Chabad Book Banned in China to Finally Arrive

By COLlive reporter

Delayed by the Chinese censor, The Queen of Cleveland: A Life of Self-Sacrifice and Courage by Rebbetzin Shula Kazen, is finally set to arrive in the United States.

It was ironic when the Communist government of China banned the printing of the autobiography of Rebbetzin Shula Kazen’s book. “It seems that even after her passing in 2019,” said Dovid Zaklikowski, the books publisher, “the communists are still fighting her message and the censor refuses to print her triumphant message.”

The Queen of Cleveland tells the story of Rebbetzin Kazen’s difficult life under communist rule in the Soviet Union. Her life is rife with challenges, difficulties, health issues, failures and strife. “It is honest, at times gruesome, and uncensored,” said Zaklikowski.

When Rebbetzin Kazen finally faced freedom with her arrival to France, and later in the United States, she continued to battle the ghosts she took with her from the Soviet Union. Yet, she used her freedom to help others, if it was a bed to sleep on, a hot meal or their Jewish observance.

“Unfortunately this book is not approved to print in China as content involves anti-communist,” the printer wrote to Hasidic Archives, “the only option is printing outside of China.”

After Russia’s president, wrote JTA about the banned book by Rebbetzin Kazen, Vladimir Putin, ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February, Russia found itself isolated from much of the world with many governments breaking off diplomatic and commercial relationships.

“The current conflict makes those topics related to Russia more sensitive,” said Rose Luqiu, a journalism professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, told JTA, “This has led local officials to avoid political mistakes by tightening scrutiny, preferring to relinquish their vetting authority and leave decisions to their superiors.”

While other publishing houses, wrote JTA, choose to remove the sensitive material from their books, Hasidic Archives was not willing too. “They will never win,” the publisher said, and the printing was moved to Singapore.

As Rebbetzin Kazen wrote in the book about her father’s arrest, “Losing Father was a terrible tragedy that has accompanied me through my life. Father was everything to me; he was the one I turned to for love, guidance, and approval. When the communists took him, they also stole his love and care for his children. I never forgave them, but neither did I allow them to triumph over me by succumbing to despair. In fact, they did not win, and this is the story of my personal victory over the Soviets.”

The 592 page book, includes over 300 photos and documents, and fifty pages of letters from the Rebbe to the Kazens. The book also includes the stories of the Katzenelenbogen and Shagalov families, including the heroic stories of the famed Mume Sarah and Maryasha Garelik-Shagalov.

An excerpt from the book can be read at Rebbetzin Kazen’s Resolve to Spend Simchas Torah with the Rebbe.

In honor of Hei Teves, the book can be purchased on Hasidic Archives, among their other offerings, at a discount.