By COLlive reporter
Shaye J. D. Cohen, Littauer Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy of Harvard University, used an uncommon word to describe the type of Torah commentary by the Rebbe.
Cohen recently reviewed the new Schottenstein Edition Tehillim adorned with fascinating insights culled from over 200 traditional commentaries, but what caught his eye were the ones from the Rebbe.
“I think you did a very nice job attaching teachings of Hasidus to the pesukim of Tehilim,” Cohen, who researches the boundary between Jews and gentiles and between Judaism and its surrounding culture, wrote to the author Rabbi Chaim Miller.
Cohen said he found the new Tehillim “a fine specimen of the bookmaker’s art,” noting that the typography and layout were “clearly done by people who know what they are doing. And, I am happy to say, תוכו כברו – the content is beautiful too.”
He added: “I especially enjoyed seeing how the Rebbe would take as his inspiration a passage from the midrash or the Talmud — which you present in your ‘Classic Questions’ category – and then develop it Hasidically (if I may use that word).
“You are right, of course, that Tehillim is a ‘spiritual’ book, entirely devoted to thoughts about G-d, and your Hasidic annotations enhance that quest for the divine,” the professor told Miller, who also authored a series of commentary classics.
The Schottenstein Tehillim, the first major publishing enterprise the wealthy Ohio family has supported outside the Artscroll series, has enjoyed positive reviews in the Jewish media and with consumers.
Despite traditionally slow sales in the summer months, the Crown Heights-based publisher Kol Menachem says the book’s first printing has virtually been depleted in less than 2 months and will now be entering its second printing.
The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), the largest provider of Adult Jewish learning in the world, has featured the new Tehillim as the “Book of the Month” on classes and lectures website TorahCafe.com.
“Psalms is the most read book of the Tanach and least studied,” noted Rabbi Levi Kaplan of TorahCafe.com. “With the renown of the Gutnick Library of Jewish Classics as authentic, true to the traditional sources and and easy read, it is our hope to promulgate the message that the depth, beauty and devotion that has been concealed in the poetry of psalms is now accessible to scholar and layman alike.”
As always the diamond of Chabad writing and king of making a huge Kidush Hashem for the Rebbes Toros, Rabbi miller hits another home run.
Yasher Koach to Rabbi Hirschy Zarchi for making this (and so much more…) happen. You bring honor to all of Lubavitch.
There is a custom to study one verse (at least) of the Rebbe’s Kapitel and your own Kapitel every Rosh Chodesh, so this article is very apropos
Hassidically, nice!