ArtScroll Staff

A Torah Insight from the Chasam Sofer on Parshas Beha’aloscha

Published on June 20, 2019 by ArtScroll StaffLeave a comment

CHASAM SOFER – BEHAALOSCHA

The Light of Torah

דַּבֵּר אֶל־אַהֲרֹן וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹת אֶל־מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה יָאִירוּ שִׁבְעַת הַנֵּרוֹת

Speak to Aharon and say to him: When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light (8:2).

The verse teaches that the flames of the six outer lamps must be directed toward the center of the Menorah. What does this arrangement of the flames symbolize? It can be understood based on the following introduction.

Hashem showers us with blessing in accordance with our performance of mitzvos. Every mitzvah that we perform, so to speak, “unlocks” Hashem’s blessing by making us worthy of receiving that blessing. And each individual mitzvah is the key to a specific aspect of His blessing; when we do a particular mitzvah, we merit to unlock the blessing associated with that mitzvah.

Now, the light of the Menorah represents the Light of Torah (see Bava Basra 25b with Rabbeinu Gershom ד”ה ומנורה, and Shemos Rabbah 36:2-3). One might thus think that the purpose of lighting the Menorah in the Beis HaMikdash is to make us worthy of receiving Hashem’s ultimate blessing — the gift of Torah knowledge. But it is not so. Unlike other aspects of Hashem’s blessing, which might be activated by a person’s physical performance of a mitzvah, Torah knowledge is so spiritually sublime that it cannot possibly be acquired as a result of man’s physical actions. Rather, Hashem grants the gift of Torah knowledge to one who toils diligently to understand the Torah and plumb its depths. When a person invests the required effort to uncover the secrets of the Torah, he is awarded those secrets directly from Hashem. But no physical action on man’s part – not even a mitzvah action – can possibly make him worthy of unlocking the channel of Torah knowledge and drawing down this exalted blessing upon himself.

The arrangement of the Menorah’s lights, with the six outer lamps directed toward the middle one, is meant to teach this lesson. While the outer lamps of the Menorah symbolize the Light of the Torah, the center lamp represents Hashem, the Source of this Light. By directing the outer lamps towards the middle one, we indicate that the Light of the Torah can be kindled by Hashem alone. Our physical kindling of the lamps does not cause their light to shine outward toward us; rather, it causes them to turn inward toward the Light of Hashem, which is what enlightens us and illuminates our lives.

***

With this understanding of the verse, we may explain a statement of the Gemara in Shabbos (22b). The Gemara remarks: “Does Hashem need the light of the Menorah? Why, during the forty years that the Jews were in the Wilderness they traveled by the Light of Hashem Himself! Rather, the light of the Menorah testifies to the entire world that the Shechinah dwells among the Jewish People.”

How does the light of the Menorah provide this testimony?

Based on the above, we may explain that the Gemara’s question, “Does Hashem need the light of the Menorah,” means the following: Can it be that we light the Menorah in order to make ourselves worthy and thus “enable” Hashem to grant us the blessing of Torah knowledge? Why, this cannot be the purpose of the mitzvah, since the Jewish People traveled in the Wilderness for forty years by Hashem’s Light! During those forty years, they experienced the illuminating Light of Torah Knowledge directly from Hashem, Who spoke to them “Face to face” at Sinai (Devarim 5:4). Surely, no physical mitzvah act can gain us access to that Light, nor is it needed to bring us that Light!

The Gemara answers that indeed, the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah is not meantto unlock the blessing of Torah knowledge. Rather, since the Menorah’s light is in fact totally unnecessary — as seen from the fact that the six outer lamps face the middle one — the Menorah serves to remind us that when we toil in Torah we receive knowledge directly from Hashem, as the Jewish People did in the Wilderness. This testifies that the Shechinah rests among the Jewish People (Chasam Sofer al HaTorah, p. 31, ד”ה בהעלתך ב).

In Memory of
R’ Yakov ben R’ Shmuel Yosef
and R’ Shimon ben R’ Moshe ע”ה
© Copyright 2019 by MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, Ltd.

To download a printable copy, click here: Chasam Sofer – Beha’aloscha

When art imitates life: Freefall by Miriam Zakon – ArtScroll Mesorah

Published on June 20, 2019 by ArtScroll StaffLeave a comment

A review by R. Deutsch (originally printed in the Jewish Tribune, June 12th 2019)

Miriam Zakon is a familiar name in the world of Jewish literature, both fiction and non-fiction alike; she has been writing articles, stories and books for decades.
Reading her latest novel, Freefall, was a fascinating journey into the life of an American soldier and his family as he joins World War 2 raging on the other side of the Atlantic. Readers of Mishpacha magazine will recognize the beloved characters of the serial with the same name which ran last year in the magazine; reading it now in book form adds an extra dimension as the reader can follow along the story line without having to wait each week for the next installment!
New readers will enjoy getting to know the truly lifelike characters, with strongly principled Pappa, lovable old-world Bubbe – who has a surprisingly young side to her – and flighty Aunt Cele weaving their way around the main younger characters, Abe, Annie and Moe. Staunchly patriotic, but still insistent on hanging on to his Yiddishkeit, however difficult that would be, Moe joins the Army determined to do his part to fight against the accursed Germans. Meanwhile, back home in Coney Island, his sister Annie faces challenges of her own as she attempts to carve a new life for herself with her unlikely shidduch, separate from the Freed Boarding House where she grew up, and where Papa still needs her help.
“I was fortunate in picking my setting and era,” says Mrs Zakon. “While the Second World War has been the setting of many frum novels, there weren’t many that focused on the American home front and American GIs. It was recent enough that I could even speak to people who lived through the era, but far enough that it had an exotic feel.” Mrs Zakon says her editor at Artscroll was very useful in making sure the historical details were correct – she lived through the war in America and remembers it well enough to be able to ascertain whether things really were as they had initially been written. For example, the author had depicted Moe insisting on eating only glatt kosher meat, only to be told that glatt was not an option in the USA in the 1940’s at all. It didn’t yet exist in the country! Neither did men wear a kittel at their chuppah in those days, Mrs Zakon was told – after she had him appearing at his own nuptials wearing one.
As an avid history buff, Mrs Zakon is always extremely particular that all her historical details are accurate. Will the reader always know the difference? No, she says, but it all adds up to the painting of an authentic picture, which is paramount to creating a level of trust with your readers, she posits.“I did a lot of reading, both about the American home front and the battles in Europe,” says Mrs Zakon.“While the history books were useful, I got a lot more out of memoirs of the GIs. They had the little details that brought the era to life. While reading them I kept an eye out for the slang of the time, and incorporated the terms into dialogue. (“He’s morphed to the gills”, “It’s the latest shout in hats.”) I also watched a lot of videos of the time. If you’re writing about any time from the First World War on, you can find incredible documentary footage. Even if you write about earlier times, you can get a sense of your setting from videos. When I wrote about a Piper Cub plane crash, I found a video of an actual crash and saw that it gave off white smoke, not the black smoke I’d envisioned. I also checked every date against a calendar from that time, to make sure the action fell on the right day of the week, and if relevant on the right day of the Jewish calendar as well.”
Mrs Zakon estimates that she used either a book, a website, or a video on roughly one out of every three or four paragraphs she wrote, just to get the details correct. With research like that, the reader can be guaranteed that he or she is really getting so much more than just fiction.
With almost 400 pages, Freefall kept me captivated from beginning to end. It was a fascinating read and one that is sure to become a firm favorite on any bookshelf.

Get your copy today at artscroll.com

ArtScroll’s 20%-Off-Everything Sale!

Published on June 14, 2019 by ArtScroll StaffLeave a comment

Finally – it’s June. We’re leaving winter behind, looking forward to sunshine, vacations and, of course, ArtScroll’s June sale! From now until June 26th, take 20% off every one of our more than 2,000 books, including all Siddurim, Machzorim, and Torah and Talmud classics.

And here’s our fabulous lineup of new books, all included in the sale:

The Sephardic Siddur: A breakthrough project carefully designed for the Sephardic community, this siddur includes the Hebrew text, English translation, transliterations, laws and customs, overview and commentary, and many other features, all following Sephardic halachot and minhagim.
Incredible 2: Tens of thousands of readers were thrilled by the adventures of Rabbi Yossi Wallis, as told in Incredible! The new Incredible 2 is filled with more fascinating stories, more adventures, more inspiring personalities from Rabbi Wallis’s dynamic life. This book is as incredible… as Incredible!
Simply Gourmet: From the co-author of the Bais Yaakov Cookbook, here are more than 130 recipes that are simple to prepare and gourmet in taste. Trendy but traditional, this is the cookbook everyone is raving about.
Living Emunah 4: More than just a book, Living Emunah has become a life-changing phenomenon for tens of thousands. All the Living Emunah books, including this new one, are available at this great 20%-off price.
Living Emunah for Children 2: Emunah is not only for adults! With adorable pictures and stories chosen especially for young readers, this full color book helps our children also discover the incredible power of emunah.
In the Footsteps of Eliyahu HaNavi: In this gorgeous new coffee-table book, Rabbi Berel Wein takes us on an utterly absorbing tour of Jewish history in 40 countries of the diaspora. Includes hundreds of evocative photographs.
Blazing Light in the Darkness: A beloved Rosh Yeshivah, Rabbi Avrohom Kalmanowitz helped build Torah life, in pre-war Europe and the U.S. His efforts enabled the entire Mirrer Yeshivah to escape the Holocaust and, later, he worked tirelessly to rescue the Jews of the Middle East. A fascinating biography of an unusual Torah personality.
On My Own but Not Alone: A vital book for single women, widows, divorcees – and for anyone who wants to be sensitive to their needs and help them with their challenges. Features first person narratives by women who are on their own, chapters by noted rabbanim and rebbetzins on hashkafic issues, sections by experts on legal and financial matters, and answers to halachic queries commonly asked by women living alone.

Shop the sale now at artscroll.com!

The Journey of the ArtScroll Sephardic Siddur Schottenstein Edition

Published on June 7, 2019 by ArtScroll StaffLeave a comment

“Why don’t you produce an ArtScroll Siddur for the Sephardic community?”

We heard it over the years from countless people in Brooklyn, in Deal, in L.A. and beyond, indeed, wherever Sephardic Jews live. While ArtScroll’s other sefarim and books speak to Jews of every stripe and background, there was no ArtScroll’s siddur in the nusach of Sephardim and Edot Hamizrah. Why not?!

It was a valid question. There are well over a million copies of ArtScroll siddurim in print, making them the most widely-used siddurim in history. They are hailed the world over for their magnificent translation and wide-ranging, inspiring commentary, their crystal clear instructions and halachahs, and their state-of-the-art typography. “Why isn’t there a Siddur of such outstanding quality for Sephardic Jews?”

Mr. Jay Schottenstein, patron of the ArtScroll Talmud and many other ArtScroll projects, was visiting Rav David Abuchatzeira shlita, a year and a half ago. The Hacham had that same question: “You have dedicated so many works of Torah and Tefillah. Why don’t you sponsor an ArtScroll Sephardic Siddur?” Together they called Rabbi Gedaliah Zlotowitz, President of ArtScroll and put the question to him.

Rav Gedaliah didn’t flinch, and in a moment the exciting decision was made: The time had come for an ArtScroll Sephardic Siddur! And so the work began immediately on Siddur Kol Simcha.

There was much to do. The Hebrew text and English translation had to follow Sephardic traditions. Transliterations would reflect Sephardic pronunciation, and laws and customs would follow Sephardic poskim and minhagim.

Dozens of pizmonim and piyyutim for Shabbat and other occasions would be accurately translated and sourced. Shem Hashem would appear according to Sephardic tradition, and there would be taamim for selections from the Tanach. There would be a commentary and introduction that would explain and inspire.

There were other innovative features as well. When a person is praying, he or she wants to see the relevant laws conveniently appear next to the prayers, so in this new Siddur, the halachot are right where they are needed – and there is also a comprehensive halachot section in the back of the Siddur. Special typography and graphics indicate when there are differences in text between various communities, so everyone can pray according to his or her own custom without confusion.

Artscroll is proud to add this magnificent state-of-the-art Sephardic Siddur to its repertoire. A new gem in the treasure house of ArtScroll.

Get your copy today at artscroll.com!

A Parent’s Prayer – for recitation on erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, Monday, June 3rd

Published on June 3, 2019June 3, 2019 by ArtScroll StaffLeave a comment

All parents want the best for their children – that they should be good and upright, that they have everything they need for a fruitful, joyous life.

The classic work, Shelah HaKadosh, contains a prayer that parents should recite for their children at any time of the year – but especially before Rosh Chodesh Sivan, for that is the month when G-d gave us the Torah, and when the Jewish people began to be called His Children.

Click here to view, print or download: Tefillas Hashelah – A Parent’s Prayer.

ArtScroll Speaks With C.B. Weinfeld Author of A Canopy of Stars

Published on May 24, 2019 by ArtScroll StaffLeave a comment

AS: Amazing! Your 5^th collection of stories, and yet they are still so fresh, so vibrant and varied. What’s your secret to finding such intensely interesting stories?

CBW: There’s really no secret to finding interesting stories. All you need is a willingness to ask and the capacity to listen—to really listen. I find that the most rewarding stories come when I close my mouth and just absorb what the other person is saying! Sometimes, during a conversation or interview, I think the story is over, but if I stay quiet for another minute or two, I’ll find the story has only just begun.

AS: One of the sections of the book is called Faith and Courage. What’s the connection between the two?

CBW: One is often an outgrowth of the other. Being whacked by a ‘double whammy’ of challenges can either make one shrivel and give up in defeat, or it can bring out the most potent parts of our neshamah. In “Dance of Life,” for instance, a man facing the loss of a long-awaited kidney draws on his faith and finds the courage to dance, to celebrate the fact that it wasn’t meant to be. In “Guided by an Angel,” the protagonist draws on his faith and finds the courage to travel alone to meet his brothers, whom he had never met before.

AS: When writing these stories, many of them poignant, did any of them actually bring you to tears? Which one, and why?

CBW: The story “Judge and Jury,” about a woman whose husband is experiencing an emotional breakdown, had a powerful impact on me. I know many people who are living like this, acting as if they had perfect lives, in a desire to preserve their dignity and protect their families. In reality they are dealing with unfathomable challenges and intense pain—and the judgment of their own family members, which is sometimes hardest of all to bear.

AS: And here’s the toughest question of all: Which of the stories are your favorites?

CBW: Asking me to name a favorite would be like asking me to name a favorite grandchild—I love them all so intensely, and each has a special place in my heart.

Get your copy today at artscroll.com!

Simply Gourmet by Rivky Kleiman!

Published on May 21, 2019 by ArtScroll StaffLeave a comment

We’re all so excited about Simply Gourmet, the fabulous cookbook being released! We spoke with author Rivky Kleiman about her culinary journey and how she develops such amazing recipes.

AS: Rivky, you are a star in the kosher culinary world: a popular contributor to kosher.com and Family Table, co-author of the Bais Yaakov Cookbook, and now a member of ArtScroll’s incredible cookbook team. How did you do it?

RK: My mother went to medical school when I was in 6th grade. We were three sisters, so while she was in school she would leave a list on the fridge with the jobs we should do. Because I enjoyed the kitchen so much, I wound up making all the cakes, kugels, desserts, salads. When it came to food my mother was very forward thinking, and she loved variety. My friends loved to come to supper; they knew they’d get something interesting and delicious. Actually, when I was newly married, I was afraid of making traditional chicken soup and gefilte fish — but I could make gourmet meals!

AS: What is your cooking philosophy, and how does it play out in Simply Gourmet?

RK: I like to work with foods that are familiar to people, foods that they recognize, but I also want a twist. I keep up with today’s trends and modernize. I love to layer the flavors, to give foods depth of flavor. We’re long past just salt and pepper. You can transform a dish with a few spices or herbs. I use items in your pantry, or items that you will incorporate into your pantry after you’ve discovered them.

AS: Some examples?

RK: I love chili powder. It’s a mixture of different spices, and it elevates the taste of the meat and poultry. People don’t realize the value of it. And you can easily make your own. Fish-free Worcestershire sauce adds that little oomph. Or a bit of lemon zest — it takes no extra work, you’re using the lemon anyway, and you get an explosion of flavor!

AS: What do you hope to accomplish with Simply Gourmet?

RK: I taught for many years, and I’m using the skills I’ve developed to teach home cooks so that they can elevate what they do. I’m taking away some of the fear of the unknown. When you try something and it works, what a great feeling!

Get your copy today at artscroll.com!

On the Shoulders of Giants – Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have constant contact with gedolim?

Published on May 10, 2019 by ArtScroll StaffLeave a comment

Gedolei Torah. You’ve heard so many stories about them. Perhaps you’ve even had some personal encounters with them. You know about their incredible diligence, devotion to learning and unfailing concern for the Klal. But have you ever wondered what it’s like to have constant contact with gedolim? To interact on a daily basis with Torah leaders? To see how daas Torah deals with the most important issues of our time?

In his long career in Agudath Israel of America, which culminated in his position as Executive Vice President, Rabbi Shmuel Bloom had the zechus of interacting with some of Jewry’s greatest gedolim. Now, in On the Shoulders of Giants, he shares the stories and memories, the lessons learned and the insights discovered in more than half a century of encountering greatness.

We asked Rabbi Bloom to describe some of the traits that gedolim tend to have in common. His answer was both insightful and surprising:

“In my encounters with gedolei Yisrael I found that they had a unique blend of humility and confidence. The first time I saw R’ Moshe Feinstein at the Agudah convention, he was waiting for Minchah to begin. A man came over to him and asked the gadol hador if he could ask him a shayla. Reb Moshe answered: “Far vos nit – why not?” It was as if he was saying, in his profoundly humble way – of course you can ask me, this is why I am here in this world, to help other Jews. Yet when there was an accident in front of his house and Rav Moshe was told a boy wearing a yarmulke had been run over by a car, he said that it couldn’t be true. He felt that his Torah learning would prevent such a tragedy from happening. As it turned out, a gentile boy had grabbed a yarmulke from a Jewish boy, and the non-Jew was run over as he was running away. This combination of knowing that he is in this world to serve the Klal, at the same time knowing that he was given a special role to play, is something that I found to varying degrees in almost every gadol.”

Personal stories of gedolim, askanim and politicians, and many rare photos — you’ll find them all here, in On the Shoulders of Giants.

Get your copy today at artscroll.com!

ArtScroll’s Special Editions: Guaranteed to Make Your Shabbos Afternoons Special!

Published on May 3, 2019 by ArtScroll StaffLeave a comment

On the long Shabbos afternoons of spring and summer, Pirkei Avos offers us the perfect way to reconnect with the richness of Torah wisdom. ArtScroll has just released two special editions of Maseches Avos that will make that time extra special. Both editions contain all the text and features of ArtScroll’s acclaimed Mishnah series, in a new convenient size — and at a great price.

The Schottenstein Edition Midsize Mishnah Elucidated: Maseches Avos

This popular series offers a multilevel learning experience. Do you have an hour before Minchah and want to review a chapter in Pirkei Avos? You can. Want to spend the entire afternoon delving deeply into its meaning? You can do that too — in the same volume.

Each volume in The Mishnah Elucidated series includes the fully vowelized Hebrew text of the Mishnah and the full text of “the Rav’s” (Rabbeinu Ovadiah of Bertinoro) classic Mishnah commentary. The phrase-by-phrase translation and elucidation follow the format of the Schottenstein Edition Talmud. Words and phrases, based on the Rav’s interpretation of the Mishnah, are added to make the Mishnah text read smoothly and clearly. Notes clarify and explain the Mishnah further by drawing on the Gemara or other classic Mishnah commentaries, and the general introductions to each masechta and topic discuss many important concepts. For those most comfortable with English-language study, this is the volume for you.

The Ryzman Edition Hebrew Mishnayos Special Edition: Maseches Avos

Each volume of the Ryzman Edition Hebrew Mishnayos contains the full text of the Mishnah, as well as the commentary of the Rav (Rabbeinu Ovadiah of Bertinoro), newly-typeset. This series, too, offers multilevel learning. The first level is a phrase-by-phrase translation and elucidation, in readable Hebrew, following the format of the Schottenstein Edition Talmud. This level gives a brief, flowing explanation of the words of the Mishnah, perfect for those seeking a simple explanation of the p’shat. Next comes the “Biyur.” Here we find an expanded explanation of the Mishnah, based on the commentary of Rav, and also drawing on the Gemara and classic Rishonim and Acharonim. On this level, terms and concepts are explained more fully, providing a deeper understanding of the p’shat. Finally, the “Iyunim” level is designed for those seeking more profound, in-depth study of the Mishnah.

Whatever you are looking for in your Pirkei Avos study, you’ll find it in these very special, special editions!

Get your copies today at artscroll.com!

Two Fantastic Historical Novels: Freefall by Miriam Zakon and Twilight by Avner Gold

Published on April 12, 2019 by ArtScroll StaffLeave a comment

After all the work — the cleaning, shopping, koshering — you’ve certainly earned some time to relax. And what better way to relax than with a novel that transports you to a different time and place? A novel that brings you characters who become almost real to you? A novel that keeps you turning page after exciting page?

ArtScroll has two fantastic new historical novels for you. Enjoy your well-earned literary treat!

Freefall by Miriam Zakon:

Freefall is the epic saga of a young woman searching for happiness, a war orphan searching for words, and a young man searching for his father’s love.

The year is 1941. The flames of war are blazing throughout Europe. By the end of the year, with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, America will join the Allies in their desperate struggle against the Axis powers.

In the Freed Hotel, a simple Coney Island boarding house, other battles are being fought. Its owner, Yeruchum Freed, is determined and resolute in his vision: to raise his children as uncompromising Torah Jews. But do his children, Annie and Moe, share that dream?

Set against the fascinating backdrop of the American experience during the Second World War, as well as the battlefields of war-torn Europe, Freefall offers a vivid and unforgettable cast of characters, a wealth of riveting historical details, and an engaging, suspense-filled story that readers will not be able to put down.

Twilight (Expanded Edition) by Avner Gold:

Twilight is the next novel in the famed Strasbourg Saga. This expanded edition follows the exploits of the popular characters of the Saga from the end of 1649 through 1658.

As the story begins, a report of twins abducted by the Cossacks spurs Elisha Ringel to action. He manages to secure a meeting with Bogdan Chmielnicki, the hetman of the Cossacks, in his headquarters in Zaporozhiye, and there the exciting story unfolds, coming to a climax in Warsaw nine years later. In the course of the story, we also meet Rav Shabsi Kohein, the Shach, and follow the turbulent events of his life through the eyes of Rav Shloime Strasbourg, rabbi of Pulichev.

Twilight is that fragile moment that is not quite night and not quite day. The period described in this book was a twilight time. The wounds of war were not yet healed, but there was hope once again. Here is historical fiction at its best.