Review: "Rabbi Sherer"

Anybody who has happened to see the many recent advertisements for Artscroll's newest biography, "Rabbi Sherer" by Yonoson Rosenblum, would be right to be impressed. As someone who saw the ads mentioned to me, "ten years in the making? What kind of biography takes ten years?!" Now that I have read "Rabbi Sherer" I would have to answer, "an exceptionally good biography takes ten years and that is exactly what this is."

"Rabbi Sherer" is the comprehensive biography of the life and activism of Rabbi Moshe Sherer, the man of whom it can truthfully be said deserves much of the credit for making Agudath Israel the forefront Jewish organization that it is today. The term "askan," literally defined who he was and perhaps if if were to be found in Webster's dictionary would have to include Rabi Sherer as the ideal demonstration of the term. Rarely has such a necessary biography been published. Necessary because there are still too many people who are not aware of how much hakaras hatov we must accord to Rabbi Sherer. As I carried around this book for the past two weeks I encountered two types of reactions from people who asked to see what I was reading. Those who were familiar with Rabbi Sherer started to sing his praises, describing to me what a wonderful person he was. There were certain people, however, who just looked at me and said, "I've never heard of him before." If this monumental biography were to only familiarize the second group of people with all that Rabbi Sherer accomplished in his lifetime of work it would more than serve it's purpose, but I believe that this book has an additional potential, namely to give both groups of people an eye opening view of what it means to give your life to work for Klal Yisroel.

This book is filled with historical pictures and letters that attest to the closeness that both Gedolim and political leaders felt between themselves and Rabbi Sherer. From Rav Aharon Kotler to New York Senator Jacob Javitz, all trusted him with confidence and pride. Two words that came to mind when thinking how to describe the book were insightful and thrilling. Thrilling stood out the most for me because there aren't too many biographies that come to mind that fulfill that description. The thrill comes from watching Rabbi Sherer encounter challenge after challenge and then rectifying them all with an incredible grace and ease. I literally couldn't put down this book because the stories engrossed me entirely. Rabbi Sherer's eloquence and professionalism are often stressed in the book along with his additional positive characteristics that molded him into becoming a once in a lifetime leader. Perhaps two sentences alone, from a chapter describing how Rabbi Sherer was as a boss, could sum up his entire philosophy as well as that of Agudath Israel. When a new secretary started her first day at the Agudath Israel office, Rabbi Sherer asked her who she worked for. After she answered the name of one of the senior staff Rabbi Sherer corrected her and said, "No, you work for Klal Yisroel. All of us here work for Klal Yisroel." All I can say is, wow.

This book has ten years of work written all over it and if you are looking for something enjoyable and inspiring to read I would definitely recommend "Rabbi Sherer."