Rabbi Nachman Seltzer takes his incredible talent for telling true stories to a whole new level as he shares the story of Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis and his close, personal relationships with some of today’s greatest Torah personalities. ArtScroll asks Rabbi Seltzer about his new book, Encounters with Greatness:

AS: The narrator of this memoir, Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis, had some very unusual brushes with death, which ultimately led him to the relationships with gedolim that are the core of the book. Can you tell us a little about those almost-fatal experiences?

RNS: Rabbi Travis was hit by a car and almost killed on the day before he made a kiddush in honor of his baby daughter. The fact that he lived — and without any brain damage — was, according to his rosh yeshivah, Rav Tzvi Kushulefsky shlita, a complete miracle. The accident and his remarkable recovery led to his researching the topic of reciting the berachah one makes on a miracle, and that led to more research on the subject of hakaras hatov, thanking Hashem. He ultimately produced a sefer on the topic, which eventually led to an entire array of halachah and hashkafah sefarim on a wide range of topics. The accident and the sefer that it brought about led Rabbi Travis to form close relationships with many of today’s greatest Torah personalities. So you can say — as Rabbi Travis always does — gam zu l’tovah, even this was for the good, as his horrific accident led to so many important things.  

AS: Who are some of the gedolim featured in the book?

 RNS: There are fourteen gedolim and tzaddikim, among them R’ Shlomo Brevda, R’ Shimshon Pincus, R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt’l, and ybl’c R’ Don Segal, R’ Asher Arielli, and R’ Tzvi Kushelefsky, shlita.

AS: Some people think all great Torah personalities are alike — they’re all brilliant, diligent, caring. That’s true — but they are also so individual, and this book captures that individuality so beautifully. How did you do it?

RNS: When you interview someone who knows gedolim personally and intimately, then you hear clear differences between them. Every gadol is a world unto himself, and Rabbi Travis developed a unique and varied relationship with each of them. This is obvious from the first minute of a conversation with him.

Click here to get your copy today: artscroll.com!

How I Got Through the Week:

A look at Just One Word: Emunah

It was one of those weeks. Lots of issues. Medical issues (serious) — a son hospitalized. Medical issues (annoying) — paperwork overload, a missing document, a hospital’s broken fax machine. Professional issues, homeowner issues, traffic and parking issues.

Yes, a tough week. But in the best “refuah lifnei ha’makah” tradition, Hashem sent me something that got me through it, sane and smiling.

It’s called Just One Word: Emunah.

Remember the book that started a revolution: Just One Word. Amen, by Esther Stern? Mrs. Stern has a unique ability to inspire, to transmit Torah concepts, to illustrate those concepts with true stories, to show us how we can change our lives for the better.

In her new book, Just One Word: Emunah, she turns her attention to the topic that has riveted our generation: faith and trust in Hashem.

Back to my awful week. While the world was falling down around me, I was putting a few final editorial changes into her manuscript, and I read:

If a person would examine one of his life’s challenges and calculate how much of his suffering is the actual problem and how much is the accompanying worry, pain, anguish, and fear of the unknown, he would discover that often the problem itself is relatively small compared to the side effects that blow it up into a huge burden. With emunah there are no “side effects.” There is only the net problem.

And I realized — take away the angst and put emunah in its place, and most of my problems shrink down to manageable size.

Then I was berating myself for something I did and getting angry at someone else for something she didn’t do, and I read:

Every individual’s life situation is chosen for him down to the most minor detail, given to him by the only One Who is in charge: HaKadosh Baruch Hu. So we can calm down. We are not to blame, and neither is anyone else.

And on and on. For every problem, a story (there are over 80 true stories in the book!) that helped change frustration to acceptance. For every setback, a Chazal or classic mussar insight that transformed fear to tranquility.

The week came to an end, my son was b’H better. But there will be other weeks like this. And with Just One Word: Emunah — I’ll be much better prepared for whatever Hashem sends my way.

Click HERE to order your copy today from Artscroll.com!

If you have made Living  Emunah a part of your life — and, with over 100,000 copies of the series in print, the odds are that you  have — you know that the gift of emunah is huge. The belief in Hashem’s goodness and in His infinite caring carries us through difficult times and energizes us when things are going well. Emunah is a ray of sunshine in stormy weather, a smile when all seems bleak; a hug, so to speak, from heaven. A gift indeed.

So here’s fantastic news for all Living Emunah devotees: Your children, whatever their ages, can now enjoy the same wonderful gift that you have, with books adapted from Living Emunah especially for them.

Living Emunah for Children: Who says emunah is just for big people? Kids need it too! It’s never too early to show our children how much Hashem loves them, and to let them know the incredible power of emunah and tefillah. And how even when things seem bad, they are really good, because Hashem is all goodness. Living Emunah for Children is a collection of fun and kid-friendly stories, carefully chosen and adapted by Leah Sutton for youngsters ages 4 – 8, with delightful, full-color pictures by Chani Judowitz. It makes a fabulous Chanukah gift that kids will want to read over and over — and one whose lessons will last them a lifetime.

Buy now for $17.99 $14.39 on artscroll.com!

Living Emunah for Teens: Today’s world is complex and often puzzling, and teens more than ever need something real to hold onto — emunah in Hashem and His care for us. In realistic scenarios and true stories adapted from Living Emunah especially for teens and reflecting their concerns, our teenagers will learn how emunah can change and enrich their lives, freeing them from anger or jealousy and helping them find the good in everything and everyone — including themselves. Every segment also includes a “Make it Real” guide to help bring the lessons of emunah into their lives.

Buy now for $25.99 $20.79 on artscroll.com!

And while you’re gifting your children with emunah, we’ve got a special gift for you too:  Living Emunah Volume 3, with more chizuk, more stories, and more techniques to strengthen your own emunah. Over 10,000 copies have been sold in less than a month since its release — shouldn’t you be reading it too?

Buy now for $25.99 $20.79 on artscroll.com!

Because emunah is for everyone!

Don’t forget that ALL other books are on sale for 20% OFF! Click here to shop the ArtScroll Chanukah Sale!

The publication of every volume in the Schottenstein Edition Yerushalmi is a cause for celebration, but next week’s release of Yerushalmi Chagigah is particularly special, as it marks the triumphant conclusion of a campaign by the Baltimore Jewish community to dedicate a volume in the Yerushalmi.