When it comes to books, history gets the final vote on what becomes a classic. The Mesilat Yesharim and Toldot Yaakov Yosef were so controversial, they were banned and burned in their times - only to be revered in future generations. The Mishna Brurah, in contrast, enjoyed both instant success and lasting success, while the Ohr Yisroel is largely unknown today, yet its ideas shaped yeshivos worldwide. Books can make a tremendous impact on the world, but only time can tell the breadth and nature of their influence.
Rabbi Wein explores four masterpieces of Jewish thought - the controversies they stirred up and their triumph over their critics.