AS: What a fascinating life! How did it feel, writing the biography of Rav Meir Zlotowitz z”l?

RYB: I felt privileged. Rabbi Zlotowitz practically invented this industry; the entire vibrant world of Torah publishing is a tribute to him. But under the impact of this man is a very real, personal story. So many peaks and valleys, ups and downs, heartache and adversity before triumph.

AS: Did you have any personal encounters with Rabbi Zlotowitz?

RYB: Yes, many. He made me feel like a million dollars the first time we met, and when my first book was published he went and wished my parents mazel tov. He was a prince.

AS: Can you think of a story that truly captures the essence of who Meir Zlotowitz was?

RYB: It’s a hard choice, there are so many. This story moved me so much: Someone once “accused” Reb Meir of being “too generous,” unable to turn down anyone who appeared to be in need. Reb Meir conceded that it was true, and he commented that he could never forget how, during the years when he was struggling for every dollar, he was once seated at a simchah surrounded by a group of acquaintances. They were discussing what to buy their wives for the upcoming Yom Tov, complaining how hard it was to find the right gift. He was struck at how “tone-deaf” they sounded, how oblivious they were to the real challenges facing others — while he was wondering how he would purchase food for Yom Tov, they were distressed about which sort of gift to buy. At that moment, he promised himself that if ever he would be in a position to help others, he wouldn’t forget what it was like to be worried about buying basic necessities. “It’s not that I have a better or more generous nature than others,” he explained, “it’s just that I have a good memory!”

AS: What message does Rabbi Zlotowitz — and this biography — have for us?

RYB: “Hold on to your secret dreams.” Rav Meir was in his thirties before he was able to act on them. But he kept them safe and never forgot them. Treat the world with kavod, cherish relationships with friends, and family above all. This is a story of extreme kibud av v’eim, incredible dedication to his wife, children, and grandchildren and, despite a daunting workload, a man who was there for whomever needed him, steadfast and true.

Pre-order your copy today only at: artscroll.com!

If you are one of the many thousands who have begun to learn Pituchei Chotam, the magnificent Torah commentary by Rabbeinu Yaakov Abuchatzeira, you will be happy to hear that Volume 2, Sefer Bamidbar and Sefer Devarim, has now been released.

And if you haven’t yet discovered the fascinating and unusual Torah insights of Pituchei Chotam — it’s time to start right now.

***

The author of Pituchei Chotam, Rav Yaakov Abuchatzeira — the “Abir Yaakov” — who lived in the 19th century, was the scion of one of the most illustrious Torah families of Morocco. Baba Sali zt’l, famed throughout Klal Yisrael, was one of his grandsons, and Rav David Abuchatzeira shlita, the renowned Kabbalist of Nahariya, is a great-great-nephew.

For more than sixty years, Rav Yaakov led his community, and, indeed, all of Moroccan Jewry. He was famed for his miracles, loved for his devotion and caring — and revered for his astonishing knowledge of all facets of Torah, revealed and hidden, written and oral, the simple meaning and the mystical understanding.

And that immense wisdom is now accessible in English, in Pituchei Chotam, Rav Yaakov’s masterly commentary on Torah.

ArtScroll’s Pituchei Chotam gives us the text of his commentary in a flowing translation. (The most esoteric teachings were omitted.) In these pages we will discover so many depths that are hidden in the Torah’s words. We will learn how every Jew resembles a Heavenly angel, and the impact that fact has on our mission in life. We will find out how each of us can bring pleasure to the Shechinah, even in exile. We will gain a deeper understanding of concepts such as the Sefirot, the yetzer hara and yetzer tov, purity and impurity, good and evil. Though the concepts are deep, one of the wonders of this sefer is that the commentary can be understood on many levels, by scholars and laymen alike.

Rav David Chai Abuchatzeira says of his great-grandfather’s sefer, “It is a … storehouse of fear of God and encouragement to serve Him wholeheartedly. May [those who learn his Torah] and all who aid in this endeavor merit all that is good, physically and spiritually. May all their desires be fulfilled in the best possible way….”

We know that every word of the Torah holds many meanings. Now, in the pages of this masterful work, you can access some of the most fascinating meanings.

To get your copy of Pituchei Chotam Volume 2: Bamidbar and Devarim, click here: artscroll.com!

…In illness and in strife, in triumph and in success, the Jew opens his Book of Psalms and lets David become the harp upon which his own emotions sing or weep. Small wonder that when the Chofetz Chaim, as an old man, was presented with his mother’s ancient Book of Psalms, its pages swollen with her lifetime of tears, he was overcome with emotion. Who can assess the worth of the little Book that has been the chariot bearing countless tears to the Heavenly Throne…

From the Overview to Kesuvim: Tehillim by Rabbi Nosson Scherman

Who, indeed, can assess what Tehillim means to us? It’s the lifesaver thrown to us when we’re drowning in troubles; the cavalry coming over the mountain to rescue us when all seems lost. It’s the Hatzalah paramedic, the wise and sympathetic therapist, the defibrillator that helps heal our beating, broken hearts.

Leaving the metaphors behind: Tehillim is David HaMelech’s gift to us, written in his times of sadness and trouble and joy so that we could find ourselves in his words in our times of sadness and trouble and joy.

Tehillim is a masterpiece of praise of, and faith in, Hashem. It declares with its every word that nothing is random, and that everything comes from a loving and all-wise Source. And like every masterpiece, the more we understand it, the more we can appreciate its overwhelming beauty. Kevusim: Tehillim gives us powerful tools to help us understand those beloved words so they will be even more meaningful.

This volume features a readable and graceful English translation that brings the words to life. Its English-language commentary is culled from dozens of sources, both classic and contemporary, and includes historical background as well.  The volume also includes newly typeset Hebrew commentaries of Rashi, Radak, and Metzudos, in their entirety. Finally, such beautiful songs of praise deserve a beautiful volume: Kesuvim: Tehillim is printed on lightweight, opaque, acid-free paper with reinforced binding, and has gilded page heads and a ribbon place-marker.

Kesuvim: Tehillim allows us to appreciate and understand David HaMelech’s gift to us on a whole new and wonderful level.

Get your copy today by clicking here: artscroll.com!

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.