The Life of the Rebbe Through the Eyes of a Chossid
Rabbi Chaim Miller, compiler of the Gutnick Chumash and other popular works, has written a complete biography of the Rebbe, chronicling his entire life in vivid detail from 1902 until 1994 and beyond.
As both a devoted Chasid and an exceptional scholar with a secular background, Miller has been uniquely positioned to “bridge” the complex, inner world of the Rebbe, with outside audiences.
Early reviews of the 590 page work, entitled Turning Judaism Outward, have been encouraging.
“Only truly great biographers have been able to accomplish what he has with this book,” wrote Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Executive Vice President Emeritus of the Orthodox Union and Editor-in-Chief of the Koren-Steinsaltz Talmud. “I am awed by his work, and am now even more awed than ever before by the Rebbe’s personality and prodigious accomplishments.”
Rabbi Menachem Genack, head of OU Kashrut, praised the book as “a masterful work of scholarship, beautifully written, with new insight.”
Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, praised the new work as, “A riveting biography…. this will prove to be a fascinating read even for those distant from Chabad or who knew little about this dominant figure in Jewish life.”.”
When asked why he felt it necessary to pen another offering about the Rebbe’s life and teachings, Rabbi Miller explained: “Everyone who has written about the Rebbe’s life picks and chooses the bits that they personally feel are impressive. That’s the ‘short, long way.’ You get some nice information, but in the end you lack a really substantial picture. It’s a bit like eating the dessert before the main course–it tastes good to start with, but then you don’t feel satisfied.”
Meyer Gutnick, director of Kol Menachem, the organization publishing the new book added, “We felt it was important to address the Rebbe’s life in its entirety, with all of its paradoxes and mysteries. It’s a greater challenge, an impossible one really, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try.”
Ultimately, Miller’s book was a labor of love, aimed at bringing some of the Rebbe’s greatness to broader circles. The rare combination of scholarship and admiration, honesty and deep respect, makes the work utterly unique.
“Rabbi Chaim Miller has written a masterpiece depicting the remarkable life and times of the Lubavitcher Rebbe z’ya,” wrote Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, Mara d’Asra of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY and Mashpia at Yeshiva University. “While honest and bold, it respects the sod, the secret of the towering tzadik whose life’s song changed the world.”
Rabbi Miller’s book coincides with the release of two other works on the life of the Rebbe by towering authors: Rabbi Adin Even Yisroel-Steinsaltz published My Rebbe, which focuses on his personal relationship with the revered leader, and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin published Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History, which is an academically researched historical biography of the Rebbe.
Unlike these two, however, Rabbi Miller’s work encompasses not only the Rebbe’s own life, but his teachings, works and accomplishments, written from the perspective of one of his ardent Chassidim.
For orders call 718-951-6328 or email orders@kolmenachem.com
CrownHeights.info obtained an exclusive excerpt of chapter 8 of the new book, Click Here to read it!
Yossi A
To Mayer Gutnick
CORRECTLY you state that a true bio of the Rebbe is impossible……
Many will agree that C M has come very close to it.(yet VERY far).
Rabbi Miller
I love Rabbi Chaim Miller. He is a Gem in the Chabad community. We need to take more advantage of what he has to offer.
A Kol Menachem fan
I can’t wait to read this one….. I read Steinsaltz, which was quite interesting and I may buy Telushkin – but Rabbi Miller is a brilliant communicator of the Rebbe’s teachings and I would expect this to be the ‘diamond’ among the three. Thank you crownheights.info for your sample of chapter 8 of Rabbi Millers book. It is riveting and leads me to believe that this will be a ‘must buy’ for all intelligent Lubavitchers. Well done and thank you again, Kol Menachem.
Nicely written article.
This was a fair and straightforward bit of reporting, unlike the insultingly snooty, demeaning treatment Rabbi Miller received over at ‘the other’ site.
CH resident
I live near Rabbi Miller and know him to be a true and sincere Lubavitcher and totally devoted to the Rebbe. He is also a brilliant writer and I believe this will be an inspirational read. I cannot wait to buy it.
Dovid
I’m sure this book is a masterpiece just like his other books
I do however have an issue with the cover photo as I feel that a picture after the Rebbe became Rebbe would be more appropriate.
very impressive
I read two chapters (8 and 11) and Im very impressed with the quality of the writings as well as the sources and scholarship.
However he doesn’t write like a chasid!
I would describe this as an accurate and kosher biography (as opposed to other biographies that have come out in the past…).
He has the knowledge of an insider but is writing like an outsider.
a typical chosid would be uncomfortable with the irreverent descriptions and titles throughout these two chapters.
order on amazon?
where can we reserve a copy? When is the publication date?
Can't wait!
Really looking forward to reading this one. Rabbi Miller has certainly proved himself in the past and I’m sure this book will be no different.
Room for improvement
Perusing the few sample pages one would never guess that a chossid wrote this. “Rayatz” sounds like his buddy. It’s the Rebbe Rayatz or Previous Rebbe. Same goes for using the Rebbe’s name (RaMaSh was used infrequently). As a chossid this should not be, especially since Outward” was written for outward. Much more respect is due. IMHO of course.
Cover
I love the cover of this book , which makes it stand out from the other ones
Rabbi Miller had proven to be an excellent writer
I am positive that this book will be a best seller
I made this comment in the “other site” and wAS NOT PUBLISHED
I wonder why?
"The other site"
Am really shocked at how the “other site”CENSORS opinions that are inconsistent with its biased reporting. I spoke with two friends this morning who are impressed with Rabbi Miller and so wrote positive things about him. I also wrote a message about him that was positive. None of them have been published. I wonder why??
Ma Rabbi
I too just read chapters 8 and 11 online and found them to be a storehouse of information. It is clear that the author put a tremendous amount of research in writing this book.
Disappointed
Jewish Press Book Review on My Rebbe by Rabbi Evan Israel Steinsaltz was disappointing. Belittling miracles of the Rebbe does make our children Chassidim. Is this what “the establishment” wants? Notwithstanding his brilliance, scholarship and age, the author of “My Rebbe” can be quite cynical.
Telushkin
Telushkin was not commissioned by any organization, he asked them for references.