“I like to think that Rabbi Miller is looking down at me from Olam Haba. I imagine him giving me a look about smartphones, and then another look of approval for how this very technology is helping his teachings reach Yidden across the world.” Mr. Yitzchok Berkovits, creator of the Toras Avigdor app
A Life Upended
For some people, life goes smoothly.
But not for Mr. Yitzchok Berkovits.
When he was just 17, his mother was killed by a drunk motorcyclist, and his world came crashing down.
Creating an App
Mr. Berkovits is the creative genius behind the Toras Avigdor app, the now-famous resource that Toras Avigdor fans worldwide use to feed their Rabbi Miller addiction. The app contains a wealth of material, including shiurim, daily Q&A, parshah, and more. But it’s not just a library.
“I aimed to build a resource that feels like a Torah companion, designed to fit naturally into daily life,” says Mr. Berkovits.
And judging by the feedback, it does just that. Thrilled app users rave about its accessibility and smooth experience. They love the sleek design and user-friendly interface. Most important, they feel more connected to the Torah, and share their daily inspiration with their families at the Shabbos table.
Where did the idea for an app spring from?
The years following his mother’s death were filled with feelings of guilt and “what-ifs.” The young Yitzchok constantly relived his final interactions with his mother and blamed himself for the tragedy. It was difficult to find the comfort he needed.
During his teenage years he had developed a fascination for all things computer-related, but only as an adult did he put his talents and skills to use for the wider Jewish community, finally finding solace for the loss of his mother when he saw what a difference he could make in people’s lives.
An earlier app he created was the Gedolim Yartzeits app, which shares names, yartzeits, and stories about tzaddikim. The fact that he made it l’ilui nishmas his mother gave him a sense of closure, knowing that her neshamah was benefitting from the good deeds performed in honor of each gadol.
On its heels came the Toras Avigdor app.
“Creating an app like Toras Avigdor is a tremendous undertaking. It takes a lot of time, energy, and financial resources to bring it all together. But the reward of zikui harabbim—helping to bring Torah to so many people—is something beyond words,” says Mr. Berkovits.
In the Footsteps of Rabbi Miller
Israeli-born Mr. Berkovits, who moved to the U.S. at the age of eight, found himself hooked on Rabbi Miller’s Torah the moment he came across Toras Avigdor.
“I’ve shifted my entire thought process to recognize Hashem’s presence in everything—every action, everything I encounter,” he says.
He became determined to share his inspiration with the world. And just like Rabbi Miller, his love for his fellow Jews is a motivating force.
“There’s a sense of ahavas Yisrael behind this project, a love for our people and a desire to help others grow spiritually. Every download, every word learned or read through the app is like a seed planted. My hope is that these seeds will bloom in the hearts of those who use it, bringing them inspiration and strength in their connection to Hashem.”
How Is This App Different from All Other Apps?
You can easily find shiurim, daily insights, and practical wisdom on everything from personal growth to the weekly parshah. There’s even a podcast you can tune into, as well as video and audio sections. And hang in there—shiurim in Gemara are coming soon. Oh, and you’ll never lose your place, because bookmarks show you where you left off, and you can note what you’ve already seen.
You can set up alerts to let you know when new content comes in, to make sure you never miss your favorite topics. You can even print out the weekly Toras Avigdor on the parshah directly from the app. And if you like reading in the dark, no problem. The app’s dark mode feature will make you happy.
Lofty Goals
Mr. Berkovits has two goals for his app: to make Rabbi Miller’s Torah accessible to Jews everywhere and to help those Jews make Torah part of their everyday lives.
“If it can help even one person grow spiritually, or find clarity in their relationship with Hakadosh Baruch Hu,” he says, “it will have accomplished its purpose.”
Mr. Berkovits admits there were challenges, both technical and personal, but says, “I realized that nothing truly meaningful or successful comes without overcoming these obstacles. Each challenge served as an opportunity for growth. With the goal of creating something that would spread Torah and bring others closer to Hashem, I was motivated to push through, no matter the setbacks.”
Mr. Berkovits is grateful to all the readers and users of Toras Avigdor. “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support and engagement with the app,” he says. “It’s been a true labor of love to create something that can share the chochmah of Rabbi Miller with so many people. As we journey through life, it’s easy to become distracted, but the teachings of our great Torah leaders always have the power to bring us back to our true purpose. I hope Toras Avigdor serves as a constant reminder of the strength and beauty of our Torah and is a tool to help you strengthen your connection with Hakadosh Baruch Hu.”
And thank you too, Mr. Berkovits, for being the driving force behind the Toras Avigdor app and dedicating your expertise to the greater good of Klal Yisrael. No doubt you are bringing Rabbi Miller great nachas in Shamayim.
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