Category: Books

ArtScroll is proud to announce the publication of the Schottenstein Edition Ein Yaakov, Maseches Berachos Volume 1 (Chapters 1 – 4), which will bring our understanding of the Talmud’s Aggadah to a whole new level.

Sefer Ein Yaakov is the classic collection of the Aggadic material found in Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi. Aggadah, the non-legal portion of Gemara, is so rich in meaning, so vivid, so full of the teachings that define us as Jews — and, sometimes, so hard to understand. Aggadah is a treasure house of stories, parables, fundamental Jewish beliefs, ethical teachings, and life lessons. The Schottenstein Edition Ein Yaakov gives us the keys we need to unlock those treasures and make them a part of our own lives. 

Designed to enhance our understanding of Aggadah and allow us to apply its many lessons and insights into our own world and its challenges, this volume is written in a narrative style, with an emphasis on maximum readability. There is a wealth of information in the notes, based on the primary commentaries on Ein Yaakov and other sources. The “Insights” section brings out the many lessons and principles that are relevant in our daily lives, drawn from commentaries ranging from the Rishonim to the masters of Chassidus and Mussar.

Another valuable feature: This edition includes the complete Mesoras HaShas edition of Sefer Ein Yaakov, including the classic commentaries, all newly typeset.

For those who study Gemara regularly, and particularly for those who will be following the new Daf Yomi cycle, the series offers a unique resource. Each volume includes copies of the classic Vilna page of Gemara, for the pages whose text is covered in Ein Yaakov. The Ein Yaakov text is highlighted on the Gemara page, making it easy for those studying the daf to access the many insights, notes, and references in the Schottenstein Edition Ein Yaakov.

An “Additional References” section offers many different sources, with short descriptions of which points are discussed, so that the reader can decide which he wishes to explore further.

This exciting new project is designed for scholars and laymen, kollel members and seminary students, talmidei chachamim and the newly observant; indeed, the Schottenstein Edition Ein Yaakov is designed for anyone who wants to access the infinite treasures of Aggadah.

Get your copy TODAY at artscroll.com!

ArtScroll has just released Rav Chaim on Chumash (volume one – Sefer Bereishis), by Rabbi Shai Graucher – a collection of Rav Chaim Kanievsky’s writings on Chumash, together with stories about Rav Chaim and his illustrious family. We spoke with Rabbi Graucher about this exciting new project:

AS: How did you go about compiling Rav Chaim on Chumash?

RSG: After I saw the incredibly positive response to Rav Chaim’s sefer, Orchos Yosher, which ArtScroll published in English, and which included Maran’s Torah together with stories,  it was only natural to move on  to my next dream: a  sefer of Rav Chaim’s Torah – and stories — on Chumash.

I went through dozens of Rav Chaim’s sefarim, and, of course, his monumental sefer on the Torah, Taama D’Kra. Together with a team of talmidei chachamim, I began the process of choosing what should be included. Then came the editing, translating, and polishing, until we were satisfied that this will be a classic that will grace every Shabbos table.

AS: Tell us a little about your relationship with Rav Chaim.

RSG: My connection with Rav Chaim began when I was quite young. I still remember the first time I came to him for a berachah. He lifted his piercing eyes from the Gemara and stared directly at me, and I could feel my little boy’s neshamah start to tremble. I remember his words so clearly: “If you want to learn – you will learn,” followed by his berachah: “You should grow up to be a talmid chacham.” I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything that touched me so deeply. Those words of his became my guiding light:  “If you want to learn – you will learn.” Baruch Hashem, after I married I created a close relationship with him. I took every opportunity to visit him. All through Elul I traveled every day from Yerushalayim to Bnei Brak for vasikin davening with him; during Selichos I would arrive an hour earlier.

AS: How did Rav Chaim react when you brought him the sefer?

RSG: He expressed satisfaction from the “zikui ha’rabim” – those were his words.  I made a “Shehecheyanu” on the sefer, we drank a l’chaim, and he gave me a berachah that I should merit to publish sefarim on all of Shas. With one dream fulfilled, I’ll be working on finishing the rest of this project and then – with the help of Hashem and Rav Chaim’s merit – there’s so much more to do!

Get your copy today on artscroll.com!

AS: Your new book, Inspired, has three elements – an inspirational Torah insight, stories, and “takeaways.” Can you tell the readers a little about each of these three parts?

RBP: People today are looking for real inspiration in their lives. In my new book I offer an uplifting insight that really speaks to the reader, followed by a powerful story that brings home the message, and a short takeaway quote to carry the inspiration into the reader’s heart.　

AS: Your stories are so varied. They range from the normal everyday stuff (a van breaking down on a highway that teaches a lesson in tefilah and bitachon) to the poignant (the incredible emunah of a bereaved parent) to the unbelievable (a tray of gefilte fish brings unexpected healing that shocks all the doctors). Is there a common thread among the more than 70 stories in Inspired?

RBP: I searched for stories that people can relate to in their everyday lives, so that people would say, “Hey, that story really could have happened to me.” The common thread is that it is these are down to earth stories that have a positive message that speaks to every person, whatever their challenges, whatever their background.

AS: These are complicated times we live in. How can we stay upbeat and, yes, inspired?

RBP: Although life can be quite complicated, a Yid has to open his eyes and see all the incredible berachah and hashgachah pratis happening to him on a daily basis. When we focus on the positive in our lives and see the hand of Hashem constantly guiding us, we will always live inspired.

AS: With all these great stories, do you have any personal favorites – and why?

RBP: My favorite story is about a young man named Manish who really wanted to get married, but nothing was happening. After hearing about the power of davening on Seder night, he cried out to Hashem — and days later he was miraculously answered. I love the story because I met Manish myself one day while shopping in the local grocery store where he works, and heard first-hand his story. His amazing emunah peshutah left me truly inspired.

Get your copy today at artscroll.com!

I’m looking over a manuscript, and I’m smiling. Chuckling. Laughing out loud.

My husband, working at his computer across from me, looks up, puzzled. “What are you reading?” he asks.

“An incredible mussar insight,” I say, giggling.

His eyes light up in comprehension. “Oh, must be Rabbi Orlofsky,” he says.

If you are one of the tens of thousands who have heard Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky speak, you know what I’m talking about; if you haven’t yet had the privilege and pleasure, you’re in for a real treat, as you meet Rabbi Orlofsky in this newly published collection of his selected shiurim, Everyone’s Entitled to My Opinion: The Wisdom and Wit of Rabbi Orlofsky, adapted by Avraham Gindi.

Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky is quite a phenomenon in the Torah world. A globe-trotting lecturer and beloved teacher, he is known for his unique, a- story-and-a-joke-a-minute style – and, at the same, he is also hailed for the insight and depth of his Torah teachings. In the pages of this transformative new book, Rabbi Orlofsky takes a blunt, honest, always wise and often very funny look at our lives as observant Jews.

In Everyone’s Entitled to My Opinion, we will delve into the meaning of Shabbos, and our own Shabbos will be enriched.  We will discover how to have a happier home and raise successful children, and how to live full and meaningful lives as Torah Jews. We will learn, we will change and grow – and we will laugh.

Get your copy today at artscroll.com!

About three years ago, the premiere volume of the Yaakov and Ilana Melohn Edition Or HaChaim on Chumash was published.  Now, with the publication of Devarim 2 (Parashiyos Ki Seitzei – VeZos HaBerachah) ArtScroll is proud to announce the completion of the entire ten-volume set. CHAZAK, CHAZAK, V’NISCHAZEIK!

The elucidation of the beloved Torah commentary achieved immediate success. It was hailed as an invaluable tool by those who were already learning the classic commentary. And it was joyously welcomed by those who truly wanted to study it, but were daunted by its difficulty.

And difficult it was. The commentary, written by the 18^th century Torah sage R’ Chaim ben Moshe ibn Attar, the Or HaChaim HaKadosh, is so rich, so wide-ranging, so broad and deep, it has been one of the foremost and revered commentaries on Chumash for nearly three centuries. But what makes it great also makes it challenging. The Or HaChaim points out countless nuances in the Chumash text, and he blends the pshat of the Chumash with the interpretations of Chazal as well as his own scintillating comments.  Famed for his knowledge of Kabbalah, R’ Chaim weaves many Kabbalistic concepts into the commentary, and also explains many of the fundamental principles of our faith.

Using the successful format of the Schottenstein Edition Talmud, the elucidated translation enables us to gain a clear understanding of the Or HaChaim’s commentary, and the notes provide explanations, sources, and deeper insights into his words. Every volume includes the text of the Chumash, Targum, and Rashi – all fully vowelized.

This, the final volume in the set, includes an extremely useful feature: a 76 page “Master Index” to the topics covered in the entire Or HaChaim commentary. Want to know what Or HaChaim has to say on the subject of techeiles? Doing research on the nature of the Oral Torah? Looking to enrich your understanding of Shabbos? Need a vort for a sheva berachos and want to wow everyone by quoting a classic?  The Master Index opens the wisdom of the Or HaChaim to us in an entirely new way, letting us access his words and ideas easily and quickly.

With the completion of the set, the Melohn Edition of the Or HaChaim on Chumash makes an unforgettable bar mitzvah or wedding gift and a fabulous addition to your own bookshelf.

CHAZAK, CHAZAK, V’NISCHAZEIK!

Get your copy TODAY at artscroll.com!

AS:  Your Hebrew sefer, Olam HaMiddos, is being studied enthusiastically by so many in the Torah world. Can you tell us how you came to write it, and why you think it’s been so successful?

RMDK: What perhaps makes this sefer special is that it contains thoughts and observations that were helpful for my own personal development, and were not created with the intention of committing them to writing. When I was in beis medrash in Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, my rebbi, Rav Yechiel Perr shlita, infused in us a love for mussar and I began to pay closer attention to my thoughts and feelings. I shared some of these ideas over the years, when I was teaching Orchos Tzadikim to the bochurim in the Yeshiva of Waterbury, but I never considered writing a sefer until Rav Sheya Lazenga asked me to give a weekly vaad to the yungerleit on middos. In writing notes in preparation for those vaadim, I realized, “Wow, I think I have a sefer!”  

 AS:  Why is tikkun hamiddos so important – and why is it so hard, especially today?

RMDK: Tikkun hamiddos is so important, simply, as the Vilna Gaon and others write, because that is why we are here — to perfect our character! I don’t know if it’s harder today than before, but perhaps in these times where we are used to having everything come easy to us, we are less prepared to put in the effort to fight and overcome our natural tendencies.

AS: In the sefer you discuss becoming a “ba’al middos” – someone who “owns” his middos. In these days of selfies and “fake news,” how can we learn to do that?

RMDK: Probably by taking fewer selfies! As the Mesillas Yesharim writes, the yeitzer hara’s trick is to distract us. It is easier today more than ever to become distracted by everyone and everything else, rather than looking inside ourselves. My hope be”H is that this sefer brings people to discover themselves, seeing their unique greatness and their flaws. When we understand ourselves and work to better ourselves, life becomes all that much more enjoyable and meaningful. 

Get your copy today at artscroll.com!

With over 300,000 copies of his children’s books in print, Shmuel Blitz is one of the premiere children’s authors of our time. We spoke to him about his newest book, A House Full of Love: The Story of Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky.

AS: In an age of so many entertaining distractions, how do we get our children to love reading – and how important is it that they do?

SB: The easy answer is, to give our children great books. We saw how in the secular world, as children’s reading habits were growing worse and worse because of modern distractions, when the Harry Potter series was published, all these “non-reading” children were once again reading. And loving it. They couldn’t wait for the next volume. Give children books that they like – and they will read. That’s what I try to do. Studies have proven over and over that the more a child reads outside of school the better he will do inside of school. So it is VERY important to make sure our children are reading.

AS: There are literally hundreds, perhaps thousands, of stories about Rebbetzin Kanievsky’s greatness. Tough job choosing what to put into your book. How did you go about choosing?

SB:  It was tough, but at the same time it was easy. There was so much to choose from. Stories of her middos, stories of her devotion to her husband, Reb Chaim shlita, and so much more. I chose the stories that I felt would most relate to a child, and that a child would learn from, and that would hold their interest. And mostly stories that children could incorporate into their own life.

AS: What are some of the lessons our youngsters can learn from Rebbetzin Kanievsky?

SB: There is no end to what our children can learn from Rebbetzin Kanievsky. Every action she did, every word she spoke. Just as we learn from gedolim, such as her husband, ybl’ch, Rav Chaim, we can learn from her. Our children – and we, also – can learn from the way she took care of her own children, her neighbor’s children, her family, her community, and everyone who came to her. It made no difference if the guest was an important person, or the poorest person, or even a person with severe mental problems. Her house and heart were open to all. She was a true role model for all of us.

Get your copy today at artscroll.com!