Rav Chaim Kanievsky remains a beacon of clarity in a stormy world.The inside perspective of Rabbi Shai Graucher, who’s brought Rav Chaim’s wisdom to the English-speaking public
Today, the dynamic and tireless Shai Graucher is the author of 22 seforim, many of which are part of his groundbreaking effort to bring Rav Chaim Kanievsky’s teachings to the English-speaking world. This project, which began only a couple of years ago, has already spawned an English translation of Rav Chaim’s renowned mussar sefer, Orchos Yosher, followed by a five-volume set of Rav Chaim’s chiddushim on the parshah, as well as the latest installment, Rav Chaim Kanievsky on Zemiros. Reb Shai is also enthusiastic about the next volume in this project, due to be released soon, which will feature Rav Chaim’s insights on Tehillim.
The publication of Rav Chaim’s teachings in English came after many years of the Rav adamantly refusing to permit it. “For years, various people, myself included, have been trying to persuade Rav Chaim to allow his writings and chiddushim to be translated,” Reb Shai relates. “A couple of years ago, he finally relented. I’d pointed out that the Orchos Yosher is a highly popular sefer that almost every frum boy receives for his bar mitzvah, yet many American boys can’t understand a word of it.” Rav Chaim finally agreed that the time had come.
As soon as Rav Chaim’s permission was secured, Reb Shai plunged headlong into the endeavor. “I worked practically around the clock, together with the rest of the staff, translating the sefer into English and adding relevant insights and anecdotes. Three months later, the translation of Orchos Yosher was ready for publication. When we brought the sefer to Rav Chaim, he was deeply moved. Even though he doesn’t like foreign languages, he accepted it with great pleasure, clearly understanding its potential for a massive impact.”
When the first volume of Rav Chaim’s chiddushim on Chumash was completed, Reb Shai brought a copy to the Rav once again. In a video taken on that moving occasion, Reb Shai poses a question: Considering that the author of a sefer containing his own chiddusim recites Shehecheyanu when it is published, should he also recite Shehecheyanu on the publication of this sefer, even though the chiddushim are not his own?
Create a free account to keep reading.
