About Yaakov

Yaakov Astor, founding Editor-in-Chief of Zman Magazine, has written, co-written or edited more than 30 published books and hundreds of articles. His most recent books are: Rav Avigdor Miller on Middos, Holocaust Heroes and Heroines, Awaken Your Emunah, Rav Avigdor Miller on Tefillah, Rav Avigdor Miller on Teshuvah and the Yamim Nora’im, Rav Avigdor Miller on Olam Haba and Nothing Bad Ever Happens, (re-titled, Run Rachel Run) which documents the amazing Holocaust story of his mother-in-law, Rachel Blum.

In 2014, he published The Underground, which documents the incredible and often dangerous work of the organization that sent hundreds of Torah teachers behind the Iron Curtain to educate a thirsting generation of Soviet Jews about their lost heritage.

He is also the author of Rav Avigdor Miller on Emunah and Bitachon, which collects, assembles and organizes in engaging question-and-answer form Rav Miller’s thought-provoking ideas about emunah and bitachon (faith and trust in God), which until now were scattered throughout his shiurim and seforim. In 2016, Yaakov Astor was the chief editor of Rabbi Miller’s biography, published under the title, “Rav Avigdor Miller – His Life And His Revolution.”

Before that, he authored two volumes of The Hidden Hand: The Hidden Hand — The Holocaust and The Hidden Hand: Uncovering Divine Providence in Major Events of the 20th Century, which explore Divine Providence in modern events, including the Holocaust.

In 2010, he was the founding Editor-in-Chief for Zman magazine and continued in that position for nearly 100 issues. Currently, he publishes weekly articles in Y Magazine (part of Yated Ne’eman) as well as The Mevaser. He also writes regularly The Monsey View. Overall, he has published thousands of articles in publications such as HaModia, Mishpachah Magazine, The Jewish Observer, Aish.com and others.

He is also author of Soul Searching: Seeking Scientific Foundation for the Jewish Tradition of an Afterlife, which compares millennia-old teachings in Judaism about the Afterlife with modern day scientific research into near-death-experiences (NDE’s) and reincarnation.

He was also editor of Sefer Nehemiah and Trei Asar, Vol. 1, in the ArtScroll Tanach Series.

In addition to his books, he has also published hundreds articles in Yated Ne’eman, HaModia, Mishpachah Magazine, The Jewish Observer, Zman magazine, Aish.com and other publications.

Beyond his writing career, he is a former yeshivah teacher and principal who has also taught in various kiruv (outreach) capacities.

He served as the Deputy Director of Zechor Yemos Olam (the Holocaust education branch of Torah Umesorah), helping administer its online course to foremost educators and leading annual tours to Poland. This course is the result of working closely with Rabbi Joseph Elias, zt”l, on producing the Holocaust Curriculum for Torah Umesorah. A scaled-down a version of that curriculum became the book Tragedy & Rebirth.

Another notable writing accomplishment is his work with Rabbi Berel Wein in producing the website jewishhistory.org and an online Jewish History course for the Destiny Foundation.

Partial List Of Yaakov’s Writing Accomplishments

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