03 Apr BEHIND EVERY GREAT STORY IS A GREAT AUTHOR AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RABBI NACHMAN SELTZER
Rabbi Nachman Seltzer is the author of forty five books, including such classics as 90 Seconds, Living Legend, the Zera Shimshon series, Incredible! and Incredible 2 and The Rebbetzin. Those were preceded by The Network, The Link and The Shadows, (fiction); Child Of War and Nine Out Of Ten (biographies); the Moments series; Stories With A Twist; and the bestselling It Could Have Been You series (short stories). He also compiled One Small Deed Can Change The World, a popular anthology. Rabbi Seltzer is a columnist for the International Hamodia Magazine, where his true life stories are beloved around the world. He is the producer of Visions (an album of all English songs) as well as co-producer of The Story Experience. Rabbi Seltzer received his semicha from Rav Yitzchok Berkovitz at The Jerusalem Kollel and teaches in various post-high-school programs for American students studying in Eretz Yisroel. Rabbi Seltzer is a popular international speaker as well and is available to address audiences around the world.Last Sunday, R’ Nachman sat down with Ari Hirsch from The Jewish Vues to discuss his new book 90 Seconds, writing career, music career & relationship with Maggid Daf Yomi Extraordinaire R’ Eli Stefansky.
Going into the Yom Tov of Pesach-what does the word freedom mean to you?
Freedom in today’s day and age means not being a slave to the numerous things that take control of our lives and enslave us. Freedom means not being addicted to smoking/drinking/drugs – the internet – your phone…. When those things do not control a person, they are free – to serve Hashem.
What is the secret to writing a good book?
Step 1. Finding a topic that you are passionate about.Step 2. Making sure the topic is something that readers will find interesting as well. Otherwise people will not buy the book.
What is the secret to doing a good interview?
Asking a lot of questions. Getting into the tiniest details. Keep on probing if you have a question until you get to the bottom of it.
Who taught you how to write?
The more you write, the better you get.
Who discovered you? Who found out that you were a great writer & asked you to write your first big book?
I was a guest at the home of Rabbi Moshe Dombey for Shabbos. Rabbi Dombey was the founder of Targum Press. During that Shabbos I discussed many of his books with him. He then told me that if I ever wrote a book I should bring it to him. When I wrote The Edge I came to him. He believed in me and so did his editor in chief Mimi Zakon. I still work with her today.
How often do people approach you to write a book about someone & what makes you want to write a book about someone?
People reach out to me very often. I am looking for a combination of things. Like I said, I want to be interested in the topic. I want my readers to be interested in the topic. I want the book to inspire Klal Yisroel on different levels. I want to feel that it will bring to’eles to the Jewish people.
Do you write all your books in English and they get translated or do you write in both Hebrew & English? How does the fact you live in Eretz Yisrael affect your ability to write English books?
I write in English. Other people translate them to Ivrit, Spanish or French. Living in EY doesn’t affect my ability to write English books. One thing has nothing to do with the other.
Do you enjoy telling stories through your music?
Yes. Visions is all about telling stories. So are songs I produced and wrote like “In Radin,” and “It’s Not About the Daf.”
Favorite part about your job?
Having the z’chus to bring high level inspiration to Klal Yisroel
Most challenging part about your job?
Sitting by yourself for many hours every day.
At what point did you move to Eretz Yisrael?
When I was 14 years old.
How did your time in the Miami Boys Choir help you to become this big author?
I wouldn’t say it helped me become an author but it definitely helped me become a better choir leader and music producer.
I believe that you are one of the founders of the 8 minute daf, the famous MDY R’ Eli Stefansky shiur. How did that happen?
Reb Eli moved to EY close to ten years ago. He had a friend in my shul and began davening there – sitting on my bench. We became friends right away and he told me then that he was very impressed with Rabbi Dovid Hofsteder – who had also started as a working Jew – but went on to develop one of the biggest and most successful Torah initiatives in the frum world. Reb Eli wanted to do this in his own way. He began by giving a weekly chazara on all the dapim of the week. Eventually he decided that he wanted to start a real shiur and he asked me to come. As a good friend I did. So it began. Today it is the biggest daf yomi shiur in the world. I sit next to him and kind of fill the role of Mashgiach to his Rosh Yeshiva.
Are you amazed at how the shiur has grown?
No. Reb Eli is larger than life. People like feeling connected to success. Plus he is a brilliant rebbe. Plus he really cares about the people in the shiur.
What is your favorite R’ Eli prop?
I like what he does with the art and the animated films that Yoshi makes to explain different points. Yoshi is truly amazing.
Please tell us something about R’ Eli that most people don’t know.
He doesn’t like wine. Just kidding. Rav Shach used to give him candies when he would come with his father to the Rosh Yeshiva on Motzei Shabbos when they learned together.
Rumor has it that you are writing a book on R’ Eli Stefansky. Is that true?
We’ve discussed it. Time will tell.
Please tell everyone about your new book called 90 Seconds about Hatzolah member Eli Beer?
The book is one of my favorite books. It’s full of non-stop excitement and inspiration. It’s amazing because the story is truly great. Here’s a kid who got kicked out of many schools and went on to become incredibly successful in life. But it’s also amazing because it teaches a person that everyone can be matzliach and everyone can achieve their dreams if they are ready to work hard and to not take no for an answer. Bottom line – this book is proof that “Ein davar omed lifnay haratzon.”
How long did it take you to write?
I interviewed Eli Beer for close to three weeks. The actual writing took about two months.
What are you currently working on?
I just finished writing a book about The Ribnitzer Rebbe.
Rabbi Nachman Seltzer Fast Facts:
Name: Nachman Seltzer – נחמן סלצר
Age: 44
Wife: Aliza
Parents Names:Reb Dovid and Sarah Leah
Grew up in: Flatbush – Boro Park – Eretz Yisroel
Shul you davened in Flatbush/Boro Park: Milstein’s in FlatbushAgudah of 18th Avenue and Breslover Shteibel in Boro Park
Education/Yeshivas growing up:Torah Vodaas – Karlin Stolen – Rav Yeshaya Treff – Mir – The Jerusalem Kollel
Years in Miami Boys choir: 1990 – 1991
Favorite Miami Boys choir song: Miheira
Received smicha from: Rav Yitzchok Berkowitz – The Jerusalem Kollel
Currently live in: Ramat Beit Shemesh
Shul you daven in currently: Bnei Yeshivos and Heichal HaTorah
First book you wrote & at what age: The Edge – 23
Number of books you’ve written & names:I have written over 50 books and have so far published 45.
Favorite storyteller: My good friend Reb Paysach Krohn is a wonderful storyteller
Favorite author:Reb Marcus Lehman, Avner Gold’s Ruach Ami series, Reb Meir Uri Gottesman’s Deep Blue, Yair Weinstock’s The Gordian Knot
Favorite Jewish music composer:Yossi Green, Abie Rotenberg, Yitzy Waldner
Favorite book you’ve written:90 Seconds, The Rebbetzin, The Network
FUN QUESTIONS WITHRABBI NACHMAN SELTZER
What’s your favorite part of the seder?
The beginning and the end. The beginning because there I share withmy kids a letter that was written by Rabbi Aharon Lopiansky which discusses how the seder is like a relay race where we hand the torch over to the next generation – and the end – with all the beautiful songs that are so part of our heritage. Of course the moment when we take that first bite of matzah is pretty awesome too..
Haggadah you plan on using this year for the seder:
Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein
Arbah kosos: what wine do you use for your arbah kosos?
Something from Kedem
Most Famous people that you have interviewed-A) Secular worldPresident of Israel Yitzchok Herzog, Ambassador David Friedman (though he is of course religious,), Natan SharanskyB) Jewish worldRav Nissan Kaplan, Eli Beer, Rav Yitzchok Dovid Grossman, Rav Uri Zohar
Favorite book you ever wrote:
The Rebbetzin, 90 Seconds, The Network
Favorite Interview of all time:One of my favorite interviews was with Barry Akrongold who explained to me how he had been instrumental in introducing Rebbetzin Jungreisto President George W. Bush – which led to her being invited to give the invocation at the Republican National Convention.
Favorite politician you interviewed of all time:Ambassador David Friedman
Someone alive that you never met, that you would like to meet:
Bibi
Someone you never interviewed that you would like to interview:
Aryeh Deri, Donald Trump
Someone that you would like to interview that always turns you down when you ask them:
Boruch Hashem people are usually happy to speak to me…
Cups of coffee you drink a day:
Either one or two
Who’s your maggid Daf yomi?
I’m one of the founders of Reb Eli’s shiur
Biggest nachas a child can give a parent:
Doing the ratzon Hashem with happiness
Fill in the blank: When Moshiach comes___________
All Yidden with be united with one belief system.
Best segulah to have shalom bayis:
Go out with your wife once a week or at least once every two weeks – and go away together for a mini vacation every few months
Who is the first person you think of when you hear the word KIRUV?
Rabbi Yossi Wallis – the hero of the Incredible which I had the z’chus to author.
Favorite Yom Tov:
Sukkos
Favorite song to sing at the Shabbos table:
Ka Echsof
What Jewish song gets you in a good mood?
It’s not about the daf, it’s about the yomi
What’s your favorite bracha to make?
Kiddush Friday night
Favorite Mesechta:Bava Basra
What is your most prized sefer?
Zera Shimshon, Nesivas Sholom, Rav Pinkus on a host of inyanim
If you could have a chavrusa with anybody (dead or alive) for a half hour, who would it be?
The Chofetz Chaim
If you could have 3 dinner guests to your Pesach seder, anybody that you have interviewed, who are the three people that you would want to have as guests for your Pesach seder?
Rav Yitzchok Dovid Grossman, Rav Nissan Kaplan and Rebbetzin Jungreis – I think that would be quite a seder