The Most Influential Rabbi In History ... 31 Years Later

After the decimation of the Holocaust, the Rebbe breathed new life and vitality into the Jewish people, urging them (and demonstrating by example) to celebrate Judaism and live life optimistically, to ‘reclaim’ countless individuals and communities to living a Jewish way of life, and to feel personal responsibility for all others everywhere. In so doing, The Rebbe altered the much-prophesied demise of Judaism, forever shifting the course of history and transforming the landscape of Jewish life.

The Rebbe took breathtaking responsibility for the material and spiritual welfare of Jews in the Soviet Union (including masterminding the exodus of thousands), Morocco, Iran, and more, while reaching out to Jews in Curacao, Japan, and Alaska...

Israel’s leaders turned to the Rebbe for counsel on public health policies; military strategy; economy; relations with the U.S., Egypt, South Africa, Tunisia and more; and, above all, its educational system.

Growing up in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, just a few short streets away from The Rebbe, I was fortunate to see The Rebbe all the time. I prayed with him in his Shul, sang by his Farbrengens, stood at his public gatherings and rallies, and watched every glimpse I could. As a child, I would look around at the thousands of people that would constantly come from all over the world to seek his counsel, hear his talks, or just to see his holy face; and I remember thinking how privileged I was to live right there.

Every Sunday for hours,The Rebbe would stand, giving out dollars and blessings to thousands of people from all walks of life. He gave the dollar to be given to a charity of choice. People would of course exchange that dollar for one of their own to give to charity, and keep the dollar they got from The Rebbe’s holy hand as a sign of blessing.

The Rebbe was remarkably accessible and counseled countless individuals from a wide array of backgrounds, including statesmen and artists as diverse as Ronald Reagan, Robert F. Kennedy, Yitzchak Rabin, Menachem Begin, Elie Wiesel, and Bob Dylan, as well as countless “nameless” individuals who were each showered with his individual attention and love.

He spoke out about and was active in large public issues like public school education, charity for employees’ distribution, large families, moral education, the energy crisis, a universal moral code for all, creating and bolstering the Food Stamp/WIC system for America’s underprivileged, the responsibility of government, and much more. He believed and taught that the age-old ideals and text of Torah is as real and relevant today as it was at Sinai, 3,337 years ago.

Today, thank G-d, The Rebbe’s teachings and ideals have already become ingrained in our society and inspire millions of Jews and non-Jews. More people than ever are learning his teachings and acting on his wishes of spreading Judaism to Jews, and moral ethics to all people.

People of all walks of life flock to his Shul as well as his resting place (known as the Ohel) to pray to G‑d for blessing, guidance and inspiration. In 2013, on the night preceding his election to the Senate, Democratic candidate Cory Booker, an African-American Christian, went to pray at the Rebbe’s Ohel. In 2016, preceding his election, President Trump sent his family to pray at the Ohel on his behalf, but this time around he decided to go himself. Argentina President Javier Milei went to the Ohel before his election and continues to travel there to pray before his most important decisions. Go there any day, any time, and you will see people from all walks of life praying to G-d at that holy site.

The Rebbe was a wide-ranging Torah personality whose vast knowledge spanned the entire spectrum of the Torah. His teachings include ideas in Jewish philosophy and theology, commentary on biblical, talmudical and kabbalistic texts, perspectives on world events, and moral and practical directives. At Chabad Chayil we have a text-based group study of The Rebbe’s teachings each Saturday right after Kiddush lunch, which all are welcome to join and thoroughly enjoy. Each week's class is on a different topic, containing super interesting subjects from all aspects of Torah, filled with surprises and always invigorating.

Although the Rebbe was treated as royalty by all who met him, he personally lived modestly and even frugally. While presiding over a vast world empire of institutions and activity, his own Synagogue was simple and in major need of a face lift. As a child I always felt bad how simple his synagogue was, and made a promise to myself that when I can one day afford it, I would rebuild his synagogue in the most beautiful way.

To learn more about this saintly man, visit: www.ChabadChayil.org/Rebbe.

About the Author:

Rabbi Kievman together with his wife are the ambassadors of The Rebbe to Highland Lakes, FL. They are the founders of Gan Chabad Preschool, your local CTeen & CKids chapters, CHAP - an afterschool program for Jewish children in Public Schools and direct Chabad Chayil. He’s the Rabbi at The Family Shul and can be reached at: (305) 770-1919. Or: rabbi@ChabadChayil.org