Rabbi Zushe Greenberg’s Weekly Sermons Published in New Book

Mitzvas Hayom B’Speech brings together Rabbi Greenberg’s accessible and engaging weekly sermons on Chumash Bereishis

For many years, the Shluchim Office has had the privilege of publishing and translating the weekly sermons of Rabbi Zushe Greenberg, Shliach in Solon, Ohio, making them available to Shluchim around the world through ShluchimSermons.org.

Now, for the first time, these sermons have been published in their original Hebrew in a new book, Mitzvas Hayom B’Speech, which is now available for purchase exclusivly at the Shlichus Market.

The Story Behind the Title

The unusual title of the book comes from an interaction between the Rebbe and Rabbi David Hollander on Erev Rosh Hashanah 5752.

As Rabbi Hollander passed by the Rebbe during panim, the Rebbe wished him, “Hatzlacha in di speeches.” Rabbi Hollander did not hear what the Rebbe had said, so the Rebbe repeated the words in a louder voice: “Mitzvas hayom b-speech!”

The phrase became the inspiration for the title of this collection, reflecting the important role that a rabbi’s speech can play in teaching Torah, inspiring a community, and strengthening its connection to Yiddishkeit.

The new volume covers Chumash Bereishis, with five sermons for each parsha, providing a valuable resource for Shluchim and rabbanim preparing a weekly sermon.

Over the years, Rabbi Greenberg’s sermons have become well known among Shluchim for their clear and accessible style, relatable topics, engaging presentation, and practical and uplifting messages.

In the introduction to the volume, Rabbi Greenberg describes the central role that the sermon has played in his Shlichus. He writes about the importance of building an active shul in which the rabbi’s sermon serves as a central opportunity to teach Torah, inspire the community, and encourage greater commitment to mitzvos.

The introduction also brings several stories illustrating the Rebbe’s view of the impact a rabbi can have through his sermons. During a yechidus in 5748, the Rebbe told Rabbi Mordechai Savitzky, a prominent American Rov, that the sermons delivered by rabbis before Yizkor had accomplished olam umlo’ah—entire worlds—because many people might otherwise have had little or no connection to Yiddishkeit.