First published 2014
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson transformed the Chabad-Lubavitch movement from his Crown Heights headquarters into a worldwide Jewish organization. Joseph Telushkin examines how this religious leader advised presidents like Ronald Reagan and Robert F. Kennedy while conducting secret operations to help Soviet Jews. The biography traces Schneerson's philosophical teachings and his role in American social programs like food stamps. Telushkin explores the controversies surrounding the Rebbe, including his stance on Israeli territorial issues and his followers' belief that he was the Messiah. The book reveals how Schneerson became a global Jewish ambassador and spiritual figure whose influence extended far beyond his Brooklyn base. Through historical analysis and examination of his teachings, Telushkin presents both the achievements and contentious aspects of a rabbi who shaped modern Jewish life.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, religion, non-fiction, 21st-century, jewish
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction
Setting: Brooklyn, Crown Heights, Soviet Union
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
640 pages · Hardcover · Harper