The Artscroll Studios’ Podcast

Inside ArtScroll Season 2 Episode 10: Interview with the Bostoner Rebbe, Rav Naftali Horowitz

He came from a long line of chassidic leaders, reaching all the way back to the Baal Shem Tov. He was the son of the first Bostoner Rebbe, Rav Pinchos Dovid Horowitz. He was a brilliant Torah scholar, having learned at Mesivta Torah Vodaath under one of the greatest roshei yeshivah of that time. And yet in his profound modesty, Rav Levi Yitzchok Horowitz did not see himself as a rebbe. Hashem, though, decreed otherwise. When a small group of his father’s followers pleaded with Rav Levi Yitzchok to come to Boston and lead their shul, he acquiesced. And in the next sixty years, he and his devoted rebbetzin would change the lives of thousands, becoming a pivotal figure in the flourishing of Torah life in America in the decades after World War II. In The Rebbe on Beacon Street, you will read of the rebbe’s wisdom and warmth, of his burning desire to help every Jew who came his way, both physically and spiritually. This episode of Inside ArtScroll features an interview with his son, the present Bostoner Rebbe of Boston, Rav Naftali Horowitz, who shares personal memories of his father, fascinating stories, and uplifting words of chizuk. [Purchase The Rebbe on Beacon Street HERE.]

Inside ArtScroll Season 2 Episode 9: Interview with Bestselling Author Rabbi Yechiel Spero

Bestselling author Rabbi Yechiel Spero has enthralled readers and audiences across the world for two decades. Few people tell a story like Rabbi Spero does, as his style of writing and speaking, flavored with experience, fervor, and humility, make his vignettes a rich resource for all. In his latest offering, Rabbi Spero gives us a new understanding of Yosheiv Beseiser through his fascinating commentary and dozens of inspiring and unusual stories. This beautiful work opens our eyes and we see Hashem’s protective Arms around us, a Father shielding His children — and we are no longer afraid. [Purchase the book here.] In this compelling interview, Rabbi Spero offers his refreshing, candid and invigorating take on writing books, on reaching out to others, on his role as a mechanech, and so much more.

Inside ArtScroll Season 2 Episode 8: Interview with Rabbi Eliezer Krohn

Rabbi Eliezer Krohn’s brand new A Woman’s Guide to Practical Halachah explores many important topics, with a focus on situations that women and girls face in their everyday lives. Topics covered include the halachos of daily living, Shabbos, each of the yamim tovim, preparing and kashering the kitchen for Pesach, the laws of yichud, tevillas keilim and many more. All halachos have been reviewed by Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum. Must a girl hear Kiddush on Shabbos? May she eat before Kiddush? Must a single girl light neiros Chanukah? How about giving mishloach manos? Is a woman or girl obligated to take the lulav and esrog on Succos? How does one light Shabbos candles in a hospital? Which parts of tefillah should women and girls recite? Written with great clarity, with source notes for further study, A Woman’s Guide to Practical Halachah is a book that Jewish women will refer to again and again. In this interview, Rabbi Krohn discusses his new work, while sharing fascinating memories of growing up in the home of his illustrious father, famed author and speaker Rabbi Paysach Krohn.

To purchase the brand new A Woman’s Guide to Practical Halachah, CLICK HERE.

Inside ArtScroll Season 2 Episode 7: Interview with The Living Legend: Rav Yitzchak David Grossman

How did the 21-year-old newlywed from Meah Shearim form an immediate bond with street kids, gangsters, and hardened prisoners? How did he transform a crime-ridden city into a place of hope, learning, and Torah? How did he begin with 18 boys who needed a home and create a vast empire of chesed for tens of thousands of children? How did Rav Yitzchak Dovid Grossman of Migdal HaEmek become a symbol of Jewish unity, revered by religious and non-religious alike, beloved by all of Klal Yisrael? How did he become a Living Legend? In the following fascinating interview, we learn some of what bestselling author Rabbi Nachman Seltzer captures in his brand new book, Living Legend, showing us the mesirus nefesh, compassion, vision and incredible siyata d’Shmaya that have always been a part of Rav Yitzchak Dovid Grossman’s life. And as we are entertained and engaged by these truly remarkable stories, we will also be learning just how he did it — through the incomparable power of absolute ahavas Yisrael.

To purchase the new Living Legend book, CLICK HERE.

Inside ArtScroll Season 2 Episode 6: Interview with Everyone’s Favorite Uncle, Uncle Moishy!

For over 45 years, Uncle Moishy has entertained, inspired, and educated. Moish Tannenbaum takes his job quite seriously, and amazingly, after all these years, he has not lost a step. In honor of the release of a brand new bestselling storybook and music album, Inside ArtScroll sat down with Uncle Moishy, giving us an exclusive inside look behind the Jewish world’s most well-known entertainer, taking a trip down memory lane and learning about what keeps everyone’s favorite uncle going. It’s an uplifting conversation full of insight and inspiration.

 To purchase the new Uncle Moishy book and album, CLICK HERE.

Inside ArtScroll Season 2 Episode 5: An Exclusive Look Inside the Home of Rav Chaim Kanievsky

Rabbi Shai Graucher is a popular author who has brought Rav Chaim Kanievsky’s teachings to the English-speaking public in works such as his five-volume Rav Chaim Kanievsky on Chumash, Rav Chaim Kanievsky on Zemiros, and his brand new release, Rav Chaim Kanievsky on Tehillim. Reb Shai is a member of Rav Chaim’s inner circle and a fixture in his home, serving as a conduit for countless communications with the gadol hador. Almost no one outside of Rav Chaim’s family is as familiar with the goings-on at 23 Rechov Rashbam as Reb Shai is. In honor of the release of his brand new volume, Inside ArtScroll welcomed Reb Shai, who had traveled in to the United States from Israel, to discuss his latest work and share fascinating firsthand stories and accounts about Rav Chaim. This interview is enthralling, captivating and uplifting. Enjoy!

To purchase the new Rav Chaim Kanievsky on Tehillim, CLICK HERE.

Inside ArtScroll Season 2 Episode 4: A Fascinating Look at Producing “The Mishkan”

ArtScroll’s Kleinman Edition Mishkan DVD was a groundbreaking computer program that brought the Mishkan and the Bigdei Kehunah to life. The Kleinman Edition Mishkan sefarim in Hebrew and English, with their high-resolution photorealistic images and clear, detailed explanations, have become the standard in homes, schools, and shuls throughout the world, used by gedolei Yisrael and children, laymen and talmidei chachamim.

This Inside ArtScroll interview gives us a fascinating glimpse of how they were produced.

Chananya Kramer of Kol-Rom Multimedia and ArtScroll’s Rabbi Avrohom Biderman join to give us the exciting behind-the-scenes story and share some interesting factoids.

So join the trip as they take us from Brooklyn to New Orleans, Baltimore to the Ukraine, to create these amazing projects. This interview was conducted in time for the current parshiyos hashovua, which discuss the design and construction of the Mishkan and the Bigdei Kehunah.

To purchase The Mishkan book, CLICK HERE.

Inside ArtScroll Season 2 Episode 3: The Murder of 6,000,000 Through the Eyes of One: Interview with Rabbi Yosef C. Golding

On the eve of Auschwitz Liberation Day (January 27, 1945), this newest episode of Inside ArtScroll (Episode 2:3) features an interview with Rabbi Yosef C. Golding, author of the best-selling Holocaust chronicle, Faith Amid the Flames: The story of Reb Yosef Friedenson and the Kiddush Hashem he witnessed and created. 

In this episode, host Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger speaks to Rabbi Golding about his late father-in-law and the world-wide reaction to this book, as well as the lessons he gained from his decades at Agudath Israel of America, as Executive Director of RCCS, and as COO of the Siyum Hashas. This is an important conversation for now, and for all generations to come.

To purchase Faith Amid the Flames, CLICK HERE.

Inside ArtScroll Season 2 Episode 2: Rav Yaakov Bender’s New Sefer – and His Belief in Every Person’s Greatness

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features an interview with Rav Yaakov Bender, rosh yeshivah of Yeshivah Darchei Torah in Far Rockaway. Rav Bender has just released a new sefer, Rav Yaakov Bender on Chumash, exploring many of the Chumash’s timely and contemporary messages of strength, hope and chizuk. He begins with an insight on the parashah, and then shows us how the eternal and holy words of the Chumash are so relevant to us.

Rav Bender believes in you. And in me. And in every Jew.
He believes in our potential for greatness. In our capacity to face challenges with joy and courage. In our ability to change, to grow, to achieve. And he knows that all these things come from the spirit and power of the Torah and the beis medrash.
In his new sefer, as he discusses in this enlightening interview, he gently helps us find our own strengths and reach ever higher.
And he tells stories. So many stories! Rav Bender shares personal memories of his illustrious family. He brings us rare and often unknown stories about the gedolim we know and revere.
We know Rav Bender as a gifted mechanech, a distinguished talmid chacham, a visionary rosh yeshivah, a man completely devoted to his talmidim. We admire his warmth, his passion, and the love he has for Klal Yisrael. Experience all this – and more! – in this interview, and in the new sefer, which can be purchased HERE.

Inside ArtScroll Season 2 Episode 1: What is the Zera Shimshon Phenomenon All About?

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features an interview with Rabbi Binyomin Paskesz, who has made it his mission to spread the Torah of the author of Zera Shimshon, Rav Shimshon Chaim Nachmani, who made a promise over two hundred years ago to those who learn his sefarim that they will be blessed with "children, praise, health, parnassah wealth, and honor.”

This interview highlights the newly-released ArtScroll Zera Shimshon on Chumash, translated and elucidated, the first of a ten-volume monumental project. Rabbi Paskesz provides a behind-the-scenes look at how the Zera Shimshon phenomenon has taken off, how he got involved, and how the beautiful insights of the Zera Shimshon are changing lives. You can purchase the new elucidated Zera Shimshon HERE.