Nachman Seltzer (; born 1978) is an Israeli author, public speaker, and rabbi. He is known for his work in Jewish literature, particularly focusing on biographies and inspirational stories based on real-life events. He also served as the director of the Shira Chadasha Boys Choir.
Early life and education Seltzer grew up in a Breslov family in Flatbush and Borough Park in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the Torah Vodaas, Karlin-Stolin, and Yesodei Hatorah yeshivas. He attended various summer camps, where he performed as an actor. As a child, he joined the Miami Boys Choir for two years, between 1992 and 1993.
At age 14, Seltzer immigrated to Israel with his family and later studied at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. After his marriage he studied at the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem and received semikhah from Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits at the Jerusalem Kollel.
Writing career Seltzer is the author of 55 books ,Rabbi Nachman Seltzer on LinkedIn which are widely read in Orthodox Jewish communities. His works are known for their narrative style and generally focus on Jewish history, biographies, and inspirational stories, as well as a number of thriller fiction titles. It takes him three to four months to write each book.
He wrote his first book, The Edge, at the age of 23. It was published by Rabbi Moshe Dombey, the founder of Targum Press, who had earlier encouraged him to start writing. His first few books were novels, after which he transitioned to short stories. Currently, he primarily writes biographies.
His books are written in English, and approximately 10 of them have been translated into Hebrew, with some also translated into French, Spanish, and Yiddish. His book The Edge was adapted into a film by Boruch Perlowitz.
He also writes a weekly column in the Mishpacha titled "A Storied People", featuring non-fiction short stories. He formerly contributed weekly to Hamodia.
Public speaking Seltzer is a frequent lecturer in Jewish communities and on TorahAnytime, often discussing the themes of his books, including faith, positivity, and Jewish identity. He also gives classes on gemara and hashkafa at American yeshivas and seminaries.
Musical career In 2004, Seltzer founded the Shira Chadasha Boys Choir, a children's choir composed of Israeli boys mainly with American backgrounds. They released five albums: Acheke Lo, Arayvim Zeh Lozeh, The Chanukah Album, Al Hatorah and Am Yisroel. The choir collaborated with artists such as Yaakov Shwekey, Lipa Schmeltzer, and Baruch Levine and accompanied Shwekey in Bloomfield Stadium and Avraham Fried at the Heichal HaTarbut before closing in 2019.
Seltzer also produced Visions, an album of English songs, and co-produced The Story Experience. In September 2021, he released a song titled "A Journey to Radin", which he composed and performed. This song was inspired by his participation in the Dirshu trip to Radun. In February 2023, he released another song titled "It's About The Yomi", also composed and performed by him. This song served as a commercial for Eli Stefansky's daf yomi shiur.
Reception Seltzer's books and lectures have been well received in Orthodox Jewish circles, garnering significant attention and praise for their unique blend of thriller elements and Jewish cultural themes. Israeli newspaper Ynet has described him as a Haredi version of Harlan Coben, noting that his fiction work has successfully crossed the sector barrier, appealing to both secular and religious readers.
Personal life Seltzer is married to Aliza Seltzer and has four children. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel, and studies in a local kollel. His son Yehuda Zvi came third place in the final of the children's reality show Magic Kass Star, which was broadcast on Kikar HaShabbat.
Seltzer was also one of the founders of Eli Stefansky's daf yomi shiur.
Bibliography +YearTitlePublisherDescription2004The EdgeTargum PressFiction2006The LinkTargum PressFictionIn the Blink of an EyeHamodia PublishingShort storiesNine Out of TenIsrael Book ShopHistory2008Stories With a TwistTargum PressShort storiesThe NetworkMesorah PublicationsFiction2009Child of WarMesorah PublicationsBiography2010It Could Have Been YouMesorah PublicationsShort storiesOne Small Deed Can Change The WorldMesorah PublicationsShort storiesA Moment in TimeHamodia PublishingShort stories2011It Could Have Been You Volume 2Mesorah PublicationsShort storiesThe ShadowsMesorah PublicationsFiction2012It Could Have Been You Volume 3Mesorah PublicationsShort storiesMeaning of the MomentHamodia PublishingShort stories2013Class ActsMesorah PublicationsShort storiesHeaven's TearsMesorah PublicationsBiography of Sima Halberstam Preiser201448Mesorah PublicationsShort storiesInside Their HomesMesorah PublicationsBiography2015I Have An Amazing Story For YouMesorah PublicationsShort storiesClass Acts Volume 2Mesorah PublicationsShort stories2016Incredible!Mesorah PublicationsBiography of Rabbi Yossi WallisI Have An Amazing Story For You Volume 2Mesorah PublicationsShort storiesDuvid HaMelechTfutza PublicationsChildren's biography of David2017At His Rebbi's SideMesorah PublicationsBiographyZera Shimshon: The Sefer. The Stories. The Segulah.Mesorah PublicationsWork on Zera Shimshon2018Encounters With GreatnessMesorah PublicationsBiographyZera Shimshon 2: The Sefer. The Stories. The Segulah.Mesorah PublicationsWork on Zera ShimshonEscape To ShanghaiMenucha PublishersHistory2019Incredible! 2Mesorah PublicationsBiographyI have An Amazing Story For You Volume 3Mesorah PublicationsShort stories2020The RebbetzinMesorah PublicationsBiography of Rebbetzin Esther JungreisOur Man in JerusalemMesorah PublicationsBiography of Rabbi Yisroel GellisA Tiny Taste of HeavenMesorah PublicationsShort stories about hafrashas challah2021Living Legend: Rabbi Grossman of Migdal HaEmekMesorah PublicationsBiography of Rabbi Yitzchak Dovid GrossmanReb GetzelMesorah PublicationsBiography of Getzel BergerThe InsiderMesorah PublicationsBiography of 2022Rav Yitzchok ScheinerMesorah PublicationsBiography of Rabbi Yitzchok ScheinerZera Shimshon Eishes Chayil: The Sefer. The Stories. The SegulahMesorah PublicationsWork on Zera ShimshonI Have An Amazing Story For You Volume 4Mesorah PublicationsShort stories2023The Maggid of SydneyFeldheim PublishersBiography of Tom Rev and the Kamarna RebbeFrom Sinai To YerushalayimMesorah PublicationsBiography of Roy and Leah Neuberger90 SecondsMesorah PublicationsBiography of Eli BeerThe RibnitzerMesorah PublicationsBiography of Rabbi Chaim Zanvil Abramowitz2024Truth Meets FictionAdir PressFiction short storiesAngels in OrangeMesorah PublicationsStories about United Hatzalah in the October 7 attacksZera Shimshon on Tehillim: The Sefer. The Stories. The SegulahMesorah PublicationsWork on Zera ShimshonAvraham AvinuMesorah PublicationsChildren's biography of Abraham2025The AskanAdir PressBiography of Shragi NewhouseThe Haggadah with StoriesMesorah PublicationsStories on the HaggadahMiracles, Missiles and Mesiras NefeshMesorah PublicationsStories of the Gaza warHacham BaruchMesorah PublicationsBiography of Hacham Baruch Ben-HaimChessed Under FireMesorah PublicationsStories of Shai Graucher during the Gaza war2026Zera Shimshon Yomi: The Sefer. The Stories. The Segulah.Mesorah PublicationsDaily study of Zera ShimshonRabbi Murray MaslatonMesorah PublicationsBiography of Rabbi Murray Maslaton
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