Meshech Chochmah

By Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein
From the Targumim Series – Subscribe to the Series

Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk’s (1843–1926) work quickly became a modern staple of students of Chumash. After Ohr Someach, his work on Rambam, Meshech Chochmah is his most famous accomplishment.

Meshech Chochmah endeared itself to the Torah public for two reasons. Firstly, it not only displays breathtaking grasp of what we would regard on a practical level as the entirety of Torah (Tanach, Bavli, Yerushalmi, Rambam, Shulchan Aruch, Zohar), but effortlessly weaves together these sources, bringing far-flung citations to illuminate a given verse. In doing so, he integrates the Oral Law with the Written, showing the power of treating them as they should – as a single entity.

Secondly, Meshech Chochmah shows enormous creativity, and a mind given to deep hashkafic inquiry.

Each week we will present an adaptation of some selection from Meshech Chochmah on the Parshah. As was true with previous series, it is my hope that readers will become interested enough to make the journey back to the original.