Meir Zlotowitz

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Meir Zlotowitz is an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, author, and founder of ArtScroll Publications.

Biography

Zlotowitz was a student of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein at Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem.[1][2]

After graduation, he became director of a high-end graphics studio in New York.[3] The firm, named ArtScroll Studios,[4] produced brochures,[5] invitations, awards and ketubahs.[4] Rabbi Nosson Scherman, then principal of Yeshiva Karlin Stolin Boro Park,[4] was recommended to Zlotowitz as someone who could write copy, and they collaborated on a few projects.[2]

In late 1975,[4] a close friend of Zlotowitz, Rabbi Meir Fogel, died in his sleep, prompting Zlotowitz to want to do something to honor his memory. As Purim was a few months away, he decided to write an English translation and commentary on the Book of Esther, and asked Scherman to write the introduction. The book was completed in honor of the shloshim (the 30-day commemoration of a death)[4] and sold out its first edition of 20,000 copies within two months.[6] With the encouragement of Rabbi Moses Feinstein, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky, and other Gedolei Yisrael, the two continued producing commentaries, beginning with a translation and commentary on the rest of the Five Megillot (Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations and Ruth),[7] and went on to publish translations and commentaries on the Torah, Prophets, Talmud, Passover Haggadah, siddurs and machzors. The name ArtScroll was chosen for the publishing company to emphasize the visual appeal of the books.[8] In its first 25 years, ArtScroll produced more than 700 books, including novels, history books, children's books and secular textbooks,[3] and is now one of the largest publishers of Jewish books in the United States.[5]

Zlotowitz is also chairman of the Mesorah Heritage Foundation,[9] ArtScroll's fundraising arm.[6]

Family

His son,[10] Ira Zlotowitz, is founder and President of Eastern Union Funding, a commercial real estate mortgage brokerage in New York City.[11]

Selected bibliography

Zlotowitz and Scherman are the general editors of ArtScroll's Talmud, Chumash, Tanakh, Siddur, and Machzor series. They co-authored Megillas Esther: Illustrated Youth Edition (1988), a pocket-size Mincha/Maariv prayerbook (1991), and Selichos: First Night (1992).[12] They have also produced a host of titles on which Scherman is author and Zlotowitz is editor.

Zlotowitz is the author of:[12]

  • Esther: The Megillah: A new translation with a commentary anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic, and rabbinic sources, 1976
  • Eichah (Lamentations): A new translation with a commentary anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic, and rabbinic sources, 1976
  • Koheles (Ecclesiastes): A new translation with a commentary anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic, and rabbinic sources, 1976
  • Ruth: A new translation with a commentary anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic, and rabbinic sources, 1976
  • Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs): A new translation with a commentary anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic, and rabbinic sources, 1976
  • Yonah (Jonah): A new translation with a commentary anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic and Rabbinic sources, 1978
  • Chanukah: Its history, observance and significance (co-author: Rabbi Hersh Goldwurm), 1981
  • Succos: Its significance, laws and prayers: A presentation anthologized from Talmudic and Midrashic sources, 1982
  • Shema Yisrael: A new translation with a commentary anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic, and rabbinic sources, 1982
  • Pirkei Avos, 1984
  • Bereishis: A new translation with a commentary anthologized from Talmudic, Midrashic, and rabbinic sources (2-volume set), 1986

References

  1. ↑ Finkelman, Rabbi Shimon; Scherman, Rabbi Nosson (1986). "In the Rosh Yeshtvah's Presence - as His Talmidim Saw Him". Reb Moshe: The Life and Ideals of Hagaon Rabbi Moshe Feinstein. Mesorah Publications, Ltd. ISBN 0-89906-480-9. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hoffman, Rabbi Yair (3 December 2009). "The ArtScroll Revolution: 5TJT interviews Rabbi Nosson Scherman". Five Towns Jewish Times. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ephross, Peter (13 July 2001). "In 25 Years of Publishing, Artscroll captures Zeitgeist". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Resnick, Eliot (6 June 2007). "'Our Goal is to Increase Torah Learning'". The Jewish Press. Retrieved 5 June 2011. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Berger, Joseph (10 February 2005). "An English Talmud for Daily Readers and Debaters". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Nussbaum Cohen, Debra (11 October 2007). "Feminists Object, But ArtScroll Rolls On". The Jewish Week. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  7. ↑ Zlotowitz, Meir (1986). The Five Megillos: A new translation with overviews and annotations anthologized from the classical commentators. Mesorah Publications Ltd. 
  8. ↑ Eller, Sandy; Shidler, Yosef (17 March 2010). "Brooklyn, NY - VIN Exclusive: Behind The Scenes At Artscroll [video]". VIN. vosizneias.com. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  9. ↑ "Edmond J. Safra Synagogue Values Timeless Heritage: Torah teachers honored at Mesorah Heritage Foundation community event". mesorah.org. 2 April 2004. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  10. ↑ Bernstein, Dovid (11 January 2010). "Masmid Govoha Kicks Off 15th Year". Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  11. ↑ "Eastern Union Commercial Outpaces Projected Revenues, Expands Operations; Average Deal Size Grew by 50%, Growth Attributed to Technology, Relationships". Business Wire. 7 September 2005. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Titles by Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz". ArtScroll. 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2010. 
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