10/27/2026
Introducing Rabbi Winston's Weekly Parsha Companion!
Download below or pick up your copy in Shul today!
Five years ago I began a project that altered my perspective on how I learn and teach Torah. The vast array of commentaries and writings on the Torah are terribly intimidating. On the one hand, it is incredible to recognize that there are simply a never ending supply of opinions, perspectives and comments on the weekly Parsha. On the other hand, it is difficult to think that there will likely never be enough time to learn everything, and certainly not everything well. And, indeed, our Rabbis teach us: Tafasta M’Ruba, Lo Tafasta - If you grab too much, you will not grab anything.
Then it hit me. While it may simply be impossible to learn everything, we must begin somewhere. Every journey must begin somewhere. Furthermore, while it may not be plausible to learn every piece written by every commentator it is certainly possible to learn one piece by one commentator a week for an entire year. In so doing, one can also begin to learn the style and personality of that commentator through hearing their voice on each and every Parsha. Thus, I began a series entitled: “Friday Nights with...”
Each year for the last five years, we have learned, taught and immersed ourselves in the teachings of one specific commentator. This work represents a compendium of the fruits of that labor of love. In these pages you will learn a piece from each of the five commentators below on nearly every Parsha, in so doing, it is my hope and prayer that you too will become acquainted with these astouding Torah personalities. May we be blessed to continue this endeavor further for years to come.
On a technical note, you will find that each Parsha has the comments organized in order of their place in that given Parsha. When multiple comments were made on a single Pasuk, I opted to put them in order of when I taught the piece. Moreover, you will find that every Parsha does not contain a comment from every commentator, often because I did not teach that week. God willing, in time we will fill those gaps as well.
Below you will find brief biographies of each of the five commentators, beyond this page you will find their wisdom.
Year 1 – Netivot Shalom — Rabbi Shalom Noach Berezovsky (1911–2000)
Rabbi Berezovsky was born in Baranovichi, then in the Russian Empire and today in Belarus, and later settled in Israel. He became the Slonimer Rebbe and authored the Netivot Shalom, an enormously influential work of Chassidic thought that explores the Torah, Jewish holidays, faith, character, and spiritual growth.
Year 2 – Maharal — Rabbi Yehudah Loew ben Bezalel (1524–1609)
The Maharal of Prague, was born around 1524, probably in Poznań, Poland, and became one of the great rabbinic thinkers of Prague. A Talmudic scholar, philosopher, and mystic, the Maharal developed a profound approach to Torah that explores the deeper meaning and structure underlying the words and stories of Chazal.
Year 3 – Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808–1888)
Rabbi Hirsch was born in Hamburg, Germany and spent the latter part of his life leading the Orthodox Jewish community of Frankfurt. A major rabbinic thinker and biblical commentator, he championed Torah im Derech Eretz and demonstrated how uncompromising Torah observance could flourish while engaging responsibly with the broader world.
Year 4 – Ramban — Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman (1194–1270)
Ramban or Nachmanides, was born in Girona, Spain, in 1194 and was one of the towering Torah scholars of medieval Spain. A leading halachic authority, Talmudist, Kabbalist, and biblical commentator, his Torah commentary combines careful textual analysis, Midrash, philosophy, and profound mystical ideas.
Year 5 – Or HaChaim HaKadosh — Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar (1696–1743)
Or HaChaim HaKadosh was born in Salé, Morocco, in 1696 and eventually settled in Jerusalem, where he died in 1743. A renowned Torah scholar and Kabbalist. His commentary combines textual interpretation with profound spiritual and mystical insights.
Rabbi Dov Winston | Cheshvan 5787 | October 2026
PDF: https://yutorah.org/lectures/new/1193683
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