Category: Inside ArtScroll

Reb Moyshe Silk, an American attorney, writer, and former government official, is quite an accomplished individual. Much of the world knows him as Mitchell Silk, a brilliant legal mind, an authority on Chinese law and infrastructure finance, and the only Chassidic Jew ever confirmed by the Senate to one of the highest positions in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and, for that matter, the U.S. Government.

Many people are privileged to know him as Reb Moyshe, a talmid chacham of note, a gifted writer, and a talented teacher of Torah. 

Despite the many accolades he’s received, perhaps Reb Moyshe’s most notable accomplishment to date is his translation and elucidation of Kedushas Levi, one of the greatest Chassidic classics on the Torah, written by Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. Kedushas Levi has been treasured and studied for more than two centuries, and now, Reb Moyshe’s magnificent edition, published by the Mesorah Heritage Foundation in three volumes, brings Kedushas Levi to English readers in all its grandeur. We spoke to Reb Moyshe to gain his insight into the effort he invested in producing this work. [Purchase the set HERE.]

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In the more than five decades that he was involved in Agudath Israel of America, rising from a member of their youth group to the Executive Vice President of the organization, Rabbi Shmuel Bloom encountered literally thousands of fascinating people: gedolei Yisrael, dedicated askanim, politicians from all sides of the political spectrum, and so many “just plain Jews” – who proved, by their actions, that there is no such thing as a “just plain Jew.”

Rabbi Bloom met with gedolim at Agudah events, at meetings of the Moetzes Gedolei Torah, and in quiet, urgent conferences. He chatted with them in cars and on Shabbos afternoons at conventions. In this Inside ArtScroll interview, we hear stories from Rabbi Bloom, many of them not widely known, of generations of greatness. In these “stories behind the stories,” more of which you’ll find in Rabbi Bloom’s book, On the Shoulders of Giants, we gain a unique understanding of the inner workings of daas Torah, in all its glory. We also meet the Jewish people’s askanim, up close and personal. Watch and be inspired. [Purchase the book HERE.]

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Rabbi Nachum Lehman, founder and director of CSB CARE, has devoted his life to helping people with disabilities acquire or regain their ability to daven, learn, teach and be independent and productive members of their community. It all started in 1996 when he was asked to write a program to help someone continue learning after he lost his sight. The project was extremely successful and Rabbi Lehman came to realize how many others needed similar assistance. The original software evolved into a program for low vision and reading impaired clients and was further configured to help with communication for ALS clients. In this fascinating Inside ArtScroll interview, we learn more about how Rabbi Lehman has enabled the aforementioned clients to utilize ArtScroll’s works, while sharing a hands-on look at some of the incredible programs he’s developed.

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Rabbi Aaron Brafman was the much-beloved and revered menahel of Yeshiva of Far Rockaway. He was also a respected author and a dedicated askan. But more: He was a man who loved every Jew, who saw potential where others saw failure. In the words of a talmid, he was a man “who lived and breathed Klal Yisrael; whose days were filled with Torah and maasim tovim … and most of all, who epitomized the term ‘rebbi.’” [Purchase the new volume HERE.]

In the first interview, the author of Rabbi Brafman’s biography, Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, gives us a glimpse into the life of this extraordinary man.

WATCH NOW: Inside ArtScroll Season 4:9: Rabbi Shimon Finkelman

WATCH NOW: Inside ArtScroll Season 4:10: Rabbi Brafman’s son, Rabbi Avrohom Baruch Brafman, and Rabbi Brafman’s close talmid, Rabbi Dov Keilson

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Rabbi Moshe Sherer not only changed history, he made history. After a half-century of Rabbi Sherer’s wise, visionary, charismatic, and indefatigable advocacy and leadership, the Torah community was luxuriant, respected, and influential — and the gedolei Torah were its authoritative voice. Much that we take for granted today was shepherded by him through Congress and legislatures, through executive chambers and the courts, such as aid to yeshivos, the rights of Torah institutions, and employment security for Shabbos observers. Rabbi Sherer was at home in many worlds. He was the loyal servant and confidant of great Torah sages; and a friend and adviser of people in the highest echelons of power – but he was attentive to the needs of the humblest “Reb Yisrael.” He was a visionary, yet he had insight into the art of the possible.

Now, 25 years since his passing, Inside ArtScroll features a scintillating interview with his son, Rav Shimshon Sherer, who shares personal memories of his legendary father, who was center stage, yet remained an intensely private, loving family man. This is an interview you don’t want to miss.

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In his brilliant essay on ahavas Yisrael, the Beis HaLevi, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, beautifully explains the mitzvah of loving your fellow Jew. Who does the mitzvah apply to? When does it apply? What do I need to do to fulfill it properly? The Beis HaLevi also provides incentives to help us do the mitzvah in the best possible way.
Translated and elucidated by Rabbi David Sutton, author of ArtScroll’s bestselling Beis HaLevi on Bitachon, Beis Halevi on Ahavas Yisrael contains wonderful insights, uplifting stories, and in-depth appendices, as well as a special section of touching anecdotes about gedolim from a range of generations and communities. In this Inside ArtScroll interview, Rabbi Sutton gives us an inside look as this life-changing work. [Purchase the new volume HERE.]

WATCH NOW: Inside ArtScroll Season 4:7: Rabbi David Sutton – Beis HaLevi on Ahavas Yisrael

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In ArtScroll’s Kisvei HaRambam, writings of the Rambam, including his famous 13 Principles of Faith and related selections, are translated phrase-by-phrase, annotated, and elucidated with additional insights. Enlightening, inspiring, and engrossing, this ArtScroll commentary provides an opportunity to engage with fundamental aspects of the Torah in English and understand them clearly as never before. [Purchase the new volume HERE.]

WATCH NOW: Inside ArtScroll Season 4:6: Rabbi Shnayor Burton – Kisvei HaRambam

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An Israeli child is born in a Ukrainian bomb shelter — and United Hatzalah brings her home under fire …
A United Hatzalah volunteer scales a 12-foot-wall – and is the first to respond to the tragedy of Meron …
Eli Beer, founder of United Hatzalah, slips and breaks his leg racing to an emergency — and manages to crawl to the choking child and save her life …
The amazing work of Israel’s United Hatzalah began, incredibly, when five-year-old Eli Beer witnessed a terror attack and dreamed of being the one to save the victim. While still a young teen, Eli set out to make that dream come true, creating an underground network of pioneering EMTs who were determined to bring their life-saving skills to victims in only 90 seconds, no matter where they were.
Eli Beer’s book, 90 Seconds, written by the mega-talented Rabbi Nachman Seltzer, is the story of how a boy who failed in school created one of the world’s largest all-volunteer emergency services. It’s the story of dramatic rescues, sometimes under fire. Of life-changing and life-saving innovations such as the “ambucycle.” Of bringing United Hatzalah’s lifesaving experience to Nepal, Haiti, and, most recently, Ukraine, and their heart-rending rescue work in the Surfside and Versailles wedding hall tragedies.

In this Inside ArtScroll interview, we get to learn, from Eli himself, more of the story of how with determination, vision, self-sacrifice and compassion — and, of course, siyata D’Shmaya — lives can be saved and dreams can come true. [Purchase the new book HERE.]

WATCH NOW: Inside ArtScroll Season 4:5: Eli Beer of United Hatzalah

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In Living Chessed, Rabbi Avrohom Asher Makovsky shares with us many Torah sources that talk about chessed, inspirational insights and guidance and, above all, stories of how chessed – even something as small as a compliment, a smile, or a hug – can transform the lives of both the one giving and the one receiving the chessed. In brief, readable chapters, we will discover how everyone can be a great baal chessed.

In Living Chessed and in this uplifting Inside Artscroll interview, Rabbi Makovsky shows us how we can, indeed, “live chessed” throughout our days, enriching the lives of others. And enriching our own lives as well. [Purchase the new book HERE.]

WATCH NOW: Inside ArtScroll Season 4:4: Rabbi Avrohom Asher Makovsky: Everyone Can Be a Great Baal Chessed!

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Rabbi Fishel Schachter makes us think. Makes us laugh. And makes us better.
Better parents, better people, better Jews.

Rabbi Schachter knows what happens in our lives. The little annoyances and the big challenges. The happiness and the angst. He knows what happens to us – because it often happens to him as well! And when “life” happens – the vanishing parking space, the bored kids on vacation, the last minute pre-Shabbos misadventures – he knows what we should do. Learn a lesson of hashgachah pratis. Think of a story that enhances our emunah. Discover an insight that puts everything in a different – more positive – light. Remember to thank Hashem for everything. And, of course, smile and find the joy in His plans for us.
In Did This Ever Happen to You? Rabbi Schachter, a popular rebbi, speaker, maggid shiur, columnist and storyteller, combines practical advice in chinuch and middos development with anecdotes and stories that are always engaging and often laugh-out-loud funny. Did This Ever Happen To You? touches on topics ranging from seeing hashgachah pratis in our lives to mitzvos such as hachnasas orchim and giving tzedakah; from strengthening our bitachon to outlooks on tefillah.
In this exciting Inside ArtScroll interview, like in his book, we see that no one tells a story quite like Rabbi Schachter, using stories as an incredibly effective – and often funny – means of guiding us through whatever challenges we are facing. Watch…and be prepared to laugh and to learn. [Purchase the new book HERE.]

WATCH NOW: Inside ArtScroll Season 4:3: The Stories, Observations, and Humor of Rabbi Fishel Schachter

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