Rabbi Dov Keilson is a respected and beloved mechanech in Yeshiva Darchei Torah, as well as a talented writer. In these enlightening and absorbing essays he sets out to mine the diamonds that we can find in the weekly parashah -gems of wisdom and ethical thought, a multi-faceted, glittering mix of stories, parables, and Torah insights. He brings these diamonds to us, he polishes them and places them in a gorgeous contemporary setting that speaks to our own daily concerns and challenges. He speaks the language of Torah - and the language of our lives.
Diamonds on the Road began as a tribute in memory of Avinoam Grossman, a student of Yeshiva Darchei Torah who lost his life at the age of 19 in a tragic accident: first, as a single published article, then as a popular weekly devar Torah on the parashah and now, finally, in this much-anticipated book. Rabbi Keilson draws upon the wisdom of our Torah sages, both classic and contemporary. In one parashah alone we hear insights from the Alter of Kelm, Rav Elchonon Wasserman, Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky, and Rav Avigdor Miller zecher tzadikim l'vrachah.
But while every word is infused with our mesorah, the stories and parables that illustrate the ideas are straight from the 21st century. Thus, we begin to understand Moshe's final encounter with Paroh - through the story of a spilled cup of coffee. A typical encounter with a school principal brings us a new insight into zechus avos, and the gift of a Rolex watch gives us a better understanding of what Shabbos should mean to us.
Diamonds. They are both beautiful and unbreakable, the most enduring of gemstones. Just like these marvelous and thought-provoking divrei Torah.