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| Rabbis Scherman and Zlotowitz, ZL |
First, let me state the obvious. ArtScroll is by far the
largest and most successful publishing house in the Orthodox Jewish world.
Probably in the history of Jewish publishing. There is probably not a single
Orthodox shul in America that does not have, as its standard Siddur, the Hebrew
ArtScroll Siddur. This was preceded by their Hebrew-English Siddur, which
offers a fine translation of the Hebrew text. Most shuls have both versions.
But clearly, its magnum opus is the ArtScroll Shas (Talmud
Bavli). It is a translation and, more importantly, an elucidation of the
complex subjects discussed therein. It includes copious footnotes to foster a
clearer understanding of these difficult subjects.
What they have succeeded in doing is opening up the world of
Torah study and the development of Halacha as it observed today. A study that
was once largely limited to Torah scholars who spent years developing the
ability to understand the Gemara and the commentaries that explain it. Now it
has become available to the entire English-speaking world. They have enabled
countless numbers of people to study texts they would never previously have
been able to understand.
That accomplishment has created a climate in which more
people are currently studying Daf Yomi—a Blatt (folio) of Gemara per day than
at any time in history. People from all walks of life, from the most Charedi to
most modern Orthodox to non-observant Jews. Including women, and, in some
cases, even non-Jews. All of whom can now participate in this remarkable
undertaking and understand the Talmud in far greater number and far greater
depth than would otherwise have been possible - except for the few Talmidei
Chachamim who have mastered it in the original Aramaic.
All of this can be credited in large measure to ArtScroll’s
founders, Rabbis Nosson Scherman and Meir Zlotowitz of blessed memory, who
turned a tiny project of publishing a new translation of Megillas
Esther with an artistic cover into what it is today. A near-miraculous
accomplishment. There are no words that can adequately express the contribution
these two giants of Jewish publishing have made to the widespread study of
Torah.
As if publishing the ArtScroll Shas in English, French, and
Hebrew weren’t enough, they have published an enormous number of other classic
Hebrew books with English translations. It started with the Chumash, which is
now almost as ubiquitous in shuls as their siddur. There is also an excellent
five-volume set of Chumash and Rashi, both translated and elucidated into
English by my friend and fellow HTC alumnus, Mitch (Yisrael) Herzog. That, too,
can be found in many synagogues. There are also many other volumes of this
sort, all widely available in shul libraries throughout the country.
Then there are the Hashkafa books and biographies. That is
where the “hiccup” lies…
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