Following the passing of the Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana in 1964, Rabbi Yosef Wineberg wrote to the Rebbe with a suggestion that he would purchase an additional 15 minutes of airtime to share teachings of the Rebbe on the radio waves after his usual 15 minute weekly Tanya class, which had been airing since 1960 (Later to be published as the classic Shiurim B’Sefer HaTanya, or Lessons in Tanya).
The Rebbe responded warmly to the initiative, pledging to cover half of the cost himself, and adding that he would now begin to Farbreng every Shabbos (heretofore, farbrengens had been held less frequently, on Shabbos Mevorchim and other special dates), and began a new series of talks based on Rashi’s commentary. Thus was born the treasure that we now know as the “Rashi Sichos.”
In the annals of Chabad-Lubavitch in the US, the presence of Rabbi Yosef Wineberg (1917-2012) looms large. From his days as a student in Tomchei Tmimim in pre-war Warsaw and Otvotzk, surviving the bombing of Warsaw in 1939 at the side of the Previous Rebbe, to his lifetime role as the Rebbe’s roving ambassador and trailblazing teacher of the Tanya, to his unforgettable Slichos and davening in 770, to his role as the Rebbe’s direct representative to Nshei Chabad, Rabbi Wineberg’s impact on countless individuals and on the growth of Chabad in the latter half of the 20th century was immense.
The Wineberg family is currently putting together a book about his fascinating story, his life’s work and his deep hiskashrus to the Rebbe. Zoom calls among his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, many of whom are on shlichus across the globe, are taking place, to bring together the varied and wide-ranging facets of Rabbi Wineberg’s life into an inspiring story for generations to come.
Do you remember Rabbi Wineberg? Has your life been impacted by his timeless classic, Lessons in Tanya, or with any personal encounters? The family would love and appreciate hearing your story, recordings, photos and any information you may have to add to the book.
Stories, photos and memories can easily be added to a linktree at https://linktr.ee/winebergbook
or emailed to [email protected].
To set up an interview with a family member, please contact Nachum Wineberg at 347.963.7778. If you wish to help bring this book to publication, please donate through the linktree link above.
With gratitude,
Coordinating Vaad
Project Coordinator: Nachum Wineberg (Long Island City, NY)
Rabbi Levy Wineberg (Johannesburg), Rabbi Mendy Wineberg (Kansas), Chanie Baitelman (Richmond, BC), Rabbi Dovid Wineberg (Cape Town), Raizy Metzger (Manhattan), Dr. Devorah Leah Nathan (Johannesburg), Itzik Tiefenbrun (NJ)
