YWN The Making of Rav Meir Shapiro – On his 83rd Yartzeit

THE CHOFETZ CHAIM The Chofetz Chaim was often saddened by the fact that certain Seforim and certain Mesechtos were virtually ignored. The Midrashei Halacha, comprised of the Mechilta, the Sifra and Sifrei, were written by Tannaim. They form the very first commentary on Chumash – but for some reason, few people opened up these holy seforim. True, the mid 1800’s brought a few commentaries, one by the Netziv. But, by and large, they were ignored. Indeed, the Chofetz Chaim considered it a Mais Mitzvah to learn these Seforim. Further saddening the great Chofetz Chaim was the fact that not only were the Midrashei Halacha disregarded, but entire Mesechtos of the Talmud were ignored as well. Indeed, this state of affairs was even worse than that of the Midrashei Halacha – because the Talmud Bavli was the authoritative repository of all halacha.