The Blog @ ArtScroll.com

The Book Everyone is Talking About: Women Talk 

“I picked it up, and couldn’t put it down. I read it cover to cover, like a novel.”

That’s what one woman told me when we discussed the new book that so many women are talking about: Women Talk by Debbie Shapiro.

Readers are talking about Women Talk, and especially about the amazing variety of women who are interviewed in its pages. We meet a chareidi woman taxi driver who discusses her unusual job choice; the founder of a Bais Yaakov school in a tiny desert community who shares her memories of Rebbetzin Kaplan o’h. A woman who survived Bergen Belsen as a young child tells the story of the “many mothers” who raised her behind the barbed wire fence, and a ba’alas teshuvah talks about her experiences during Hurricane Katrina. We meet a convert from Germany whose Christian parents opposed the Nazi regime and the granddaughter of Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz zt’l, who grew up in the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. They are so different from each other, these women, yet they all share a love for Torah and the Jewish People, and a fervent desire to serve Hashem.

In an interview with master interviewer Debbie Shapiro, I asked how she made contact with so many different women. “Word of mouth, mostly,” she told me. “I’m a real people person – people seem to naturally open up to me. Most important, I love people, and I love hearing about people’s lives. My friends know that I’m always searching for new ‘victims.’ I read a newspaper article about a rebbetzin who was a convert, born to a Mormon family, and I just knew I had to speak with her. I ‘cold called’ her to ask if she would let me interview her – and she said yes!” 

And what, I ask Debbie, are the ingredients that make a remarkable Jewish woman?  “We are all remarkable women! It’s really a matter of priorities. It takes the ability to make choices that are Hashem-centered. These women ask themselves what Hashem wants of them at this time in their life, which ultimately means stretching themselves to their limits, without going beyond their limits. It’s a delicate balance, one that we Jewish women are pros at!”

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Here at ArtScroll’s acquisition desk, we’re used to getting large numbers of submissions. Lately, though, we’ve seen mail coming in that looks different from the usual manuscripts.  These submissions are written on lined paper with crisply sharpened pencils or carefully drawn in crayons or colored markers. They are short, they are fun – and they are utterly charming.
Welcome to Children’s Jewish Book Month’s “Write, Draw, and Win!” contest, sponsored by ArtScroll.
As the world’s largest English-language publisher of Jewish books, ArtScroll takes its commitment to Torah literacy very seriously. Realizing that a love of books, of reading, and of a Torah perspective on life begins very early, we have long been publishing high-quality Jewish books for children, from beautifully illustrated easy readers and wonderful “read-to-me” books for the little ones to well-received middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction.
Encouraging our children to read – and encouraging them to read books invested with Torah values – has become more vital than ever.  In a world increasingly made up of flickering digital images, reading books develop children’s attention spans, their analytical skills and, of course, their imaginations. Study after study has shown that children who read books do better in school.
And because books have a marked impact on a child’s worldview, it is vitally important to offer children books that reflect Jewish values.
A year ago, in recognition of the importance of introducing our youth to authentic Torah literature, ArtScroll initiated the concept “May is…Children’s Jewish Book Month” with a poster campaign and special sale on all children’s books.  The idea was enthusiastically embraced by educators, librarians and parents. This year the project has been expanded to include a writing and drawing contest for students from first to eighth grades. Children submit short essays or drawings on topics connected to Jewish books, with winners in different categories and age groups.
Over seventy Jewish schools nationwide have registered for the contest, and the kids’ submissions are flowing in. Principals and teachers, realizing the importance of getting children interested in Jewish books, have enthusiastically endorsed the idea.
Top winners – and their schools – will receive $500 gift certificates from ArtScroll. But in this contest everyone is a winner, as we get our children involved and excited about reading Jewish books.

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Here at ArtScroll’s acquisition desk, we’re used to getting large numbers of submissions. Lately, though, we’ve seen mail coming in that looks different from the usual manuscripts.  These submissions are written on lined paper with crisply sharpened pencils or carefully drawn in crayons or colored markers. They are short, they are fun – and they are utterly charming.

Welcome to Children’s Jewish Book Month’s “Write, Draw, and Win!” contest, sponsored by ArtScroll.
As the world’s largest English-language publisher of Jewish books, ArtScroll takes its commitment to Torah literacy very seriously. Realizing that a love of books, of reading, and of a Torah perspective on life begins very early, we have long been publishing high-quality Jewish books for children, from beautifully illustrated easy readers and wonderful “read-to-me” books for the little ones to well-received middle grade and young adult fiction and non-fiction.
Encouraging our children to read – and encouraging them to read books invested with Torah values – has become more vital than ever.  In a world increasingly made up of flickering digital images, reading books develop children’s attention spans, their analytical skills and, of course, their imaginations. Study after study has shown that children who read books do better in school.

And because books have a marked impact on a child’s worldview, it is vitally important to offer children books that reflect Jewish values.
A year ago, in recognition of the importance of introducing our youth to authentic Torah literature, ArtScroll initiated the concept “May is…Children’s Jewish Book Month” with a poster campaign and special sale on all children’s books.  The idea was enthusiastically embraced by educators, librarians and parents. This year the project has been expanded to include a writing and drawing contest for students from first to eighth grades. Children submit short essays or drawings on topics connected to Jewish books, with winners in different categories and age groups.
Over seventy Jewish schools nationwide have registered for the contest, and the kids’ submissions are flowing in. Principals and teachers, realizing the importance of getting children interested in Jewish books, have enthusiastically endorsed the idea.
Top winners – and their schools – will receive $500 gift certificates from ArtScroll. But in this contest everyone is a winner, as we get our children involved and excited about reading Jewish books.

To print a submission form, please click here.

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A GPS helps us navigate unknown highways, deal with the detours, and find the best way to get to where we want to go. Halachah is like that too: It shows us where to go, directs us to the most effective route – the path that Hashem has set out for each of us to follow.

Just as a GPS is only as good as the maps loaded into it, we can only follow the halachah if we’ve “loaded” ourselves with the often complex concepts that make up Torah law.

ArtScroll’s Halachah Series gives us those maps. Each of the more than fifty halachah titles are written by rabbanim who are experts in their fields. The books are comprehensive and clear, explaining halachic concepts and bringing practical examples of how they apply to modern life.

From now until April 27, all titles in the ArtScroll Halachah Series are available at an incredible savings of 30% off the list price.

The Halachah Series includes books on the laws of Shabbos and Yom Tov, kashrus, business and finance, medical halachah, proper speech, life cycle events, laws pertaining to women and to children and parents, and the popular Laws of Daily Living series.

Here’s a closer look at a few titles: Currently, three volumes of the Kleinman Edition of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch have been released, and the final two in the series will be published during the course of the next year. This edition of Rav Shlomo Ganzfried’s classic work of halachah includes a fully vowelized Hebrew text, followed by a phrase by phrase translation and elucidation. It also includes rulings from the Mishneh Berurah and Rav Moshe Feinstein, whenever their rulings differed from those of the Kitzur.

Behind the shemiras halashon revolution, that changed the way we speak, are several works on the laws of proper speech, including the bestselling Chofetz Chaim: A Lesson a Day and A Daily Companion, and the recently released Positive Word Power and The Family Lesson a Day, all published in association with the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation. With tens of thousands of copies in print, these daily readers have taught two generations the halachos of proper speech, offering real-life examples and inspirational pieces to help make these laws a part of our lives. As we travel the sometimes puzzling road of life, we must turn to our “Torah GPS” — the halachah that has defined us since we stood at Sinai.

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Not long ago we celebrated the Jews’ triumphant exit from Egypt. It was the first step in a journey that would lead to Mount Sinai, to the giving of the Torah that would mark us forever as Hashem’s Chosen People.
There is no better way to reaffirm our commitment to Torah than by studying and reviewing the halachos that define our lives as Torah Jews. And what better time to enrich our libraries and homes with quality halachah books than during ArtScroll’s special sale on all halachah titles?
For the next two weeks all ArtScroll books on Jewish law are available at 30% off the list price. Here are just a few of the many important titles:
Since its publication 15 years ago Rabbi Binyomin Forst’s classic work, The Laws of Kashrus, has become a fixture in tens of thousands of homes, the English-language sefer of choice for people trying to understand the complex laws of kashrus and how they are implemented in today’s world. The Laws of Kashrus clearly explains the principles of kashrus laws, and shows how real-life problems fit into the framework of halachah; to make it even more practical, it includes copious diagrams and a listing of appliances.
In a new and highly acclaimed companion volume, The Feuereisen Edition: The Kosher Kitchen, Rabbi Forst gives us a hands-on, clear and practical guide to kashrus in our modern kitchens. The Kosher Kitchen is a beautifully organized and magnificently-designed book, close to 600 pages of vital information. In its pages we find everything we need to know about eating kosher: from microwaves and barbeque grills to meals cooked by non-Jewish housekeepers; from shechitah to sushi, from pet food to Passover kitchens – and everything in-between.
Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen is renowned as an authority in Jewish law as it applies to the questions and dilemmas of modern life, and his many books of halachah have been hailed by tens of thousands of readers as exceptionally clear and comprehensive. His six books on various aspects of the laws of Shabbos observance are all classics, and now, for the first time, they are available on one impressive slipcased set that includes The Shabbos Home (volumes 1 & 2); Muktzeh: A Practical Guide; The Shabbos Kitchen; The Radiance of Shabbos; and The Sanctity of Shabbos. Either individually and as a set, these books will enhance our Shabbos observance and, yes, change our lives.

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 Let’s take an imaginary visit to a group of Jewish homes on seder night. The Roth’s seder lasts for hours, while the Sheinfeld family keeps it short. The Cohens emphasize deep divrei Torah, while the Levis tell the story in simple terms that the children enjoy. The Mermelsteins have been gathering together for generations, while the newly-observant Hersh family is making the seder for the very first time. Different as they are, the goal of all these seders is the same: to celebrate the miracles, the Exodus, and our becoming Hashem’s People. Because people have different kinds of seders – and because they share the goal of making seder night memorable and meaningful — ArtScroll has more than 40 Haggadahs, for every need and every family.

Here’s a sampling:

The Family Haggadah by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: With more than a million copies in print, this is the most popular haggadah of all time. Its flowing translation, elegant graphics, clear instructions and economical price makes it a perennial favorite.

 The Schottenstein Edition Interlinear Haggadah by Rabbi Menachem Davis: Using the unique, patented interlinear format, this haggadah enables readers to see the original Hebrew and English translation simultaneously.

 The Seif Edition Transliterated Linear Haggadah by Rabbi Nosson Scherman: The line by line transliteration, accompanied by translation, allows those less familiar with Hebrew to fully participate in the seder.

The Children’s Haggadah by Shmuel Blitz: Written for children ages 4-10 (and adults love it too!), the full Hebrew text of the Haggadah is accompanied by a child-oriented yet accurate English translation. Includes fascinating facts, easy-to-understand instructions, and breathtaking illustrations.

 The Illustrated Youth Haggadah: Perfect for ages 6 and up, this popular haggadah features gorgeous full color pictures, simplified translation and instructions, and kid-friendly comments to enhance young people’s seder experience.

The Vilna Gaon Haggadah: Written by Rabbeinu Avraham, the Vilna Gaon’s son, this haggadah, translated by Rabbi Yisrael Herczeg, clarifies the major themes of the night through the unique approach of the Vilna Gaon.

The Abarbanel Haggdah adapted by Rabbi Yisrael Herzceg: The great fifteenth century scholar, Abarbanel, combines the classic teachings of the Sages with his own penetrating insights, driving home the relevance of the Haggadah for his day — and ours.

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