Rabbi Avigdor Miller, Zt”l, was a very unique and outstanding American godol. He innovated methods for teaching Torah to baalei batim, so that they would understand what is true daas Torah, and become talmidei chachomim. 

His thirst for learning was evident at an early age. He later told over that he learned Tanach with his grandfather Rav Dov, zt"l, to the extent that he knew most of it by heart. At age twenty-four, HaRav Aizik Sher zt'l, the rosh yeshiva of Slobodke, came to American to raise money for his yeshiva. Rav Miller became attached to him and followed him to the yeshiva. HaRav Miller studied there for six years and absorbed the Slobodke shittah of Torah and mussar emphasizing gadlus ho'odom and tikkun hamiddos. 

Right before the outbreak of World War II Rabbi Miller returned to America. In America, HaRav Miller took his first position as rav in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where he served until 1945. Even in this area he had a great impact, and said public lectures on many subjects. Even in those days bochurim who came totally ignorant of Torah grew slowly in learning until they became true bnei Torah. In the year 1945, HaRav Yitzchok Hutner zt'l requested that he become the mashgiach in Yeshivas Chaim Berlin, a position that he held for nineteen years. Later HaRav Miller became the Rav of the Young Israel of Rugby in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn, and began his program of educating laymen to become great in Torah.

People who previously couldn't read a word of Hebrew, those for whom the Rov had to put the vowels in the words of the gemora, later became proficient in Shas. Rav Miller once said, "In all the shiurim in the world the rav learns and everybody listens, here everyone has to learn." He would regularly stop the shiur in the middle and everyone would say over the gemora. The Rov stressed that you are not a success until you are able to say it over yourself. He told the baalei batim to constantly review, and only in that way they would become talmidei chachomim. Every shabbos before the Rov's droshoh a gabbai would announce the names of the numerous chavrusos that would be learning during the Shabbos and the week. 

Now Torah tapes are common but the credit must be given to Rav Miller who innovated this idea and taped the numerous shmuessen that he delivered in the shul and elsewhere. The Torah Telephone Program in which chavrusos were formed even with people on the west coast was the first of its sort, and some chavrusos have already lasted twenty years. 

During the past half century, HaRav Miller spread emunah, yiras Shomayim and correct hashkofo throughout the United States. With his unique gift of speech, pleasant delivery and pure message he merited to inspire and enlighten tens of thousands with his speeches and writings. He produced thousands of tapes on many subjects in hashkofo, halocho gemora, medrash and mussar.

In addition to his numerous tapes, he also merited to publish many seforim which gained fame throughout the United States and Europe. These books were mainly in English and were geared for the American public, their purpose being to instill American Jews with emunah and clear and correct Torah outlook.