NOTE: I was not paid to review this book. It is an unbiased and objective review. If you have a book with Jewish or Israel related content and would like me to write a review, contact me for details of where to send me a review copy of the book.

Book Review: Rest for the Dove, by Haim Sabato

In the past couple of months I have been reading a number of books of essays on the weekly parsha. One of those books is Rest for the Dove, by Rav Haim Sabato.

I found something he wrote, in the brief preface no less, very striking and noteworthy. Rav Sabato writes:

Many have written on the weekly Torah portions, among them scholars, thinkers and commentators.Each one discovers within their pages new meanings.... For love of Torah, I have also spun threads from my ideas on the weekly parsha, reflecting my own taste and approach...

Rav Sabato is an accomplished author, in addition to being a yeshiva rebbe for many years, and eventually a rosh yeshiva. He needs no justification to write another book or to write specifically a book of his ideas, thoughts and explanations of the weekly parsha. Rav Sabato is as worthy as anyone, and perhaps more than some, to put pen to paper and to publish his thoughts and commentary. I found it strikingly modest and human that he offered such an explanation.

Rav Sabato's writings, as always, are like pieces of art. He has a way with words that just evokes beauty and creativity. The essays are short - just a few pages per parsha - but in them are thought-provoking ideas with depth and clarity. And, I must say, I felt at peace reading Rest for the Dove - "at peace" meaning, I didn't have to struggle to make sense of the commentary, to sometimes try to fit explanations into the words of the Torah, I did not feel commentary was strained and kvetched - reading it was calm and enjoyable.

I have enjoyed reading Rest for the Dove on a nearly weekly basis for the past few months, and I think I have gained insight into the parshiyot because of it. Rest for the Dove would make a colorful and enjoyable addition to your reading material on the parsha.