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Machon Yerushalayim, The Jerusalem Institute of Talmudic Research, which is renowned all over the world for being the leading publisher of rabbinical commentaries, is in the midst of their annual sale of its classic collection of seforim.

The sale highlights an array of new releases including: Otzar Meforshei HaTorah, where most of the Rishonim and Achronim explain the p’shat of the passuk; the Mishnah Brura Or Hamizrach, which features the psakim of the prominent Sephardic commentators; the Shoel Umeishiv, a responsa on the four parts of the Shulchan Aruch, penned by the illustrious Rav Yosef Shaul Natanson, Z’TL and many more new releases.

Machon Yerushalayim has seen numerous miracles as manuscripts have landed on its doorstep, sometimes without even the owner of the manuscript realizing its tremendous value to Klal Yisroel. As is the case with many of Machon Yerushalayim’s efforts to redeem important Hebrew manuscripts and reprint scholarly works that in many cases were thought to be lost forever, the completion of Sha’arei Torah was extraordinary. In fact, the behind-the- scenes story of how the manuscript was discovered by Machon Yerushalayim nearly 30 years ago, is a prime example of how hard work and Siyata Dishmaya can reap rewards for all of Klal Yisroel.

Rav Binyomin Wolf Low (also pronounced Lowey, Lev or Ley) was a Polish-Hungarian rabbinical luminary (1775-1851), who was educated by his revered father Eleazar Low, A’H in Talmudic literature and became the spiritual leader of a congregation in Poland when he was very young. Sha’arei Torah, a holy manuscript on the principles of Talmudic law, was the only sefer Rav Low, Z’TL ever published. The sefer received haskamos from some of the greatest Torah luminaries of his generation including Rav Akiva Eiger, Z’TL, the Chasam Sofer, Z’TL, Rav Mordechai Bennet of Nickelsburg, Z’TL and others.

Three parts were published in Vienna (1821, 1850) and Sátoraljaújhely (1872). The fourth part, which started with Siman Aleph and completes the set, was still in manuscript form in 1906 and then disappeared from view. Rav Yosef Buxbaum, Z’TL, the founder of Machon Yerushalayim wanted to publish the sefer and wondered if they should reformulate and change Siman Beis to Siman Aleph. However, the Jerusalem Gaon and Av Beis Din, the Minchas Yitzchak, Z’TL (Rav Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss, 1902-1989), ruled that it was not proper to change the sequence.

Nearly 30 years ago, Rav Yosef Buxbaum, Z’TL, was in the USA. During the course of his visit, he received a telephone call from a widow, claiming that she had a piles of old letters and notations that her late husband had left behind and had no use for them. Rav Buxbaum, Z’TL traveled to the woman’s house. He took the letters and notations, thanking the widow for her generosity.

When he returned to his hotel, Rav Buxbaum Z’TL began to meticulously examine the letters and notations. Much to his surprise, within one of the envelopes there was a letter from a great rabbi to potential charitable donors, asking them for funding to publish his sefer Sha’arei Torah, which he could not afford to do by himself. Lo and behold, the missing Siman Aleph was actually inside the envelope, so potential donors could sample his scholarly work!

Needless to say, Rav Buxbaum, Z’TL was astounded by his discovery and upon return to Jerusalem revealed the lost sefer to his awe stricken colleagues.

Now, Machon Yerushalayim could produce the lost sefer in its entirety.

It is in the merit of the esteemed Mr. Avrohom Schonberger, the Director of Machon Yerushalayim in the USA, who helped sponsor and propel the publication of the Sha’arei Torah set, as well as other seforim.

This is just one example out of many of how Machon Yerushalayim received manuscripts of many Gedolim from the past and was able to publish their holy work for the benefit of Klal Yisroel.

The annual seforim sales event, which is now in its 7 th year and continues till January 13, is available at Judaica bookstores throughout the metro New York-New Jersey region, as well as Lakewood, Baltimore, Cleveland Heights, Miami, Los Angeles and Oak Park-Southfield. Some of the other seforim that are on sale include, the Shulchan Aruch-Friedman Edition, the Maharal, Minchas Chinuch, the Rishonim, along with many other fundamental seforim that are available now for a limited time only.

During the coming year, Machon Yerusahalayim will be releasing a potpourri of important new Seform including Tshuvos HaRi Migash, Keser Rosh, Michas Solles, Shut HaRambam 2 and many more.

To see all of the seforim which are on sale from Machon Yerusahlayim, please visit their sale website at: www.torabooks.com