Among Chassidim

In this episode, Rabbi Zushe Winner of Brighton Beach, NY, shares the remarkable story of how his parents became connected to the Rebbe and to Lubavitch, and the special kiruv the Rebbe showed his mother, especially after the passing of his father. He takes us back to his formative years in the Chofs and Lameds, sharing his experiences by the Rebbe during those years and beyond. In this interview, every story brings with it an insight, an anecdote, and a heartfelt farbrengen.

In this episode, Rabbi Nochem Kaplan of Crown Heights traces his family’s remarkable journey-from Chassidim dating back to the Alter Rebbe on his mother’s side to his father’s Litvishe roots and eventual connection to Lubavitch. Born in the Soviet Union, he recalls his family’s escape from U.S.S.R, life in the DP camps in Germany, their close connection with Rebbetzin Chana, and their eventual move to England and later New York. Rabbi Kaplan shares memories of the Frierdiker Rebbe’s histalkus and the early years of the Rebbe’s nesius, as well as his own formative years growing up around 770 in the small Lubavitch community of the 1950s and ’60s. He describes the great Chassidim and mashpi’im who influenced him during his years learning in Kfar Chabad and 770. Following the Rebbe’s guidance, Rabbi Kaplan devoted his life to chinuch, serving communities in Virginia, Lakewood, Philadelphia, and New York. He shares fascinating, little-known accounts of teaching Chassidus in Lakewood and his close relationships with Reb Schneur and Reb Meir Kotler, a”h. He also recounts the extraordinary story of a portrait he painted of the Rebbe Rashab—including the input he received from Reb Avrohom Mayor, Reb Mendel Futerfas, and ultimately the Rebbetzin—and the Rebbe’s satisfaction with the finished portrait.

In this episode, Reb Avraham Shmuel Levine of Eretz Yisroel discusses his family’s Litvishe background, including his grandfather’s position as a rav near Yekaterinoslav and his interactions with the Rebbe’s father, Harav Levi Yitzchak. He describes how his father came to learn in Tomchei Temimim and eventually escaped from Russia, as well as his own birth and upbringing in New England and his years in the yeshiva at Bedford and Dean. Reb Avraham Shmuel recalls his early encounters with the Rebbe, his journey to learn in Kfar Chabad, the yechidus he had beforehand, and the letters he received from the Rebbe while he was there. He also shares memories of the famed mashpia Reb Shlomo Chaim Kesselman and the profound influence he had on him. Upon returning to America, Reb Avraham Shmuel unexpectedly became involved with Ezras Torah, eventually serving as secretary of Agudas Harabanim—a position he held for many years, until moving to Eretz Yisroel. Through this role, he developed close relationships with many of the leading non-Lubavitch Rabbanim of the previous generation, including Reb Moshe Feinstein, Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin, Rabbi Simcha Elberg, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, and Reb Gedalia Schorr. At the same time, he served as a discreet Lubavitch liaison, keeping Rabbi Hodakov and the Rebbe informed and working behind the scenes to advance many of the Rebbe’s initiatives. He shares story after story of fascinating encounters and the remarkable things he was able to accomplish—including how Reb Moshe Feinstein came to be mesader kiddushin at his wedding and had a yechidus with the Rebbe during that visit. This is only a glimpse of a fascinating episode filled with history, personalities, and firsthand memories. Listen and enjoy!

In this episode, Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt, Head Shliach of Argentina, takes us through his remarkable journey that led him to become Lubavitch and eventually the Rebbe’s Shliach. Rabbi Grunblatt grew up in Argentina in a Yekkishe kehillah. During his youth, he became very close to the Rebbe’s Shliach to Argentina, Rabbi Berel Baumgarten. Although Rabbi Baumgarten did not formally teach him Chassidus, simply being around him opened Rabbi Grunblatt to a world of Chassidus and Lubavitch, eventually leading him to join a Lubavitch Yeshiva in New York. He shares what it was like arriving from Argentina with virtually no familiarity with Lubavitch culture, and how he quickly acclimated and developed a deep connection to the Rebbe. As his involvement grew, Rabbi Grunblatt describes the tremendous effort he invested in understanding the Rebbe’s farbrengens. This eventually led him to become involved in chazara and in the work of transcribing the Rebbe’s maamorim. He shares fascinating anecdotes and insights into certain maamorim that the Rebbe was magihah, and elaborates on them. The episode then turns to the passing of Rabbi Berel Baumgarten, and how that ultimately led to Rabbi Grunblatt being sent as a Shliach to Argentina- at the same time as the Rebbe instructed him to get look for a Shidduch. Rabbi Grunblatt recounts the dramatic story of his arrival in Argentina and goes on to share fascinating episodes from his decades of Shlichus, including remarkable moments in which the Rebbe was directly involved.

In this episode, Rabbi Chaim Levi Goldstein of Crown Heights, a veteran mechanech, shares his family background, including the story of how his father, 'Uncle Yossi', became close to Lubavitch and spent time around the Frierdiker Rebbe in America.He recalls his early childhood, including fascinating anecdotes from the years his family lived in the same apartment building as the Rebbe and Rebbetzin, his upbringing in the then-small Lubavitch community, and some up-close moments with the Rebbe.Rabbi Goldstein discusses his years in yeshiva, horaos he received from the Rebbe in yechidus, and his time studying in Brunoy, France, where he came to know many renowned Chassidim.He also shares the story of his involvement with Mesibas Shabbos and the Rebbe’s satisfaction with his work, as well as important lessons in chinuch that he learned from Rabbi Hodakov.In a fascinating twist, Rabbi Goldstein describes how questions that arose through his work as a teacher were brought to the Rebbe, with some later addressed by the Rebbe at farbrengens. One question he posed ultimately led to an entire Likkutei Sichos being developed around the subject.Drawing on a lifetime in chinuch, Rabbi Goldstein also shares practical approaches and insights based on the Rebbe’s teachings that are deeply relevant to educators and parents, and much more.

In this episode, Rabbi Leibel Altein of Crown Heights shares fascinating stories and memories spanning generations of Chabad. He speaks about his grandfather, Reb Yisroel Jacobson, his early years in Lubavitch and his close involvement with the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe, as well as his pioneering askanus in the early years of Chabad in America. He also discusses his father’s becoming close to Lubavitch through his future father in law, Reb Yisroel Jacobson, his various Shlichus’n, and especially his shlichus in the Bronx. Rabbi Altein shares the fascinating story of the esrogim from Calabria that his grandfather began preparing for the Frierdiker Rebbe and later the Rebbe, including unique details about the Rebbe’s esrog purchases. He discusses his own upbringing and shlichus in Australia, and especially his remarkable work preparing Likkutei Sichos for the Rebbe to edit. He shares details of this unique zchus, along with personal stories with the Rebbe. The episode also explores Rabbi Altein’s lifelong involvement in Hafatzas Hamayanos, including Heichel Menachem and Chassidus Mevu’eres.

In this episode, Rabbi Dovid Weitman, Shliach to S. Paulo Brazil, shares the story of his childhood and journey to becoming a Chossid. He recounts remarkable stories and personal horaos from the Rebbe, along with unique encounters between the Rebbe and baalei batim that he witnessed over the years in Brazil and beyond. Throughout the conversation, Rabbi Weitman shares powerful messages that are both timeless and deeply relevant to every Chossid and Shliach.

In this episode, Rabbi Mendy Greenberg of Twinsburg, Ohio—a feature writer for A Chassidisher Derher magazine—discusses his recent article exploring Yiddish and its place in Lubavitch and the Rebbe's teachings. The conversation examines the Rebbe's strong encouragement of Yiddish, while also addressing the important nuance that schools should not prioritize teaching in Yiddish at the expense of students' understanding. Where is the balance? How do we reconcile the Rebbe's emphasis on preserving Yiddish with his equally strong focus on effective chinuch? A thought-provoking conversation filled with fascinating sources, practical insights, and much more. For more articles like this, and to subscribe to the beautiful monthly Derher magazine, visit Derher.org.

In this episode, Rabbi Sholom Duchman, Director of Colel Chabad, starts by sharing the story of his illustrious family of devoted Chassidim and their deep hiskashrus to the Rabbeim. He reflects on his childhood during the early years of the Rebbe's nesius in Crown Heights, his years of learning in various yeshivos, and the special experience of learning in 770 in the Rebbe's presence. Rabbi Duchman also discusses being sent by the Rebbe to Eretz Yisroel as part of the original group of shluchim. The conversation then turns to the rich history of Colel Chabad, from its founding to its development over the years. Rabbi Duchman shares the story of his appointment as director and offers an in-depth look at the Rebbe's horaos, expectations, and personal interest in the organization's success, providing a rare and comprehensive perspective with wonderful openness and detail.

In this episode, Rabbi Sholom Ber Gurkov of Montreal, Canada, a veteran mechanech, shares his remarkable life through 90 years of Lubavitch history. Beginning with his family's rich roots dating back to the times of the Tzemach Tzedek, he recounts his father's early interactions with the Rebbe when the Rebbe was still a bochur. He then takes us through his own childhood in Kharkov, his family's escape to Central Asia during World War II, the Chassidim's famous escape from Russia, life in the DP camps, and their move with other Chassidim to Paris. He also reflects on settling in England, learning in a non-Chabad yeshiva in Manchester, and ultimately moving to New York/Montreal to be with the Rebbe. Along the way, Rabbi Gurkov shares firsthand stories of yechidus, memories of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe, his involvement in the taharah of the Rebbe's brother, Reb Yisroel Aryeh Leib, and countless other fascinating stories and insights from a lifetime spent as a Chabad Chossid.

In this episode, Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi and Shliach of Russia, shares memories of his parents and his grandfather, the renowned poet Reb Tzvi Meir Steinmetz, growing up on shlichus in Milan, Italy, and his childhood visits to the Rebbe. Rabbi Lazar also recalls coming to New York to learn in yeshivah and later spending years in 770, where the Rebbe’s farbrengens left a lasting impression on him. The conversation also explores his early years as a shliach in post-Communist Russia, witnessing firsthand the country’s extraordinary transformation from decades of religious persecution to a place where Yiddishkeit can once again be practiced openly and proudly.

In this episode, Rabbi Eli Touger of Boca Raton, the prolific translater of Sichos in English, shares the story of his journey from his early life and becoming frum, to his years in Kfar Chabad, the Chassidim and personalities who influenced him, and his eventual arrival at 770 where he quickly became involved in the chazarah of the Rebbe’s farbrengens. Rabbi Touger also discusses his decades-long work translating the Rebbe’s sichos into English. Along the way, he shares fascinating anecdotes and insights from a lifetime dedicated to preserving and spreading the Rebbe’s teachings.

In this episode, Rabbi Avrohom Mann, mashpia at the Toronto Yeshiva, shares how his father became connected to the Rebbe, and his own personal connection after arriving from Yerushalayim as a young bochur. He reflects on what it was like to live from week to week, drawing inspiration and direction from the Rebbe’s farbrengens. In a fascinating and heartfelt Farbrengen, Rabbi Mann highlights a number of practical horaos we can take from the Rebbe, each illustrated through personal experiences and firsthand moments he witnessed with the Rebbe himself.

In this episode, which took place at the New York–New England Regional Kinus Hashluchim, Rabbi Simon Jacobson shares the story about his grandfather’s connection to Lubavitch through the Rebbe Rashab, his father Rabbi Gershon Ber Jacobson’s work with the Rebbe and the founding of the Algemeiner Journal , and his own years by the Rebbe as a chozer. Rabbi Jacobson reflects on growing up in Crown Heights, discovering Chassidus as a living force, and the unique responsibility of reviewing and recording the Rebbe’s farbrengens. A fascinating conversation about journalism, chazara, 770, the Rebbe’s vision for the world, and the urgency of Moshiach.

In this episode, Rabbi Zalman Lipsker, Shliach in Philadelphia, shares his remarkable journey from his childhood in Kutaisi, Georgia, and the rich history of the Lipsker family. He recounts learning in secret chadorim under the watchful eye of the KGB, experiencing the dramatic escape of Lubavitcher Chassidim from the Soviet Union, and spending time in a DP camp surrounded by Chassidim. He also describes the early years of Lubavitch life in Eretz Yisroel before eventually arriving by the Rebbe in the late 1950s. Rabbi Lipsker vividly recalls the unique privilege of being a bochur by the Rebbe during the late Yud and early Chof years, including the Rebbe teaching niggunim, receiving special shlichus'n, and more. He also shares inspiring stories from his decades of shlichus in Philadelphia, particularly in bringing countless Yidden to the Rebbe by Sunday dollars.Filled with warmth and passion, this inspiring conversation offers a rare window into the lives of Chassidim who were deeply connected to both the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe with mesirus nefesh and hiskashrus.

In this episode, Rabbi Zushe Greenberg, Shliach to Solon, Ohio, shares the powerful story of his father’s mesiras nefesh, including his imprisonment in Siberia and Russian jails, and his unwavering ibergigebinkeit and hiskashrus to the Rebbe—and later in Bnei Brak. He then reflects on and brings listeners into the atmosphere of 770 during his years as a bachur, vividly describing the feeling of standing at the Rebbe’s farbrengens- with special focus on the time of Hei Teves. Throughout the episode, he - offers a unique and personal glimpse into what it meant to be in the Rebbe’s presence, and leaves listeners with inspiration and practical insight into how each of us today can strengthen our own hiskashrus and connection to the Rebbe.

In this episode, Nuchie Schapiro of Los Angeles discusses his newly authored book, Legacy of Resilience , an in-depth exploration of the history of the Schapiro family, including the Rebbe’s melamed, Reb Schneur Zalman Vilenkin. Beyond that, he offers profound insight into the lives of Lubavitcher Chassidim during the era of the Rebbe Rashab and the Frierdiker Rebbe under Soviet communism, the “Great Escape” from Russia, and the Rebbe’s nesius. Link to purchase book: https://a.co/d/0bN8wCts Link to Reiter family fund: https://charidy.com/reiterfamilyfund

In this episode, Rabbi Kasriel Kastel of Crown Heights shares his remarkably rich family history, tracing his parents’ and grandparents’ roots back to the era of the Rebbe Rashab and the earliest Chassidim in America. He reflects on his early years with the The Rebbe beginning in 1953, and his time spent in yeshivah and 770. Rabbi Kastel also discusses his unique work with Lubavitch Youth Organization (Tzach), sharing personal stories, memorable experiences, and special horaos he received from the Rebbe throughout the years.

In this episode, Rabbi Yosef Gopin, Shliach in Hartford, CT, shares his family history, stories and reflections from his years with the Rebbe and his Shlichus. Beyond the facts and events, Rabbi Gopin brings deep emotion and insight into the ruchnius’dike meaning behind those experiences, offering listeners a heartfelt and inspiring farbrengen. Enjoy this meaningful conversation filled with warmth, perspective, and connection.

In this episode, Rabbi Menachem Gerlitzky of Crown Heights shares the story of his family background—how his parents came to Lubavitch and their connection to the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe. He reflects on his youth and the various shlichus’n he was involved in, and speaks about the unique role the Rebbe encouraged him to take on in organizing Siyum HaRambam, and how it all unfolded. Along the way, he weaves in meaningful stories and personal experiences.