Overview

""One of the greatest religious biographies ever written."" - Dennis Prager In this enlightening 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 history 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 history, revealing his clandestine operations 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.

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9781504612272

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Reviews

An admiring but honest look at Schneerson and his legacy. -- Publishers Weekly An enjoyable book to read, with insights and perspectives as well as details that inform and engage, shedding light on a towering, influential figure. -- Chicago Jewish Star Rebbe is that extremely rare thing: a perfect book about a perfect man...The Rebbe touched the lives of millions; through Telushkin's book, he will touch the lives of many more. -- New York Journal of Books [An] excellent new biograph[y] of Chabad's great twentieth-century leader...Mesmerizing. -- Wall Street Journal The fascinating biography of one of the most influential rabbis in modern Jewish history is competently narrated by Rich Topol. He deals smoothly with many foreign languages, primarily Yiddish and Hebrew, sometimes varying his articulation to create subtle characterizations. -- AudioFile An approachable and admiring introduction appropriate for readers interested in modern Jewish thought. -- Kirkus Reviews Highly readable...Fascinating. -- Booklist (starred review) With this book, the Rebbe no longer is incomprehensible. Spend some time getting to know the Rebbe. You'll be glad you did. -- Jewish Herald Voice Through his clear and unambiguous prose cultivated from many sources, Telushkin['s] ...Rebbe will be a staple of rabbinic biography for years to come. -- Huffington Post

The fascinating biography of one of the most influential rabbis in modern Jewish history is competently narrated by Rich Topol. He deals smoothly with many foreign languages, primarily Yiddish and Hebrew, sometimes varying his articulation to create subtle characterizations. -- AudioFile An approachable and admiring introduction appropriate for readers interested in modern Jewish thought. -- Kirkus Reviews An admiring but honest look at Schneerson and his legacy. -- Publishers Weekly Highly readable...Fascinating. -- Booklist (starred review) An enjoyable book to read, with insights and perspectives as well as details that inform and engage, shedding light on a towering, influential figure. -- Chicago Jewish Star With this book, the Rebbe no longer is incomprehensible. Spend some time getting to know the Rebbe. You'll be glad you did. -- Jewish Herald Voice Rebbe is that extremely rare thing: a perfect book about a perfect man...The Rebbe touched the lives of millions; through Telushkin's book, he will touch the lives of many more. -- New York Journal of Books Through his clear and unambiguous prose cultivated from many sources, Telushkin['s] ...Rebbe will be a staple of rabbinic biography for years to come. -- Huffington Post [An] excellent new biograph[y] of Chabad's great twentieth-century leader...Mesmerizing. -- Wall Street Journal

Author Information

Joseph Telushkin is a rabbi, scholar, and bestselling author of eighteen books, among them A Code of Jewish Ethics and Words That Hurt, Words That Heal. His book Jewish Literacy is the widest-selling work on the topic of Judaism. He lives with his wife, Dvorah, in New York City, and lectures regularly throughout the United States. Richard Topol is an actor known for his roles in Lincoln, Mickey Blue Eyes, and Party Girl.

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