Inspirational

“Rabbi Akiva taught: ‘You shall love your fellow like yourself’ is the fundamental rule of the Torah."       

 Above the Angels provides a clear, in-depth understanding of the fundamental concepts of bein adam lechaveiro: good middos, chesed, and derech eretz. Based on the teachings of Chazal, and filled with many stories and practical advice, it guides one to become caring, giving, and sensitive to others. It elevates the reader to emulate Hashem’s character traits and explains why and how learning Torah enables one to do so. It empowers the reader with the ability to confidently answer yes to the Heavenly tribunal’s daunting question: “Did you treat every person as a king over yourself?” Above the Angels makes the reader aware of his own infinite greatness and his own true worth as a person created in the image of Hashem, building the awareness that man is literally above the angels.

“The author has managed to make lofty and inspirational ideas accessible to all
readers, and to write them in a way that arouses the reader to aspire to achieve such
lofty ideals.”
—Rav Shmuel Baron, Rosh Yeshivas Imrei Binah

“The author shows the path for the reader to achieve greatness in middos,
performance of chesed, and consideration of others with all of his heart and soul.”
—Rav Pinchos Green, Mashgiach of Yeshivas Kamenitz Learn More

No one is immune from difficulties and challenges.

In response to the devastating news of his two-year-old daughter’s leukemia, her years of illness, and her subsequent passing at the age of fourteen, Rabbi Asher Resnick has devoted decades of study to comprehend and share the Jewish perspective on suffering and Divine Justice.

Pain Is a Reality, Suffering Is a Choice provides a deeply personal and profoundly human Torah perspective on some of life's most basic and essential questions. Drawing on his own personal experience and a wealth of classical Jewish sources, the author sheds light on the Torah view of many fundamental topics:

Painful emotions and anger at God

Maintaining a connection with the deceased

The World to Come and reincarnation

Grappling with difficult tests in life

Why painful things happen to good people

“A most remarkable work that only a most sensitive talmid chacham who himself lived through that harrowing pain can produce… The reader will gain great insight and knowledge from studying the deep and powerful topics that he presents — so thoroughly, clearly, and poignantly.”

Rav Ahron Lopiansky

Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva of Greater Washington

Rabbi Asher Resnick was born and raised in LA, and graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology. He received rabbinic ordination from Aish HaTorah and the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He served as a senior lecturer at the Institute of Jewish Legal and Medical Ethics in San Francisco and at the Aish HaTorah Branch in New York.

He has been teaching the foundations of Judaism for over thirty years at Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem, as well as in numerous other yeshivas, seminaries, and kiruv training programs. As a close student of Rav Noach Weinberg, zt”l, he developed a special expertise in addressing fundamental issues in Judaism, as well as in bringing classical texts to life.

As a bereaved parent, Rabbi Resnick’s extensive writings on loss, difficulties, and trauma provide a sensitive Jewish perspective on coping with these fundamental life issues.

His website, JewishClarity.com, brings his expertise from over thirty-five years of teaching and writing to the wider Jewish world. It contains proofs of God and Torah, core philosophical and theological issues, accessible and meaningful messages for all of the Jewish holidays, teaching materials for the Rambam, as well as classical Jewish sources addressing painful difficulties and challenges in life. Learn More

Rav Shlomo Hoffman was a genius in middos and Torah knowledge. It is rare to find a person who brings together so many different qualities of greatness, harnessing them together in the quest for perfection.

Foremost among his many special qualities was his dedication to studying from, absorbing and passing on the wisdom that he received from the many Torah giants from whom he studied. He helped all those who sought his guidance, with no thought of personal gain in terms of money or honor.

Building the Human Spirit is a wide-ranging compilation of Rav Hoffman’s teachings, which have become ever more popular with the passage of time. Section One details the stages of a child’s development from birth until young adulthood, through the eyes of Chazal. Section Two explains the foundations of chinuch and emotional growth based on the insights Rav Shlomo learned from Rav Isaac Sher, son-in-law of the Alter of Slobodka. Section Three is a collection of enlightening stories of Rav Hoffman’s experiences with Gedolei Yisrael. The book concludes with a short biography, gleaned from Rav Shlomo’s own reminiscences.

Here is a treasure trove of unique Torah wisdom, from a hidden giant who was crowned with the title, “The Listener.” Now you too can become a talmid, and learn to grow emotionally and spiritually as never before. Learn More

Learning Torah is not just about amassing facts. It is not merely knowing what is right and wrong. Torah is about discovering Hashem. It is about generating connection. It means bringing Hashem into your life and taking Him with you wherever you go.

In a clear and lucid fashion, Mazal Tov, My Torah provides an in-depth understanding of why we learn Hashem’s Torah. It leads the reader to an appreciation of the beauty of Torah and empowers him to learn with a feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment. It gives him a taste of the exquisite simchah described by the Ohr Hachaim: “If people would sense the sweetness and pleasure of Torah learning, they would pursue it as if they were madmen, and an entire world filled with silver and gold would be worth nothing to them, since Torah contains all the good that exists in the world. Learn More

Rav Avigdor Miller's derech on discovering and learning from Hashem's wondrous creations

Get ready for an eye-opening journey ...

Deepen your emunah in Hashem by learning to appreciate His infinite wisdom and kindness. Join Yaakov Astor as he explores the endless wonders of Hashem’s creations, from the incredibly small to the amazingly vast. Learn More

I found this work fascinating, interesting, enjoyable, informative, motivating, and inspiring.

Rabbi Zev Leff

Sarah Pachter… is able to help individuals navigate their path in life in a healthy and balanced way according to Torah values.

Rabbi Baruch Simon

Is It Ever Enough? is an extraordinary work of surpassing enthusiasm and intelligence — infused with psychological sensitivity and personal warmth — by one of the most aspiring writers of our time…. Do yourself a favor and read this enchanting book.

Rabbi Hanoch Teller

Sarah Pachter is a person who “walks her talk.” Her sincerity and credible experience combine with a readable style to make a book that can potentially guide you on your journey toward becoming the person you want to be.

Rebbetzin Tziporah (Heller) Gottlieb Learn More

A steady stream of cars pulled up one after the other at the entrance to the yeshivah building. And in each car, a bachur's father or mother-or both-waited until a smiling bachur approached and received a nicely wrapped package.

Meir's eyes were drawn to the open gate like a magnet. Another package from home. Another sumptuous cheesecake ...

Suddenly he saw it. A silver Mitsubishi Lancer. Abba's car.

He flew breathlessly down the stairs and raced toward the car-but then he saw that a different bachur had preceded him. A bachur he didn't even know by name. The bachur leaned through the open window and smiled at the driver, a man with a long black beard who looked nothing like Abba. A minute later, he sauntered inside holding a beautifully decorated cheese log.

Meir turned on his heel and trudged back to his room, still trying to catch his breath. How had he been taken by such a foolish fantasy? For six months already, Abba's been in a place where he can’t drive or buy cheesecake. It's been six months since Meir had become an orphan.

The beis midrash, he knew, was now packed with bachurim with glowing faces. They'd all received dairy delicacies in honor of Shavuos. They all had someone at home who'd thought of them-who had either baked or purchased a cheesecake especially for them, and then taken the trouble to deliver it to yeshivah. Someone cared about them. And him?

He was an orphan.

The fifteen protagonists in this book are fifteen incredible people who internalized that no matter the situation HaKadosh Baruch Hu places us in, we are obligated to bow our heads and accept it: This is the situation. The Borei Olam has placed me here. These are the waves of my personal sea.

Then we can pick up our heads and look around for what it is we can do.

Proactive thinking, taking personal responsibility, the awareness that one always has free will-help one make decisions with his mind rather than his emotions. They remind him that every lemon can be made into lemonade, all change can be a springboard for growth and renewal. Most of all, they help one remain levelheaded enough to do whatever he can within the parameters of his current circumstances.

In this book, you will find your story, the one that speaks to you, the one that touches you, the one that will help you make the right choices in life.

The bestselling The Impact of As Long as I Live garnered passionate praise and enthusiastic responses from all over the world, indicating that it is not just another book. It is a life story that held a mirror into the life of every Jew, guiding and inspiring him to utilize his kochos and abilities.

“This book is life-changing. After reading this book, and then reading it again-my life changed completely. "

Moshe Ezrachi, Ashdod

“No sefer on chassidus or mussar se­fer inspired me the way this book did.”

Yisrael Hershkowitz, Bnei Brak

The engrossing plots are true stories brimming with life lessons. They are presented in rich, vivid language, like medicine concealed in a sweet coating­to entice the patient to ingest it and be healed.

Shula Yakovson, Yerushalayim

“An incredible reading experience. Truly pleasurable; the content is both enlightening and inspiring.”

T. Weiss, Modiin Illit

“What I learned from this book is that no matter the situation, there is always something beneficial a person can do. This book is a course in life-skills. The range of creative solutions found to help deal with various life challenges is astounding.”

Shmuel Eisenbach, Yerushalayim

Rav Aharon Margalit is back with another volume in his "The Impact of As Long as I Live" series, detailing the life's work of heroes who faced difficult challenges and had the wisdom to choose life. Learn More

Serenity. Hope. Strength: The world of Living Emunah.

Why have literally hundreds of thousands of people made the Living Emunah series an important -- and beloved -- part of their lives? Is it the serenity that they feel, when they read stories of Hashem’s infinite chesed to His People? Is it the hope that envelops them, when they learn to truly feel that Hashem is watching over them? Is it the strength it gives them to face their challenges with patience and faith?

Yes, the extraordinary success of the Living Emunah series -- with more than 300,000 copies in print -- is due to all those reasons , and more. For its many readers have discovered that when they “live emunah” their lives are enriched, their relationships are improved, and, most important, their connection to Hashem is incomparably strengthened.

And there are the stories. So many stories. The businessman who went from needing charity funds for his family’s food to giving out thousands of dollars to the poor -- in less than a year. The rabbi who went to the “wrong” hospital - at exactly the “right time.” The family that chose the path of emunah and gratitude, and saw what could have been a disastrous weekend turn into a wonderful and memorable vacation.

When we “live emunah,” problems turn into challenges, challenges morph into opportunities, and opportunities become the foundation for lives of joy and tranquility. Learn More

Special voices, special stories, in a very special book.

Everyone who knew him was mesmerized by Saadya Ehrenpreis a”h, the young man with Down Syndrome who confounded all the experts. He would be totally dependent for every basic need, the doctors predicted; he had little or no chance of ever communicating. Yet Saadya developed into a man who could read in Hebrew and English, traveled by himself to learn in Eretz Yisrael, and attended the Makor College Experience program at Yeshiva University.

After his untimely passing from COVID-19, his mother, Ahava Ehrenpreis, a talented author, chose to memorialize his life through filling a pressing need — providing a book that would serve as both a resource and an inspiration to parents, relatives, friends, and professionals dealing with children and adults who have special needs. More: To compile a book for everyone who believes that every person is special and should be treated with understanding, compassion, acceptance, and respect.

More Than Special is that book — a book for those who want to deepen and expand their own ahavas Yisrael. And doesn’t that mean all of us?

More Than Special includes:

The voices — authentic, honest, and heroic — of parents who give us a greater understanding of the challenges — and miracles — of raising special needs children

Advice from social workers and experts in the field of special education on how to create opportunities for individuals with special needs

Guidance in legal and financial safeguards for special-needs children and adults

Rabbanim discussing halachic and hashkafic issues of the special-needs population, including poignant and heartfelt words of chizuk from Rav Moshe Shapiro and the Pnei Menachem Learn More