"Therefore my heart is gladdened," says Dovid Hamelech in
Tehillim (16:9). That is how I have felt since the
publication of Posei'ach Shaar on maseches Brochos,
by my colleague and friend in the holy task of editing
the newspaper Rabbi Nosson Ze'ev Grossman. [Rabbi Roth and
Rabbi Grossman are editors of the Hebrew edition of Yated
Ne'eman.] Both a glad heart and a feeling of spiritual
elevation are shared by the newspaper and its readers when
the editor of the periodical for bnei Torah, a loyal
servant to maranan verabonon, reveals himself to be a
talmid chochom whose ability to understand and
scrutinize Torah is equal to his ability to faithfully voice
the daas Torah according to gedolei Yisroel ztvk"l
vylct"a for close to twenty years.
To those who have read Rabbi Grossman's articles it will come
as no surprise to find that he is a talmid chochom who
can probe the depths of a sugya. His hashkofoh
articles, which clarify in depth various current issues,
reveal his comprehensive knowledge and ability to articulate
every issue of emunoh and daas Torah, as well
as his unique analytical ability. He who can probe the depths
of a sugya in halochoh can probe the depths of a
sugya in hashkofoh. Of course the converse also
applies: he who has only a shallow grasp of the sugyos
in Shas cannot be expected to suddenly reveal clear
understanding in hashkofoh matters.
From the day he was summoned by Maran HaRav Shach,
ztvk"l to undertake the holy task of editing the
newspaper for the Torah world he has dedicated his unique
talents to the work of imparting the view, daas Torah,
of maranan verabonon gedolei Yisroel. But nevertheless
he did not neglect Torah study.
HaRav Shach relied on him to convey all hashkofoh
matters and saw him as a man who understood the foundations
of hashkofoh. I can attest that on numerous occasions
when we sat with Rabbenu Hagodol discussing topical issues he
enjoyed the remarks made by my colleague and friend Rabbi
Grossman, referring to him as "a reviver of the spirit."
Back in the days when he was a talmid at Yeshivas
Grodno he was cherished by the roshei yeshiva (whose
approbations are printed in the book) due to his
yegi'o in Torah and his depth of understanding. As an
avreich he continued to display extensive knowledge
and depth of understanding. Though he is heavily involved in
producing the newspaper he makes Torah study his main
priority—aseih Torasecho keva umelachtecho
ara'i.
In many of his newspaper articles Rabbi Grossman has written
about the obligation to toil in Torah and the special status
of bnei Torah which requires them to set aside worldly
vanities to devote themselves to yegi'as haTorah
alone. Now he has become a great source of pride to Yated
Ne'eman by showing himself a practitioner of this
approach. He was called upon to accept the challenging
responsibility of disseminating the daas Torah of our
rabbonim, yet he continued to cleave to his in-depth Torah
study and now the fruits of those labors have appeared in the
form of a book of prodigious quality and quantity on
Maseches Brochos.
He leaves no topic, large or small, untouched in this 700-
page book, which includes a comprehensive explanation of the
sugyos and topics covered in the maseches,
following the order of the gemora. The book clarifies
issues in the Rishonim who related the shaklo vetario
of the gemora, noting the kushyos and comments
of the Acharonim as well as including investigations of
halochos and the respective rationales behind them, shedding
further light on the sugyos.
The reader gains an overall picture of the give and take in
the gemora as well as approaches to interpreting the
topics discussed, with analysis of the Rishonim and the
various approaches. The author adds scholarly remarks and
proposed rationales, stressing in his introduction that his
remarks are in no way conclusive but mere suggestions to
provide food for thought to allow readers to benefit from the
toil invested. Thus the book should be seen as a pesichas
shaar ("an opening of the gate") to facilitate further
exploration.
Although it follows the order of the gemora, because
some sugyos are discussed at length the book includes
a listing of those topics. Among others it contains
investigations of the times for Krias Shema, the
takonoh of Birchos Krias Shema, the obligation
to recite brochos on food and scents and the mitzvah
of educating children to perform mitzvos and many more.
The book's scholarly approach is apparent in the fact each
sugya is analyzed using the analytical tools we
received in yeshiva. Even sections on aggadeto are
given a new look with original elucidations, such as an
investigation of the requirement to greet one's fellow man
before he greets you. Even the famous gemora about R'
Yishmoel Ben Elisho entering the Holy of the Holies is given
a new thrust with a inference based on a close reading of
Rashi and based on a sevorah by R' Akiva Eiger
regarding shome'a ke'oneh.
Since this maseches deals with many topics that have
practical applications, the author provides a summary of the
dinim in the Shulchan Oruch Orach Chaim and
commentaries, particularly the conclusions brought in the
Mishnoh Berurah. For Daf Yomi participants this is
very helpful for it allows them, in accordance with recent
declarations by maranan verabonon including HaRav
Eliashiv, to devote a bit of time to learning halochoh as
well — though the author clearly states his remarks
were not written as practical halachic conclusions and that
all matters should be checked.
Prior to publication the author had the book carefully
reviewed by HaRav Chaim Meir Shteinberg, rosh kollel of
Kollel Ohr Haner and author of Mishnas Chaim. His
comments appear at the end of the book. On several points he
notes discussing his ideas with HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and
mentions his response.
The finely crafted book features a letter written at the
behest of Maran HaRav Eliashiv by his son-in-law, HaRav
Ezriel Auerbach, a member of the Shearis Yisroel Beis Din and
the rov of Kehillas Chanichei Hayeshivos in Bayit Vegan. He
writes, "Your book on maseches Brochos was raised onto
the table of my teacher and father-in-law Maran Ateres
Rosheinu HaGaon HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, shlita,
who expressed his pleasure that the man appointed by Rosh Kol
Bnei Hagoloh Maran HaRav Elozor Menachem Shach ztvk"l
as editor of Yated Ne'eman to faithfully convey and
articulate daas Torah and the Torah worldview to all
segments of the public, makes his Torah learning take
precedence over his trade to such an extent that he had the
merit to publish a book on maseches Brochos, which
dazzles all who see it.
"And Maran, my teacher and father-in-law, extended his
blessings that be'ezras Hashem Yisborach you merit
seeing blessings in your labor and much nachas from
your offspring and that you may remain in the tents of Torah
as you yearn, and that the lofty task at which you are
engaged be blessed."
HaRav Shmuel Auerbach notes how impressed he was by the work,
writing, "In leafing through a few of your remarks I saw that
[the book] really does `open a gate' and lend a hand in
probing the depth of each and every sugya, clarifying
and elucidating it based on the words of Rabboseinu the
Rishonim and the Acharonim, zechusom yogen oleinu,
upon whose utterances we live and whose water we imbibe. . .
. Undoubtedly this work will be of great benefit to those
studying [maseches Brochos] . . . "
"It was with much gratification and simchas Torah,"
reads the approbation by HaRav Boruch Shmuel HaKohen Deutsch,
who also read parts of the book, "that I looked over the
proofs of the book by my friend, the outstanding and renowned
rav, R' Nosson Ze'ev Grossman, on all of maseches Brochos,
which he wrote with great intelligence and skill. It
combines comments on all of the sugyos in the
maseches as well as elucidations and notes regarding
the approaches of the Rishonim and the Acharonim and the
poskim. In some places he is brief and in other places
he clarifies the sugyos at length with valuable
chiddushim and summaries of the various approaches to
all of the topics addressed in the maseches.
"I leafed through the book and was pleased to see that my
outstanding friend, who is well-known in the yeshiva world
for his articles on hashkofoh and the fundamentals of
daas Torah at the newspaper Yated Ne'eman (and
I know how Maran HaRav Elozor Menachem Shach zecher
tzaddik lechayei Ha'olam Habo trusted him, saying he
understands the roots of the matters) has undertaken to write
a book on maseches Brochos which is certain to be of
benefit to the lomdim . . . It also contains
delightful chiddushim written with consummate skill
and indeed I know the rov who authored the book is a man of
unique ability and skilled as a clear writer."
The author also received approbations from the rabbonim of
Yeshivas Grodno, HaRav Tzvi Karlenshtein, HaRav Tzvi Drabkin
and HaRav Yitzchok Hocker, who note his clear and deep
understanding were already evident in his youth. They, too,
extend their blessings that he merit publishing many more of
his chiddushim.
Readers should not overlook the special introduction in which
the author addresses the issue of aseih malachtecho ara'i
veTorascho keva. He writes at length about those whose
financial needs force them to relinquish a portion of their
times of Torah study to the point where some hold they are
nearly exempt from toiling in Torah. Some of them are
involved in tzorchei tzibbur and find innumerable
heteirim not to use every free moment for Torah study
since they dedicate themselves to public service. The worst
among them are those who leave behind Torah study and not
only do they not see themselves as "dust on the feet" of
those who do toil in Torah, but they even cast scorn and
disgrace upon them. The author addresses each of these types
in the introduction, putting forth the proper
hashkofoh on the matter.
It is a day for spiritual elevation for a Torah newspaper
when its editor publishes his book, which is sure to be
warmly received among amolei Torah.
This is an excellent book for those studying the
maseches in iyun, Daf Yomi maggidei
shiurim who can find in it much of value, and those
lomdim who are not satisfied with a superficial study
of the daf, but rather seek to broaden their knowledge
and understanding.
I can only extend my blessings to my friend, Rabbi Nosson
Ze'ev Grossman, that Hashem Yisborach give him the
merit to continue studying Torah as he so yearns and to
publish more and more of the fruits of his labors, along with
the opportunity to continue the holy task of zikui
horabbim with health and inspiration.
