By COLlive reporter
Over the past few weeks at Yeshiva University’s Gruss Kolel in Jerusalem, Rabbi Dr. Aaron Rakeffet-Rothkoff has been devoting a series of lectures about the Rebbe and his international influence through the Shluchim.
Rabbi Rakeffet was initially a student of Rabbi Aharon Kotler in Lakewood and later became a close disciple of Rabbi Yosef Ber Soloveitchik. An outstanding Talmid Chochom, Rabbi Rakeffet has been teaching generations of students for over 50 years.
The Jewish History Fall 2015 series was dedicated to exploring the life and work of the Rebbe. In last week’s lecture, Rabbi Rakeffet marveled at the Rebbe’s enormous influence when compared with other Gedolei Yisroel.
“Think for a minute of the concept of Shluchim. This was revolutionary. Shluchim reaching out to every Jew ba’asher hu sham (where he is).”
“Rabbi Soloveitchik viewed himself as melamed in the classroom. That’s where his responsibility began and, basically, that’s where his responsibility ended. Reb Moshe Feinstein was a posek muvhak. Everyone turned to him with sheilos. But it began and ended with the people who asked him questions.
“Rav Pinchas Teitz, a Rav in Elizabeth—He reached out. No question. He started—and it was revolutionary at the time— a shiur in Gemorah in Yiddish to Holocaust survivors, to those who were raised to be good Jews and had lost it in America. But the Lubavitcher Rebbe is reaching out to every Jew who walks the face of the earth.”
Rabbi Rakeffet’s lectures have been based considerably on Rabbi Chaim Miller‘s recent biography of the Rebbe, Turning Judaism Outwards, which Rabbi Rakeffet praised in the most glowing terms. “Of all that has been written, this is the biography that will conquer the market. It’s a very, very balanced work,” he said.
Listen to all 15 classes in the series at yutorah.org
If Rabbi Rakeffet is such an admirer of the Rebbe, he should be brought closer to Chasidus.
Has he ever been to Ohel? He comes into America sometimes, in the summer for a few weeks usually, and sometimes at other times too.
People should work on him to go to the Ohel, to grow a beard, to learn Tanya, etc.
It is never too late!
YU Torah has a lot of shiurim about Chabad Chassidus and the Rebbe. Plus many other interesting shiurim . That’s one thing good about the Internet. I never went to Stern/YU, but I can still learn from their teachers and roshei yeshiva.
please listen to the last shiur and you will appreciate why R’ Rakefet does what he does about the Rebbe
BTW it would be nice if all Litvish institutions would discuss the gadlus of all other litvish gedolim as Brisk about Telse Grodno about Slobodka Navardok about Chevron etc. etc.
nice idea
but you missed the point. as R’ Rakefet put it it nice and clear only the Rebbe addressed Klal yisroel “Bnei uBnos Yisroel bchol makom sheeim”, a leader of all people in all places on all levels. please just hear the last shiur.
At times comical and cute the statements analysis and perspectives about and on Lubavitch and the Rebbe
always very pleasant
This is really beautiful. There is so much we can learn from the Rebbe. But the fact of the matter is איזהו חכם הלומד מכל אדם. It would be great if Chabad yeshivas and Kollelim would present shiurim about other Gedolei Yisroel with the respect and reverence they deserve.
Hey – I have an idea–how about a series of shiurim at 770 about the life and influence of Rav Soloveitchik??
I just listened to his latest talk. which was interesting, but I vehemently disagree on his point that there are no shluchim that are “Messianic”! THERE ARE!!!!!! They are just low key so as not to be ostracized by the “powers that be”. But on the other hand, THAT was the Rebbe’s last message to the shluchim at the last kinus before the stroke: “ALL THAT IS LEFT FOR THE SHLUCHIM TO ACCOMPLISH IS TO CREATE THE DESIRE TO THE WORLD, THAT WE WANT MOSHIACH N O W!!!!! Perhaps if EVERY shliach took that seriously and followed that directive MOSHIACH… Read more »
Rabbi Rakeffet is the best teacher I even found online. Both his history and Shu”t classes are diamonds. Not only the ones where he talks about Chabad, but all other ones as well.
RAR shilta is a great man in a generation where we don’t see greatness
He teaches pure gold!
~ Yisroel Lazerson
Rabbi Rakefet provides a remarkable insight into the Rebbe and Chabad
He is tremendous – I’ve been listening to him for years.
Rabbi Rakeffet is the best teacher. He has loads of Chabad talmidim from many Chabad yeshivas via the internet.
I listen all the time. Not because I agree with everything but because it’s a pleasure to listen to! Here’s a guy Doesn’t shy away from giving credit to others outside his immediate community.