Halachah Matters: Rabbi Zvi Nachman Talks About His New Sefer

Rabbi Zvi Nachman Talks About His New Sefer

By Susan Schwamm

Rabbi Nachman, congratulations on publishing your new sefer, Halachah Matters. This is a great accomplishment. What was your goal in writing this sefer?

Thank you very much. My goal was to create a forum to discuss halachic issues in an engaging manner. Each chapter begins with a vignette (short story) that raises a halachic issue. We then go on to have a short discussion of the relevant halachic sources and arrive at a conclusion; where possible, I also compare the applicable halachah to secular law and/or add an interesting story or anecdote from my personal life. Each chapter is short and is an interactive way to discuss halachic issues at your Shabbos table and/or other settings.

What was the impetus behind writing your book?

My two life-long long-term goals were (1) to become a lawyer and (2) to write a book. I accomplished my first goal much earlier in my life, and I wasn’t certain whether I would ever get to realize my dream of becoming an author. I am ecstatic that it took the form of a sefer on halachah!

What made you think of writing a sefer like this?

I’ve been speaking every Shabbos at my local minyan in Woodmere (I’m in my 15th year). About 12 years ago, I changed the format to start each d’var halachah with a story, as I found it to be a much more engaging way to relate to my audience and draw them in. After several years, it occurred to me that this would make for a great basis for a sefer. I must say that converting each chapter from a speaking presentation to a written sefer with sources is not an easy task. Much of my free time for many years was devoted to working on the manuscript. The sefer is laid out with an interesting scenario at the beginning of each chapter. How did you come up with those scenarios?

Some of the questions came up in real life or, in a few cases, were relayed to me by someone who they actually happened to. The questions that I included in the sefer are but a fraction of the number of questions I have discussed over the last 12+ years. I tried to stay away from controversial topics, especially since my discussions are fairly concise.

I love how you also give a legal spin on the scenarios after giving over the halachah. Has your background as an attorney helped you with understanding halachah? What came first? Your halachic understanding or your understanding of U.S. law?

The focus of my sefer is very much the halachic aspects. When I speak at my minyan on Shabbos, I rarely, if ever, discuss secular law. I have noticed that, for the most part, our moral compass, as Americans, is very much in line with the halachic conclusions. It occurred to me that the contrast (or, in most cases, the similarity) between halachah and secular law would be of interest to my readers and so I spent some time researching applicable secular law. It is fascinating how, for the most part, the two sets of laws come together so nicely.

Can you share with us a few scenarios that are in the sefer?

Sure, here are a few examples: - You are selling your car, and there is a problem with the engine. Do you have to specifically disclose the issue to the buyer? - You bought a piece of furniture from a couple who are making aliyah, but due to unforeseen circumstances they have to put off their aliyah plans indefinitely. Do they have a right to cancel the sale? - You find out that your neighbor has been regularly using your tractor without permission; do you have the right to charge him?

Who is the sefer geared towards?

Anyone interested in halachah is encouraged to pick up a copy – no real age limitation. One prominent rav mentioned to me that even his 11-year-old son was reading it! On the other hand, many learned folks (both men and women) have told me that they enjoyed it very much.

I tried to make each chapter engaging, concise, and stimulating – perfect as a springboard for Shabbos meal conversations or similar venues.

I noticed that on the back of your sefer you have haskamos from some well-known, respected rabbanim: Rav Asher Weiss, Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, and Rabbi Shalom Rosner. How did you go about getting these prominent rabbanim to give you their haskamas?

I also have haskamos from Rabbi Efrem Goldberg (BRS in Boca Raton) and Rabbi Zvi Ralbag (Bais Ephraim Yitzchok in Woodmere). I have a kesher with each rav, other than Rav Asher Weiss (I am a member of Rav Weinberger’s shul and we see regularly daven together on weekday mornings; Rabbi Rosner was the former rav of my shul in Woodmere and we have kept up an on-going kesher even after the rav made aliyah). In the case of Rav Asher Weiss, I was privileged to have been given a private interview with the Rav to discuss my sefer and I provided him with a copy of my manuscript; the Rav was extremely encouraging of my endeavor.

That said, obtaining haskamos is not an easy task, and an author must remain persistent and give himself/herself a lot of lead time. I feel so fortunate to have received all these haskamos and treasure each one very much.

You have semicha and got it recently. Can you tell us about that journey?

As part of my long-term plan to write a sefer on halachic topics, I understood that I would need to beef up my credentials by obtaining semicha. Even though I had spent a good part of my life learning in a variety of yeshivos, I had never really focused on Yoreh De’ah or some of the other standard topics required for semicha. I decided to do this journey with my (then-only) son-in-law, Raphy Sassieni, as my chavrusa. The semicha course we chose was quite comprehensive and demanding; it took us more than two and a half years to complete (Rav Nach-

98 man Wilhelm is so engaging and has a phenomenal mastery of all the applicable halachos). It was wonderful going The Jewish Home | DECEMBER 15, 2022 through this adventure with my sonin-law and developing with him a bond that was created by this program. I also broadened my range of halachic knowledge through this formal program. Since the sefer has been released, what type of feedback have you been receiving? Baruch Hashem, I’ve been receiving much positive feedback – from friends, acquaintances, and even from complete strangers. Many people have told me that they are reading a chapter a week at their Shabbos table. Some people have sent me photos of their set Shabbos table with Halachah Matters next to their kiddush cup!

What’s the best way for someone to purchase Halachah Matters?

Halachah Matters is distributed globally through Feldheim outside of Israel and can be purchased at most seforim stores globally (wherever Feldheim distributes). You can also purchase it from my publisher, Mosaica Press (mosaicapress.com), or on Amazon.com (by We know so much about your sefer. Can you share with us where you grew up, which yeshivos you learned in, where you studied for your formal education, and a little bit about your secular career?

Sure. I’m a graduate of the Mesivta of Long Beach and also learned at other highly-regarded yeshivos, includ-

Some people have sent me photos of their set Shabbos table with Halachah Matters next to their kiddush cup.

ing Mishkan HaTorah, Ohr HaChaim, Machon L’hora, and Mesivta Tifereth Yerushalayim (MTJ). As I mentioned, I’m a musmach of Rav Dovid Schochet and Rav Nachman Wilhelm.

I first began giving weekly shiurim in the Lower East Side in 1994. When I moved to the Five Towns, I continued to share my Torah insights on a weekly basis at the Tree Street Minyan in Woodmere. I have a law degree from New York University (NYU) School of Law as well as a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Development and Investment, also from NYU. I’m also a former certified public accountant (CPA), having started mycareer working for Price Waterhouse, a global accounting firm, before becoming a lawyer.

Since 1996, I have been a practicing attorney, first at an Am Law 100 New York City law firm and then as General Counsel for one of the largest privately-held real estate investment organizations in the United States, where I represented and negotiated with many of the largest companies and household names Are you planning on writing a sequel to this book? Are you working on anything currently?

I am still speaking weekly at my minyan, so I’m starting to develop new material. Also, some readers of my sefer have been sharing with me some interesting questions for a possible sequel. Who knows what the future will hold, but I am starting the process.

How are your book sales going?

Baruch Hashem, book sales have been doing well! That said, the jump from someone being interested in a particular sefer to actually buying that sefer is a big step. One motivational factor to buy Halachah Matters is that this sefer will give the reader a year’s worth of engaging material for your Shabbos table if you cover one chapter a week. Not a bad investment!

Halachah Matters by Rabbi Zvi Nachman is published by Mosaica Press.