I mean no disrespect to the sefer or to its author, but there was an actual marketing effort in the 1950's, one in which I believe a YU rosh yeshiva (the Chofetz Chaim's son-in-law) played a part. R' Aharon Kotler, for example, made sure to always be seen holding a copy at public events.
I have also heard the suggestion that the fact that the Chofetz Chaim was genuinely such a tzadik helped the sefer's reputation. But I definitely heard from even younger rebbeim than R' Schachter that the sefer's influence was not nearly what it is now.
But even by my day YU was giving special Mishna Berura exams (the MBATs) to starting semikha students.
His comments about the Mishnah Berurah are fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI mean no disrespect to the sefer or to its author, but there was an actual marketing effort in the 1950's, one in which I believe a YU rosh yeshiva (the Chofetz Chaim's son-in-law) played a part. R' Aharon Kotler, for example, made sure to always be seen holding a copy at public events.
DeleteI have also heard the suggestion that the fact that the Chofetz Chaim was genuinely such a tzadik helped the sefer's reputation. But I definitely heard from even younger rebbeim than R' Schachter that the sefer's influence was not nearly what it is now.
But even by my day YU was giving special Mishna Berura exams (the MBATs) to starting semikha students.