Reuven Leigh provides the first in-depth introduction to the pioneering philosophy of Rabbi Shalom Ber Schneersohn. Bringing him into dialogue with key continental philosophers Emmanuel Levinas, Jacques Derrida and Julia Kristeva, this book reveals how Schneersohn's views anticipated many prominent themes in 20th-century thought. Shalom Ber Schneersohn (1860-1920) was the fifth Rebbe of the Habad-Lubavitch dynasty. He was a traditional, kabbalistic thinker and yet, beyond mysticism, he wrote extensively on speech, gender and the body. So why is he not better known? Leigh begins by uncovering and contesting numerous scholarly assumptions that have operated to exclude traditional rabbinic thinkers from contemporary philosophical debates. Seeking to correct this, this book offers a close reading of Schneersohn's 1898 discourses. With the disruption of traditional binary structures being the dominant theme pervading Schneersohn's work, Leigh engages with Levinas' provocative ideas on speech and the feminine. He also highlights how Derridean deconstruction involves a more positive approach to presence that was already anticipated in the writings of Schneersohn. And from the disruption of the hierarchy of signification to the semiotic aspect of language and the maternal body, this book demonstrates how Schneersohn foreshadows a number of Kristeva's central philosophical concerns. A wide-ranging and inclusive volume, The Philosophy of Rabbi Shalom Ber Schneersohn demonstrates not only how forward-thinking Schneersohn's ideas were over a century ago, but how relevant they still are today.

"Since no one knows when his appointed time will come, I have decided to arrange matters - to instruct you in how to proceed after the length of my days." Thus begins this remarkable document which, in great measure, is a treatise on education and child-rearing. The fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe draws upon his encyclopedic knowledge of the entire universe of Torah, including Zohar and countless commentaries to provide a foundation for the upbringing of his son who would become the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe. In the process he has created a monumental guide, based on classic Jewish thought, for all parents and educators. This volume is fully annotated and includes comprehensive biographical notes on the authorities cited as well as sever vignettes demonstrating the authors approach to education.

The Jewish mystics and philosophers call man medaber, the speaker. The capacity of speech is uniquely human, and we make much use of it, for better or worse. Yet we rarely consider its workings, how without any conscious premeditation, words flow effortlessly out of our mouths. Delivered on the second night of Rosh Hashanah 1898, Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn, fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, this fundamental discourse is now presented as part of the Chasidic Heritage Series with extensive annotations and explanations.

This Chasidic discourse, delivered by the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe at the turn of the twentieth century, introduces some of the basic concepts of Chasidism and Kabbalah in a relatively easy to follow format; its focus is on the faculty of speech. Although geared for the advanced student of Chabad Chasidus, it is one of the first discourses with which a student is initiated into the more complex Chasidic texts. In addition to the lucid translation, this edition offers extensive annotations which help the reader with the often obscure references. Source references are provided for further study and captions are inserted throughout the text. First in the Chasidic Heritage Series.

In Tract on Prayer, Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn, fifth Lubavitch Rebbe, expounds on the concept of tefillah prayer, as understood in Chabad Chasidic philosophy. Building on the Talmudic dictum that prayer constitutes the "service of the heart," Tract on Prayer captures the quintessence of tefillah as the vehicle for attaining attachment to G-d. Here the Rebbe guides the worshiper in preparing for this "divine service of the heart," setting out the role and dynamics of contemplation before and during prayer. In the process of explaining the dynamics of prayer, Tract of Prayer also explores various Kabbalistic and Chasidic concepts.The Tract on Prayer is, in the words of his son and successor, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Shneersohn, "a definitive guide to finding a balm and remedy for the maladies of the soul, and to developing one's faculties and abilities through genuine service."

A Chassidic Discourse by Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneersohn of Lubavitch Introduce Unity Within Diversity Heichaltzu, a discourse delivered by the Rebbe Rashab, creates a paradigm shift in human relationships. Through understanding mystical and Chassidic teachings, Heichaltzu gets to the crux of finding unity in diversity. Lessons in Heichaltzu, a reader friendly addition of this fundamental discourse, is the magnum opus on human relations. It addresses daily human irritability and judgmentalism, as well as cosmic polarity and divisiveness. The great underlying principle of the Torah, as R. Akiva taught, is to "love your fellowman as yourself." And indeed, Torah literature in general, and Chassidus in particular, overflows with instructive and inspiring advice on how one may bring oneself to truly love one's fellow. Reading this literature, to be sure, is far more cheering than dwelling on disharmony and baseless hatred. But the reality of the human condition cannot be ignored - and the present discourse addresses itself to that all too human problem. Borrowing the mystical terminology of Kabbalah and Chassidism, this book deals with the spiritual roots of baseless hatred, its cosmic repercussions, and its attainable remedies. This in-depth discussion of the spiritual seeds of divisiveness and dissension did not sprout in a vacuum, nor was it meant to be studied in a vacuum. It was meant to be used. In response to its call, anyone who calls himself a chassid will surely concede that whatever his spiritual stature, there is still room for making his own interpersonal contacts less judgmental and less abrasive, a little mellower and a little humbler.

A biography of the 5th Rebbe of the Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneersohn. Notwithstanding the tremendous upheavals of the beginning of the 20th century in Czarist Russia, coupled with his frail health, that caused him to be in health resorts, a few months a year, he spearheaded the fight against Czarist Russia's intention of secularising the Jewish community and educational system. He established Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, the flagship education system of Lubavitch, and began clarifying the deepest concepts of Chassidus.His communal work included working with the secular Jews to provide the Jewish soldiers with Matza for Pesach during the Russo-Japanese war, as well as saving the Jewish printing press, Rom. As well as protecting the rights of Jews to live where they desire and enter into occupations that could supply them with a livelihood. He established a weaving factory that provided two thousand families with a livelihood. But at the same time, fought with them and upended their efforts to destroy the educational system and replace it with their new, but spiritually dangerous system.His focus was one thing, how to uphold and support Jews and their right to live as Jews, no matter the situation.It is a pleasure to present the 5th volume of The Rebbeim Biography Series.