By COLlive reporter
Dear Rebbe continues to receive praise from rabbis, scholars and professors. The consensus of reviewers is its unique contribution to literature on the Rebbe’s life, and personal interaction with some of the most iconic people of the Jewish community of the 20th Century.
Dr. Michael Berenbaum, executive editor of the Encyclopedia Judaica and professor at American Jewish University, writes in the prologue t at the Rebbe’s private correspondence first published in Dear Rebbe reveals his strategy to bring Jews closer to their Yiddishkeit, encouragement, positive reward and a path forward to do more.
“Rather than making them guilty for what they did not,” Dr. Berenbaum writes, “he cajoled them by offering them ways most appropriate to them to become better Jews. It also reveals how broad his knowledge, art and music, literature and business; how wide his reading from secular and religious literature; how keen his understanding of contemporary events at home and abroad; and how diverse his reach.”
Past President of the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), Rabbi Shalom Baum, and rabbi of Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck, New Jersey, says that technically Dear Rebbe “is a well-researched and brilliantly presented book,” it is much deeper than a historical record about these relationships. “The book, invoking messages of the Rebbe,” he says, “challenges the reader to explore and implement how his or her own talents must be used in the service of the Jewish people and to glorify our Creator and Sustainer.”
Rabbi Shais Taub says that a biography will never be able to instill the essence of the Rebbe. On the other hand, he says, Dear Rebbe, “gives us four unique perspectives through the studying of four unique relationships into the Rebbe’s wisdom, compassion and humanity.”
He says that the book is a fascinating read and he found, “rich details on every single page that were complete revelations to me.”
In London Rabbi Faivish Vogel, the legendary longtime Chabad shliach, says that he was particularly drawn to the chapter on sculptor Jacques Lipshitz, which illustrates, “how the Rebbe, besides ‘elevating his sparks,’” casts illuminating insights into Talmudic and Halachic understanding and imperatives.
“The personal and societal context features create a key element in evoking excitement and profundity,” says Rabbi Vogel. “The book justifiably claims to be “a ‘first’ and for this reason, it is doubly welcome.”
Dear Rebbe is available on HasidicArchives.com. It is also available here in bulk.
Ty