Site Highlights Alter Rebbe

Chabad.org

For students of Jewish history, practice and mysticism—from the sublimely scholarly to the perfectly practical—a new mini-site from Chabad-Lubavitch offers unprecedented access to the teachings of its founder, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi.

Launching a yearlong commemoration and celebration that begins Sunday on the 200th anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shneur Zalman, known as the Alter Rebbe, Chabad.org has created a comprehensive new mini-site dedicated to “The Life, Works and Teachings of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, Founder of Chabad.”

“The Alter Rebbe’s goal was to make esoteric teachings accessible to everyone,” said Eli Rubin, who directed the project for Chabad.org, the world’s leading website devoted to Jewish content.

“In the early generations of the Chassidic movement mystic teachings and practice were only available to the Baal Shem Tov‘s inner circle. As founder of Chabad, Rabbi Shneur Zalman uniquely found a way to make such concepts accessible and applicable to all.”

“The Internet is a tool that creates incredible accessibility,” continued Rubin, “so the creation of a website dedicated to the life, works and teachings of Rabbi Shneur Zalman is very fitting indeed.

“200 years after his passing, anyone with an Internet connection can access video, audio and text to delve deeply into his teachings and apply them in daily life.”

From history and politics to Torah studies, Jewish law and mysticism, the site contains articles, video and audio covering every aspect of Rabbi Shneur Zalman’s life.

Long after the date of his passing on the 24th of Tevet 5573 on the Jewish calendar (Dec. 27, 1812), the impact of this great rabbi and leader continues to be felt today as the Chabad movement that he founded continues to spread his teachings throughout the world.

Featured on the site is a historical timeline of the Alter Rebbe’s life; stories and accounts about his lifetime, including his legendary imprisonment by the Czarist government; and many articles offering insight into the different facets of his works and teachings.

A mystic, communal activist, philosopher, composer and teacher, the Alter Rebbe is best known for writing the seminal work of Chabad Chassidism, the Tanya, as well as a revised Shulchan Aruch, the code of Jewish law known as “Shulchan Aruch HaRav”.

He also delivered countless oral discourses related to the weekly Torah portion and Jewish festivals, weaving extensive Chassidic concepts into daily applications for the layperson.

The site is complemented with an audio and video section, presenting the Alter Rebbe’s teachings in a multimedia format, complemented with the exceptional melodies or ‘niggunim’ that he taught to his followers. They have since been passed down through the generations, and are now available on the mini-site.

Visit today at Chabad.org/77049