The Chafetz Chaim Giant in Torah and Middos Special Youth Edition By Shulamit Ezrachi Translated by Libby Lazewnik Feldheim Publishers, 2011, 240 pages ISBN: 978-1-59826-663-4

Reviewed by Israel Drazin - September 7, 2011

This book, written for young people, was titled in its original Hebrew version, Zeh HaIsh, "This was the Man," because the book tells about the life of an extraordinary man, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (1839-1933), who made a profound effect on Jewish thinking. It is a welcome book for Jewish youth who should know about him. The word "Middos" in the volume's sub-title means "behavior," focusing on the behavior that Rabbi Kagan sought to change. He is called "The Chafetz Chaim" because this was the name of his most popular book. Readers of this fine book by Shulamit Ezrachi will learn, among many other things, about the two classics that Rabbi Kagan wrote.

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan named his book Chafetz Chaim after verses in Psalms 34:13-14, "Who is the man who desires life (the Hebrew is chafetz chaim), who loves a life of seeing good? Let him guard his tongue from evil." He was 28 years old when he began to write it and finished it when he was 33. He noted that many people observed all or most of what the Torah mandated, but still caused harm to others with their speech. He points out that words can lead to unjustified hatred and bloodshed. He identified 31 biblical commands that slander violated. He also wrote a second volume on the subject called Shemiras Halashon, "Care of speech," in which he describes the sayings of ancient rabbis on the subject of speech. It is said that in his old age, when he needed a hearing aid, he refused to wear one. He saw this inability to hear well as a blessing, for it cut him off from hearing criticisms of other people.

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan issued the first of his six-volume Mishnah Berurah in 1883 and the last in 1907. The work is his commentary on part of the sixteenth century code of Jewish law, called the Shulchan Aruch, by Rabbi Joseph Karo. Rabbi Kagan addressed only those laws involving daily life. He organized his presentation of the laws in a clear and practical manner. While the Shulchan Aruch is composed concisely and is directed toward scholars, Rabbi Kagan's books are more detailed and more popularly oriented. He also addressed situations that were not included in the ancient code. Thus, the series is called Mishnah Berurah, which in essence means "The Clear Law."

• Chofetz Chaim: Loving Kindness, by Rabbi Fishel Schachter and Chana Nestlebaum.
  Daily Lessons in the Power of Giving, based on the Chofetz Chaim's Ahavas Chessed.
  
  
• Holy Woman, by Sara Yoheved Rigler.
  The Road to Greatness of Rebbetzin Chaya Sara Kramer. This book is more than just a biography of this remarkable tzeddekes, it is also a guide that will lead you to greater spiritual heights.