The Artscroll Studios’ Podcast

Inside ArtScroll Episode 18: How Did Two Public School Kids Start the Largest Torah Website?

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features an interview with brothers Shimon Kolyakov and Rubin Kolyakov, founders of TorahAnytime.com, the world’s largest Torah website. In this interview, we are given an inside look at how, in 2006, Shimon and Rubin, both of the Queens, NY Bukharian community, started TorahAnytime in order to give people the ability to experience Torah classes wherever they were, whenever they wanted. Today, TorahAnytime is the largest library of originally recorded Torah videos in the world, with 120,000+ Torah videos from more than 1,000 different speakers. Shimon and Rubin’s history is fascinating, and the details of how these two unlikely Torah ambassadors came to be involved in the largest online Torah dissemination effort are captivating. Sit back and enjoy!

Inside ArtScroll Episode 17: At the Top of Jewish Radio for 40 Years…How Does Nachum Segal Do It?

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features an interview with Jewish radio legend Nachum Segal. Nachum has hosted his Jewish Moments in the Morning - commonly abbreviated as JM in the AM – program since September 1983…and he hasn’t lost a step. Nachum’s presentation of music, news, and community events has accompanied tens of thousands of listeners through their morning routine for decades. When not behind the radio microphone, Nachum can be found serving as master of ceremonies for major concerts and Jewish events. As the Nachum Segal Network continues to make its mark on Jewish life, Inside ArtScroll sat down with the iconic radio personality for a candid, fun, refreshing and entertaining conversation. Enjoy!

Inside ArtScroll Episode 16: Why Did a Lawyer Write an Index on Shas?

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features Daniel Retter, an attorney by profession, who undertook to compile a complete index of the entire Shas. The newly expanded and updated Hebrew HaMafteach® HaChadash, encompassing all of Shas Bavli and Mishnayos in one volume, has received the approbation of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, and other Torah leaders, who recognized its magnificence in enabling anyone – man, woman or child – to locate virtually every topic, saying, anecdote, maxim, parable, significant subject matter, Talmudic and rabbinical law, Biblical exegesis, and Biblical and Talmudic personalities mentioned in Shas Bavli and Mishnayos. HaMafteach® HaChadash includes 78,102 subject matter entries and sub-entries, with 92,400 Talmudic and Mishnayos sources. In this interview, we find out why Mr. Retter, whose vocation involves legalities related to immigration and real estate, made this endeavor – indexing all of Shas – his life’s passion. He shares interesting anecdotes, including Rav Chaim Kanievsky’s fascinating response upon looking something up in HaMafteach®.

Inside ArtScroll Episode 15: The Power of Nishmas with Rabbi Yisroel Besser

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features Rabbi Yisroel Besser, renowned writer and biographer, who has just released a new volume on Nishmas. For the first time ever in English, Rabbi Besser gives us a whole new understanding of the magnificent words of this tefillah, with a sweeping, fresh and contemporary commentary, full of enlightening stories and insights that illustrate the many concepts discussed in Nishmas. In this interview, Rabbi Besser takes us behind the scenes, sharing some fascinating insights shared by Rav Chaim Kanievsky specifically for this new publication. With this book, you can join the “Nishmas army,” those committed to saying Nishmas regularly, a concept suggested by Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky, who’d received the tradition from her revered father-in-law, the Steipler Gaon. Rabbi Besser discusses the secrets of prayer itself hidden within the words of this tefillah, thanksgiving and entreaty merging in every line and phrase.

Inside ArtScroll Episode 14: Great Jewish Journeys with Rabbi Moshe Bamberger

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features Rabbi Moshe Bamberger, a respected scholar and educator, who has enthralled thousands of readers with his books on Great Jewish Letters, Speeches, Photographs, Classics, and Artifacts. Now, in his latest book, just released this week, he uses his rare talent of capturing a person, an era, or a historical event through a brief story or evocative photograph, to bring to life the greatest people and epochs of Jewish history. Great Jewish Journeys - a spiritual travel guide to kivrei tzaddikim and Torah landmarks around the world - includes hundreds of photographs, artifacts, postcards and artwork. It provides fascinating facts and stories about each destination. Rabbi Bamberger discusses his experiences during his formative years and his authorship of bestselling books.

Inside ArtScroll Episode 13: Farbreng and Shmooze with Joey Newcomb

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features something entirely different and unique, as host Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger welcomed singer and composer Joey Newcomb. Far from a conventional interview, Joey treats us to fascinating insights about his life and his musical journey, while often joining with the host in filling the studio with music, singing songs both new and old. Amidst humor and some good laughs, Joey shares his messages of boundless positivity, hope, inspiration, ahavas Hashem and mi ke’amcha Yisroel. You’re in for a treat. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Inside ArtScroll Episode 12: Rabbi Dov Keilson

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features an interview with Rabbi Dov Keilson, author of the new book, Open Your Eyes – Seeing Hashem Everywhere. Rabbi Keilson shows us how to open our eyes to appreciate Hashem's magnificent world and reap the unimaginable benefits of living with bechinah.

For decades, Rabbi Keilson, mashgiach ruchani of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, has studied the concept of bechinah, which leads to authentic gratitude, deep emunah, and the incomparable happiness of living with Hashem’s Presence in our lives on a day-to-day basis. Watch this uplifting conversation – and Open Your Eyes to a whole new way of living.

Inside ArtScroll Episode 11: Naftali Horowitz

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features a special interview with Naftali Horowitz, Managing Director and Financial Advisor with J.P. Morgan and author of the brand new book, You…Revealed. As a managing director of the nation’s largest investment bank, Naftali has learned a lot about the nature of success. He is also a man with a mission: to help Jews in any way he can. And help them he does, guiding tens of thousands of people to a greater understanding of themselves, their challenges, and their hidden potential, both in face-to-face meetings and in his popular lectures. You…Revealed is not a typical self-help book for people looking for financial success - though it will certainly help them achieve that goal. Rather, it draws upon a wide range of Torah sources to help us discover our mission and purpose in life. You…Revealed combines profound Torah wisdom and time-tested mussar techniques with piercing psychological insights and fascinating true-life examples. It shows us how to achieve success while living lives of tranquility and contentment. Learn about this – and more! – in this compelling conversation.

Inside ArtScroll Episode 10: Rabbi Avrohom Biderman

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features an interview with Rabbi Avrohom Biderman, a longtime editor at ArtScroll/Mesorah, author of The Mishkan/Tabernacle, and editor of The Milstein Edition Chumash with the Teachings of the Talmud. In this episode, host Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger speaks to Rabbi Biderman about this groundbreaking Chumash project now complete in five volumes, as well as his memories from his decades at the world’s premier Torah publishing house. This is a conversation you will thoroughly enjoy.

Inside ArtScroll Episode 9: Rabbi Yaakov Bijou

The newest episode of Inside ArtScroll features a special sit-down with Rabbi Yaakov Bijou, along with Mickey, Judah and Morris, three wonderful students from Yeshivat Shaarei Torah of Flatbush. Rabbi Bijou is the author of Let’s Talk Living Emunah, a book designed to get children, parents, and teachers speaking to each other about emunah! Let's Talk Living Emunah contains short and engaging stories, adapted from the bestselling Living Emunah series by Rabbi David Ashear, allowing children and adults to explore the wonders of Hashem's world and His Hashgachah Pratis. In this episode, host Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger, Rabbi Bijou and the three boys conduct a “Let’s Talk Living Emunah” conversation from the pages of this unique book - talking, and living, emunah. Watch – and be engaged.