If you are going to talk about book bans and condemnations, you should include a bit about at least three other books. The Maiden of Ludmir, My uncle the Netziv and my book, Aleph Shin. Aleph Shin was not actually banned because the power that be concluded an official ban would make it more popular, but I have a lot on the proposed ban that I might share.
Alef Shin was fantastic except two points (in my opinion).
1) Moshiach ending is always a killer for a book.
2) As it being a frum book (with him being moshiach no less) to allow them to have tatoos on their feet against halacha, as well planning on sending the married men in the submarine to start a new life even when knowingly leaving their wives to think they can remarry and thus create mamzerim gives it a bad religous vibe overall.
Clif, either you forgot or didn't understand what was written in the book. 1. the married men gave their wives gittin... no mamzerim and they could remarry. 2. they were NOT tatoos. The halacha is a tatoo is only if INK is injected under the skin. These were plain burn marks. 3. As for Moshiach. The character is Never called Moshiach in the book, nor does he claim to be. However, according to the Rambam, the Moshiach, besides a great gadol b'torah must be a great warrior.
Granted it has been a few years since reading it. From my recollection they were tatoos but as you're the author I trust that's what it was. In regards to the gittin, again from remembering from many years ago, it was only when one of the people told his rabbi about the mission did he arrange gittin for them. In regards to moshiach you know what they say "if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck..." definitely insinuating if not downright saying he's moshiach.
I hadn't heard of Aleph Shin before, but after reading the comments here, I was intrigued. I do most of my (non Shabbat) reading on my Kindle. Have you considered making it available as an e-book? I don't see that option on Amazon.
Hi Sender. I had no idea your book Aleph Shin was "banned". I would be so curious to know more details. Personally, I found the book very enjoyable; read it a couple of times and have shared it with a number of people.
Hi Joe, There was a "bottom-feeder" who contacted all the bookstores to ban it but only one listened to him. After it started to sell in England, Lehman Distributors banned it and sent back the remaining copies. I had a long talk with Rav Matisyahu Solomon about it that was not very pleasant, but in the end, he did not ban it. Judaica Plaza would not sell it when it first came out (I think because of the same bottom-feeder), but shortly later did sell it and sold a lot of it. The Jewish Observer wrote an article lambasting it and would not allow me to reply.
I was not aware that a reviewer at the JO is qualified to find approbations of well-known rabbinic personalities problematic. I was not aware that a reviewer at the JO is meant to make his objections public without first consulting those well-known rabbinic personalities who granted the approbations. Unless he has received the backing of any particular well-known rabbi who the JO accepts as an authority over those well-known rabbinic personalities .
Wait, your that Sender Zeyv!? Cool. How about your Romantic Amish Mamzer book? Surprised that wasn't banned. I thought it was pretty gutsy of you to write such a book - good for you!
It’s just a popular romance. A work of fiction. FICTION. If you’re so discomfited by fiction, you should reconsider your adoration of some of the whackier works (seforim) of a some of our Poskm Gedolim.
I would love to. I do most of my reading on Shabbos. Is there any way to purchase a hard copy? If there is, I would gladly buy it. I would also love a copy of Every Man A Slave as well. Thank you!
Alef Shin was fantastic except two things in my opinion. 1) The ending with him being moshiach 2) As a frum book and him being moshiach for them to be allowed tattoos on their foot against halacha gave it a bad vibe. Other than that great book all around.
When you address the Ark Encounter please compare it to our biblical Noach account of the great Deluge. Also, a discussion of the Gilgamesh epic and why it should be less believable than our biblical Noach narrative.
You forgot the water bottle.
He didn't forget it. He just realized that he made a fool out of himself with that one.
If you are going to talk about book bans and condemnations, you should include a bit about at least three other books. The Maiden of Ludmir, My uncle the Netziv and my book, Aleph Shin. Aleph Shin was not actually banned because the power that be concluded an official ban would make it more popular, but I have a lot on the proposed ban that I might share.
Alef Shin was fantastic except two points (in my opinion).
1) Moshiach ending is always a killer for a book.
2) As it being a frum book (with him being moshiach no less) to allow them to have tatoos on their feet against halacha, as well planning on sending the married men in the submarine to start a new life even when knowingly leaving their wives to think they can remarry and thus create mamzerim gives it a bad religous vibe overall.
Clif, either you forgot or didn't understand what was written in the book. 1. the married men gave their wives gittin... no mamzerim and they could remarry. 2. they were NOT tatoos. The halacha is a tatoo is only if INK is injected under the skin. These were plain burn marks. 3. As for Moshiach. The character is Never called Moshiach in the book, nor does he claim to be. However, according to the Rambam, the Moshiach, besides a great gadol b'torah must be a great warrior.
Granted it has been a few years since reading it. From my recollection they were tatoos but as you're the author I trust that's what it was. In regards to the gittin, again from remembering from many years ago, it was only when one of the people told his rabbi about the mission did he arrange gittin for them. In regards to moshiach you know what they say "if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck..." definitely insinuating if not downright saying he's moshiach.
I hadn't heard of Aleph Shin before, but after reading the comments here, I was intrigued. I do most of my (non Shabbat) reading on my Kindle. Have you considered making it available as an e-book? I don't see that option on Amazon.
That is an idea. The Rumspringa Kallah is on Kindle.
What is “Aleph Shin”?
A frum novel that came out in 2000. One of the most popular frum novels in history.
How can one obtain your books?
B'mechilas Reb Noson for using this comment section for personal purposes. senderzeyv@gmail.com
Hi Sender. I had no idea your book Aleph Shin was "banned". I would be so curious to know more details. Personally, I found the book very enjoyable; read it a couple of times and have shared it with a number of people.
Hi Joe, There was a "bottom-feeder" who contacted all the bookstores to ban it but only one listened to him. After it started to sell in England, Lehman Distributors banned it and sent back the remaining copies. I had a long talk with Rav Matisyahu Solomon about it that was not very pleasant, but in the end, he did not ban it. Judaica Plaza would not sell it when it first came out (I think because of the same bottom-feeder), but shortly later did sell it and sold a lot of it. The Jewish Observer wrote an article lambasting it and would not allow me to reply.
Which issue of the JO?
11-2000 edition of the Jewish Observer article by Pinchas Jung.
Thank you.
It must be this:
"A typical example is one of the latest,
best-selling, techno-thrillers, complete
with three letters of approval from
well-known rabbinic personalities
reproduced on the back cover.
"The story includes numerous
episodes of people becoming involved
in all the undesirable activities that we
are battling today. A Jewish man
becomes involved with a young woman
he believes to be non-Jewish. A Jewish
youngster gets entangled with drug dealers
and a gentile girl; there are shooting
incidents and samples of rough language
along the way.
"Have the approving rabbis indeed
read the entire book? Do they honestly
believe that this is ideal reading material
for our youth? If so, we have a new
problem."
I was not aware that a reviewer at the JO is qualified to find approbations of well-known rabbinic personalities problematic. I was not aware that a reviewer at the JO is meant to make his objections public without first consulting those well-known rabbinic personalities who granted the approbations. Unless he has received the backing of any particular well-known rabbi who the JO accepts as an authority over those well-known rabbinic personalities .
That's it. I wrote a comprehensive response that the JO refused to print. I was told, "let sleeping dogs lie."
Any way I can read that article?
Wait, your that Sender Zeyv!? Cool. How about your Romantic Amish Mamzer book? Surprised that wasn't banned. I thought it was pretty gutsy of you to write such a book - good for you!
You read The Rumpsringa Kallah? That book wasn't banned because none of the frum publishers will even publish it!
Whoa... I didn't know this book exists. Just now read the review on Amazon. Sounds quite interesting. Will be buying it.
I read the kindle preview, which is quite lengthy.
if you read these kind of books, read the whole thing, you will love it.
Sender, just curious. Why are mamzerim and mamzerus a recurrent theme in almost all your books?
It's not. Just in The Rumspringa Kallah.
@MD,
It’s just a popular romance. A work of fiction. FICTION. If you’re so discomfited by fiction, you should reconsider your adoration of some of the whackier works (seforim) of a some of our Poskm Gedolim.
I would love to. I do most of my reading on Shabbos. Is there any way to purchase a hard copy? If there is, I would gladly buy it. I would also love a copy of Every Man A Slave as well. Thank you!
Contact me at senderzeyv@gmail.com. Every Man A Slave is out of print.
Alef Shin was fantastic except two things in my opinion. 1) The ending with him being moshiach 2) As a frum book and him being moshiach for them to be allowed tattoos on their foot against halacha gave it a bad vibe. Other than that great book all around.
Baruch Hashem! Irrationalist Modoxism just published a halachic justification for coed schools!
https://irrationalistmodoxism.substack.com/p/a-halakhic-endorsement-of-coed-schools
I would love if you would speak in Lakewood! Probably never gonna happen though.
Looking forward to attending on Sunday!
When you address the Ark Encounter please compare it to our biblical Noach account of the great Deluge. Also, a discussion of the Gilgamesh epic and why it should be less believable than our biblical Noach narrative.
It’d be cooler if the 8-ft hammerhead was alive, incidentally.
Is there an entrance fee for Sunday?
Wasn't your book banned too?
is it the same Ash from thatsfrum.com
Yes. I have basically forgotten about that! Why?
(writing under diff account now)
I know you from the Mir......