By Kol Menachem
The biography of the Lubavitcher Rebbe written by Rabbi Chaim Miller has been endorsed by a veteran Shliach, a Chasidic leader, a Chief Rabbi, a Kiruv Professional and others.
Miller, compiler of the Gutnick Chumash and other popular works, has written a complete biography of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, chronicling the Rebbe’s entire life in vivid detail from 1902 until 1994 and beyond.
“A formidable volume… it feels like I am part of an intimate reading, perspective and perception of our dear Rebbe, which is the greatest compliment that one can give a writer….” says Rabbi Shalom Lipskar, Shliach of The Shul of Bal Harbor.
“I compliment you on your capacity to be able to somehow encapsulate some glimpse of this giant, greater than life Giant and communicate it in a manner that is both informative and at the same time infuse the reader with a sense of holiness and transcendence.
“I highly recommend this book to scholars, students and lay people of every background.”
“Rabbi Miller’s hand is the hand of an expert, revealing to the reader a wondrous portrait of the Rebbe,” wrote Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, former Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel.
“Rabbi Chaim Miller has written a masterpiece depicting the remarkable life and times of the Lubavitcher Rebbe z’ya. While honest and bold, it respects the sod, the secret of the towering tzadik whose life’s song changed the world,” said Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, Congregation Aish Kodesh, Woodmere, NY.
Adam Jacobs, Managing Director at Aish Center, Manhattan, writes: “Rabbi Miller has done a superlative job illuminating the life and work of a great man known to many but understood by few. It is a refreshing, engaging and well-written portrait of one of the giants of Jewish thought and leadership.”
“Only truly great biographers have been able to accomplish what he has with this book. He provides the reader with exhaustive and well-documented details of the Rebbe’s personal background, but does not lose sight if the Rebbe’s public leadership role nor of his significant place in the history of the Jewish people.
“I am awed by his work, and am now even more awed than ever before by the Rebbe’s personality and prodigious accomplishments. This book will be avidly read from cover to cover, and then retained near the reader’s desk for further consultation and inspiration,” writes Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Executive Vice President Emeritus, Orthodox Union; Editor-in-Chief, Koren-Steinsaltz Talmud
“Turning Judaism Outward” is now available. For orders call 718-951-6328 or orders@kolmenachem .com
I am referring to the Rebbe making the issue of Moshiach and us doing everything to hasten his arrival, the cornerstone of his nesius. I am not talking about the issue of the Rebbe being moshiach, which although we chassidim believe that to be true, nevertheless, such an omission would be understood, in light of the audience he is trying to appeal to. As to why he chose that particular picture the following is the explanation he gave in his speech on yom tov. The Rebbe did not see a conflict between the world and torah. Unlike other frumer circles… Read more »
yes your views are correct if the book was written for the Chassidim of the Rebbe of Righteous Memory, however Rabbi Miller wrote the “perfect” biography for the wider audience of Jews and even Gentiles. I ADD The book is an excellent biography of the Rebbe of Righteous Memory for the wider Jewish audience. If Rabbi Miller had written as if the the Rebbe was still alive as you infer, it would have not left the shelves. The Rebbe was a singular Giant on every level in our time however we unfortunately witnessed his earthy demise on Gimmel Tammuz, however… Read more »
1. Curious: Why did he say he chose that picture?
2. You may be correct and that concept is VERY well covered in Steinzaltz’s book. But you can’t put EVERYTHING in one book. I believe this author serves a purpose for the crowd he is appealing to in a way they can relate.
Each book appeals to a different angle.
Steizaltz: What is a Rebbe?
Miller: What transpired in the Rebbe’s life AS WE KNOW it.
Two different books for two different conversations.
I’m confused. Are you saying the Rebbe being Moshiach is really what defines a Rebbe or just Stam mentioning the author’s failure to really bring out how much the Rebbe Koched in Moshiach?
I assume that the book was written to the present the Rebbe to the broader public and R’ Miller (who is a man I greatly admire) knows that his book wasn’t meant to convey the views of Chassidim of their Rebbe.
every chossid knows that we, neshamos d’ban, cannot have a concept of what a Rebbe is, see Samech vov, the maamorim from Bo through Mattos-Massei. A Rebbe lives on a different plane than the rest of us. Any attempt at description and psychoanalysis would be the height of arrogance and impudence.
Yes, R’ Chaim Miller is a world class writer. And this is probably a world class writer.
I cannot imagine any of my mashpim referring to the Rebbe by name or promoting a book with that picture on the cover.
Not that they necessarily think its wrong to do so, given the context, just that they couldn’t… do it.
Learned a lot about a lot. Won’t touch the book.
The book is very well written and it does appeal to a very broad audience beyond lubavitcher chassidim. Nevertheless, it does not represent who the Rebbe is from a perspective of a chosid. The author does his best to humanize the Rebbe in a way that appeals to the broad masses and projects the Rebbe iin light of how he the author sees the Rebbe. I listened to the authors speech on yom tov explaining his vision of the Rebbe and to answer any criticism in regards to why he chose that particular picture for the front cover. Herein lies… Read more »
I dont understand how you could a Biography about a Rebbe it shows he doesnt really know what a Rebbe is
with such a chassidishe shliach praising it that has to mean its a valuable book
Chaim Miller portrays the Rebbe in a sensitive and positive light, while retaining an honest account of what actually took place, one can tell while reading the book that the author has much love and Respect for the Rebbe.
Dear No. 11 I am a Lubavitcher (and a Shliach-if that matters) and the only tears I have been shedding are the one from reading your ignorant and hateful comment. I think this book is a wonderful addition to any Chabad Lubavitchers library. Rabbi Miller was appealing to a wider audience, therefore he chose to write the book in a way that even someone outside of Chabad circles would appreciate and not feel alienated. Hence referring to the Rebbe prior to the Nesisus as Menchem Mendel like any good biographer would do. Well done Rabbi Miller keep up the amazing… Read more »
At the same time that this book offers great information beautifully presented with sources, any lubavitcher who reads this book would be cringing most of the way through it, seeing that it was written by a lubavitcher and the way he refers to the rebbe with such disrespect… Yatza scharoi bhefsedo…
The other rebbe bio is a hot seller on amazon now!!
I’m learning so much from this book
Best biography of the Rebbe that I have read so far
If there is now a Lubavitcher on board, this book must be pretty kosher…
Now that’s impressive!!
This book deserves a prime spot on every bookcase. Absolutely superb!
I’m really looking forward to purchasing this book.
As a result of there being such high endorsement of Miller’s book, I am now certainly going to buy a copy.
Rabbi Miller is truly deserving of all this praise. His books are absolutely phenomenal and this newest one has proved to be no exception.
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