Rabbi Meni Wolf with Rabbi Erez Sela on a tour of The a shop in Kfar Chabad treasure buried in your home Over 90,000 holy books in one program, an easy-to-use and efficient search engine, quality learning, and tens of thousands of Jews around the globe who enjoy a treasure full of wisdom. yosef levin

ver 90,000 holy Jewish home.” using this program doesn’t really ask the feet to act like the ergy and enthusiasm. The Reb- found on hey Teves, the day we books in one pro- This is the story Rabbi Erez know what it means to learn To- head…this program is the head be influenced our generation, he won the the book suit, and in gram, an easy-to- Sela, the founder and owner of rah for its own sake.” which comes to enliven the feet came down from his high level honor of which we were urged use and efficient Otzar HaHochma, chose to be- During our conversation with in preparation for the coming of with a great love of Israel, for the to buy books, separate from search engine, gin our conversation with. him, we asked how Otzar Ha- Moshiach.” sake of his sheep, and dedicated the Rebbe’s request to have a O quality learning, During these days of cele- Hochma helps him with his im- How does this program ac- time, sitting and organizing the ‘house full of books.’ This was and tens of thousands of Jews bration, when we mark anoth- portant task. company you throughout the keys for our generation. Otzar several years ago. I went to a around the globe who enjoy a er successful year with Otzar “Otzar HaHochma helps me day? HaHochma embodies with wis- Chabad bookstore and discov- treasure full of wisdom. HaHochma, we asked to speak as a Jew and as a Chabad chas- “Recently, the slogan, ‘Let dom the ‘house full of books’ ered a restricted edition of Otzar “During this past summer with people for whom Otzar sid,” he explained, with visible your fingers do the walking’ that the Rebbe wanted.” HaHochma which contained vacation, we went to Austria. I HaHochma is an integral part emotion. “Otzar HaHochma is a has entered the lexicon. Otzar Rabbi Noam Harpez, the Chabad books. I bought it, and walked out onto the porch over- of their lives and world. It was gift from Above, to the Creator’s HaHochma teaches us to under- Chabad shliach to Har Hazei- my eyes lit up! looking the magical view and important to us to hear from children.” stand everything written in the sim, told us about his feelings “Chabad books are less avail- breathed in the fresh air while them about their experiences us- With a smile, he added, “Once Torah. When I’m looking for any and appreciation towards Otzar able in libraries and synagogues, enjoying the view of the tall ing the program, and to collect there were heads of steel; to- halachic decision, I see all the HaHochma. and I was happy to have merited mountains. Lifting my eyes to real-life responses. We received day, steel is the head. There are halachic decisions which were “For many years, I’ve been this. Later, I had an opportuni- the blue sky, I breathed in the countless positive responses tell- hardly any people in our gen- made on that topic, and I can see giving Torah classes to all types ty to buy the full version, which peacefulness and relaxation. ing how Otzar HaHochma has eration - maybe there are five - them and even make a general of audiences - Chabad house increased my And then, as I sat comfortably, started a real revolution. who remember everything that ‘consul’ to see which halachic visitors, Chabad communities in abilities and my gaze rested on the porch be- “I think that anyone who was written, where it is written, authority is stringent and which various places, and even some access. Now, neath mine. On the porch’s table hasn’t yet laid hands on this pro- from the chumash until the last is more lenient, so I can arrive at charedi audiences. I give at least I have the I saw a computer. Beside it, a gram will end up having to ex- of the Acharonim. The program the correct ruling. one Torah class every day, so program in familiar disk peeked out at me, plain himself later,” Rabbi Ash- accompanies me during every “Otzar HaHochma basically I’m always on the road, and my double: my bearing the Otzar HaHochma er Lamil Hacohen, the rabbi of minute of learning, and on Shab- gives this generation the keys, laptop helps me prepare some laptop has logo. I felt like I’d just met an old Beitar Illit’s Chabad community bos I have a serious problem…. opening the bookshelves. Every of the classes while I travel,” he the friend, and I was happy to dis- and a well-known Torah scholar our generation is the heels of 18th of Elul, on the Ba’al Shem said. cover that Otzar HaHochma had said. “Anyone who hasn’t seen Moshiach, we’re already hold- Tov’s birthday, the Alter Rebbe “I bought Otzar HaHochma become an integral part of every the amazing experience while ing this ‘feet’ galus. So we can’t would say a chiddush with en- in stages. The Chabad books I 6 7 Rabbi Asher restricted Chabad version, and Lamil Hacohen, the Sela, who, together with her expressed a special desire and at home I enjoy the full version. husband, runs the largest dig- wanted to participate. We felt I’ve found many quality materi- rabbi of ital database for Jewish books. how much the idea had ‘cap- als which I loved to learn when I Beitar Illit’s “For Chabad chassidim, it’s an tured’ them and we decided to was younger. Suddenly I discov- Chabad outstanding source of quality invest more in the database. For ered the same books in new ver- material. We suggest Chabad that, we worked together with sions which are easy to read and community chassidim purchase the full ver- Kehot, who put us in touch with fill my heart with happiness.” sion, which includes over 90,000 other Chabad publishing houses What did your learning and “Anyone who books, including over 5,000 in order to help expand the da- preparation look like before Ot- hasn’t seen Chabad books, or purchase the tabase. zar HaHochma, and what does basic program, which includes “Otzar HaHochma was re- it look like today? the amazing all Chabad-related materials. ceived with acclamation,” Bos- “I can tell you that then and experience while As a chassidus which publish- mat added. “We saw the great now are two different worlds. using this es books by the thousands at need, especially from the shlu- There are no words to describe an amazing pace which realiz- chim who are scattered around the enormous change,” Rab- program doesn’t es the vision of ‘spreading your the globe, sometimes in remote bi Harpez said excitedly. “It’s ing us of his sheer enjoyment. ing with Otzar HaHochma helps know what it wellsprings outward,’ we have areas, where it’s not always true, you can download tens “Otzar HaHochma is the most differentiate between topics and the great honor of amalgamat- easy to find holy books. The da- of thousands of books, includ- comprehensive online library enormously expands the width, means to learn ing everything which has been tabase gave all the shluchim a ing Chabad books, from the in- for books connected to Judaism, depth and amount of informa- Torah published until now and creat- golden opportunity, and it pro- ternet. But the effectiveness is from the time printing began tion that you can reach, some of ing a quality platform for every vides them with a day-to-day completely different. With Otzar until today,” he said, explain- which is only available through for its own sake.” Chabad chassid.” solution. They enjoy not just the HaHochma, there are many op- ing that his learning is effective the program,” he said. “It’s In addition to the Torah 5,000 Chabad books, but access tions for an effective search, and thanks to the advanced search all laid out in front of me very database encompasses every books, Otzar HaHochma amal- to 90,000 books on all aspects of that has a huge effect and adds engine which allows maximum quickly. All of my learning has topic in Judaism. We checked the gamates a rare collection con- Torah! “ great strength. If, before I used access to the books’ content. improved and reached greater program’s many uses and un- nected to Chabad chassidus. “We call on all authors to Otzar HaHochma, I needed to How does Otzar HaHochma heights. It’s a completely differ- derstood that it has everything: It’s not just books written by the contact us and expand the data- search page by page, today I help you? ent level of seeing things.” The entire Tanach with its com- Rebbeim and Chabad authors - base,” the Selas added. “Every- type something in and find ev- “I mostly use it in order to What was it like before you mentaries, everything from the you can also find a wide variety one who has an idea for a book ery word and concept in every learn from Chabad books,” he used Otzar HaHochma? Tanaim, together with commen- of rare gifts which were pub- which is not yet in the database place they’re mentioned, and I told us. “Many issues in chassi- “When I prepared a lesson, taries - Mishna, Tosefta, Midrash lished in honor of family events, - we would be happy for you to receive the book on the screen dus became clear to me only due searching for the material cost Halacha, agada, commentaries including rare booklets written write to us about it and we’ll in- exactly as it is. I have other To- to Otzar HaHochma’s advanced me a lot of time. So even in the - and the entire Talmud - both in the Rebbe’s handwriting. In vestigate the copyright and see rah treasures on my computer, search engine, which allows me time I had left, I didn’t man- Bavli and Yerushalmi - with addition, the database includes if we can add additional files. but they’re all in text format and to search chassidic books, as age to go deeper and add a lot. their commentaries, as well as many Chabad-related topics, We will be happy to receive rare you have to trust the person who well as the thousands of books Now, it’s all different. I often use the literature from the period of such as various issues of news- collections which will add to typed it, and there are countless in the program.” Chabad books, and I enjoy go- the Gaonim. It has halacha, min- papers, photo albums, and his- our database, creating a perfect mistakes. Here, you have au- Rabbi A. also said he bought ing through older treasures and hagim, and responsa, from the tory books. circle of treasures connected to thentic documents, and you can Otzar HaHochma as a holiday handwritten manuscripts which Rishonim until the Acharonim. What made you dedicate such Chabad.” search well. This program gives gift for all his children and chil- glorify our past as Chabad chas- It has books on Jewish thought a large portion to Chabad? “I feel it’s a great merit to me a picture of the original page. dren-in-law, and they thank him sidim. The program plays a ma- and cogitation, from the Middle “When we started out, we felt make the Torah accessible to the It’s a huge change!” and say their learning has im- jor part in my life, and when I Ages until the modern period. It how much Otzar HaHochma People of the Book, whose es- Can you summarize your ex- proved because of it. need to update it - something has kabbala and chassidus, in- excited thousands of Chabad sence is passing values from one perience? “I’m happy to have merited which takes a few days - I make cluding special prayers and To- chassidim in Israel and the Di- generation to the next,” Rabbi “There are no notes and no this program, and I really enjoy sure to prepare ahead of time rah speeches. It has research on aspora. Hundreds of chassidim Sela added. “And more than bookmarks for sources. It’s all it,” he said. all the material I’ll need, and Jewish history, Hebrew linguis- reached out to us. They contact- that, sometimes, when I think available and it allows amazing Rabbi Yosef Z. serves only then do I send it tics, Jewish psychology, family ed us with true excitement and about what I’m meriting to do, I proficiency. I warmly suggest as a mashpia in one of for an update.” matters, and more. enthusiasm. We felt like this see an additional meaning. Otzar everyone purchase this program the Chabad yeshivas It’s obvious “Otzar HaHochma is an ac- program quenched their spiritu- HaHochma gives a voice to the and enjoy quality learning with- in Israel, and he’s that every user cessible and quality database al thirst. People from all around sleeping. We obtain rare books out having to get up from their been using Otzar finds an an- appropriate for every Jew, no the world asked us to add more written by many authors who chair. Those who hear me ask HaHochma for swer to his matter who he is,” said Bosmat material and many shluchim once wrote a book but didn’t how I became a genius, and I fourteen years al- need in Otzar merit to be remembered, and told them it all depends on the ready. HaHochma. Want to purchase Otzar HaHochma? Looking to update there wasn’t always someone to little disk attached to -my com “It influenc- This is es- print the book. Now, thousands puter.” es me every day. pecially true your version? Do it at the Kinus Hashluchim! Contact of Jews sit and learn their books. Rabbi G.A., a Chabad shliach While there’s no since the selec- Aharon Sela: Phone: +1-438-878-7674 or 072-2173706 It gives them a legacy and it in a major Canadian city, also substitute for in- tion of topics in Email: [email protected] gives them new life.” praised Otzar HaHochma, tell- depth learning, learn- Otzar HaHochma’s Rabbi Asher 8 Lamil Hacohen 9