Historian Immanuel Etkes has blazed a trail through the forest of Hasidic writings and biographical scholarship about the founder of Chabad, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, and produced a new sort of biography that gives a full picture of this spiritual giant and charismatic leader. The following is a review of his work by David Assaf:
My interview with Reb Chaim Miller of the Kol Menachem Library of Jewish Classics was not our first time meeting. His dream in life is, through his ability to convey some of the most complex ideas, to make a positive and lasting impression which will shape the face of generations to come.
Physicist Cyril Domb, whose advancement of theoretical physics led to new understandings of everyday phenomena, passed away last week at the age of 91. A mathematical prodigy, he also was an accomplished Talmudic scholar and authored dozens of articles on the interplay between the Torah and science, in addition to several Jewish scholarly works.
In this 21st installment of the series, Rebbetzin Chana describes how agents of the NKVD (secret police) would infiltrate the synagogues disguised as pious Jews, and try to gather incriminating information on their unsuspecting fellows.
Rabbi Yisroel Shimon Kalmanson was born on Tu B’shvat, 5674 (1914) to his parents R’ Shneur Zalman and Menucha. He grew up in Vitebsk, White Russia. As a boy he was brought to learn in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in a town near Vitebsk.
In this 20th installment of the series, Rebbetzin Chana describes how her husband Reb Levik, although already weak and frail from illness, would “come back to life” when he received fellow Jewish visitors.
Do you want to teach your child to become a Mentch? Why can a few positive words be so uplifting to a child a word? When and how should we bestow praise? A new series presented by Rabbi Nochem Kaplan can show you how.
Is T.M. and yoga the Path to enlightenment? Or a rocky road to idol worship? CrownHeights.info and the Avner Institute presents a letter to Doctor Yehuda Landes, wanting to open a holistic center for fellow Jews, where the Rebbe’s response reveals remarkable insight – not only as to the need for proper guidance, but the use of “alternate therapies” within a Torah framework.
Now on Jewish.TV, watch a video of the day’s Hayom Yom lesson. The series is hosted by Rabbi Moshe Steiner of Toronto, ON, director of Uptown Chabad. The daily videos on Hayom Yom were launched this 19 Kislev for the new daily cycle.
In this 19th installment of the series, Rebbetzin Chana reminisces about an episode with a Jewish writer named Markish, which took place while they were living in Dnepropetrovsk.
The following collection of 3 short stories about Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka is presented in honor of her Yahrtzeit today.
My Zaidy, Rabbi Lipa Brennan, told me a story that happened with him, the Rebbe & the Rebbetzin OBM in the summer of 1975, when he was a bochur in 770.
This year, sloppy eaters everywhere are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the invention of the sandwich by its eponymous Earl in 1762.
Menachem Mendel Oberlander, of blessed memory, had been ill for as long as I had known him. My brother knew him before he got sick, but I did not. Mendel was the son of Rabbi Baruch and Batsheva Oberlander, head Chabad representatives to Hungary. A bright and questioning child, he was fluent in four languages.
In this 18th installment of the series, Rebbetzin Chana describes how she prepared Hamantaschen for the holiday of Purim, and shared them with two unappreciative Jewish guests.
“If I had to encapsulate the life of my father in one sentence, it would probably be that he exemplified the traits of his forebear, Aaron HaKohen, as a man who loved and pursued peace. Indeed, he synthesized the ideals of Tov LaMakom – endearing to G-d’ and ‘Tov Labriyos – endearing to man’ in almost prototypical fashion.”
“For me, success is reaching the one person I can inspire with my music. The one life I can touch.” Esther Freeman‘s message of connecting with her audience on a one to one basis sometimes collides with the main stream notion in today’s world of trying to appeal to the masses.
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