0:00 – Introduction 4:26 – Ta'ama D'Kra 10:13 – Feedback on the sefer 13:27 – Deeper dive into the sefer 18:18 – The Steipler on Chumash 19:24 – Chumash and the Haskalah 21:02 – R’ Shlomo Kluger learning Tanach 21:35 – R’ Yaakov Kamenetsky 23:43 – Simchas HaNefesh on Tanach 24:20 – Pri Megadim 25:05 – Menucha Kedosha on Tanach 27:54 – Chafetz Chaim & Chumash 28:39 – The Gra and Chumash in his Beis Medrash 33:00 – Targumim 34:49 – Chasser / Malei and Mesorah
In this episode, I share a hesped for R’ Dovid Kamenetsky זצ״ל, a talmid chacham & prolific author. I reflect on my personal connection with him and the lessons we can learn from his life—especially his generosity and devotion to helping others. I also trace his legacy, highlighting his many significant works on the Vilna Gaon and his Beis Medrash, as well as his more recent focus on the life of R’ Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, including his two monumental volumes on the subject. His passing is a profound loss for the Torah world, but his seforim & articles ensure that his voice and teachings will continue to inspire.
We’re sharing this conversation now after finishing Pirkei Avos with Mishnah Yomi, and with summer being the time many people focus on learning Avos. Dr. Steven Weiss, as you'll hear, has an incredible passion for all things Avos. He has collected thousands of seforim and meticulously documented nearly every work on the subject up until 2015. His vast knowledge is a treasure for anyone interested in Pirkei Avos. You can purchase a copy of his book or ask questions by reaching out to Dr. Weiss directly at avotmaven@gmail.com. Introduction 1:55 - Pirkei Avos verse, Maseches Avos 2:41 - Background: How did you get into Maseches Avos? 5:35 - How many works have you documented in your book? 6:58 - Nachlas Tzvi 9:02 - Was there a time that there was an "explosion" of works on Avos? 12:28 - When did it become a custom to learn it in the Summer? 15:50 - Any Gedolim famous only for their works on Avos? (Medrash Shmuel) 16:45 - Lechem Yehudah 24:21 - Burning of the Shas and Maharam MePaduah 27:53 - Controversial Seforim on Avos? 28:10 - Rashi on Avos—who is it? 30:36 - Yaein Levonon (R' Naftali Wessley) 39:20 - Five interesting works on Avos 45:03 - Judaica items related to Avos 50:12 - Some translations of Avos
0:00 Introduction – Recap 3:23 Maharil 5:00 Tashbetz Koton 9:52 Hanhagos of the Arizal 11:34 Context of this Genre of Seforim 14:46 Magen Avraham and Arizal 16:30 Reliability 19:26 Shimush Talmidei Chachomim & Reading Gedolim Books 20:23 Toldos Adam 22:01 Chafetz Chaim’s Sons’ Work 24:00 Importance of Live Shimush Talmidei Chachomim 31:20 R’ Meir Greinman’s Work 32:55 R’ Chaim Kanievsky’s Comments on this Work 34:02 R’ Kalman Kahana 36:00 Samples from Kuntres HaZichronos
0:00 General Introduction 1:40 – Introduction: Oral Traditions and Pesakim of the Chazon Ish 6:52 – Hanhagos of the Chazon Ish (based on his sister, R’ Chaim’s mother) 7:55 – Minhagim of the Lederman Shul 10:41 – R’ Chaim’s Notes on Maaseh Ish volumes 13:10 – R’ Chaim’s Notes on Rav Steinman material 19:45 – Notes from Rav Bramberger and R’ Chaim 21:58 – Rav Tieger’s Derech Ish 22:56 – Introduction to Kuntres HaZichronos 33:27 – R’ Zorach Schapira 36:00 – R’ Chaim’s style in Kuntres HaZichronos 38:09 – Similarities between this work and the Maharil0:00 General Introduction 1:40 – Introduction: Oral Traditions and Pesakim of the Chazon Ish 6:52 – Hanhagos of the Chazon Ish (based on his sister, R’ Chaim’s mother) 7:55 – Minhagim of the Lederman Shul 10:41 – R’ Chaim’s Notes on Maaseh Ish volumes 13:10 – R’ Chaim’s Notes on Rav Steinman material 19:45 – Notes from Rav Bramberger and R’ Chaim 21:58 – Rav Tieger’s Derech Ish 22:56 – Introduction to Kuntres HaZichronos 33:27 – R’ Zorach Schapira 36:00 – R’ Chaim’s style in Kuntres HaZichronos 38:09 – Similarities between this work and the Maharil
0:00 Introduction 1:20 About the sefer & why he wrote it 11:03 Sources 12:00 Bitul Torah 15:40 Zerizus 18:06 Mikvah 21:20 Overspending 23:20 Beards & shaving 32:10 Success comes from learning a lot 33:28 R’ Yehoshua Heller 35:30 Chinuch: when & how 38:05 Hitting children 44:20 Tefilah 45:30 Mitzvos b’simcha & doing more 46:40 Kavod of a talmid chacham 48:57 Ruach Hakodesh
1:53 – Intro 3:40 – Key sources 5:40 – Yichus 6:56 – Connection to R' Meshulam Igra 9:27 – Rav of Lissa 13:53 – Financial status 15:30 – Ties to Gedolim 18:40 – Chayei Adam on him 20:24 – Why he became so popular 23:40 – Nesivos & relationship with Ketzos 31:23 – Chavas Daas on Yoreh Deah 34:10 – Mekor Chaim 36:16 – Beis Yaakov on Kesubos 36:56 – Toras Gittin 37:44 – Derech Chaim 38:28 – Ethical will & practical halacha 43:18 – R’ Akiva Eiger & Derech Chaim 52:00 – Commentary on Megillos 52:24 – Haggadah Shel Pesach 53:15 – Other works 53:52 – Teshuvos 55:24 – More on ethical will
0:00 Introduction 1:04 – Censorship in Margoliyos HaYam 3:15 – Intro: Visit to the Rambam Library 5:12 – Early Life 6:47 – His Seforim Store & Publishing Torah Works 9:17 – Prolific Writer of Torah 10:03 – Relationship with R' Meir Arik 12:10 – Beginning of His Writing Career 15:02 – Earliest Published Work on the Maharsha 16:56 – Work on the Or HaChaim HaKadosh 19:04 – Sefer Chassidim & R' Yehudah HaChassid 20:17 – Shut Min HaShamayim 21:20 – Nefesh Chayah 22:45 – Other Works on the Rishonim 23:27 – Works on Shas 23:37 – Shem Olam 25:00 – His Work Related to the Zohar 27:00 – Works on History & Yesod HaMishnah Ve’Aruchah 29:14 – Work on Lemberg 30:18 – Margoliyos HaYam 31:09 – Librarian 32:08 – His Work on Kabbalah & the Zohar 33:04 – Meeting Rav Kook 36:05 – Work Related to Names
1:24 introduction 2:04 Beraisa D’Meleches HaMishkan and its printing history 5:40 R’ Emanuel Chai Riki 7:08 R’ Avrohom Ben hagra 8:00 R’ Efraim Zalman Margolis 9:11 Malbim 9:45 R’ Chaim Kanievsky on this work 11:32 R’ Chaim’s Introduction 21:59 Menorah Branches 26:30 Learning with visual aid 33:25 R’ Chaim and Teshuvos on Mishkan 35:30 Aron 37:12 R’ Azariah Min HaAdomim 38:29 Shiltei Geborim 40:24 R’ Shachar's Bigdei Kehuna 42:30 Avnei HaChoshen 43:30 Additional works
1:03 Origin For Daily Recital 2:25 Yerushalmi 3:36 Lost Yerushalmis 4:35 Saying it on Shabbos 6:21 Oruch HaShulchan 7:30 Seder Hayom 9:30 Beracha on Manna 10:00 Nishmas Adam 12:12 Bnei Yissaschar and Ramah M'Pano 16:55 Shut Torah Leshmah and Back Story 19:30 The Zohar and the Beracha 21:08 Beis Yitzchok Beracha on Miracles 21:50 Radak and Tosefta 22:20 What is this Tosefta? 23:20 New Sefer Chasidim, Back Story & R' Yosef Zecharia Stern Role 27:14 Judah Wistinetzky; Who Is He? 30:19 Literature on Manna
0:00 Introduction 1:50 Shach 6:20 Shach Manuscript Discovery 10:18 Knesses HaGedolah 12:15 Machane Efraim 15:45 Tumim 21:48 Ketzos HaChoshen 22:59 Nesivos HaMishpat 26:00 Ketzos & Olam HaYeshivos 28:07 Letters of R' Tzvi Pesach Frank To Son 36:54 Bi'ur HaGra 37:52 Oruch HaShulchan To listen to Musings of a Book Collector: https://alldaf.org/series/9440 Listen to full episodes of Musings of a Book Collector: https://eliezerbrodt.com/