The Artscroll Studios’ Podcast

The Ribnitzer Rebbe was a tzaddik, a ba’al mofeis (a miracle worker), and so much more. He became a living legend, the address for thousands seeking berachos, first in Russia, then in Eretz Yisrael and, eventually in America. His intense avodah included fasting, non-stop Torah learning, and hours and hours of profound tefillah. Throughout all his trials and tribulations, Reb Chaim Zanvil, the Ribnitzer Rebbe, found a way to serve Hashem.

One of those who merited to serve the rebbe for years, forging a close and personal relationship, was Reb Moshe Tzvi Berkowitz. In this fascinating Inside ArtScroll interview, we sit down with Reb Moshe Tzvi to learn about what he learned from the rebbe, and to hear firsthand stories about his interactions with the rebbe – including the rebbe’s famous “teniah” (tune) that he made famous, and so much more. Watch and be uplifted. [Purchase the book HERE.]

Saying Kaddish for a loved one. It is one of the most well-observed Jewish traditions. However, its cryptic language often makes this sacred and hallowed prayer feel unrelatable. In a powerful and inspiring new book, Rabbi Yechiel Spero changes that, using classic Torah sources, insights, and — of course! — stories to explore the essence and, indeed, the soul of Kaddish. In The Soul of Kaddish, you find chizuk, hope and encouragement in the words of Kaddish. In the following Inside ArtScroll interview, we speak to Rabbi Spero about this incredible book, and about finding chizuk in challenging times – and always. Watch and be inspired. [Purchase the book HERE.]

Rabbi Chaim Aryeh Zev Ginzberg is a beloved rav in Cedarhurst who has engaged thousands of readers with his incisive articles in the Torah world’s most prestigious periodicals. Rabbi Ginzberg has a genius for weaving together personal stories, Torah hashkafah, encouragement and chizuk, communal issues, and, yes, gentle and spot-on mussar.

In his book, Rays of Hope, and in this Inside ArtScroll interview, he takes us “up close and personal” with memories of his own nisyonos — including his terrifying bout with Covid, when the doctors felt there was no hope left for him, as well as the losses of his beloved daughter Sarala and his oldest grandson, Chanoch Jeger.

Rabbi Ginzberg’s courageous and uplifting responses to these losses — which include his founding of the well-known Ohel Sarala global initiative — give us chizuk and meaning to the challenges we all face. Watch and be inspired.

[Purchase the book HERE.]

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.]

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.]

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.

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.’” In this interview, we spoke to Rabbi Brafman’s son, Rabbi Avrohom Baruch Brafman, and Rabbi Brafman’s close talmid, Rabbi Dov Keilson.

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

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.

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.