The Secret of Chabad

The Secret of Chabad
Rabbi David Eliezrie

Toby (Maggid) / 432 pages

The Secret of Chabad is the riveting story of the world wide Lubavitch movement, and more specifically, the shluchim of Chabad who have set up oasis's of Judaism in every part of the world.

Let me cut to the chase: The book is absolutely riveting.

The book both opens and concludes with the story of Rabbi Gabi and Rivki Holtzberg. From the very first chapter to the end, you will be captivated and mesmerized by the stories of the shluchim around the world. The book is inundated with details on important people, places, and events. Sadly there is no index, which is a tremendous loss for the continued use of the book. Sources tell me, however, that the second edition, due out soon, will have one. Every chapter is essentially an independent account of the life and experiences of shluchim all over the world.

The first chapter, the life story and murder of Gabi and Rivki, is absolutely jaw dropping and full of suspense. There is an almost hour by hour account of the terror attack on the Chabad house in Mumbai, and the behind the scenes coordination and rescue efforts with the Israeli government, shluchim office in New York, and the Indian authorities. Other major themes and episodes in the book include:

  • A thorough presentation of the life of the previous Rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson and his efforts to spread Judaism behind the Iron Curtain
  • Jewish life in Russia from the 19th-21st century. Including extensive accounts of dodging the KGB in the pre-Gorbachev era
  • The relationship between Chabad and non-Orthodox movements
  • The relationship between Chabad shluchim and their communities, including the often turbulent relationship with local federations
  • The relationship between Chabad and Zionism, and the State of Israel
  • The beginnings of what has become major Chabad centers around the world
  • The Rebbe's rise to leadership
  • How the shluchim fundraise and survive financially
  • The history and philosophy of Chabad’s Tomchei Temimim yeshiva network
  • How the children of the shluchim are educated
  • The Shluchim. The Shluchim. The Shluchim.

The author does not hesitate to share the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is much on the Rebbe, though it is not a book about him. It is a book about Chabad, and primarily the shluchim. The book steers clear of the messianic narishkeit that has sullied the goodness of the Lubavitch movement in general, and the good work of the shluchim, in particular. In this sense, the book is apolitical and is a celebration of all that is good and successful in Chabad.[1]  All important points are documented in the extensive endnotes.

This book has earned its place as an eternal testimony to a major chapter of Jewish history. Absolutely amazing. And the secret to Chabad's success? I'll tell you: God. He’s on every page.


[1] I will take this opportunity, however, to note that some of the more “disputed” details of certain personalities are omitted. For example, when mentioning the Rebbe’s brother, there is no mention of the fact that he left religious observance, even operating his store on Shabbat. So too, the author claims that the Rebbe was strongly opposed to people declaring him the Mashiach. I’m not convinced. There are other narratives, to say the least. Indeed, the variations in the many biographies about the Rebbe that have come out in recent years (Miller, Deutsch, and Steinsaltz) leave one scratching one’s head over a number of important details.

Popular posts from this blog

Food: A Halachic Analysis

Image
Food: A Halachic Analysis Rabbi Yehuda Spitz Mosaica, 480 pp I am unsure whether “outstanding,” “remarkable,” or “spectacular,” best describes Rabbi Yehuda Spitz’s sefer “Food: A Halachic Analysis”  -- though all three adjectives may not do justice. In over 30 chapters discussing various food and kashrut related halacha, Rabbi Spitz, a sho’el u’meishiv at Yeshivat Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem, presents unprecedented clarity in explaining and demystifying the issues. Some of these issues include waiting between cheese and meat, using dishwashers for both milk and meat, fish and milk, eggs and onions left uncovered overnight, chalav Yisrael, marit ayin, and much much more. It is thorough, clear, and makes everything easy to understand. Definitely one of his flagship chapters is the appendix on the history of Gelatin and its kosher status. These chapters are not merely regurgitations of what readers have certainly seen in so many other places, but rather, original compositions in the author’
Read more

Sexuality and Jewish Law

Image
Sexuality and Jewish Law Yaakov Shapiro 430 pages In his Sexuality and Jewish Law, Yaakov Shapiro, an ordained rabbi and non-conformist Lubavitcher chassid, offers a thorough, unapologetic, and uncensored presentation of everything relating to sexual activity and Jewish law.  All rabbinic texts that deal with sexual matters are cited along with the interpretations and comments of all the relevant rishonim , achronim , and poskim . There is also a full presentation of the various halachic opinions and resolutions to the contradictions between them. The exhaustive endnotes are essentially an additional book in their own right. While the book is extremely well researched and impressive in its scope, the author clearly has an agenda and bone to pick. As he writes in the introduction, the book was born out of a bad experience and frustrations with what he was being taught in chattan classes and the “one-sided” approach to the laws of intimacy. The author seeks to put an en
Read more

Aruch Hashulchan in English

Image
Aruch Hashulchan in English Orach Chaim Chapters 242-292 Edited by Rabbi Ilan Segal Translated by Rabbis: Michael Broyde, Ilan Segal, Mordechai Torczyner Urim Publications / 520 pp I am completely blown away by the English Aruch HaShulchan that was just published by Urim Publications. This outstanding volume covers chapters 242-292 of Orach Chaim, the laws of Shabbat. Specifically, these chapters primarily discuss preparing for the arrival of Shabbat, Jewish/Non-Jews partnerships, preparing the stove/oven for Shabbat (shehiya, chazara, and hatmanan), kiddush, the Shabbat meals, and more. For those less familiar, the Aruch Hashulchan is a code of law written by Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein (1829–1908). The Aruch Hashulchan is incredibly unique in that before discussing the relevant halachot of each chapter, it first cited the relevant Talmudic passages and the view of the Rishonim. Most such Rishonim are only accessible to the advanced student of halacha. With this English translatio
Read more