day, only occurs once a year on the 5th day of the Jewish month of Iyar. Leading up to Israel…
- Yitro, A Model for the Nations February 14, 2020 - In the beginning of the Parsha, the Torah records that Yitro reunited with Moshe in the desert: Jethro priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for…
- Anatomy of the Soul January 10, 2020 - In this week’s parsha, Ibn Shuaib describes the nature of the human soul and the phases of its development. Due to the nature of the matters described, I created an…
- Parshat Vayishlach – The Burial of Rachel December 15, 2019 - In Parshat Chaye Sarah we read about the purchase of the Cave of Machpelah as the burial grounds for Abraham and Sarah, and presumably their offspring. In fact everyone is…
- Leah’s Motives December 6, 2019 - In Parshat Vayeitzei, Leah does something very atypical. After giving birth to four of Yaakov’s children, she presents her maidservant to her husband in order to have even more children. …
- Prayers of the Righteous November 22, 2019 - After the death of Sarah, the focus of Parshat Chaye Sarah is Yitzchak’s search for a wife. But not really. Yitzchak does not seem to have much involvement in the…
- The Struggle, not the Success November 15, 2019 - In Parashat Vayeira we read about God’s destruction of the evil city of Sedom. We also read about Avraham’s involvement in the matter: Now the LORD had said, “Shall I…
- An Outsider’s Proof November 14, 2019 - In the beginning of Parshat Lech Lecha we are told about God’s great promise to Avraham, but we are not told why God chose Avraham in the first place. The…
- Noach – The Measure of a Tzadik October 31, 2019 - In the very beginning of his commentary on the Torah, Rashi quotes a well known Midrash as to the purpose of the book of Bereishit: Rabbi Yitschak said: The Torah…