About Us
Our work is dedicated to the contemporary understanding of Jewish tradition and, in particular, the books of the Prophets . We publish books, commentaries, and materials in Russian, expanding access to these texts for a wider readership.
Who Are We and How Did We Begin to write the Commentary on the Books of the Prophets?
Who I am and how my journey began
My name is Zeev Leyserson (Meshkov).
I was born in Moscow in 1952. Despite graduating from the Institute of Electronic Engineering, I have worked in Jewish education for over forty years.
Ten of those years were spent in the Jewish underground during the years of "refusal" (refusal was the term for the time spent waiting to leave for Israel after submitting documents to the OVIR and receiving the first refusal of an exit permit).
All my educational activities were supported and inspired by Lyuba Leyserson (Meshkov), my beloved wife (born in 1949), who, sadly, passed away on December 13, 2021.
Jewish Education and the Return to Tradition in Moscow
I started my activity in the field of Jewish education during a decade of underground conditions during the years of "refuse" in the Soviet Union, when we were waiting to leave Russia for Israel, after we had submitted immigration documents to the authorities, and we were denied exit to Israel. In Moscow, I taught Judaism every evening. Classes were held in the kitchen of our one-room apartment, as well as in the apartments of other Jews in the city. I traveled to many cities to help Jews return to their traditions. I conducted classes in Minsk, Leningrad, Kyiv, Riga and Gorky.
From where did I acquire my knowledge? I studied with Rabbi Avrom Mehler, a student of Chafetz Chaim, and with Rabbi Benjamin Katznelson, who had studied at the yeshiva before the revolution. When prominent rabbis began to come as tourists from abroad, there was an opportunity to learn from them. I was particularly influenced by Rabbi Moshe Eisman, who wrote several commentaries on the books of the prophets.
The fight for the right to repatriation
Luba and I took an active part in the struggle of the Jews for their right to return to Israel. Taking part in demonstrations, constant surveillance and pressure from the KGB (Russian special services) were an integral part of our lives.
Our family immigrated to Israel in 1989. Here I taught Torah and Talmud at two universities and worked in yeshivas.
Working on the translation of Rabbi Hertz's commentary
Our interpretive work began without the intention of creating a magnificent and extensive work. In 1995 - 1999, Luba and I worked on the translation from English into Russian of the book of comments on the Torah written by Rabbi Yosef Zvi Hertz (Chief Rabbi of England during World War II) by order of the "Gesharim" publishing house. Among English-speaking Jews, the book is known as "Soncino Pentateuch" (after the name of the publisher). Rabbi Hertz is a man of genius, with extraordinary learning and insight, but we had to thoroughly work on his text, as Rabbi Hertz wrote it in a hurry. Our clarifications and additions - all received the permission of "Gesharim".
Luba is a teacher of Russian language and literature by profession. While working, she created a special language -strict and easy to understand at the same time. Finally, the work on the translation was completed, and in 2001 the book was published with a circulation of 100,000 copies.
Twenty years of collaboration: commentary, maps, diagrams, editing...
And then it happened - In 2001 - 2004 he worked in the city of Kyiv, Ukraine, as an envoy of the Jewish Agency, in the program "Jewish Self-Consciousness". On the last day of my work, I was approached by two people with whom I often spoke during my stay in Kyiv. They said: "We want you to write a commentary on the books of the prophets, as you wrote on Rabbi Hertz's book on the Torah." I told them, “That's impossible. There is no such book in any language. I have nothing to rely on. I do not have the knowledge that Rabbi Hertz has.” They insisted, and it's hard to argue with businessmen. I agreed to their offer. For twenty years Luba and I sat in an office in our house in Neve Daniel. We have chosen interpretations that are not particular, but global, national in their essence. We have explained the sources, because simply translating them into Russian is useless. It was my responsibility to provide commentary, detailed applications, maps, and diagrams. Luba worked on linguistic editing in a literary-scientific manner and carefully monitored that nothing was omitted and that all explanations were presented in a clear and understandable form.
These books can become a space for a deeper and more living encounter with the Books of the Prophets. The commentary helps the reader not only understand the text, its historical context, and its more difficult passages, but also hear in the words of the Prophets something that still speaks to us today — through explanations, sources, maps, and diagrams.
Why are the books of the Prophets important today?
The books of the prophets are the foundation of Jewish education. After all, our sages said that only important prophecies were written for all generations. For everyone, it means for us too. For me, this work is a continuation of the struggle for the restoration and integrity of the Land of Israel and the return to our roots, which our family began in Moscow and never stopped in Israel. This continues to this day.
From this long-term work came books that help the modern Russian-speaking reader not only understand prophetic texts, but also find support, historical depth, and personal meaning in them.
I invite you to be part of the tens of thousands of readers who have discovered a new and wonderful world by reading our books, delving into Jewish heritage and discovering their roots. Join those who already hold in their hands the commentary of the books of the prophets that tells the true story for us and future generations. Books from which to learn lessons, get acquainted with sources and form a personality and worldview.
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