The translation of the Minchas Chinuch into English by ArtScroll marks one its most sophisticated elucidations undertaken to date

Living Higher

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Tuesday, 23 Elul/ September 16, a fresh release rolled off the production line in ArtScroll/Mesorah’s headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey. The sefer, Minchas Chinuch–Musach HaShabbos is an English edition and elucidation of the Minchas Chinuch on the first 11 of the 39 melachos of Shabbos.

The original Minchas Chinuch was authored by Rav Yosef Babad, a 19th-century Galician posek, as commentary on the Sefer Hachinuch. The sefer follows the Sefer Hachinuch’s listing of the mitzvos, which explores their shoresh (root) and ta’am (reason), halachos, and practical concepts. In elucidating the Chinuch’s work, the Minchas Chinuch uses vast citations of sources, penetratingly deep analysis, and intricate dialectics, making it one of the enduring foundational seforim learned until today.

The translation of the Minchas Chinuch into English by ArtScroll marks one its most sophisticated elucidations undertaken to date. The ambitious project started over two years ago, but then stalled, as it turned out to be an even more formidable challenge than anticipated. Finally, the project was restarted and after many months went to print.

When ArtScroll’s president, Rabbi Gedaliah Zlotowitz, shared with a friend that the long-awaited volume would be in stores on Wednesday, the 24th of Elul, he was in for a beautiful surprise. That very Wednesday would be the 151st yahrtzeit of the Minchas Chinuch!

Ein devarim gedolim b’mikreh. Big things are not coincidental, Chazal tell us. Hashem had arranged that on his 151st yahrtzeit, Rav Yosef Babad’s classic sefer would reemerge in a form that opens his probing questions and dazzling lomdus to a new generation of English-speaking lomdei Torah. A project of grit and perseverance had become a testament to something higher: that Torah finds its own moments, its own milestones, and sometimes, its own Heavenly timing.

Torah Town

A group of balabatim from Houston traveled to the Tristate area to celebrate a siyum on an extra masechta they had learned together during the summer months, determined to infuse the long and hot days with added ruchniyus. Their journey included visits to leading gedolim, among them the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, who presides over the kehillah of Kiryas Yoel. When the Rebbe heard of their undertaking, he was deeply impressed. “Torah is the only way to anchor a city,” he told them, the same principle that turned a patch of upstate farmland into a thriving modern day chassidishe shtetl, also shaping a community of bnei Torah deep in the heart of Texas.

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In Mishpacha’s Issue 1074, we featured a story about Chicago businessman Shmuel Mashiach. While waiting on line at Ben Gurion Airport, he spontaneously offered a group of unaffiliated teens from NCSY’s TJJ trip $1,000 if they would commit to keeping four consecutive Shabbosos. He conditioned his offer on the boys going the full mile, spending Shabbos in a frum home and a visit to shul. At the time, he explained his offer with a heartfelt message: “Shabbos is a gift; keep unwrapping it,” he told the boys.

Four weeks later, a solid 24 teens earned the reward, cashing in on some hefty pocket change, but more importantly, having  discovered the sweetness of Shabbos.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1081)