Vision and Leadership: Reflections on Joseph and Moses (MeOtzar HoRav) - Hardcover

Rabbi Soloveitchik (1903-1993) was not only one of the outstanding talmudists of the twentieth century, but also one of its most creative and seminal Jewish thinkers. Drawing from a vast reservoir of Jewish and general knowledge, the Rav, as he is widely known, brought Jewish thought and law to bear on the interpretation and assessment of the modern experience. For over four decades, Rabbi Soloveitchik commuted weekly from his home in Brookline, Massachusetts, to New York City in order to give the senior sh iur (class in Talmud) at Yeshiva University s affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), where he taught and inspired generations of students, among them many of the future leaders of all areas of Jewish communal life. By his extensive personal teaching and influence, he contributed vitally to the dynamic resurgence of Orthodox Judaism in America.

With this 11th installment in the series, Soloveitchik s previously unpublished material on biblical luminaries Joseph and Moses comes to light. Shatz, Wolowelsky, and Ziegler combed through the treasure trove of manuscripts, tapes, and lectures left by the Rav, as Soloveitchik was affectionately called by his students, to arrange this meticulous collection of thoughts and insights. In it, Soloveitchik shares his analyses of Joseph as dreamer and ruler; his assessment of Joseph s father Jacob/Israel as both subservient and powerful; and the roles Moses played as judge and king, among other topics. As with his other works, the Rav s erudition is evident, and the personal stories that are woven into his biblical exegesis reinforce his assertion that the Bible s stories and its layers of interpretation have informed the psyche of the Jewish nation throughout history and still resonate today. Bible scholars and followers of the Rav will certainly appreciate this important volume. --Publishers Weekly

Rav Soloveitchik s incredibly creative and insightful portrayals of biblical personalities, the events of their lives, and the applicability of these ideas to the contemporary reader, provides a great deal of fresh and profound fodd for thought even for those who view themselves as deeply familiar with Joseph and Moses. A leitmotiffor which the Rav is well-known is the exploration and application of the concept of Hegel s conception of the dialietic, i.e., the intersection of a thesis with an antithesis to produce a synthesis, and Vision and Leadership offers numerous examples of how this idea lies at the heart of biblical situations and Jewish approaches to life. Examples of dialectical discussion in the book include: a) confronting evil in order to appreciate the good; b) dreaming vs. practical application; c) dignity of man vs. the need for sacrificial action; d) clear understanding vs. confusion and mystery; and e) holiness deriving from the chosen community vs. the uniqueness of every individual....
In order to illustrate many of his points, R. Soloveitchik draws from personal experience, recalling the lesson of an impactful teacher, his grandfather R. Chaim s way of dealing with people, and aspects of his own personality wich he struggled to overcome.
Finally, the Rav pithily formulates his approach regarding how even the most traditional Jew must engage with the greater world: We demand of man complete involvement in all worldly affairs. We equate withdrawal from the world and society with cowardice and warn against it. Our philosophy preaches activism, aggressiveness, and articulateness.... --Jewish Book Council