Divrei Halev "Thoughts of Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni on the Weekly Torah Portion"

Divrei Halev is the result of a multi-year collaboration between Rabbi Ronald D. Price and his teacher, the world-renowned Talmudic scholar Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni, of blessed memory. Nearly every week from 2008 to 2012, Rav Halivni shared a thought with Rabbi Price on the weekly Torah portion, which the student faithfully recorded. Divrei Halev includes over two hundred brief divrei Torah spread across all fifty-four parashiyot. Rabbi Professor David Weiss Halivni z”l (1927–2022) was one of the most profound Talmudic scholars and theological voices of the postwar era. A Holocaust survivor, Halivni went on to shape generations of students through his decades of teaching at the Jewish Theological Seminary, Columbia University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Bar Ilan University, and the Institute of Traditional Judaism. Renowned for his revolutionary “Stammaitic” theory of Talmudic composition, Halivni challenged readers to differentiate between the teachings of the Amoraim and the later anonymous editorial voices. His magnum opus, Mekorot u-Mesorot, remains a cornerstone of critical Talmud study. A deeply committed halakhist and theologian, Halivni’s faith was sharpened—not shattered—by his experiences in the Shoah. He offered a powerful theological vision that acknowledged divine revelation while confronting the human role in transmission and textual development. His intellectual legacy continues to inspire those who seek to balance rigorous academic honesty with spiritual depth and reverence for tradition. The newly released Divrei Halev, by Rabbi Ronald D. Price, brings Halivni’s insights into the weekly parasha to a broader audience, opening a window into the heart and thought of this extraordinary teacher. Read more