On the Shoulders of Giants

Gedolei Yisrael. Highly-placed politicians. Dedicated activists.
And you and me and every Jew.
They are all here, in an unforgettable eyewitness account.

In the more than five decades that he was involved in Agudath Israel of America, rising from a member of their youth group to the Executive Vice President of the organization, Rabbi Shmuel Bloom encountered literally thousands of fascinating people: gedolei Yisrael, dedicated askanim, politicians from all sides of the political spectrum, and so many “just plain Jews” – who proved, by their actions, that there is no such thing as a “just plain Jew.”

Rabbi Bloom met with gedolim at Agudah events, at meetings of the Moetzes Gedolei Torah, and in quiet, urgent conferences. He chatted with them in cars and on Shabbos afternoons at conventions. Here we will hear stories, many of them not widely known, of generations of greatness: from the Chafetz Chaim to Rav Aharon Kotler and Rav Moshe Feinstein; from the Gerrer Rebbes to Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman to Rav Don Segal — and dozens and dozens more. In these “stories behind the stories,” we gain a unique understanding of the inner workings of daas Torah, in all its glory. We also meet the Jewish People’s askanim, up close and personal. We are amazed by first-hand stories of men like Mike Tress and, of course, the incomparable Rabbi Moshe Sherer: their dedication to “Klal Yisrael and Reb Yisrael” that is, to the entire Jewish people, and to each and every member of our nation.

In his years in Agudah, Rabbi Bloom also met with the highest echelons of the U.S. government, and he shares his behind-the-scenes understanding of great political events and movements. On the Shoulders of Giants offers an unusual combination of Torah insights, inside stories of gedolim and askanim, and political and historical perspectives – as well as dozens of photographs. It tells the story of Torah Jewry’s challenges and unbelievable resurgence. It’s our story — our history and our future — written by someone who was there to see it all.