Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson, the Most Influential Rabbi in Modern History [9780062318985]

Overview

“One of the greatest religious biographies ever written.” – Dennis Prager

In this enlightening religious biography, Joseph Telushkin offers a captivating portrait of the late Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, a towering figure who saw beyond conventional boundaries to turn his movement, Chabad-Lubavitch, into one of the most dynamic and widespread organizations ever seen in the Jewish world. At once an incisive work of historical nonfiction and a compendium of Rabbi Schneerson’s teachings, Rebbe is the definitive guide to understanding one of the most vital, intriguing figures of the last centuries.

From his modest headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, the Rebbe advised some of the world’s greatest leaders and shaped matters of state and society. Statesmen and artists as diverse as Ronald Reagan, Robert F. Kennedy, Yitzchak Rabin, Menachem Begin, Elie Wiesel, and Bob Dylan span the spectrum of those who sought his counsel. Rebbe explores Schneerson’s overarching philosophies against the backdrop of treacherous world history, revealing his clandestine activism to rescue and sustain Jews in the Soviet Union, and his critical role in the expansion of the food stamp program throughout the United States. More broadly, it examines how he became in effect an ambassador for Jews globally, and how he came to be viewed by many as not only a spiritual archetype but a savior. Telushkin also delves deep into the more controversial aspects of the Rebbe’s leadership, analyzing his views on modern science and territorial compromise in Israel, and how in the last years of his life, many of his followers believed that he would soon be revealed as the Messiah, a source of contention until this day.

• A Visionary Leader: Discover how Rabbi Schneerson built Chabad-Lubavitch from a modest Brooklyn headquarters into one of the most widespread and influential organizations in the Jewish world.
• Counsel to World Leaders: Go behind the scenes as statesmen from Ronald Reagan to Yitzchak Rabin, and artists like Bob Dylan, sought the Rebbe’s private counsel on matters of state and society.
• Clandestine Operations: Uncover the full story of his secret efforts to rescue and sustain Jews in the Soviet Union, a testament to his unwavering commitment to his people.
• Enduring Controversies: Telushkin provides a balanced examination of the most debated aspects of the Rebbe's life, including his views on Israeli politics and the followers who believed he was the Messiah.