Author: ArtScroll Staff

No doubt you’ve read and been amazed and inspired by ArtScroll’s biography of Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztz’l, by Rabbi Naftali Weinberger. (If you haven’t, go right now and start reading!) You may also have studied ArtScroll’s sefarim that present Rav Chaim’s Torah thoughts on different topics. And, of course, you’ve heard the countless stories about his berachos, his compassion, and his extraordinary diligence.

Now, ArtScroll proudly shares another book about Rav Chaim, which looks at his life and teachings in a wholly new, unique way: through the prism of his customs and practices, as seen and recorded by Rav Avraham Yeshaya Steinman, grandson of both Rav Chaim and Rav Aharon Leib Steinman.

Rav Chaim: A Life of Halachah brings us the halachic sources and background of Rav Chaim’s practices, with hundreds of beautiful photos that give us a powerful visual glimpse of his greatness. We follow the Sar HaTorah from Tikkun Chatzos through his first moments of awakening; from donning his tallis to reciting Kriyas Shema before his few hours of sleep. We sit with him at his Shabbos table, in his succah, and at his Seder.

ArtScroll was privileged to speak with Rav Avraham Yeshaya about the sefer and his relationship with his Saba:

AS: What is the backstory of this fascinating and unusual sefer?

RAYS: I merited being near my grandfather R’ Chaim from when I was a young child. One of my rebbeim told me after my bar mitzvah that I should write down all the distinct halachic customs that my grandfather followed, and I should ask him for his reasoning behind them.

AS: This full-color book has such beautiful, evocative photos of the Sar HaTorah, many of them rare. What went into finding such a variety?

RAYS: When ArtScroll came out with the book on my grandmother, Rebbetzin Batsheva, the author asked me to collect as many pictures as possible. Many of the pictures matched the exact halachic customs my grandfather followed and are included in this sefer.

AS: Please share something about your two sabas — Rav Chaim and Rav Aharon Leib Steinman.  

RAYS: They were extremely close to each other and appreciated each other immensely. In the later years, when each was overburdened, helping many individuals as well as the Klal, they would frequently send regards and warm berachos to each other through me or one of their other mutual grandchildren.

Order your copy TODAY on ArtScroll.com!

AS: To those who knew him, Benny Fishoff was a legend and a shining example. Can you tell us, briefly, a little about him, for those not privileged to have ever met him?

YB: Holocaust survivor turns businessman turns generous and caring askan. Baruch Hashem, Klal Yisrael has been gifted with many who fit that description. Benny Fishoff stood out in the way he related to people — to all people, VIPs and parking lot attendants. His genuine love and caring for others, profound emunah, and fantastic business savvy made a unique and unforgettable combination. Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz z’l told people, “When I grow up, I want to be Benny Fishoff.” How’s that for unique?

AS: Rabbi Moshe Sherer called Benny Fishoff the “malach of shalom.” Tell us about his amazing ability to make peace between people.

YB: I’ll let him tell you himself, in his own words: “The most important lesson I learned is that machlokes doesn’t pay: it simply is not worth the time or the energy.” He was a master of listening and understanding, bringing people who were at each other’s throats to make compromises and move away from hate. His messages of ahavas Yisrael and empathy are something that we all must hear, especially in these times.

AS: The book is a departure for you: partially memoir, told in Benny’s voice; partially stories told about him by others. How did you go about writing this unusual work?

YB: I met Benny Fishoff when researching another book, and I was immediately captivated by his endearing personality and fascinating stories. He told me he wanted his story written down so that his grandchildren would know about the family that they’d never met, all of them victims of the Holocaust. That mushroomed into tales about building his business, with an emphasis not on his successes but on when he’d failed and how he’d learned and grown from his failures. Benny fell ill not long after we’d finished his memoir, but the manuscript was printed for his grandchildren. Other people read it and said how much it had fascinated and influenced them. Then, after Benny’s passing, more and more stories about his amazing accomplishments came to light. We added the stories, and the result was this book.

Order your copy TODAY at ArtScroll.com