Rebbe

May 12, 2014
Telushkin (Jewish Literacy: The Most Important Things to Know About the Jewish Religion, Its People, and Its History) gives an engaging account of the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe from his seemingly unlikely beginnings in engineering in Berlin and Paris, and his reluctant acceptance of the title, up to his later years when many followers came to believe he was the Messiah. Telushkin also offers a compelling view of the principles behind Schneerson's building of the Chabad movement in the United States and around the world, which since his death has sustained itself and even grown in scope and influence. The book is rich with accounts of encounters with the Rebbe, including, besides his own followers, Jews of many denominations, secular Israeli leaders, American politicians, students of philosophy, and non-Jews. What stands out is Schneerson's engagement with the principles by which he managed to wield a considerable and controversial influence upon the American cultural scene and the Jewish world. An admiring but honest look at Schneerson and his legacy, this book should also interest those who view the Rebbe's methods and worldview more critically. Agent: Richard Pine, Inkwell Management.

May 15, 2014
A biography of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994), whose influence on Judaism and the Jewish people is still coming into focus.One of America's leading rabbis, Telushkin (Hillel: If Not Now, When?, 2010, etc.) is well-qualified to write about his subject: While he is not a Lubavitcher, he has been an affectionate observer of the movement for his entire life, and his father served as Schneerson's personal accountant. Less a traditional biography and more a compendium of mostly lighthearted anecdotes, the book progresses thematically, highlighting Schneerson's thoughts and quips on a wide variety of subjects. Telushkin draws on Schneerson's public statements as well as his voluminous correspondence and his thousands of private audiences, with his followers and others, both Jewish and non-Jewish, memorably held in the middle of the night. Broadly educated, Schneerson spent eight years studying engineering at prestigious universities before seeking rabbinic ordination, and each morning he read the newspapers in four languages. His far-reaching secular interests were evident in his humanistic mindset and lateral thought processes; he praised the astronauts after the moon landing, saying that he "discerned in [their] disciplined lifestyle...lessons with which Jews-particularly the sort who would not instinctively accept the demands of the Torah-could inspire themselves to be more observant." Schneerson had no heirs ("Never spoken of in public, we can only imagine what a great tragedy and disappointment this was"), and his death was so keenly felt that his followers found the idea of appointing a successor unthinkable. Many clung to the hope that he was the Messiah, creating a deep rift in the Orthodox world. Telushkin concludes that those who believe this "do not mean what people think they mean...the Messiah issue is, in the final analysis, a non-issue."An approachable and admiring introduction appropriate for readers interested in modern Jewish thought.

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Starred review from June 1, 2014
The subtitle's claim that Schneerson, of the Chabad-Lubavitcher sect of Orthodox Jewry (and thought by some of his followers to be the Messiah), was the modern world's most influential Jewish religious leader is proven throughout this highly readable book. He was visited by everyone from Robert Kennedy to Cory Booker, had a warm correspondence with Ronald Reagan, and received a Congressional Gold Medal. With outreach programs that extended far beyond his tiny sect, he made the love of one's fellow Jew a visible symbol throughout the world. Telushkin introduces the Rebbe through the stories and memories of those who knew or were touched by him. A wide range of topics is discussed: Schneerson's connection with his family, his congregation, and other Jewish denominations; his position on Israel; his outside-the-box thinking on a number of religious issues. Although this account doesn't contain any real critical assessment, it is not hagiography. Rather, readers are left to draw their own assessment from the wide-ranging portrait. For instance, what to make of the fact that though Schneerson was highly trained in the sciences, he insisted that the sun revolves around an earth that is less than 7,000 years old? For those who wish a more ordered look at the Rebbe's life, the author provides a detailed time line. Extensive notes bolster the text. Fascinating.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)