Torah Reading: Balak

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My Vote for Jew of the Year

by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

A rather surprising selection.

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Published: December 30, 2012

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Visitor Comments: 13

(12) Anonymous, January 10, 2013 9:58 AM

Larry David

Larry David

(11) Omri, January 4, 2013 7:54 PM

Excellent!!!!

Excellent nomination! I concur 110%!!!

Lilly Zeman, January 7, 2013 4:18 AM

Im proud if You!

Congratulations.

(10) Rahel Limor, January 4, 2013 3:35 AM

Person of the Year

I agree with your nomination. I hope it includes WOMEN too. If not, I would suggest Nehama Liebowitz, Another group I would nominate is the Breslov publishers who, like Artscroll, are doing amazing kiruv work by way of books.

(9) Anonymous, January 2, 2013 1:23 PM

Artschroll had been around for a while

Artschroll had been around for a while, and say those Rabinical publishers are Jews of the year, would be in my view inaccurate. Perhaps Jew of the decade.

(8) David S. Levine, January 2, 2013 12:50 AM

I've Thought About It

Let's expand Rabbi Solomon's suggestion to all publishers of English language Jewish texts, although Art Scroll is obviously the best. I salute Rabbi Solomon for his, literally, out of the box suggestion.

(7) Melvyn S. Berger, January 1, 2013 5:36 PM

Couldn't agree more.

I study from the Artscroll Talmud at The Young israel of Eltingville with Rabbi Menachem Goldman of The Yeshiva of Staten Islandand have donated each volume I have studied with him to the shul. I have also donated several other of their works to the shul. Being not as fluid in Hebrew as I should be, their bookd are invaluable to me.

(6) Bob Rabinoff, January 1, 2013 5:06 PM

I Agree

Good choice -- and it's not just Bavli, it's Yerushalmi, Midrash Rabbah, Rashi, Ramban, on and on. All more or less a closed book to me without Artscroll. Also agree with Gavriel. The last cycle and a half I learned how to read Talmud from Artscroll. This cycle I'm using Koren: simply putting the vowels in the text and in Rashi is a fantastic idea!

(5) Avraham Mensch, January 1, 2013 4:53 PM

Great nomination!

Artscroll helps me immensely literally every day learn Torah - Mishna, Gemara and Chumash

(4) Jonathan Levy, January 1, 2013 4:26 PM

THANK YOU RABBI SALOMON!

I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, and read your weekly commentary "religiously!" I cannot say that I am a very religious Jew but I do learn so much from your words - which I find down to earth and simple to understand and apply in life. Thank you again and I look forward to every blog that you post. Shalom.

(3) Gabriel, December 31, 2012 2:54 PM

Koren

Artscroll is undoubtedly fantastic but I think Koren deserves a mention as well. Their Gemarrah format, translation, notes & contextual halakha is increadible. After breaking my teeth on Gemarrah for 25 years I've finally found a format that works. BTW I nominate Moshe Feiglin as Jew of the year.

(2) Rosen, December 30, 2012 2:05 PM

Jewish education and marriage

Having a good Jewish education and marrying Jewish are the cornerstones that assure Jewish continuity (for a Jew to intermarry would defeat that purpose in Jewish continuity). The Jewish education I currently receive are from attending Mussar services every couple of weeks or so, as well as having an Aish.com learning partner call me every week or so as well as communicate with him via e-mail on Jewish matters.

(1) Lisa, December 30, 2012 12:33 PM

I take them for granted!!!

Your right! I love Artscroll....I have so many of their books....Hebrew as well as English ....!! They defiantly made a dent in my furthering my Jewish knowledge .....& on a side note they also enhanced my kitchen table with their many fabulous cookbooks... Which enhances my Shabbas ....so it goes full circle.

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About the Author

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

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Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W. is a noted psychotherapist, in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 25 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions. He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

Rabbi Salomon is co-author, with Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of the best selling book "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment," (Mesorah), and is also the co-producer of the highly-acclaimed film, "Inspired."

Click here to order Yaakov Salomon's new book, Salomon Says: 50 Stirring and Stimulating Stories.

In these marvelous stories -- brimming with wit, understanding, a touch of irony and a large helping of authentic Torah perspective -- we will walk with a renowned and experienced psychotherapist and popular author through the pathways of contemporary life: its crowded sidewalks, its pedestrian malls, and the occasional dead end street. This is a walk through our lives that will be fun, entertaining -- and eye-opening. In our full -- sometimes overfull -- and complex lives, Yaakov Salomon is a welcome and much-needed voice of sanity and reason.

His speaking, writing and musical talents have delighted audiences from Harvard to Broadway and everything in between. Rabbi Salomon shares his life with his wife, Temmy, and their unpredictable family.