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Jews that were being destroyed, but the
Torah itself as well. He wanted to ensure
that the Torah would be preserved and
protected, and it was this that drew him
to join Chief Rabbi Herzog in beginning
the project. As well as beginning a
Talmudic Encyclopedia for halacha,
they considered doing the same thing
for aggadah, but it didn’t work as well;
it’s much more complicated to come up
with a comprehensive and organized
list of all topics in aggadah! Chief Rabbi
Herzog appointed Rabbi Shlomo Yosef
Zevin to lead the project, who had the
remarkable ability to write in a way that our project, it makes no difference and deciding what to include and what
is short and clear, a talent no one has which kippah you wear or whether to leave out is still an effort requiring
been able to replicate since. you are Sefardi or Ashkenazi. We have great skill.
I joined the project in 2006 when we only two requirements for our writers: We are also planning to make the whole
were in dire financial straits, so the they must be high-level Torah scholars, encyclopedia available digitally, both on
project went very slowly. Dov Friedberg and they must know how to write. In USB and on our website. The full set will
of Keren Toronto got in touch with both the Religious Zionist and Chareidi be 80 volumes, which is too large for the
us, and he offered his support for the circles, it is easy to find knowledgeable average person to buy.
project, provided that we finish it Talmidei Chachamim, but there is a great
quickly. Since he began his support, shortage of Talmidei Chachamim who Your own personal Torah output is truly
we have been working much faster. can write well! We provide seminars in astounding. You have written over 40
Of the 2,500 total entries, we have writing for some of our new recruits to books, 280 published articles and 4,000
300 left to complete. As we complete improve their skills. We are very proud court briefings as well as your own
about 100 entries a year, we should that our Beit Midrash is a model of encyclopedia, the Encyclopedia of Medical
finish the writing by the end of 2024. coordination between religious Torah Halacha, for which you won the Israel
We have incredible appreciation to Dov scholars of all types, without politics or Prize. What inspires you to keep writing
Friedberg and Keren Toronto, to the hashkafic arguments getting in the way. and teaching more? Do you have any words
Rohr family, Mr. Zvika Ryzman, Israel’s of advice for busy, working people who are
Ministry of Culture and many others for How has technology and the internet trying to increase and strengthen their
their support of the project. At the end changed the Talmudic Encyclopedia Torah study?
of 2021, we held an event to celebrate project? Is it now easier to create
the publication of Volume 48 at the something like this, or has the ability to I think that every busy person has to
President’s residence with President access Torah through Otzar HaChochmah find an area of Torah that interests
Herzog, who feels a great connection or Google made this project superfluous? them. There is something to be said
to the project because of his grandfather for programs like Daf Yomi, which
Chief Rabbi Herzog’s involvement. We It is true that new technologies have provide consistency as well as a social
were also honored to be joined by given us incredible resources, but the outlet. But one who wants to deepen
Rabbi Hershel Schachter from Yeshiva Talmudic Encyclopedia still provides their knowledge, and do something
University. something unique to those learning new must learn something they find
Torah. Let’s say you want to learn the interesting. I was practicing as a doctor,
topics of chazak and migu, and you enter so I focused on medical halachah, which
From its inception, the project was those into Otzar HaChochmah. You will became my passion and core area of
supported and funded by Mizrachi, but receive 20,000 entries, which is too learning. For a businessman, it makes
the editors and writers of the Encyclopedia much information to sift through. You sense to focus on halachic topics such
have represented a broad spectrum also could search on Google and read as ribbit (lending with interest), ona’ah
of rabbis and Jewish scholars: Rashei lots of articles, but you don’t know (monetary deception) and mekach
Yeshivah from Chevron and Merkaz what is reliable and what isn’t. Our u’memkar (business transactions). This
HaRav, rabbanim associated with Chabad researchers and writers have taken all is practically helpful, and if you find a
and professors from Bar-Ilan University. of this information and summarized it, topic you love and really study it deeply,
How have you been able to work on a including only what is most important you are also more likely to produce
Torah project with a team of such varying and most reliable. These resources are new insights and possibly write books
backgrounds and world views?
helpful, as we no longer need to employ and articles that can be meaningful to
One of the beautiful things about the people specifically to find material, others. Don’t try learning everything at
project is that we are an island of sanity because it is all at our fingertips. But once – find a topic you find interesting,
in the middle of the Torah world! For the craft of organizing, summarizing and start from there! n

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