New Book Distills Rebbe’s Wisdom Into Personal Purpose Guide

by Tzali Reicher – chabad.org

Rabbi Tuvia Teldon’s new book, Your Unique Purpose, began with a simple observation.

The regional director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Long Island since 1977, Rabbi Teldon has studied Hayom Yom daily like countless other Jews worldwide for decades.

Hayom Yom is an anthology of Chassidic wisdom and customs compiled by the Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, and first published in 1942. It was translated into English in 1988.

Over Teldon’s years of studying the slim volume, which contains a short teaching for every day of the year, a number of specific entries kept jumping out at him.

“I’ve been following the study schedule for as long as I can remember, and every year, these same Hayom Yoms really struck me,” says Rabbi Teldon. “The theme I kept seeing was how the Rebbe was really giving us a clear mission and explanation of our purpose in this world.”

Eventually, he made copies of 36 of these selections and spread them across his kitchen table, searching for patterns. What emerged were seven distinct themes that formed his latest work: a guidebook that distills the Rebbe’s daily wisdom into a practical framework for discovering every individual’s unique role in G‑d’s grand plan.

Rabbi Teldon has always been fascinated with purpose and the reason G‑d places people in their unique circumstances and situations. His search began with unimaginable heartbreak. Shortly after his marriage and moving out to launch Chabad of Long Island with his wife, Chaya, their firstborn son Baruch was born with cystic fibrosis.

“The diagnosis, made hours after his birth, hit like a punch in the stomach,” he recalls. “I trust in G‑d, I’m moving to a distant community to share Torah and mitzvot in a place where no such Jewish infrastructure exists. I’m doing all the ‘right things,’ so why was this happening?”

When Baruch passed at age 13, his grieving father threw himself into understanding what the Torah has to say about purpose and suffering.

“It wasn’t about learning for the sake of learning or an intellectual pursuit. It was about survival,” Rabbi Teldon says plainly.

That search would span 27 years, producing his first book on purpose five years ago, Eight Paths of Purpose. His new work, he says, is even more focused on individuals finding their unique calling.

This isn’t a book meant to be consumed and forgotten, and what makes Your Unique Purpose distinctive is its intentional design to stick with readers long after they close the cover. Rabbi Teldon describes it less a book and more of a “personal guide and interactive experience,” with each entry carefully structured to prompt ongoing reflection and application.

The book’s soft cover and lightweight format—it looks like a beautiful executive notebook—are designed to fit easily in a briefcase or purse for moments of reflection throughout the day. To make the lofty Chassidic ideas found inside accessible to those who might not be familiar with the language of Chassidut, Rabbi Teldon deliberately avoided difficult theological language.

“My goal is for everyone to think about what the Hayom Yom means to them,” he explains. “Pick it up at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and read an idea, and think about how you’re advancing G‑d’s grand plan, because that’s the reason we’re all here.”

The book’s central premise challenges the self-help culture’s focus on personal fulfillment. While secular purpose books ask what you want from life, Rabbi Teldon asks what life, and thereby G‑d, wants from you. Drawing on the Rebbe’s teachings, he shows that we are all irreplaceable pieces in a cosmic puzzle. What Rabbi Teldon has found is that many readers resonate with the book’s fundamental message: in a world of billions, among a Jewish population of just 15 million, every individual really does matter and has an irreplaceable role to play.

The concept of hashgacha pratit (Divine providence) runs throughout the book, connecting all the teachings. When you truly believe that everything happens for a reason, Rabbi Teldon argues, then your circumstances, strengths, and weaknesses all serve a larger purpose. This becomes a practical tool for finding meaning in life’s challenges.

‘We All Have a Role to Play’

The seven chapters organize the selected Hayom Yom teachings by theme, creating a comprehensive exploration of individual purpose within Jewish thought. “Torah and Mitzvot” explores the fundamental mission of learning Torah and observing G‑d’s commandments. “Journey of the Soul” examines each person’s unique role within the collective Jewish people. “Inner Work” addresses harnessing strengths and confronting weaknesses, while “Purpose in Everyday Activities” reveals how to find divine meaning in mundane tasks like work and family responsibilities.

“Service of G‑d” shows how understanding one’s purpose elevates a relationship with the Divine, while “Transforming the World” explores the far-reaching effects of what happens when individuals fulfill their mission. The final chapter, “Bringing Heaven Down to Earth,” draws on the Rebbe’s teachings about each person’s mission to elevate their immediate surroundings.

Each entry follows a consistent format designed for busy people seeking spiritual insight without lengthy discussion. The original Hayom Yom text appears in both Hebrew and English, followed by Rabbi Teldon’s short “Life Lessons” commentary and practical “Purpose Pointers” that challenge readers to apply these insights to their daily lives.

The response has been remarkable, the rabbi says of the feedback he’s received from the captivated crowds he speaks in front of and in the messages he gets. The book has sold thousands of copies in its first month, finding audiences among seekers from all walks of life looking for a practical entry point into Chassidic philosophy. Longtime students have discovered fresh angles on familiar ideas, while newcomers find accessible explanations of complex spiritual concepts.

“Thank G‑d, it seems the book is really making a difference,” says Rabbi Teldon. “The Rebbe explained that ultimately, we’re all here to bring Moshiach. We all have a role to play in that. The mission can’t be completed until each of us finds our unique purpose and do the work to elevate ourselves, our surroundings, and together, the world.”

“Hopefully,” he adds, “this book helps people find their unique purpose and plays a small role in hastening the coming of the Redemption.”

“Your Unique Purpose” is available from Ezra Press, an imprint of Kehot, and online book retailers.