New Biography Hits Local Stores—80 Years After a Chasid’s Passing

It’s the 80th anniversary of the passing of a venerated chosid—and his brand-new biography just hit the markets.

“Beinoni”, written in Hebrew, examines the life, challenges and accomplishments of Rabbi Dovid Horodoker (Kievman). The 266-page masterpiece explores how a young and talented student was dubbed a ‘Beinoni of Tanya’ by Rabbi Sholom Dovber of Lubavitch—the Rebbe Rashab.

What made him different? And how does the typical layman achieve ‘Beinoni’ status?

The book is written in a light, biographic style by author Yehoshua Fogelman. Fogelman was a Yeshiva student when he first started hearing stories about his great-grandfather. Impressed and curious about the Chasid’s saintly demeanor—and his uniquely famous service of both prayer and Torah study—the author journeyed through time. He started a broad and in-depth documentation about his grandfather, by way of interviews, thorough research, and collecting books, newspapers and historic documents.

The book, published by Chazak Publishing, has been flying off the shelves in Israel since the 9th of Nisan, “Reb Dovid’s” 80th yahrzeit. Reviews state that: “This is the book our generation has been waiting for! A glimpse into the life of an actual ‘beinoni’ and oh so fascinating.”

“Finally, a biography of a chasid who defied expectations. I loved the historical context and the way that a changing world couldn’t change a saintly man.”

Rabbi Dovid Horodoker’s personal history is deeply intertwined with the times and travails of Lubavitch Chasidism in Soviet Russia—under the tyranny of the government and in the shadow of the second World War. It is the fruit of rigorous and punctilious research.

Reb Dovid Horodoker was a chasid with all his being—and he was ever preoccupied with the service of prayer and Torah learning as he was in his days at the Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Lubavitch. [The Rebbe Rashab, who was not one to mince words, is known to have said that the entire formation of the famously successful Yeshiva would have been sufficient for the sake of his beloved and prodigious student alone.] Stories and recollections, sayings and descriptions of his distinctive prayer service—all of these are published within ‘Beinoni’.

Due to the extensive Bolshevik spy network, and later the Holocaust, much of Reb Dovid’s life was one of movement. He migrated from place to place, whether as Rav of Vietka or refugee in Samarkand. In all places Chasidim saw in him a venerable figure and an example of a chasid, someone who elevated himself from matters of this world, whose entire interest was to live the ways of Chasidus as taught by the leaders of Chabad. For him, Iskafya was natural, this was the routine way he lived—even as a communal leader. His exemplary life was cut short when, in the horrific days of the Holocaust, he found refuge in Samarkand and passed at the age of 59. Even after his passing, he is considered an icon and symbol for a chasid who practically implements service of G-d according to the Torah of Chasidus.

This book was also made possible by researcher and editor Reb Shneur Zalman Berger who, with collaborative and engaging effort, obtained additional historic information and performed the edits of the book. His work will enable thousands of readers to recognize from up close, revel in and absorb the life of a chasid of stature and simultaneous humility, and the ways of Chasidus.

The book has now hit the U.S. and can be found online and in stores beginning this month of Sivan. Be sure to pick up a first edition copy.

It can be found in stores in Crown Heights and online at seforimdeals.com and greenfieldjudaica.com.