Author: ArtScroll Staff

We still miss him.

As the second yahrzeit of Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztz”l approaches (on Shushan Purim), we still remember his amazing diligence and Torah knowledge. His berachos, given so generously over the years to tens of thousands. His many sefarim that opened — and continue to open — new vistas of understanding. His annual siyumim that both awed and inspired us.

With the release of two absorbing books on Rav Chaim — one specifically for young readers, the other for readers of all ages — we can bring back the memories … and the inspiration.

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Children ages 4 – 8 already know and love Shmuel Blitz’s books about great Jewish men and women. In A House Full of Chesed, we met the matchless Rebbetzin Henny Machlis. Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky came to vivid life in A House Full of Love. Now, in A House Full of Torah, our young readers will be amazed by story after story about Rav Chaim Kanievsky.

With literally hundreds of thousands of his children’s books in print, Shmuel Blitz is one of Torah Jewry’s most successful and popular authors. The secret of his success? It’s quite simple, he tells us: “Give children the books that they like — and they will read. That’s what I try to do. I choose the stories that I feel will most relate to a child, that a child would learn from, and that would hold their interest. And, mostly, stories that children can incorporate into their own lives.”

With a full-color illustrations by gifted artist Lea Kron, A House Full of Torah is clearly going to be another Shmuel Blitz classic for kids.

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When asked how he had the time to give so many people advice and berachos, Rav Chaim once said, “Do you know how many minutes there are in an hour? Sixty! Do you know how many seconds there are in each minute? Sixty! There are three thousand six hundred seconds in an hour. Do you know what you can do with three thousand six hundred seconds?”

In Precious Moments with Rav Chaim, we see that Rav Chaim used every one of those hours, minutes, and seconds for his avodas Hashem, his Torah learning, and his work for the countless Jews who came to him for berachos and guidance, day after day.

A magnificent, full-color book with literally hundreds of photos, Precious Moments with Rav Chaim is a book for all ages. And as we read it, we are amazed. Awestruck. And inspired.

AS: A Daily Dose of Pesukim of Bitachon – what an intriguing title. Please tell our readers what the book is about and what reciting “pesukim of bitachon” can accomplish for its readers.

RDS: “Pesukim of bitachon” are a compilation of pesukim from Tanach, primarily Tehillim, which discuss our reliance on Hashem, the trust we have in His goodness, and our belief that He cares for us. When these pesukim are recited and understood, they can bring great salvation and protection.

AS: The Maharal talks about a segulah of saying pesukim of bitachon, which is especially timely in view of today’s difficult situation. Can you please share his words with readers?

RDS: The Maharal’s words are quoted in Mishpat Tzedek (214) and in the early work Taharas HaKodesh by R’ Binyomin Wolf (p. 30). The Maharal recommends that a person should recite pesukim that speak about bitachon. Reciting these pesukim every day, he explains, strengthens a person’s trust in Hashem, which is one of the most fundamental precepts of Judaism. After reciting these pesukim, he adds, a person should pray to Hashem for help in acquiring the great quality of bitachon.

Besides the spiritual benefits of saying these bitachon-building verses, the Maharal points out tremendous benefits in this world, as described by earlier Sages and transmitted to him through the generations. These benefits include annulling harsh decrees. In fact, Maharal writes, it has been tested and proven that reciting these pesukim protects soldiers going to war, and it even helps businessmen when they travel for business or before they begin their workday. Certainly, these are benefits that we can all hope and pray for today.

AS: You chose to focus on pesukim of bitachon chosen by R’ Yosef Zundel of Salant. Please tell us a little about him.

RDS: Rav Yosef Zundel of Salant was a talmid of Rav Chaim of Volozhin and the rebbe of Rav Yisrael Salanter. A great tzaddik, he was particularly known for his immense bitachon.

AS: In the sefer, you explain and illustrate these pesukim with Torah insights and stories. How did you find such appropriate and powerful material, which enhances our understanding of bitachon and brings the pesukim to life?

RDS: I gave a daily shiur in these pesukim, using the basic commentaries. And, of course, the rest was up to Hashem.

Pull quote: When these pesukim are recited and understood, they can bring great salvation and protection.

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AS: We all have heard what are called “hashgachah pratis stories” — like the man who went to minyan and missed the plane that crashed — but there’s so much more to it. Can you briefly tell us what hashgachah pratis is — and what it means to our lives?

RHK: Hashgachah pratis is our awareness of Hashem’s constant involvement in our world. What does it mean to our lives? Let’s look at a paraphrased quote from Living With Hashgachah Pratis:

When we internalize Hashem’s perpetual influence in our lives, it can reshape our perspective on life, turning every experience into a moment of gratitude, enabling gratitude to become second nature. Life — every breath, heartbeat, and fleeting moment — becomes a wondrous journey, enhanced by Hashem’s omnipresent care and love …. Even struggles and adversities are not mere hurdles; rather, they are specifically designed challenges meant to mold us, enabling growth and resilience, making us stronger and greater in the process …. When we feel Hashem’s hashgachah pratis in our daily struggles, it enables us to convert them into eternally rewarding spiritual growth.  

AS: The book contains more than 125 stories about hashgachah pratis in everyday life. How did you go about finding so many fascinating stories?

RHK: I don’t mean to give a “cute” answer, but it was hashgachah pratis. I heard some stories, experienced some, “accidentally” came across some, read some, researched some. But the fact that they all wound up in this book is truly Hashem’s hashgachah pratis, to be mechazek us in Living With Hashgachah Pratis.  

AS: Do you have any tips to help us strengthen our awareness of Hashem’s hashgachah pratis?

RHK: It is important for people to be mechazek themselves by keeping a personal journal of their own hashgachah pratis stories. Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, and Rav Yechezkel Levenstein advocated keeping a personal journal of hashgachah pratis stories in one’s daily life, as an effective means for personal chizuk. And readers can inspire others with their personal hashgachah pratis stories by sending them to HPratisStories@gmail.com, or by visiting https://vanitefillah.org, for inclusion in the next volume on hashgachah pratis. (Personal identifying information will be removed upon request.)

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Life — every breath, heartbeat, and fleeting moment — becomes a wondrous journey….