How a personal journey through difficult times gave birth to a Torah quiz book that is now enjoyed by thousands of Jewish families.

Some books begin with a business idea. Others begin with a dream. The story behind שאילת שלום began during some of the most difficult days of our lives, and grew into something far beyond what I could ever have imagined.

The Early Questions

When our dear son Sholom ה״ע was ill, we spent many long days in hospital with him. During those difficult stays, we began composing Torah quizzes, which we would later use around our Shabbos table. What started as a way to engage our boys in Torah became a source of lively discussion, excitement and meaningful family time.

Sholom himself was very eager to participate. Even at his young age, he wanted to join in with the questions. We would read him stories from the parsha and prepare suitable questions so that he, too, could take part.

In Pesach 2017, Sholom spent several weeks as an inpatient in hospital. On Shabbos and Yom Tov, we would take our children on the 45-minute walk from Gateshead to Newcastle to visit him. During those walks, we would practise our Torah questions together, turning the journey into an opportunity for learning and enjoyment.

Little did we know then that these early quizzes would eventually become a published series.

Sadly, Sholom ה״ע was niftar at a very young age, on Shavuos — the Yom Tov on which we celebrate Kabbalas HaTorah. We were not zocheh to accompany him through all the stages of life we had hoped and prayed for.

The Idea That Was Born During the Shivah

During the shivah for Sholom ה״ע, a friend came to visit and suggested that I publish some of the Divrei Torah and shticklach Torah I had shared in kollel.

My first thought was that, although a sefer of chiddushei Torah would certainly contain valuable Torah, it might not necessarily be used very much. I wanted to produce something that people would actually open, use and enjoy — something that would bring Torah into homes and create lively discussions around the Shabbos table.

Then I had an idea: why not publish the Torah quizzes we had been compiling and using with our own children?

The title came to me almost immediately: שאילת שלום. The idea and the name came together, connecting this project with the memory of my beloved son and giving it a purpose that was deeply personal to me.

From 800 Copies to Thousands of Families

By Shloyshim, the first volume was ready. I printed just 800 copies and distributed them among friends. It was a small beginning, with no idea of how far the project might eventually reach.

The feedback was very positive. By Sholom’s first yahrtzeit, I published the second volume, printing 1,200 copies. The encouraging response continued, and by the second yahrtzeit, the third volume was published, with a print run of 2,400 copies.

Today, שאילת שלום is used at Shabbos tables around the globe. Rabbeim and mechanchim use the book, as do camps and Avos Uvonim programmes. Its questions also appear in various newsletters and on printed sheets prepared for Shabbos, bringing Torah discussion and enjoyment to many more families and groups.

With each edition, the project continued to grow. The latest volume has reached a print run of 4,000 copies, and today, שאילת שלום is being used by thousands of people.

What began as a personal project, rooted in our own family’s experiences, has developed into a collection enjoyed by Jewish families far beyond our home.

More Than a Quiz Book

The idea behind שאילת שלום is about much more than questions and answers.

Chazal teach us that when Klal Yisrael stood ready to receive the Torah, the ultimate guarantors were their children. Our responsibility is to ensure that the Torah is passed from one generation to the next.

To accomplish that, we need to teach our children with geshmak — with enthusiasm, enjoyment and a genuine thirst to know more. Torah questions can be a wonderful way to achieve this. They encourage children to think, to ask, to discover and to become actively involved in learning.

A good question can spark a discussion that brings parents and children together. It can turn an ordinary Shabbos meal into an opportunity for learning, laughter and a deeper connection to Torah.

That was what we experienced in our own home, and it is what I hope שאילת שלום brings to homes everywhere.

For me, the book carries a very special meaning. It grew out of difficult times, became a way of keeping Torah learning alive in our family, and developed into a project dedicated to passing the beauty of Torah on to future generations.

The fact that Sholom ה״ע was niftar on Shavuos, the time of Kabbalas HaTorah, makes this mission especially meaningful to us.

May the Torah learned through שאילת שלום be a zechus for the neshamah of Sholom ה״ע, and may it inspire many more Jewish children and families to discover the joy of Torah.

Chaim Goldkin