 | |
| Author | Noson (Nathan) Kamenetsky |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Distributors, Hamesorah Publishers |
Publication date | 2002; 2nd ed. 2005 |
| Publication place | Israel |
| Pages | 2 v. (1398 pp); 2nd ed. (1429 pp) |
| ISBN | 965-90379-0-2 |
| LC Class | BM750 .K292 2002 |
Making of a Godol: A Study of Episodes in the Lives of Great Torah Personalities is a two-volume book written and published in 2002, with an improved edition published in 2005, by Rabbi Nathan Kamenetsky (1930-2019),[1] son of Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky,[2] about the life of his father[3] and of various other Jewish sages of the 19th and 20th centuries, who are revered by Orthodox (especially Haredi) Jews. The word Godol means "great [one]" in Hebrew, and refers to exceptional Talmudic scholars who are often prominent Roshei Yeshiva (heads of yeshivas).
The book, which resulted from about 15 years of extensive research,[4] includes much historical background based on over 800 sources,[5] and is very detailed in its stories and biographies. Due to the banning of both editions (see next section), not more than 1,000 sets of each edition are in existence.[6]
- ^ On Motzei Shabbos (Saturday night), March 12, 2005 (which was prior to the publication of the second edition), the author gave a speech at the Young Israel of Beth El in Boro Park (Brooklyn, New York), entitled "Making of a Ban." See [1]. The speech can be heard at [2] and is cited repeatedly in this article.
- ^ The author is the son-in-law of Rabbi David Lifshitz. Making of a Godol, second edition, inner-cover-blurb.
- ^ Rabbi Nathan Kamenetsky's research was also the basis for Reb Yaakov by Yonasan Rosenblum (Mesorah Publications, 1993).
- ^ "Making of a Ban" speech at about 1:09-1:10.
- ^ The author conducted 386 interviews, and relied on 440 additional sources. Making of a Godol, second edition, p. 1323. All sources are listed at p.p. 1323-1350.
- ^ See