By COLlive reporter
Chayenu, the weekly learning publication that has English speakers learning Torah around the world, marked its 6th anniversary on the holiday of Shavuos, when the Torah was given.
The inaugural issue was printed for Parshas Nasso 5769 (2009) and has since grown into a global phenomenon, printing more than 5,600 copies weekly and distributed to over 30 countries.
Booklets feature a variety of relevant and inspirational Torah sources including classical commentaries and current original content. Included is texts from Chumash, Tanya, Rambam, Hayom Yom, Chassidus, Halacha, chassidic tales and responsa from the Rebbe.
In honor of the milestone, we present an interview with Tuvia (Thomas) Schottenstein, a businessman in Columbus, Ohio who has been a longtime subscriber to Chayenu.
Tell us about your background and your journey to Yiddishkeit?
Schottenstein: I was born and raised in Columbus Ohio. I did not attend Jewish day-school (it was not established until 1958) and my Chinuch (Jewish education) consisted of private lessons geared towards my Bar-Mitzva preparation. Although my parents, of blessed memory, had a great respect for Yiddishkeit and chinuch (my family were among the founders of the local Jewish day-school), growing up in an out of town community in the 1950s, I did not have many Jewish educational options.
When my father, “Alav haSholom”, passed away, I was attending law school in Cincinnati. At the urging of my already religious older sister, I began learning with Rabbi Zelig Sharfstein “Alav haSholom”, the Chief Rabbi of Cincinnati and the Shliach of the Rebbe.
Rabbi and Rebbetzin Sharfstein and family hosted many students, faculty, and visitors in their home for Shabbosim and Yom-Tovim. They infused all with a love of “Yiddishkeit” and Lubavitch chassidus.
Rabbi Sharfstein introduced me to the mitzva of “shenayim mikra” and the linear Chumash and Rashi that was one of the few English-Hebrew seforim available for self study in the early 1970s. For several years, I used the linear Chumash with Rashi to review the Sidra. Over the years my proficiency in Chumash improved greatly, but I made very little progress in my ability to learn the Hebrew text or or to “teitch” through a Rashi. I noticed that many of my “BT” friends having a similar “coming late to Yiddishkeit” background were also still using the linear Chumash “crutch”. As much as we knew the sidra, we were bound to the English translation.
How has Chayenu changed your experience of Torah study?
Schottenstein: Chayenu was such a welcomed addition to my study regimen. As my family traveled/travels quite often, it necessitated my dedicating one large luggage bag with a Chumash, Tanya, Tehillim, HaYom-Yom, and assorted volumes of commentaries.
At a time when traveling light was at a premium, I was the “butt” of family jokes weighed down with my huge mobile Jewish library collection. Chayenu put everything in one convenient publication, and if one is comfortable with a computer screen, one needn’t even carry that single publication.
Aside from the mobility, what other aspects of Chayenu benefit you?
Schottenstein: In my struggle to master hebrew, I began actively writing in the Chayenu. In addition to notes and questions, I began highlighting text and translation in a system that promoted great strides in mastering vocabulary and grammar. I found this carried over to my Gemara learning.
Whereas previously I relied solely on the Maggid Shiur (teacher) to translate Rashi, I was able to read through many Rashis with minimal help. This is an ongoing project, but after years of frustration, it is encouraging to “see light at the end of the tunnel.” Besides the excellent translation of the Chumash and Rashi, the notes in the Margolin edition give great new perspectives to “mining” the sidra for new insights.
Chayenu also features over a dozen other sections, what else appeals to you?
Schottenstein: In truth, every section is a gem; the Tanya section, Halacha, Ein- Yaakov, the list goes on! Chayenu provides a life-saving service by bringing a plethora of Torah content into a convenient format.
To subscribe, visit chayenu.org/subscribe
yay awesome article and interview! Only the truth :))
BSD
Very nice interview Uncle Tuvia! May you go from strength to strength.
Yasher koach to Chayeinu.
Thank You for helping to print the most informative learning for us today.
CHAYENU has it all.
Now there is no excuse for not doing Chitas and understanding it.
Thank you all who had this incredible vision and put together such an informative booklet
This is so inspiring, it’s great to see a successful business man so connected to his learning
We can all learn a lot from him!
Columbus discovered Chayenu!
Still need to travel with it for Shabbos, as that computer
screen won’t help then.
A tremendously valuable addition to Limmud HaTorah and spreading the word. Well done!
What a holy Yid!! The most giving and loving Jew!! May Hashem bless you with success and continued happiness through your torah learning!!